Between The Lines

Chapter 3

    I tapped my pen against the page, my thoughts drifting. Maybe the story didn't need a dramatic opening, a slow build, or anything typical. Maybe it needed something else- something unexpected. Something that could only come from two writers who saw the world completely differently. An idea began to form, faint at first, but gaining clarity as I considered it. I glanced at Ethan who was still scrolling on his phone.

"What if," I began hesitantly, "We don't start with the protagonist at all?"

He looked up, confused, "What?"

I felt a flicker of excitement as the idea solidified.

'What if we start with the setting- like paint a vivid picture of where they are before we introduce them? That way, we establish the mood, and when the character shows up, the reader already feels the tension in the air."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly sceptical. "You think people will keep reading if nothing interesting happens in the first paragraph?"

"They will if it's written well enough," I insisted. "And we can combine it with action- just not right away, let the suspense build." He considered this for a moment, then shrugged, "Alright let's try it."

I blinked, surprised, "Really?"

"Yeah, as long as we can move on and get something written."

I gave him a small smile. It wasn't a full agreement, but it was a start. And for the first time since we were paired together, I felt like maybe- just maybe- we could make this work.

The rest of our time at the coffee shop goes surprisingly well. I never expected it to be this easy. But before I can continue thinking about our story, I remember, I had someone to murder. Maybe. As soon as I enter school I start marching towards her locker which, thank god, is in the front of the school. And thank god that she's standing there getting her books.

"Good Morning, Simmy." I drag out my greeting. She jumps at my sudden arrival.

"Good Morning to you too, Gabby." she returns, her hand still on her heart. So dramatic. She smiles awkwardly at me as I stand in front of her with a small smile on my face.
"So... what's new?" she offers. I don't take it. I jump straight to the point.

"You told Ethan about my haven." I accuse. I didn't want to bother asking, I knew she was the bridie. Her cheeks flush slightly, "Listen, he wanted to know where you were because he wanted to work on the story. He initially thought you would have gone home so he asked for your address but I knew you would have been at The Novel Brew so that's what I told him." she rambles out, clutching her messenger bag at her side tighter. I laugh and rub her shoulder reassuringly, "It's fine, it wasn't half bad anyway." Her eyes widen and she steps closer to me, meaning she wants the details.

"It was a little tense at first," I start, walking a few steps back to my locker to transfer items. She followed, leaving her locker wide open, clearly too invested in my experience. "We sat in silence for a big part of it, bickered a little because we didn't know how to start the story, but after a while, we kind of agreed on some sort of idea. We are just trying it out so it's nothing too solid yet but... I think it could be good." I reiterate.

"Ooh, look at you two getting along. So what's the plan for today, are you guys meeting again?" she questions playfully.

"We are only getting along for the contest, once it's over we'll go back to being... whatever we were before, definitely not friends. And I did invite him to come to the library with me later today, we are both supposed to have study periods so I figured, if he's available, why not?" I explain. She nods as the bell rings.

"Well see you later, I've got Accounts now," she says, walking backwards to her classroom and then bumping into the open door of her locker. She scrambles to catch herself and close the door and I laugh from a distance and head to my first class, Calculus.