Alistair High

ignorant lamb

"Who are you?"

"guess"

"Mal?"

"correct"

"hmm...and when last did Robin emerge?"

"tomorrow"

He turned to glare at her

"spare me the look. You know I hate being relegated to the background. Having to do nothing but watch her being all sweet and kind"

"But it's her body"

"and mine too"

"you need to be more considerate Mal. Besides, you're just an alter ego"

"Don't be mean, it's not like I forced her to hide, she chose to" Mal murmured

"well force her out next time...kay"

"Mkay"

"So" he dried his hands and plopped down on the sofa opposite her "what important thing did you wanna talk about"

"Am leaving"

He sat up at this "what?"

"My dad's sending me off...to Alistair high"

He wrinkled his nose and grinned "good they could teach you some manners and possibly give Robin some guts"

"No one can toughen her up, that's why she has yours truly, besides..." She wiggled her brows suggestively "you know she has a crush on you"

the man glanced at her "one she's too young and two she's not my type"

She rolled her eyes "Whatever, anyway since I can't bear to yield to the old man she'll be coming out tomorrow to reasonably accept the admission, am gonna be there for her first day tho...I can't risk her establishing the image of a wimp."

*****

Robin looked at herself in the broken mirror. Her image was slightly distorted but she could still see that she looked cute in the blue and red uniform jumper shorts. Her hair used to fall to her waist. But thanks to Mal it now barely grazed her shoulders. She was upset but there was nothing she could do. If she grew it longer Mal would just cut it when she takes over. Or probably shave it all off. She shuddered. That will not be cute.

She touched the tiny cut on her left cheek. Oh, Mal...she's left yet another scar

"Robin it's time to go" her father called from downstairs

"yes, papa" she answered before quickly grabbing her backpack and heading down.

*****

"Be good Robin" they had arrived at the entrance to the school. Suspicious of her sudden calmness and respectfulness. Mr Cameron addressed his daughter with a serious expression.

"and for goodness sake please stay out of trouble"

"I will dad, don't worry so much, it's not good for you"

Mr Cameron stared at his daughter with mixed feelings. Sometimes she behaved like a she-devil and other times like now she was sweet as an angel.

He patted her head and turned to board the car. But small white hands circled his waist "bye. Love you dad"

His eyes teared up. But he was speechless and could only reply with a soft grunt.

Mr Cameron boarded the car then nodded in farewell to Robin before pulling out of the parking lot.

As the sleek black race car got smaller in the distance, Robin hollered,

"Bye and drive safely" and just as she thought he didn't hear, a hand appeared out of the driver's window and waved. A big goofy grin nearly split her face in two. She turned to her new school. This is not bad. As long she made a good first impression then she'd have lots of friends and everything will be alright.

She picked her backpack. A fancy butler had already taken her other bags to the dormitory. All she had to do was unpack after classes where over.

Suddenly,

'let me out'

with wide eyes Robin shook her head 'no'

Mal hissed 'if you don't let me out right now, the next time I take over I'll shave you bald and tattoo your whole body'

Robin flinched 'But it's the first day of school'

Mal sighed 'that why I need to come out if I don't you'll turn yourself into the school's biggest wimp'

'but...'

'no buts let me take over or I'll self inflict injures on your body'

Robin felt defeated 'I'll let you take over...but after today you won't pester me for at least a month'

There was contemplative silence. Then,

'deal'

Robin closed her eyes and let go. And the sweet smiling girl turned into a cold smug demoness.

*****

Mal took off the backpack and let it drag along. The pink flower-patterned bag scratched and tore as it dragged on the rough ground. Mal smirked, she hated that bag.

Despite her earlier objection even Mal had to admit that the school was impressive. An impressive imitation of a castle. Complete with towers, hanging purple tapestries and hopefully a dungeon. Mal grinned at the prospect.

A girl with long pink hair and a Cheshire cat grin stood at the entrance to the school. Behind her, two huge wooden doors had been opened to reveal a beautiful interior. She shook hands with the students that entered, pointing them in the same direction.

Since Mal was the only one remaining the girl smiled at her and waved. Mal slowed down her pace and took her precious time to walk. The girl's smile didn't tone down instead she enthusiastically shot out her hand for a shake when Mal was finally close enough.

Mal gave the girl a mocking glance and sidestepped her. But before she could take two steps she felt a strong grip on her elbow.

The girl's wide smile did not waver even as she growled in a dangerously low voice "Don't. You. Dare. Leave me hanging"

The corner of Mal's lips tugged up "I misjudged" Mal shook the girl's hand "Name's Mal...I mean Robin"

If it was even possible the girl's smile grew bigger till her eyes were shaped like crescents. "Hello I am Pink"

Mal eyed the girl's bubble gum hair with a raised brow "Pink huh, how fitting"

*****

Pink took her to a huge hall with beautifully carved chairs and a decorated podium in front. By the time they arrived, it was already full and very rowdy. But Pink zig-zagged through the crowd and found a seat. The next empty seat was two rows behind. Mal turned to the boy seating next to the seat she found.

"Move" she still had that creepy Cheshire cat grin. The poor kid didn't even argue, he just stood up and scurried off to the last empty seat. Leaving Mal and Pink to seat together.

Pink started "This is the assembly hall. It is where we will be spending the whole day. We will be briefed by the School head on what is expected of us this term...but I am curious, what is your strength?"

Mal turned from scribbling on the wall to frown at her "what d'you mean?"

Instead of answering Pink stared at her in shock and then squealed in an annoying baby voice "awwn my ignorant lamb, don't worry okay, mama will educate you soon" her expression turned serious "and by mama I mean Mama Binta, our school head, now hush she's here"

"..."

Mal was speechless, she wasn't even talking yet she had been told to hush. And wait, she was certainly not ignorant and she was anything but a lamb!