Chapter 20: Knowing the Other Side

"Mom! She's doing it again!" Jane exclaimed furiously as she slammed the door of the principal’s office wide open.

"Jane!" Mrs. Stewart quickly got up from her seat and slowly approached her daughter. "What's wrong now? What did Avegaille do?"

"There was this cute guy who wanted to go out with me and then… she had to come and ruin it by scaring the guy away with those sticks of hers!" Jane replied irritably as she folded her arms across her chest and sighed exasperatedly. Then, she noticed her mother's stern look and became nervous. "Well… I know you don't want me to have a boyfriend yet… but still… Mom… let me date some guys… please?"

"Jane, we talked about this… you know you can't date any guy until you're in high school," Mrs. Stewart muttered and sighed. "Your sister was just doing what I told her to do… so you really can't complain."

"Mom! That's so unfair!" Jane whined and groaned. "Fine, then, I shall be single forever if I don't find a boyfriend by high school!"

"Don't be ridiculous, Jane… You'll find someone even if you're in college," Mrs. Stewart interjected as she sweat-dropped and smiled weakly.

"Mrs. Stewart… um…" Vivian slowly entered the room after hearing the conversation from outside and was worried that something unpleasant might happen. Both Mrs. Stewart and Jane quickly turned to her after they noticed her standing by the door. "Um… I hope you two aren't getting into a serious fight… since…"

"Ah, don't worry about it Vivian, Jane was just having love issues," Mrs. Stewart replied and giggled. "Anyway, Jane, if the guy really loves you, he should be used to your little sister's antics, that's all I'm saying."

"But Mom, she's literally beating the shit out of them… or at least, threatening them…" Jane protested and groaned.

"Don't worry Jane, I'll tell her to go a little easy on them," Mrs. Stewart assured as she patted Jane's head.

.-.-.-.-.-

"You guys are really creeping me out, you know?" Nicole May muttered exasperatedly. She turned around to the group of boys who were following her. "At least tell me your names, dammit…"

"Miss Rustford… you're actually willing to know who we are?" the boy with the black spiky hair asked ecstatically. "Ahem. I am Frederick. This friend of mine with the round glasses is Marcus and finally this meek dude with the headband is Joey. To be honest, I was more of a fan of 2D girls until these two came along and influenced me to be more interested in 3D girls."

"Fred here is more of a gamer geek but thanks to me who introduced him to the wonders of science and body composition, he became interested in the real life opposite gender," Marcus added and grinned.

"Miss Rustford, you must let us do everything for you, after all, you are like… a goddess," Joey remarked while he attempted at taking Nicole May's hand but Nicole May quickly pulled her hand away from him.

"You guys should just go back to admiring two-dimensional girls, it's less creepy that way," Nicole May interjected, staring at them exasperatedly. "Besides, I have to get to my class and all of you will be in trouble if you keep following me to my classes."

Nicole May continued walking briskly to get to her class, ignoring the boys who were still following her. Up ahead, she saw Avegaille approaching her. Avegaille was holding two sticks on her hand and looked a bit weary. Nicole May waved up her arm to get Avegaille's attention, in which Avegaille immediately approached her. Then, Nicole May turned around and saw that the boys following her looked really nervous.

"Uuh… Nicole May… who are they?" Avegaille asked, staring at the guys in front of her and sweat-dropped.

"Oh, those are the geeks that were following me yesterday," Nicole May replied and sighed. She folded her arms across her chest and stared at the boys in front of her. "Hey boys, this is Avegaille Stewart. If you don't do what she says, the consequences are going to be… very bad."

"Miss Rustford… but… but… we're not gonna attempt at malicious acts such as those other boys," Frederick protested and became even more nervous. "It's true that we admire panty shots and the like, but that's only applicable to 2D girls. Miss Stewart, please don't hit us with those things…"

"Well, as long as you guys stop bothering Nicole May and leave her alone…" Avegaille muttered as she scratched her head. "Anyway, if you guys aren't behind the perverted stuff going on lately, who is?"

