Mercy wandered further into the school yard. She walked past most of the booths, only skimming the words on the banners. Not many of the clubs piqued her interest, if any did at all. But something else did catch her attention.
She could hear yelling across the courtyard. She couldn't exactly pinpoint who was yelling, but it seemed like the voice belonged to a female and she could catch what seemed like whispers of an adult male's voice. Possibly a student and a administrator arguing? Mercy couldn't tell. At least not yet.
Subconsciously, she inched closer to where she could hear the yelling. Deep down, she was curious as to what was going on, but she also didn't want to know what was going on. It was a bit of a confusing situation for her.
Eventually, she inched close enough that she could put a face to the voices.
The young, feminine voice belonged to an Aspen Farren, Aisling's twin sister. Yelling was not out of character for her. In fact, most of the incidents at the school are caused by Aspen herself. To say the least, she doesn't like rules and words aren't needed to say that.
The male's voice did belong to one of the school's administrators. More specifically, Mr. Steinbeck, the vice principal of Ikimono Prepatory. He's normally calm and rational when it comes to dealing with students and their erratic or rude actions, until Aspen is thrown into the mix. Needless to say, he was not the biggest fan of her, if he was even a fan at all.
Just like she always does, Mercy lingered by the scene and listened in, not saying a single word. Except this time, people joined her to listen in to the disagreement. Or should it be said, argument.
After the yelling somewhat subsided, Aspen took a deep breath. "I will repeat myself. I would like to add a new club to the roster." Aspen stated, her voice firm and demanding; she knows what she wants and just how she'll get it.
"And I will do the same. We cannot add a new club to the list." The vice principal responded.
"And why is that?"
"Because signups for new clubs was supposed to be over your New Years break. You were supposed ro register then, and either way, the maximum number of clubs has been reached."
"Really? What's the max number then?" Aspen said, sass beginning to leak into her voice.
"Nine."
"Then why do I see..." She turned around and pointed at each of the booths, counting as she pointed. "...Eight, nine, ten club booths."
"Because of student government. Student government is not a club."
"Why?" The sass leaked into her voice further, concealing the demanding tone she held just moments ago.
"Because it is a school funded organization; not something run by students in their freetime." Mr. Steinbecks voice held its firmness, but it did rise, becoming increasing louder and firm after each sentence that came out or his mouth.
Aspen rolled her eyes before turning around and crossing her arms. "I'm half convinced that you don't want me to have a club because I am a hybrid. The other half is convincing me that you don't want a club run by people like your daughter infesting your school. Like we would make you a hybrid too; as if." She rolled her eyes once again as she muttered those last few words.
Students began to slip away from the argument after hearing the word "hybrid" fall from Aspen's lips. Some left after hearing her bring up the vice principal's youngly deceased daughter, who just happened to be like Aspen and Mercy: a hybrid. Yet, the same things that made people left, drew others closer to the argument.
It took Mr. Steinbeck a moment to respond; he had to pull himself back together after that extremely personal attack. He cleared his throat before speaking once again: "That was uncalled for. And no, I do not hate your kind."
It was clear that he had more to say, but Aspen woud not let him say anything until she could force one word out of his mouth. She was not having him get by without saying was she and his daughter were really called. "Say it."
"Say what?" He asked, a hint of clear confusion in his voice.
"Say what I am. Say what your daughter is."
"I will call your kind whatever I want to."
""If you say what I am, I will leave you be. I will discontinue this stupid, minor argument and not make a hybrid club; if that's what'll make you happy."
He sighed, not wanting to give up this rare opportunity from Aspen. "I do not hate the hybrids."
"Thank you."
And just like that, the argument was over. Unusually, it did not end up with Aspen getting in trouble or threats of punches being thrown.
Everyone else who was still at the scene eventually walked away, off to look at clubs or find the first class of the day they would find themselves in. However, Aspen stayed until everyone had wandered away.
As Mercy was turning to leave and take one last look at the club booths before the first day back at school started, Aspen approached her.
"You." She pointed at Mercy before pointing at herself. "Me. The cafeteria after school; three o'clock sharp."
Before Mercy even had a chance to say or ask anything, Aspen stopped her with a simple glare.
"If you see any of the other hybrids, tell them to meet me there too. We're forming the Hybrid Club."
And after those words slipped out of Aspen's mouth, she left, walking into the school building, leaving Mercy in the courtyard, alone and full of questions.
"But..." She began to say before realizing that there was no point in saying anything. Aspen had already left.
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