《TeamFortress2's New Addition》Chapter Eleven
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You stared at your father in shock. No? Why? As if voicing your thoughts, your mother spoke up:
"Why? This is a wonderful opportunity and-" she started to ramble before being cut off.
"I'll tell you why," your father cut in, his voice sounding agitated. "There isn't much about this
place. They only have one website about it and-"
"But at least they have a website and I've met these people!" She stood up, pushing her chair back and glared at him.
"LET ME FINISH!"
She grumbled and flopped in her seat, crossing her arms. That was weird...
"As I was saying," he shot a glance at your mother. "These people dress like maniacs and why would we send our daughter halfway across the continent to a place we don't know much about on a whim! What about her life here? How will we keep track of her? I will not stand for it!" He slammed his hand on the table, having worked himself up. "Ugh, I'm going to work. I wasted enough time on this shit..." He put his dish in the sink and left the room to his office. Your mother huffed and shoved food in her mouth while you sat confused. I do want to go, despite that letter from this Miss Pauling about the fighting. I mean, I know the whole fighting thing's weird, but...ugh. I should show this to Mom, maybe she can convince Dad to let me go....
"Hey Mom?" You started. She sighed.
"Yes?"
"I have something you might want to see...."
"Well give it here."
You handed her Miss Pauling's letter and watched her as her eyes scanned the page. Soon, her faced lit up in a weird way.
"This will be amazing honey!" Needless to say you were immensely confused. Why is she not concerned that I'd be fighting? Like, with weapons?
"Are you sure, I will be fighting you know...."
"But it says you can't die! Oh this is wonderful! We leave tonight!" She stood up and pumped her fist in the air like a cartoon character with a goofy...unnatural smile on her face.
"Wait, what? Mom, are you alright? Are you sure about-"
"Oh don't be a Debby downer! Packs your bags this instant young lady!"
"A-alright..." You got up, put your dish in the sink, and went upstairs to your room to pack. You walked into your room and grabbed a duffel bag from your closet. What happened to Mom? I guess I'll get packed now...but something isn't right about her. You couldn't shake a weird feeling as you threw some of your favorite shirts, underwear, pants/shorts, etc into the duffel bag. You grab your computer and its charger, sliding it into a pocket designed to hold computers in the bag. You had almost forgotten your phone, just as you had done this morning before school. You quickly grabbed the charger, put it next to the computer charger, and then put the phone in your pocket.
Looking up from your packing, you glanced around your room one more time. Your bed was still messed up from this morning, your desk was still scattered with extra papers that you didn't need, and your stuffed animal was sitting in it place forever to...screw it you were taking your Bidoof. You gently put Bidoof into your bag and zipped it up. I may technically be an adult, but still.
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Saying goodbye for the last time to your room, you closed the door as you headed out to the hallway. You creeped pass your dad's office, and met your mom downstairs by the front door. A taxi was already running outside.
"I found out we're supposed to meet Miss Pauling at the airport near Teufort, so let's get going!" She ushered you out the door and into the car. You took one last look at the house.Goodbye Dad.
-+-{Time-skip to airport before boarding the plane}-+-
As soon as the taxi pulled into a spot, your mother payed and pulled you out of the vehicle. Soon, she was excitedly dragging you along and into the airport through massive crowds. Your mother already had tickets in her hand before you knew it and was once again practically dragging you to the gate. It was then that you noticed the men in red casually waiting there, seemingly for you and your mother. Scout was playing games on his phone with Soldier watching, Mr. DeGroot was laughing at something while Dr. Ludwig ran his hand down his face grumbling. Misha was sitting quietly and Mr. Mundy was entertaining Pyro. Spy was standing and Dell was playing a game on some sort of device. Your mother spotted Mr. Mundy and Misha, and called for them like a peppy high schooler.
"We're here! Let's go!" She jogged up to them. You noticed them look to "Spy," with slightly questioning faces. He had a smirk on his face. You frowned slightly, trying not to show too much emotion. What did this motherfucker do to my mom?
"Ahright-y then," Dell stood up, put his device away, and then headed into the gate. Slowly everyone, including you and your mother, gave the person your tickets and followed.
You put your duffel bag in the overhead compartment and sat down between Misha and your mom. Clearly, you didn't get to choose your seat. He didn't seem comfortable in what would appear a tiny chair in his eyes. Never the less, he didn't say anything about it, and your mother was playing a game on her phone.
You took your own out and started playing the logic game called Flow Hexes. You got it from the Google App Store and you liked to use it when passing the time. An added bonus was you didn't need internet access to play. You felt him watching you play. You were pretty fast at the puzzles, so you were a little uncomfortable to see him watching you glide your finger across the screen in intricate patterns. In anticipation to what he would say, you jumped when you heard his voice.
"Leetle girl does well at confusing game. Good job," he complimented.
