The air at Perfecto Prep was sweltering with the sickly, sugary sweet smells of spring. It was a lot like Acme Loo really, with a surge of students parading about left and right about the cafeteria’s outdoor seating, which almost set Chaos at ease, if only slightly. Acme, of course, was a collection of picnic tables, and not anything like ‘The Gardens’ of Perfecto Prep. The gardens, much like the name implied, was a gallery of grass sculptures and plant life arranged in a vast tangling circle outside of the school. On the nicer days at the academy, students took their lunches outside where the sun gave them a reassuring burst of it’s existence unlike the murky, florescent lights that lit the inside of the school.

“Look there.” Juliette said quietly, directing the coyote’s gaze across the table towards a collected group of students. The next day Chaos and the wolf had taken a seat at a small around table off to the side of the gardens, speaking in low tones and hoping to look as inconspicuous as possible. Chaos had his nose dipped in the menu, casually peering past the mouth watering food choices and towards the students in question.

“They’ve got the answers to next week’s algebra test in Mister Kaatz’s class. The only reason they’re talking, is because they all want something from each other. Nobody makes friends here, Chaos. The only friends that are made here are ones that shatter overnight. They only way to get popular is to climb over everybody else. This school is all sorts of screwed up, Chaos, There’s something wrong with this place, and you can feel it. It’s like it’s corrupted and twisted and dark. It’s like, the only reason people hang out here is to gang up on other people. It’s like the whole school is…is…infected somehow. “ She explained, jerking a fork towards tables here and there as if to add points to her explanation.

“Uh huh. And I don’t see why I’m supposed to care. None of these kids ever gave a squirt of piss about me when I was here. “The boy snarled, watching Juliette’s face distort in disgust at his colorful vernacular.

“Because you AREN’T them. But you're beginning to sound like them.” She growled, crossing her arms, while Chaos shook his head, his ears peeling back in a sudden, uncharacteristic display of anger.

“And what do you want me to DO!? Huh?! I haven’t got time to deal with all of this crap, Juliette! I’m already going to be doing everybody’s homework! I’m going to be everybody’s bitch, I don’t WANT to be yours too! You can’t CHANGE people! This plan, this school, all of it-“

“Is getting to you.” Juliette snorted calmly. Her voice was trembling with anger, but it was calm and collected, trickling quietly out of her throat with each and every word she spoke. “You’ve never yelled at me like this before. Just because you're here, doesn't mean you have to forget where you've been.”

For a moment, Chaos was livid, fuming and snarling and fumbling for just the right combination of words to tear into Juliette and reduce her to a shattered collection of tears. He blinked, and frowned, and shook his head in confusion- as if some spell over him had been broken. He let his mouth drop open, looking for an explanation, but the wolf shook her head, lifting up her menu to idly scroll over the selections, as if lunch was suddenly especially appetizing. “Not a word.” Was the last thing she quipped to him.

The next thing Chaos felt, was a rush of sensation, and the fur on the back of his neck heckle. He knew that feeling- the sensation of wind rushing by as if something incredibly fast just blurred past, missing him by seconds. Every coyote knew that sensation. It was a roadrunner.

“Hello, hello, hello, hello! Juliette! How ARE you honey? Still dating that alcoholic? I guess if you can’t do any better, that’s fine, I’m sure you’re just taking your time. Or…maybe you’ve already GOT a new boyfriend, hmmm? Does this one beat you too?” A high pitched, irritating voice spilled past Chaos’ ears. A roadrunner, for sure, she was pink in color, wearing a matching pink cashmere sweater and a bright blue skirt around her hips, like Juliette.

“I, am, Sara. Sara Dash, editor and chief of the school newspaper, Perfecto Press! Do you have any words about your new girlfriend your dating?” She asked, and suddenly, there was a microphone waving in front of his face. He opened his mouth to speak, then shut it in silence. Not a word, Juliette had said…

“Ooooh you’re the strong and silent type? Trying to be like that utter failure of the cartoon world, Willie Coyote? I guess being a coyote you don’t really have much to aspire to other than being a complete, and total disappointment. Just remember they don’t take food stamps here as payment, mmmkay? Now, Juliette, think about coming to my party, because we are gonna have a seriously awesome time, and it just wouldn’t be a party without you! We couldn’t get much in the way of entertainment, but we figured we’d make fun of your outfit for a few hours! Hehehe, oh, sweetie, you know I’m just kidding! Please, come to my party, and make sure you bring some of your dad’s wine! If you DON’T show up…well, I’ll just have to cross you off the list of the populars. Whoops, gotta run, chio!” The girl squealed, and just like that, she was gone- she’d vanished in a heartbeat as quickly as she’d appeared.

Juliette drew in a dark, shuddering breath, and flushed it past her lips, seething with anger. Slowly she shook her head and peered past Chaos, looking around left and right before she was sure they were alone.

“That, is Sara Dash. She’s a new transfer and she jumped right into the role of editor and chief. She’s good at her job, too. She writes a lot of stories thinly based on truth, just to drive up sales. Everyone likes reading dirt on everyone else. And she’ll get dirt on you, too, Chaos, even if she has to make it up. Nobody wants to check her facts since they’re afraid they’ll show up on her next front page. Besides, it’s easier just to believe what you read instead of make sure it’s accurate. Now that she’s seen you, she’s going to write a piece on you, so the less you say around her, the less she has to work with. Sorry I didn’t get a chance to tell you, earlier.” Juliette sighed. Chaos nodded his head, dipping his muzzle into his menu, before finally raising his arm and summoning a waiter over.

“What are you doing?” Juliette asked, and was shushed by a finger lifted from Chaos- while he ordered a Salmon dish and leaned back casually in his chair, whilst Juliette frowned.

“Ordering Lunch. It’s important to eat- especially if you’re planning to catch a road runner and beat her like a throw rug.” The coyote explained, drawing a grin across Juliette’s muzzle- so she ordered lunch too.