School Rush

October mornings were cold in China. They seeped in through the cracks in the windows, the gap under the door, and through the walls themselves to creep into the bones. The only way to keep it away was to wrap tight in the blanket and not get out of bed. But eventually hunger, morning light, and bodily needs conspire to roust one from the plush nest of a warm bed. Then the cold scurried into the bones, causing them to cool so fast the bones creaked and the joints ached and everything felt far too real. No matter what day of the week mornings sucked.

By the way, what day of the week was it? Monday? Oh, yeah, Monday.

MONDAY!?!

Jack-Lina sat bolt upright and looked to her dumb kitty alarm clock Ashley had gotten her. 7:15?!

"Crap!" She shouted, throwing her blankets aside and launching herself from the bed.

She bolted for her closet, grabbing her cloths before tearing down the hall to the bathroom. She jumped into the shower, barely getting wet before she was out again, drying off and dressing. She didn't have time for everything so just touched up her cheeks, lined her eyes, and smeared on her lip gloss.

Snatching her school bag she threw her scattered supplies and homework in. She mentally kicked herself for not setting up the night before. She'd spent the whole weekend working on her latest bot that she completely forgot it was Sunday. Stupid!

She raced through the labyrinth like lair to the kitchen, almost bowling over three irritated jungle cats. Wuya was at the counter, drinking her tea and picking at her morning rice as she read the newspaper; the Heylin Times, best source for evil news.

"Forget to set your alarm again?" Wuya asked off hand as Jack-Lina came to skidding halt in front of the pantry.

"Yes," the goth lamented, yanking a breakfast bar from the box.

Everything in the pantry was typical Chinese ingredients and health food, except for Jack-Lina's junk food shelf that she knew both Heylins stole from when they thought no one was looking.

Chase strolled into the spacious room. He was shirtless and sweaty from his morning workout. He sat at the counter and waited as Jon—one of his cat warriors that happened to be a great cook—made him an omelet. He accepted the paper from Wuya as Jack-Lina tripped over to the fridge to grab a smoothie and water bottle for the day.

"If you maintained some discipline," he commented in his usual lecture tone. "You wouldn't need an alarm clock to wake up and thus wouldn't wake up last most days."

"I know," the teen groaned, stopping at the counter to stow the water bottle and grabbed the research notes she just realized she left there. "I was working late last night."

"We know," Wuya said, annoyed. "We could hear you."

"We have training this afternoon," Chase said, opening the paper to keep reading. "If you're late-"

"I have to walk three miles with a bucket of water on my head," Jack-Lina finished, remembering the many disciplinary exercises he had given her before. "I'll do what I can. We're getting our math tests back today and I've been forced to tutor anyone who fails to make up for all the days I miss."

"Why you're still in school is beyond me," Wuya said, well aware of the teen's genius; academic, not strategic.

"To get some time as a normal teen," she joked, zipping up her bag. "Okay. Bye mom," she kissed Wuya on the cheek. She crossed to Chase and did the same, "bye, dad."

She was all way to the door by the time she realized what she'd just done. She'd referred to the two biggest baddies in the Heylin world as her parents. Terror and mortification froze her in her tracks. Slowly, hesitantly, she looked back.

They were still sitting at the counter, seemingly unbothered. Chase was turning to the next page of his paper while Wuya was nearly finished with her rice. By some great act of stupid luck they hadn't noticed her gross transgression. Thanking her lucky star and any gods that might exist she left, focused on reaching school on time.

Chase and Wuya had indeed noticed her familiar action. But, years of training and evil had given them the skills needed to hide their pleasure. They had a cute daughter.