Chapter Text
Chapter 1: School's In Session
The good thing about having a class zero period was that it didn’t push out any of her needed (or enjoyable) classes out of her schedule.
The bad thing about having a class zero period was that it was so. Fucking. Early.
Beauregard Lionett wrapped her letterman’s jacket tighter around herself, gritting her teeth at the chill in the air. How was it this fucking cold in August?! Probably had something to do with the crop top.
She rode her board all the way up to the back gates of the school, popping it up before reaching the door. If it was up to her, she would have driven her truck and parked in the back. But her keys were still under her father’s supervision, as was every other goddamn thing in her life. All because of a tiny misdemeanor. So unfair.
The warning bell rang just as she entered the school. Beau debated running to her locker to drop off her board, but decided against it. Afterall, if she was tardy to her first class on her first day, she was pretty sure her dad would kick her out of the house. Not that that would be a bad thing.
Instead, she jogged over to the classroom marked A-5. It was right by the nurse office, so Beau had passed it plenty of times after boxing practice. But, weirdly enough, she’d never actually been in the classroom.
It was a much smaller room than she expected, already holding some students inside. Beau caught yellow eyes latch onto her, and a grin stretched across her face despite herself. “Hey Captain.”
“Oh my god will you stop calling me that?” Fjord asked as he jumped up to clasp her arm.
“Never,” Beau grinned. She scanned the room, but he was the only person there that she recognized. “Where's your girlfriend?”
“Not my girlfriend.”
“Whatever. Where is she?”
“Probably getting pastries,” he sighed. “She really needs to have better nutrition.”
“Hey, good luck telling Jester no. It’s basically impossible.”
“Trust me, I'm well aware.” Fjord looked back behind him, and his eyes flashed in recognition. “Shit, you haven't met the rest of our council yet.”
“No I haven't,” Beau took a look back at where Fjord was looking. Behind him was a human man with red hair, face buried in a book. Sitting next to him was a halfling woman with dark, braided hair, staring daggers at Beau.
“Well, come on then. I'll introduce you.” Fjord led Beau back to the corner of the classroom where the two others sat.
The girl immediately pushed herself in front of the red-haired man as Beau got closer, glaring suspiciously. “Who are you? Who is this Fjord?” she asked in a way that was surprisingly accusing.
“I'm Beau. Why the fuck are you interrogating me again?”
“You-”
“Woah, woah, let's slow down for a second,” Fjord said, putting his hands in the air. “I think y'all have gotten off on the wrong foot. Beau, this is Veth Smy’th and Caleb Widogast. Veth, Caleb, this is Beau. She's our vice president.”
“Why weren't you here over the summer, huh?” Veth asked.
“Dad sent me off to boot camp,” Beau said with little fanfare. “How about you and redhead over there?”
“Hm?” Caleb asked, peeking up from his book.
“Where were you two last year. Haven't seen you around Mercer High before.”
“Well, Veth has actually been here for a few years,” Fjord said in a tone that definitely did not match Beau’s glaring at the shorter woman. “And, uh, Caleb just transferred here from Germany.”
Now that drew Beau’s attention. Her head snapped toward the boy, appraising him. “You're from Germany?”
“Ja.”
“Why'd you transfer?”
“He is very smart,” Veth said.
“Uh, danke Veth.”
“You didn't answer my question.”
“Ja, well-”
“Ohmygosh Beau!!!” called a voice from the back of the room, and Beau dodged out of the way just in time to not get tackled by an excited blue tiefling barreling after her. Instead, Jester stumbled forward. “Oof!” she called as she started to slip. Fjord reached out a hand to steady her, a dark green blush coating his cheeks. Beau sent a smirk his way as Jester turned back on her, wrapping her in a hug.
“Hey Jes.”
“Hiiiii Beau!!!” Jester said. “Ohmygosh it's been so long it feels like forever since I've seen you how was boot camp?”
“Well, every night we made a circle around the campfire and sang songs and made s’mores.”
“Really?!”
“No.”
“Oh,” Jester said, sounding disappointed. But her eyes lit up a second later as she held out a bright pink box. “Do you want a donut? Or a cupcake? The place I stopped at says they’re delicious!”
“Cupcakes for breakfast Jester?” Fjord asked, sounding exasperated as Jester nodded enthusiastically.
“I'm fine Jes, I ate before I left,” Beau replied.
“Oh alright, but they're really good. Caleb, Veth, do you want some?”
“Are they poisoned?” Veth asked, inspecting the box that Jester was holding out to her.
“Why would I poison you Veth?”
“Hey, you never know.”
“Just eat the damn cupcake,” Beau said, rolling her eyes.
Veth plucked a cupcake out of the box, nibbling on it. “Caleb?” Jester asked, holding the box in front of his face.
