[Note: This chapter ended up getting pretty lore intense, my apologies, I promise the next one will get us back to the sexy stuff]
Jen found both your response and your reaction endearingly cute. She always liked that you were sincere nearly all the time, though she could tell that many times you held back from saying what was really in your mind, not for ill reasons but most likely out of shyness or a lack of confidence, which in itself she couldn't explain...
[Flashback, 5 years ago]
Jen's family, Norwegian in origin but having lived in Mexico for over a decade, where Jen herself had been born and raised, had moved to the US a year prior due to work opportunities, and while settling in had its ups and downs with some notable but not overly severe cultural shocks, one of the few large hiccups that the family faced was that Jen, who was supposed to start attending 12th grade was held back due to the district school she was assigned to being in a state of bureaucratic chaos.
Storm Valley Unified Public School was one of the biggest in the entire state, harboring a student population of roughly 800 with capacity for 200 more if needed, it was built more along the lines of a college campus than your conventional schools, but then again, this was a K-13 school, offering every single compulsory education grade plus an additional 13th grade, also called super senior year, which offered valuable post-highschool education that not only prepared students better for further studies, but also addressed various important life skills and allowed them to pick and choose trades to hone their skills in, should they choose not to pursue higher academic education.
A place this massive and with such a complete education program was a double edged sword, for its required funding and staffing were way higher than the other smaller, more modest schools around. Ever since the late 80's, it had been in a constant state of underfunding and being understaffed, but even with these handicaps the school still offered quality education and prestige that could match many private ones', largely thanks to the diligent labor of the Principal, who often had to dance around using their funding wisely and finding competent staff, and keeping them well paid.
But no matter what, the enormous toll that this job took on people meant that not a single Principal lasted more than 5 years before getting severely burnt out, furthermore, every single one either retired or would find employment outside any education-related branches. Among teachers and principals, the school had gained a nickname: The Guillotine, for it was guaranteed to cut one's career short.
In fact, the year that Jen's parents' tried to get her enrolled, they were baffled to find out that the school's last principal had reportedly succumbed to levels of stress so severe that he plucked all the hairs off his head and simply walked away, never to come back, leaving the entire school a headless chicken, with a few good natured teachers and staff coming together to keep a semblance of order and allow the school to keep functioning, but its administrative staff was in such a chaotic state that they effectively did nothing with Jen's papers, ended up misplacing them and when questioned would just give one excuse after another, and this went on for a full year.
A year later, a new, young Principal was appointed by Mayor Patricia herself, an unusual move, as the position had always been granted to career principals that could demonstrate that they were up to the herculean task of running such a school. This new Principal, one Arianna Abalos, meant business from day one, and quite literally on the first day on the job, she went through various neglected enrollments that were left lost in limbo, many of which had since moved to another school. This was how Jen was finally allowed to enroll, being a year older than most of her classmates.
Her first day of school wasn't as bad as she expected, being an improvement of the bullying and envious hatred she faced back in her previous one, but being "the new girl" wasn't so good either. One of the highlights of her day were meeting a tall, quirky and somewhat chubby girl that was completely nonchalant about her outrageously powerful gas, with whom she hit it off in mere minutes.
The other one came much later, when the school day pretty much ended. Just as she set her backpack down while putting away books in her locker, a rustling noise made her turn around, only to find a mean-looking girl, almost the perfect picture of your typical bully, holding said backpack.
"Finally found you, new girl" The bully spoke with an arrogant grin.
"I have a name" Jen replied with an annoyed sigh "Give that back please" She asked, narrowing her eyes. Back in the land where she grew up, being notably taller than average was a good deterrent against bullies but it looked like in here, she had finally met her match. She didn't want to get in trouble on her first day, but she had also been taught to defend herself.
"Ooh, the new girl thinks she's people" The bully taunted her "You haven't earned that right yet, fat cow!" She then said with a true venom in those last words. Jen exhaled quickly as she clenched her fists, her one nerve had been touched.
'Oh boy, here we go. I'm not going to let 5th and 6th grade happen all over again' She thought, staring daggers at the bully, who looked her in the eye without flinching, a sign that she wasn't of the kind that was all bark and no bite.