"I might have a slight idea to who… but first you must understand how our operation works. We hide in the science lab once we see someone coming in, to avoid our secret meeting place being leaked, especially by the bullies. When it's a cheerleader or a girl in a skirt, we silently admire them but that's it. But lately, our attempts of admiration are being ruined by some boys who disguise themselves as nerds like us and actually touch them. The girls of course think it's our doing and warn everyone of our so-called perversion. So now, we are upset that girls are afraid to come to the science lab outside of classes. But when we saw Miss Rustford, it was like, she was an inspiration and…"

As Marcus continued talking about Nicole May, Avegaille was getting even more confused at his explanation and just gave up on listening to him. Nicole May quickly kicked his leg to make him stop talking.

"Okay, basically, you're saying you guys are not the ones behind the cheerleader perversion attacks?" Nicole May asked, placing her hands on her hips and stared at them suspiciously. "And yet… admitting that you guys are perverts in some kind of way…"

"We may be perverts but not that kind of pervert," Joey protested. "You have to believe us… if only we could prove it somehow…"

"I'll help you guys out… just as long as you stop creeping out Nicole May," Avegaille said with determination, pointing at their faces as well.

"We promise!" the three boys exclaimed in unison.

"Okay, we'll talk about this later by lunch time, okay?" Nicole May muttered wearily. "Go to the school newspaper's office later and we will all talk there."

"Yes, Miss Rustford!" the three of them exclaimed together. After that, they ran off until they were out of sight.

After they left, Nicole May turned to Avegaille and noticed that Avegaille still looked tired from the time she arrived. There was enough time before their next class would start, so she thought of starting a conversation about it.

"Hey… Avegaille, did something happen earlier?" Nicole May asked as she folded her arms across her chest.

"Ah, you noticed?" Avegaille asked and laughed nervously. "Well, there was this guy flirting with my sister. Mom said Jane can't date a guy until she's in high school, so she asked me to scare any boy that would flirt with Jane whenever I see them. Jane was so pissed after that, she chased me around the hallway. I was able to lose her after that though and then, I saw you."

"So that's why…" Nicole May muttered and giggled a bit. "Anyway, we should get to our class… don't want to be late after all."

.-.-.-.-.-

"Mom's so unfair… argh, I can't stand this…" Jane muttered to herself as she closed the door to the principal's office and started walking through the hallway to get to her next class. She looked around and noticed that a lot of students were rushing to get to their classrooms. As she was about to take a turn, she felt someone bumping into her. Jane looked startled while the girl moved back from her and was really nervous but somehow happy.

"Oh… hey, aren't you the one from yesterday? The one who saved me from that perverted boy?" the girl asked curiously. She didn’t feel nervous anymore and giggled a bit. "Although, it's kinda strange, you're taller now than yesterday…"

"Um… I'm not sure what you're talking about though…" Jane muttered as she sweat-dropped. "You're probably talking about my little sister, Avegaille. She's the only one here who looks like me and yet shorter than me…"

"Oh, really? I'm so sorry!" the girl exclaimed as she bowed down her head. Then, she quickly lifted up her head as she took Jane's hands. "But anyway, if you're Avegaille's older sister, you must be just as cool as her!"

"Yeah… sure…" Jane muttered. She slowly turned her head away from the girl and cringed. Then, she sighed as she turned back to the girl. "Anyway, you guys are still being attacked by those perverted geeks? Argh, the student council is already having enough problems as it is… but I can't ignore an issue like this… I have no idea what to do exactly…"

"Ooh, so you're part of the student council? What position?" the girl asked, letting go of Jane's hand at the same time.

"Oh, I'm the student council president… it's nothing special really," Jane replied wearily and sighed. "Anyway, I have to get to my class… you should do the same. By the way, what's your name?"

