Secret Realm

Chapter 1

   My name is Melody-Ryne Marie Graver, Ryne for short. I was seventeen years old when my life changed forever. The day started out normal, then took a dramatic turn for the worst. Maybe if I had stayed home from school that day things would be different today. Or maybe my new life would have caught up to me some time later, Ill never know now. What I do know is that my life will never be the same again...

    I walked quietly through the hall way of my small alternative community high school, taking my time getting to the class I was already late for. I got along fine with everyone here, even made some promising friends. But today felt off to me so I kept to myself, only speaking when I was called upon.

    When I walked into class there were only two other students in the room. Not surprising since it was mid-May, less than three weeks away from graduation. At the beginning of the school year, every class room is packed full of people. As the year goes on, we lose more and more students due to them dropping out or getting expelled. And oddly, I'm okay with that.

    I like attending a school with less than thirty students. It gives me more one on one attention with the teachers. Not to mention that I excel farther than any student here ever has. What can I say? I'm too smart for my own good.

    With the last day of school less than three weeks away, those still left attending Bay-Arenac scrambled to get their grades up, including my best friend Carter Haze. I warned her that it wouldn't be such a good idea to slack off in the beginning of our senior year. Seems she's learned her lesson now that she has to cram everything in at the last second.  

   Carter and I have been best friends since we first met in sixth grade. I was the shy girl sitting by myself and she was the popular outspoken girl always late for class. It seems like fate now that the only empty chair in the entire classroom was right next to me.

    At first Carter thought I was a little weird;then again who didn't? I knew right away that I wanted her to be my best friend;I guess in her eyes, though, she had different plans. She had no intention of getting to know me. Just wanted to be friendly, that's all.

    When the lunch bell was dismissed, we went our separateways. I went into the lunch room with food already piled onto a tray. I sat down next to one of my other friends at the time, Aries. Little did I know that sitting directly across from Aries was Carter.

    She looked at me funny, and said. "Why are you sitting here? Are you following me?"

   Being only twelve at the time I was a little confused. "Um no, Aries is my best friend. Why are you sitting here?" Carter's response was: "Aries pushed me off the slide when we were kids."

    Aries looked between the two of us, not understanding a thing. "Do you two know each other?"

    We both nodded our heads.

    Ever since that fateful day in the beginning of middle school we've been best friends.

    I walked into class taking my seat near the back where Carter sat looking as frazzled as ever.  Even when she didn't look her best she still managed to look beautiful. I envy her for that. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't compete against her voluptuous looks. I'm not sure if its her bronze skin that reels the guys in or the perfect curly spirals that bounce on her head every time she moves.

    Sure Ive got some curves, a nice rack (as my guy friends would say), and baby soft skin.     But is that really enough when you compare me to Carter? She's perfect in every way im not. How can I compete with her perfect teeth, skinny waist, beautiful brown eyes? I cant. My blue/green eyes, curvy waist, and normal teeth wouldn't last ten minutes in a beauty pageant against her.