"Give. That backpack. Back. I'm not asking again" Jen said firmly, mentally preparing herself because things were about to go down.
"You clearly know nothing, Betsie" The bully replied with a disdainful chuckle "All new kids need to understand that I'm the one that runs this place! They call me Toxic Lily, you better remember that name" She looked at Jen, it didn't take a genius to realize that she was fuming "Now scram! If you learn to show a lil' bit of respect to your superiors tomorrow, maybe I'll consider giving this back"
Lily turned around and began to walk away, expecting the new girl to drop the supposed tough girl act and go away with her tail between her legs. Little did she know that Jen Johansen was someone not to be trifled with. Back in Mexico, her nickname "La Vikinga" (Spanish for "the Viking" with a female connotation) wasn't simply a nod to her Nordic heritage, she earned that one with how fiercely she fought back against anyone that attacked her, not even boys were a match for her. Her rage was fittingly reminiscing of that of her Berserker warrior ancestors.
There were no words, Jen simply began to walk, following the smug bully and once the distance was appropriate, she threw a powerful punch, like that of a professional boxer. Her fist barely grazed Lily's face, as her surprisingly good reflexes kicked in and spun to dodge most of the incoming impact, but even then, she felt a stinging pain: Jen's knuckle had opened a small gash across her cheek. She felt the warm blood dripping out, touching it with a shaky hand. Said shaking was not from fear, mind you, but from sheer rage.
"Next one won't miss" Jen said coldly, still with a smudge of her enemy's blood on her knuckle.
Toxic Lily dropped the backpack and charged at her, deeply enraged but not blinded by it. Harnessing it instead, to dish back a punch just as good as the one she had barely dodged. She took a few steps forward and shifted her weight in a less refined, more crude way than Jen's practiced skill, but nearly just as effective. But then... there was nothing.
Even Jen herself, who was prepared to dodge or block didn't see it coming, and it was less so in Toxic Lily's case. Her motion had been abruptly ended, her attacking fist held back as a hand caught her wrist. The two girls turned to see who this hand belonged to. Jen was honestly surprised when she saw that it was none other than the boy that caught her eye earlier in the day.
Amongst a sea of unknown people, you got her attention almost immediately as you reminded her of her homeland, a piece of familiarity in an otherwise thoroughly unfamiliar place. She got confirmation for this once she heard you introduce yourself as Blaise Santos and mentioning outright that you were of Mexican origin. She did notice that you seemed rather withdrawn, keeping to yourself and a small group of friends. Jen never thought her first chance to interact with you would come like this though. Toxic Lily's reason was drastically different, growling in anger while giving you a look that would kill if it could.
"You know, when we told you to pick on someone your own size we didn't think you'd do it for real" You said, straining a little to hold back Lily's arm.
"Mind your own damn business!" Toxic Lily roared "Go get lost under that hippo's ass for all I care!" She said right as she pulled her arm back and threw a curved punch at your face, but you simply stepped back and dodged it.
At that moment, Toxic Lily nearly forgot all about Jen, focusing all her aggression onto her new target, throwing a furious barrage of punches that you deflected and blocked although without striking back. She didn't even notice that as you moved around her while dodging, you swiped Jen's backpack off the floor.
However, one of the punches you dodged wasn't there, it had been a feint! And before you could react, Lily kneed you in the stomach with enough force to dent the lockers as your back smacked into them, rapidly closing the gap and landing a punch square on the left side of your face, making the back of your head hit the locker too, making you feel as if your nerves were giving static. Toxic Lily raised her arm to presumably finish you off with another punch just as Jen herself was about to step in, when the bully saw Principal Abalos walking nearby out the corner of her eye and decided to book it without a word.
Jen had a pretty surprised look and walked over to you offering her hand to help you as she asked if you were okay. Her surprise turned into full blown amazement when rather than taking her hand to stand up, you raised her backpack with a smile, despite the nasty bruise that quickly formed on your face, and the bleeding left corner of your lips...
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May 12, 2023
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