Riley's Box

Part 1

Prologue 

Have you ever really wanted to do something that you shouldn't? You know the occasions- the times when you really want to do something that other people have advised against, but you go against your better judgement and do them anyway? Well, that very thing had been getting me into trouble for almost sixteen years now, not to say that I regret much of it. Sometimes, going against what people really want you to do can lead to better outcomes all around. Sometimes, however, these decisions can lead to difficult circumstances- dangerous ones, even. Ones that, though you wouldn't predict it at the time, can change the world forever. 

*~**~*

I closed the book that I had been reading firmly shut, and then placed it onto my bedside table. My mind had become so engrossed in the plot and characters that I was convinced I could probably become part of the book, at this point. 

Nevertheless, I knew that I needed to take a break from reading it. It was time to get to school. I was in my final year of high school, by some miracle. 

At least, for the most part, it was pretty great. 

In a few months time, I would finally be able to escape from the likes of Whit Album and Erik Reos. 

With a groan at the thought of them, I rolled out of bed and made my way into the bathroom, so I could brush my teeth. The minty toothpaste made me feel a little less groggy, but my head was still in no way ready for school. 

Pushing this thought out of my mind, though, I exited the bathroom and entered my room again so that I could get changed into my clothes for school- a shirt, a denim jacket and black trousers. I was one of the more popular girls at school and many of the students relied upon me to set the fashion trends, but on days like today, I really didn't have enough energy for that. 

When I reached the bottom of the staircase, I greeted my father with a friendly smile, only to bid him farewell seconds later. He waved me off, knowing that I was already late. However, there was no shame in that little matter. I was fashionably late, of course. There wasn't really any other type of late that I, Riley Ruby, could be. So, I walked on out of the house and then moved at a steady pace towards the bus stop. 

I had always found that the mornings passed by far too quickly, and I ended up at the bus stop sooner than I would have liked. It wasn't all bad, though. At least the sun was shining down on me. It looked as though it was going to be a beautiful day. The sky was so clear that there might actually be a chance for the moon to be visible tonight. I had always preferred evenings when I was actually able to see the moon and stars. Otherwise, I felt as though I had been plunged into a boring kind of darkness. Also, if there were no stars, then how could I make any wishes?

It was a personal tradition of mine that every year, on my birthday, I would wish upon a star. The only thing was that this year, I wasn't sure what I really wanted to wish for. I had pretty much everything that I could have asked for, so only two things really stood out to me. Number one: I needed to pass my driving test- that was an absolute must. Number two: I needed to get the guy that I had been crushing on for the past ten years to notice me. Otherwise, I was convinced I might go a little insane. Had I really been liking him for that long? Yes, I actually had. I was a committed person. I considered that trait to be one of my core strengths. 

Before I got onboard the bus, that had finally arrived, I took a moment to glance up towards the warm blue sky above. I would somehow figure out how I was going to make that latter wish a reality, one way or another. Now, however, was the time to get to school. So, I boarded the bus and was greeted by the usually cheery smile of the bus driver- Mr Hugos. He was an absolute doll! Well, not an actual doll, unless I had somehow stumbled upon a reality where plastic could operate vehicles. That was besides the point...I greeted Mr Hugos with a kind smile and then went to sit down on a seat next to my best friend in the whole wide world- Jason Zircon. He turned to meet my gaze with a warm smile. 

"Hi, Riley," he said. "Honestly, I'm surprised you managed to make the first bus. You're usually late." 

If there was one key fact about Jason, then it was this: he was always honest with people, but especially me. Obviously! The two of us were best friends, so it was an absolute necessity that the two of us could be truthful with one another.

"I missed breakfast," I said and this much was proven by my stomach grumbling loudly. "I'll get something from the cafeteria." 

 "Good plan! They're doing those little chocolate pastries today," he said. 

"You keep track of the breakfast schedule?" I asked him. 

"Someone has to," he said. 

I was about to make a comment about that, but I was cut off when the bus screeched to a halt. Ouch. It was old and the tyres really needed to be oiled sooner rather than later. 

Nevertheless, I promptly glanced out the window to find that, sure enough, we had arrived at our high school. 

Cielo Academy- opened in 1999. 

"Hey, are you still going for that student council role?" he asked me, once we had hopped off the bus. We were already on route to our lockers by now.