Silverbay

Chapter 1

I hold a hand up to block the sun from my eyes. I'm walking home from my tiny, beachside school in my tiny, beachside town.

Seaside Bay. That's its name. Of course, everyone who lives here calls it the Town. Or the Bay. Or just plain Seaside. Whatever you want to call it. It's the cheesiest name for a beach town, but it is what it was named. Also, it has a ring to it when paired to my name: Veronica Silverbay.

I'm a seventeen-year old girl who's unpopular, has no chance of getting a boyfriend, and hated left and right. Why, I don't know. But that's life.

Anyway, I'm walking home, about to ask Grandpa (who I live with) if I can go to the most awesome party of the year. It's hosted by the most popular girl ever. It's also on the beach, next to the volleyball net. Everyone wears and brings the coolest, brightest things. I heard someone brought a tiger last year.

If I can go, I might have a chance at having actual friends. I might not be called "that weird girl" anymore. I'm done with being treated that way, so I won't. That's that.

The bushes next to me start to rustle. Of course, it's probably just a bird or something. I only think that for a second, though, because then it comes out.

The thing in the bushes looks distinctly like a rat. Red eyes, black hairy tail. So, exactly like a rat. But there's still something about it. The fur on it sparkles--no, it glows a sickly green.

It crawled from the bushes to the middle of the path and looks up to me.

I've never been the type to be afraid of rodents, but this is just creepy.

I try to step around it, but it sees that as a threat. The rat starts hissing and lurches toward me.

With a small shriek, I fall on my butt. Not wanting to see the thing on me, I close my eyes. But I don't feel little paws walking on top of me and digging its claws in my leg.

I open my eyes to find no supernatural looking rat. All I see is a black, oily substance oozing on my right leg that's the only thing acknowledging it was ever there.

I really don't want to know what the oily substance is, but it's starting to burn.

Grabbing the nearest leaf, I wipe the stuff off my leg.

"Eww," I say quietly, absolutely disgusted.

I wonder what that thing was. Seaside is pretty cut off from the rest of the world. Pixies don't even come here. How could that have made it?

I start to run down the path to my house. I don't want to be anywhere near that rat thing, wherever it went.

"Grandpa!" I yell, nearing the house. My house is located in a serene place right outside of Seaside. Not really outside of it, but I like to think so.

It's in its own little cove. The easiest way to get there is a steep path leading from the back left corner into it.

Water Leaf is growing right next to the warm, shallow water. Grandpa was picking some, then he looked up.

"Hello, my beautiful flower." He says as I near.

I smile, pushing some hair behind my ear. There's not much to push, though. My hair is in low-pigtails. "I'm not beautiful."

"Yes, you are. Look at those bright blue eyes. That shiny, long, brown hair. You're gorgeous."

I smile again, looking to the ground.

"Grandpa," I say, changing the subject, "There's this party. It's happening tonight. Down on the beach. Can I maybe go?"

Grandpa stopped, looking up at me. "Whose party is it?" He asks.

"Um, Brianna Bouquet's. You know her, right?" I say nervously. I know he doesn't want me to go.

"I do know her, in fact. I'm just not sure I like her, Ver." He says, going back to harvesting the water leaf.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask.

Grandpa sighs, stopping once again to look at me. This time he stands fully up, his size still amazes me.

"It means," He starts saying, "I don't want you to go."

I stare at him with disbelief, mouth open. "But she's the most popular girl in school! In the whole town! I'm the least popular girl. If-"

"Ver," He interrupts, "You're not going. That party is the craziest one of the year. I know because I listen to the dang thing every year. The only reason it's not shut down by the cops is that her father is the chief of police."

I still won't go down without a fight.

"If I go," I finish, "I might become popular. I might get some real friends." I almost spit the words.

Then, my anger leaves, leaving only sorrow, "I don't have any friends, Grandpa. You don't understand how that feels. If you just let me go," My voice cracks, "I need this. I need it. I promise you that I will be safe. Please."

I look into his eyes, trying to find an answer. He gives it moments later. "I'm sorry, Ver. I love you, but this party is too much. Forgive me, but no."

My heart sinks. Anger and sorrow fill my tornado of emotions.

"Fine," I say, tears filling my eyes, "I don't expect you to want me to be happy."

I push past him and run inside.

I run into my room to sob into my pillow, when I see a little green rat sitting on my hot pink bed.

Author's Note:

So that's the first chapter to my book. I don't know if I'm going to continue pasting chapters or just leave it up to you to buy the book. Please tell me in the comments what I should do.

 My book is available at: 

http://www.amazon.com/Silverbay-Bliss-Holiday/dp/1507819447