“Hm? Oh, nein. Danke, Jester,” he said, face still buried in his book.
“Aw you’re so boring Caleb,” Jester chided.
Beau watched all of this trying to retain a bored expression on her face. As adorable as Jester was, she didn’t want to be here. Wasn’t it bad enough that she didn’t get to do anything over the summer? Wasn’t it bad enough that her own fucking father treated his only daughter like a criminal? Apparently not. He’d forced her to run for the vacant council position late last year, just after he’d found out about the incident, and he hadn’t let her drop out since. “It’s a leadership opportunity Beauregard,” he’d tell her. “If you’re going to get into an Ivy League and take over the family business, you’ll need to learn how to lead others in a proper way.” He didn’t seem to care that he overworked and underpaid his employees. He’d yelled at her when she’d pointed out that she was more of a leader than he’d ever be. Yelled at her or worse.
“Uh, Beauregard Lionett?” said a voice at the front of the classroom, tearing Beau out of her train of thought. Beau looked up to see Mr. Sol, the activities director at Mercer High, waving her over.
“One second,” she said to the others, and then louder to Mr. Sol, “Coming.” She walked over to his desk, arms crossed as she did so. “What do you want?”
“Well, first of all it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance Miss Beauregard. I could not be more excited that you decided to do council this year,” he said. Slowly, Beau’s arms began to uncross. Something about his voice calmed her down, and she found herself nodding along.
“It wasn’t exactly my choice but I’m glad I can help.”
“Ah yes, your father has told me about your, ah, peculiar situation.” Beau barely held back a groan. Leave it to Thoreau to tell the entire world about his no-good vandal of a daughter and how badly she needed to be set straight. “Now Miss Beauregard that won’t affect how I see you at all. Personally, I think you’re a charming young lady.”
Beau let out a laugh at that, before quickly and unconvincingly turning it into a series of coughs. “Uh, thank you, Mr. Sol. Sorry about my father.”
“It’s no problem at all Miss Beauregard,” Mr. Sol said with a genial smile. “Now, since you weren’t here for the summer work, I’ll give you some make-up packets at the end of the day so you can get caught up. In the meantime, you’d better get to know the rest of your council.”
As if on cue, the door to the classroom was flung open. In strutted a purple tiefling, adorned in the most hideous coat Beau had ever seen in her life. Multi-colored patched and embroideries covered it, and all sorts of intricate baubles dangled from his horns.
But despite his ostentatious appearance, Beau’s attention was not on him very long. Standing behind him was a woman. A hot as fuck woman. She stood probably about a foot taller than the tiefling in front of her. Where he was colorful, she was notably monochrome. Even her skin was stark white. She wore a black band t shirt under a leather jacket, and her black hair faded in an ombre to white at the ends. Beau’s breath caught in her lungs just from looking at her.
“Mr. Tealeaf, Miss Nydoorin, you are late.”
“Well Mr. Sol I’d like to think that the rest of you are just early,” the tiefling said, and Beau felt a snarl rise to her lips.
“The late bell disagrees,” she said, arms crossed and leaning against the back desk.
The teifling’s attention snapped to her, and he grinned in a way that was almost mocking. “I don’t think we’ve met before.”
“I would certainly remember meeting you,” Beau agreed.
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Mollymauk Tealeaf, at your service,” he said, bowing dramatically. “This is Yasha; she’s the charm around here.”
Beau forced herself to meet the woman’s gaze. She was caught immediately off guard by her eyes. One was a light teal color, the other a shocking purple. They glared down at her with something that resembled boredom but felt more like anger. She was like a wall almost. Beau felt a challenge brewing in her veins.
“Yashaaaa,” Beau repeated. “I’m certain I’ve never met you before. I would remember that more than meeting the asshole.”
“Mollymauk is my friend,” Yasha said quietly, dangerously.
“He can be your friend and still be an asshole. I mean, I’m Jester’s friend and I’m an asshole.”
“That’s true!” Jester called from their little corner.
Yasha appraised her, eyes guarded. After a long moment of silence, she turned on her heel and walked towards where Fjord and Jester were sitting. Mollymauk quickly followed, the bells on his horns ringing as he bounded over to the group.
Beau looked over at all of them. Fjord and Jester, waving at her encouragingly. Caleb, head buried in his book. Veth, eyeing a sophomore’s water bottle across the room like she had other plans for it. Mollymauk, laughing at his own joke obnoxiously. And finally Yasha, staring right back at Beau, unreadable.
This was going to be a lot worse than she thought.
Beau sighed to herself before making her way over to the group. She took a seat in between Caleb and Yasha, winking at the latter as she did so. Yasha didn’t react at all; usually people at least looked annoyed at Beau’s advances, but Yasha remained uncracked. Boring.