"Ah, well… it's Hillary," Hillary replied and laughed nervously. "Say my thanks again to your little sister when you can… byees~"

After that, she ran off, leaving Jane alone in the hallway. Jane sighed exasperatedly as she continued walking, going up the stairs until she got to her classroom. As she opened the door, she noticed that the teacher was already writing notes on the blackboard and everyone was quietly copying out the notes. Everyone was curiously staring at Jane while she walked slowly to the teacher. The teacher, however, just stared apathetically at her.

"Another student council meeting, Miss Stewart?" the teacher asked as she slowly raised an eyebrow.

"Ah… yeah," Jane replied sheepishly, slightly lowering down her head.

"Take your seat, I'm pretty sure you can catch up to whatever you missed anyway," the teacher said as she turned back to the blackboard and continued writing. Jane sat down on an empty seat by the back row.

Jane looked around the room, trying to get an idea of what just happened in class earlier. Everyone was so serious that she kept quiet and took out her notebook from her bag. While she started copying the notes on the board, a loud screeching noise blared through the school speakers, which was connected to the audio system at the principal's office. Everyone stopped writing and was bothered by the noise but then, it slowly stopped.

"Hey… um… what are we supposed to do here again?" a familiar voice was heard through the speakers, in which Jane immediately knew who it was. It was none other than her little sister, Avegaille.

"Avegaille! What are you doing with that?!" another voice boomed from the speakers, this time it was Nicole May, as far as Jane could recognize the voice. "Turn that thing off!"

"Huh… how…? Hmm, well, I know Jane uses this to announce stuff to everyone. Well, if everyone's listening to us right now, what should I tell them? Probably how Jane is desperate to have a boyfriend?"

"Avegaille… turn… it off!"

Then, the speakers made a clicking sound and everyone inside the classroom started laughing hysterically. Jane's face started turning red and she quickly ducked down, placing the notebook in front of her face. The teacher just sighed exasperatedly and continued writing the notes on the blackboard while everyone else was still looking at Jane.

"Hey Jane, why didn't you tell us you wanted to have a boyfriend that bad?" one of her classmates exclaimed and giggled. She had ginger hair tied to a ponytail and had eyeglasses on her head. "We could have helped you find the right guy, if you know what I mean…"

"Shut up, Madeline!" Jane exclaimed furiously as she quickly turned to her and pouted. "That's just my annoying little sister ruining my life! I swear I'll get that little shrimp when I see her…"

"Calm down, Jane," Madeline hushed. She stood up, quickly went behind Jane and held on her shoulders. Then, she leaned closer to Jane's ear. "Besides, Miss Hopkins might give us more homework if this continues…"

"Fine…" Jane muttered and sighed. Then, she looked down on her notebook.

"That's a good girl," Madeline said happily and patted Jane's head.

.-.-.-.-.-

Hours had passed and it was already lunch time. Avegaille and Nicole May were at the principal's office earlier for being late again in class. Although, the real problem was, Mrs. Stewart wasn't strict with attendance as long as the students attended their class at some point and got a passing grade. Mrs. Stewart just let the two of them stay in her office for the meantime. During that time, Avegaille happened to stumble upon the audio system used to make announcements to the whole campus through the speakers connected to all classrooms, hallways and even outside. Vivian had to turn off the speakers after all of that, since she was the only one who knew how to operate it asides from Jane.

Avegaille and Nicole May were now inside the school newspaper room with Naz and Elizabeth, along with some guests. Elizabeth looked a bit nervous around them while Naz was carefully observing the three boys in front of them. Avegaille and Nicole May were sitting on the side of the table near the computers while Elizabeth and Naz were sitting in front of the divider and the three boys were sitting near the door.

"Okay… let me get this straight, Nikki… you asked these three nerds to be in here for an investigation?" Naz asked, looking suspiciously at the boys. "It's obviously they're the ones behind the cheerleader attacks…"

"Hmm, strange though, the guy who attempted to peek under my skirt didn't look like any of them," Elizabeth muttered, after she recalled the events from before.

"We swear… we're not the ones behind the physical perversion!" Fred protested as he lowered his head.

