Secrets

Chapter 1

This is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, places, and incidences either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any real resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Text Copyright © 2015

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"Alright class, that is all for today. Make sure you do questions one through sixteen by Monday afternoon!"

Sliding out of my chair, I bend down to grab my pink backpack from the floor and push an arm through one of the straps with a yawn.

As I rise back up, the bell rings, signaling the true end of the day, and I smile.

"Thank God it's Friday!" I cheer, shoving my pencil into the right pocket of my skirt.

"Miss. Star, do not forget to do your homework over the weekend!" Mrs. Hime calls to me, just as I step into the door way.

Glancing back, I offer her a guilty smile.

"I'll...do my best!"

Mrs. Hime simply rolls her small brown eyes.

Groaning softly, I step out into the crowded hall.

All around me boys walk in black jackets and pleated dress pants, while we girls sport much cuter white jackets and black pleated skirts.

As I turn to the left and fall into the crowd, which is headed toward the main entrance of the school -Cherry High- my thoughts stick to the topic of our mandatory uniforms.

Everyone threw a huge fit two years ago when the school converted to the idea of making us all dress the same, but by the end of last year, we students had sorta come to love the change!

I mean, sure, we don't really have the individuality that we used to, but now there's a sense of unity within the school that we never felt before.

It's nice.

"Heads up Rose!"

Immediately jerking my head up, my eyes having wandered to the hall floor when I'd zoned out, I quickly realize two things.

One: I'm no longer inside, but standing in the middle of the long gray sidewalk, which runs to the left and right in front of the school building.

Two: there's a soccer ball coming right at my head.

My arms instinctually shoot up to block my face, one crossing over the other, and I clench my eyes shut in anticipation of the blow to come.

A few seconds pass and, confused, I open my eyes to glance between my arms, finding nothing but thin air before me.

"Jeez Rose, you have got to start paying attention to your surroundings!" Mikey Ray laughs.

Glancing to the right, I watch as he spins the soccer ball on his right index finger, then drop my arms with a short laugh and nod.

"I know, but you gotta think!" I reply. "If I paid attention to my surroundings, then you would have a boring everyday life!"

Tossing the ball over his shoulder, Mikey laughs outright, curly brown hair bouncing with the force of his laughter.

Walking forward then, the man spins on his heel once he's at my side, and tosses a black and white plaid arm around my shoulders.

"Yeah, I guess you're right!" He agrees.