Fjord looked uncomfortable at the atmosphere in the group. Before school had started, he’d confided in Beau that the group wasn’t getting along too well. “Everyone is just kind of sticking to their own groups. I mean, half of them are new to Mercer High this year,” he’d said.
“Why don’t you just let it be? I mean, if they want to be loners, let them be loners.”
“Student council isn’t like that Beau,” he’d said. “You’re working as a group to achieve a common goal. If your council doesn’t get along, well, it’s gonna be one hell of a year. I’m the president, it's my job to pull everyone together.”
Beau had replied with something along the lines of “whatever man,” and had ignored whatever else he was saying. But now as she sat in this group, she couldn’t help but think he was right. Hell, being in the same vicinity as these people was hell. She couldn’t imagine trying to throw together a prom with them.
“Ahem,” Fjord said, standing up. “Well, uh, nice to see all of you again. Given that this is the first time our council has been complete, maybe we should go around and do a few ice breakers?”
“Ooh! Ooh! Can we do the one with your favorite candy?”
“Jester I already had something in mind-”
“But with candy too?”
“Fine, sure, yeah,” Fjord sighed. “Uh, let’s all go around and say our names, position, other activities we do, and favorite...candy I suppose.” He scratched the back of his neck before saying, “I’ll start. My name is Fjord Stone. I'm the class president. I’m captain of the Mercer High baseball team--go dragons--and I’ve been on speech and debate for a couple of years. And my favorite candy, I guess, is Sweedish Fish.”
“Ooooo is that because you love the ocean Fjord?”
“Sure.”
“I knew it.”
“Do you want to go next Jester?”
“Okay so my name is Jester Lavorre,” Jester began, making her voice go all dramatic. “I’m the publicity for our class. I’m president of the art club and of Traveller club-”
“Now that sounds interesting,” Mollymauk said. “What is that?”
“Ohmygosh Molly you’d love it.”
“It’s a cult,” Beau said.
“It is not a cult Beau.”
“It’s for sure a cult.”
“Well, I’ve never been one to turn down a good cult. Eh Yasha, what do you think?” Mollymauk asked. Yasha, ever the talker, grunted in response.
“Anyways, my favorite candy is probably lollipops but I also really really like chocolate and oooo I love gum and-”
“Alright Veth how about you go?” Fjord said quickly.
“Oh, uhm, okay. My name is Veth Smy’th, but my friends call me Nott the Brave. I’m treasurer. I don’t really do much else here. And my favorite candy is licorice.”
“Thank you Veth. Caleb?”
“Hm? Oh, ja. Uh, halo, my name is Caleb Widogast. I am our class secretary. I uh have just transferred here so I haven’t joined much yet but I plan on joining the mathletes and German Club. I do not have a favorite candy.”
“Ohmygosh Caleb how do you not have a favorite candy?”
“Yeah that’s weird dude.”
Caleb shrugged. “I do not have a preference.”
“Weird as fuck man,” Beau said. “I guess it’s my turn? ‘Sup I’m Beauregard Lionet I’m your first mate aka vice president. I’ve been part of the boxing team and speech and debate with Fjord for the last two years. I was roped by my good ‘ol dad to do this shit and I do not want to be here but it’s whatever. And I like pop rocks.”
“Little more than we needed to know but thank you Beau,” Fjord said. He nodded to Yasha. “Yasha? You’re up.”
“Yasha Nydoorin. Historian. Nothing. Violet Candies.”
Everyone stared at the girl for a few moments. Finally Fjord said, “Uh, alright, little less than we needed to know. Thank you...Yasha…”
“Well, my name is Mollymauk Tealeaf, Molly to my friends, and I for one am very glad to be here,” he said with a dazzling smile in Beau’s direction. “I’m our class spirit rep this year and I could not be more thrilled for it. I haven’t gotten around to joining anything yet but I’m pretty sure I’ll end up joining the theatre after auditions start. And my favorite candy...hm that’s tough. I think I’ll have to go with Skittles.”
“Ooooo good choice Molly.”
“Why thank you.”
“Alright I think that’s everyone,” Fjord said. “Now our first task we need to design our class t shirt. The deadline is Friday so-”
Fjord was cut off by the bell ringing. Beau stood up, grabbing her skateboard from underneath her chair and, with a wave to the rest of her council, left the classroom.
Finally that hell was over for the day. She didn’t expect it to be so...awkward. She’d kind of just assumed that all student leadership kids were these cocky, stuck-up asskissers. Mollymauk definitely was the type. But the rest of them were just...insane. Maybe that’d be more tolerable than the stuck-ups. At least with insane people you could get some variety.
Oh well, she didn’t have to worry about any of that, not for now at least. All she had to focus on now was math class.