"Well, we're not accusing you guys so far…" Avegaille interjected as she sweat-dropped. "Okay, one of you said someone was disguising to look like you guys and then started victimizing the girls, right?"

"You were listening after all?" Marcus exclaimed happily and sighed with relief.

"Somehow, but anyway, we need some sort of plan… and I know the perfect bait…" Avegaille muttered, in which she turned to Nicole May and grinned mischievously.

"Hey, now… what are you up to Avegaille?" Nicole May asked nervously as she sweat-dropped.

"Ohohoho, I get it," Naz said and grinned. "You're gonna use Nicole May as bait so that those actual culprits will try to assault her and then, you're gonna knock them out?"

"Eh… why Nicole May?" Elizabeth asked and smiled weakly.

"Naz told me that she has sex appeal and any guy would want to be with her!" Avegaille exclaimed happily. "Eh… I have no idea what sex appeal means but anyway, it's settled!"

"Hey, hold on, I haven't even said anything!" Nicole May interrupted, in which made everyone turn to her. "Avegaille, you can't just decide things on your own without even asking me!"

"Eh, don't worry, those guys will have to go through me before they can actually touch you," Avegaille proclaimed and grinned. Then, she turned to the boys in front of them. "Okay, you guys will teach us how you go in stealth mode in the science lab, is that okay?"

"We'd be more than happy to teach you all our stealth techniques!" Joey said as he stood up from his chair. "Although it's a bit complicated, anyone can do it in a matter of hours."

"Okay, that settles everything, I'll take pictures of the action in progress!" Naz said, puffing out her chest. "Also, this operation will start by dismissal time, where there are a lot of activities going on and most students are still here."

Then, the door slammed open, in which everyone turned to the door and saw Jane with her eyeglasses shining that they couldn't see her eyes. Avegaille got nervous after she saw how furious her sister looked while she slowly walked inside the room. Nicole May sighed exasperatedly, knowing what was going to happen next. Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Naz laughed nervously while slowly moving to the other side of the room where the sofa was. Afterwards, Jane grabbed Avegaille's shirt by the neck area and pulled her up.

"Hey shrimp… you know why I'm here, right?" Jane muttered furiously and gritted her teeth.

"Whaaa, Jane, it was an accident! I didn't mean it…" Avegaille pleaded while she tried to struggle free from her sister's grip.

"Yeah right… do you know that my classmates are now making fun of me because of you?" Jane released Avegaille's shirt from her grip and folded her arms across her chest.

"Hmm… but still… you do kinda look desperate just searching for a boyfriend and letting any guy flirt with you…" Avegaille remarked and laughed nervously while she stuck out her tongue.

"AVEGAILLE!" Jane screamed loudly, in which Avegaille quickly went under the table and ran out of the room. She quickly ran after her sister until both of them were at the hallway and eventually went out of sight.

"Whoa, isn't she the student council president?" Fred asked nervously as he sweat-dropped.

"Remind me not to make her angry…" Marcus added and laughed nervously.

"Well, we should be leaving now, we'll see you later… Miss Rustford," Joey said. Then, the three of them stood up and left the room.

"Seriously, Avegaille should stop making fun of her sister," Nicole May remarked, slowly shaking her head. Then, she saw Naz and Elizabeth returning from the other side of the room.

"It can't be helped, they were always like that, even when they were still younger," Elizabeth explained and chuckled a bit. "But you know what Nicole May? Even if they're like that right now, they still care for each other in some way. Of course, only a few people know that. Jane actually cares for Avegaille whenever she's upset or lonely… and Avegaille's just happy just being with her sister, even though she ends up teasing her to the point of making her furious."

"Oh… I never knew that…" Nicole May muttered as she folded her arms across her chest. "It must be nice to have a sibling…"

"Of course it is! You should come to my place sometime and meet my siblings!" Naz exclaimed happily. "They're quite a handful though, but I'm happy to have them as my siblings."