Young Writers Society

Chapter 1:

I walked into the school, breathing in the sweet smell of break. One more day, seven more hours, and six more classes. Shouldn’t be too hard.

I strutted past glass cases with trophies, signs announcing Junior Prom, and little freshmen dressed in slutty Santa Claus outfits, trying to attract eyes, but all they received were obnoxious looks and dead stares. “Alice!” I heard out of the ear that my iPod speakers weren’t blasting through. I turned around and smiled. My best friend in the entire world, Taylor, was practically running towards me, her skinny self bouncing and her long blonde hair shimmering. I was a tad jealous of her. She was skinny and pretty with an obnoxious, outgoing personality. While I, on the other hand, had curves, a vintage face and a shy, forgiving heart.

“Taylor!” I held my arms open as she bounded for them. It had only been a day since we saw each other last, but that was how we said hello. I looked around the yellow hallway, wondering if a certain someone was watching.

Over my friends shoulder, I saw him. Tall sharp body, dark hair and small eyes. His appearance attracted me beyond I ever thought it could go. The way he presented himself, calm and in touch with who he was, made my eyes spin. His gaze shifted to me and Taylor as we screamed some more, but shot back to his locker when he noticed my stare.

I could feel my face turn red. I only ever watched. I was introduced to him once at lunch. He was new to school with not many friends. But, a girl in my math class, Jessica, was his cousin. She pulled him over to our table and forced him to say hello and eat lunch. I didn’t even look at him then, too busy with other things I used to think more important. But now that I was a junior, I realized I needed a relationship, since I had never had one before.

“So, are you ready for this weekend?” Taylor pushed herself from me.

“Yes, I’m very excited.” I tried to say that in the most honest way I could without sounding rude. I loved to hang with Taylor. But, she often dragged me along on sickening adventures with her step family. We never had any fun, never met anyone whom we liked, and never went away happy with each other. I would make her mad, she would annoy me, I wouldn’t say the right thing, and she would ignore me. Even with best friends, things could go wrong.

“Yeah, the sarcasm in your voice is speaking to my soul. You’re not excited at all.” The bell rang, so I shut my locker and tried to sneak a look at my star-crossed lover, but he had gone. I looped my arm through Taylor's and we walked to first period.

“Alice,” his face popped in front of mine. His eyes were small, dark and dying. His breath smelt like coffee, not a good scent, though, more like coffee covering up morning breath because he hadn’t brushed his teeth.

“Hello David.” I looked at Taylor, who was avoiding eye contact with me. David had been in love with her for a year before he moved on to me, so she wasn’t about to help. I was on my own.

“So,” he sat on my desk, “what are you doing for break?”

He picked up my pencil and rubbed it between his long dirty fingers. I snatched it away without even a brush of hand-to-hand contact. “Nothing.”

“Oh come on,” he put a hand on my shoulder. I shook him off. “Let’s hang out.”

“I’m out of town. Maybe some other day.”

Ring. Saved by the bell. He and his greasy hair walked to his desk and sat down. He looked back at me once again before setting his eyes on the teacher. I shivered.

“Taylor!” I whispered, but she kept her eyes off me. She would go and act like nothing was wrong. “Taylor.” I hissed again.

“What? I’m trying to listen.” She folded her arms across her flat stomach and looked at our old, not so brilliant pre-calculus teacher.

“Why didn’t you save me? I always saved you, and that’s why he’s after me.”

“I think it’s time for you to find a new knight in shining armor.”

But, I already had. And, of course, he couldn’t save me because he was simply never

around. Whenever I needed rescuing, there was never a knight to sweep me off my feet. I felt that, in my life, I wore the shining armor for my friends. But when was my time for rescuing going to come?