"U-uhm, thanks," you would have slapped yourself for stuttering like that. He nodded and continued to watch. Your face grew hot and your hands shook a little, but you continued to burn through the levels.
Before you knew it, the place was landing and your phone was at forty percent. Misha handed you your duffel bag and you all exited the plane in search of Ms. Pauling. You and the guys were searching around, before Scout shouted.
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"Dere she is!" he called and pointed to woman in a purple women's suit. She had a bun, glasses, and held a clipboard.
"Yes, yes I'm here Scout, we know. Anyway, Ms. (L/n), the Administrator is expecting you so it's best not to be late. Come on!" She turned and started walking to the exit with Scout following behind like an obedient puppy. The others followed, including you and your mother. Once you were all outside, she turned around and looked at the men in red.
"You nine go back to bas- I mean home. Ms. (L/n) and her mother need to discuss plans with the Administrator," she ordered.
"But sweet-" Scout started.
"Go!" She turned to you. "Follow me, please." She led you both to a limo and then stepped inside with you following.
After a long drive out into a slightly remote part of town, the limo stopped outside an office-like building. Ms. Pauling gestured for you to follow her while she walked in and stepped into an elevator. She was walking so fast you didn't have time to study the building itself. She pushed a button and waited for the elevator to rise up. When it stopped, it opened onto a floor that seemed like a penthouse. There was a view of the city in huge windows and many decorations you couldn't even describe. Maybe twenty feet in front of the elevator was a huge, circular desk where a woman with a few gray hairs sat hands folded and papers in front of her. Ms. Pauling walked out and you hesitantly followed.
"Welcome, Ms. (L/n), I have been expecting you and your mother, Mrs. (L/n)," she smiled as she spoke. It gave you chills. "Please, sit while we discuss the arrangements."
You sat down and your mother did as well. She shook hands with the Administrator."It's nice to finally meet you. I'm assuming you'd be the Principle?" your mother was finally starting to sound like herself. Did she forget the letter Ms. Pauling sent? What did this Spy exactly do? "Yes, I am. While we discuss the school plans, the Assistant Principle Ms. Pauling can take (Y/n) to discuss their arrangements. Rooms and such."
"Of course."
Ms. Pauling took you into another room and gave you a serious look.
"Are you sure you want to do this? You won't see many people anytime soon. You will have minimal access to the outside world only being able to talk to your teachers and your friends. By the way, the only thing they're know is that you went to better school got it?"
"Yes, I'm sure and I can agree to that," you told her with an equally serious, straight face.
"Well then, we will have to take a test to gauge your skills before training to fight. You will have your own food and complete your own shores while in the base, which will serve as your home here. Your studies will use a platform that I mentioned in my letter called Peak Learning. You can do school online on a given computer provided by us. You can go as fast as you like through the school year, which will be present on your computer as everything you need to learn with given tests. You will, however, still need to have projects graded by your teachers, who have already agreed to this arrangement. That may include having to send in a video, pictures, etc. If you are to have any problems with your work, your team members like Engineer will help you. Any questions?"
"Yes, two. First of all, who is Engineer, or the other people you mentioned in the letter? Secondly, may I keep the computer and phone I brought with me?"
"To answer your first question, we will have a formal introduction later after your mother leaves, and yes, you may keep your devices as long as you tell no one about what's secretly going on here." She seems like a very professional woman.
"What did Spy do to my mother?"
"What do you mean?"
"She acted all flimsy and like a little girl agreeing to everything and pushing me here even though normally she would be questioning things. When we got to the airport she was bouncing around, the men looked to Spy, and he then smirked. Now she's fine. What did he do?"
"You'll have to ask him about that. Speaking of your mother, by now all of the supposed paperwork will be done and they would be waiting for us. I just need you to sign this contract quickly agreeing to our terms of you being here." she handed you the paper. You signed with your first and last name. She gathered the paper and walked outside with you following.
"So how did it go, honey?" Your mother asked you with a normal smile on her face.
"It was fine, I get my own room though," you responded, telling some of the truth.
"That's wonderful! I'll be leaving now, though. I'll see you soon alright? Your father would be worried and I haven't told him anything yet. Tell us about the school when we visit, I want it to be a surprise!" She hugged you. The Administrator looked to Ms. Pauling.
"Is everything in order on your end Ms. Pauling?" She asked.
"Yes ma'am, I will take Ms. (L/n) to the school to meet her teachers and peers and one of the staff will get Mrs. (L/n) home?"
"Yes, very good. Have a good day, and I will see you in class young lady." You nodded, smiling a small smile and your mother walked with Ms. Pauling to the elevator.
Outside the building, there were two limos. Your mother kissed and hugged you goodbye and you got in the limo you used to get here with Ms. Pauling. She turned to you as you watched the other limo head back to the airport.
"Let's go to the test, and to choose your side."
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