EQAO

Chapter 1 - Jessica Rombu, Nice to Meet You

I am being viciously attacked by the ones I counted as friends. Betrayal... Today of all days...

"TEN! ELEVEN! TWELVE! THIRTEEN! FOURTEEN! And... FIFTEEN!"

I winced as three fists came crashing down on to my back.

"Don't forget birthday pinches!" said Anika as she reached out to grab my face.

"Oh no! No no no! You are not coming near me!" I avoided her hands and ran to Michelle.

That day was my - Jessica Rombu's - fifteenth birthday. Unfortunately, that meant birthday beats for me. I had just looking forward to going home and eating delicious ice cream cake... Mmm, my mouth had been watering just thinking about it.

Oop, I've got to make sure I always know where Anika is so she doesn't-

"Ow!"

Anika grinned like a Cheshire cat.

"Okay, you got me." I said rubbing my cheek.

"Okay class, everyone back to their seats!" called my teacher, Mr. Folman.

Mr. Folman was okay, as far as teachers go. Like me, this was his first year at East Hutman High School. I liked him, because he was kind but stern. Kept the class under control without yelling all the time. We had English and math with him every morning. Once we were all in our seats, Mr. Folman said,

"The principal has just informed me that- Jacob! Pay attention!"

Jacob was a short and sort of pudgy kid that sits on the other side of the room and always gets in trouble. He had just been talking to his friend Tyson, when Mr. Folman called him. Jacob had practically jumped out of his skin, and some other kids snickered.

"As I was saying," Mr. Folman continued, "The principal has informed me that due to serious and confidential reason, you all are to be dismissed early. I am not- "

But he was cut off by the noise that had erupted from the students.

Dismissed early! This is going to be a great birthday!

"Quiet!" Mr. Folman tried to gain control, "As I said before, I am not sure why this has occurred, but I ask you to not start rumours. The last thing we need is all the students becoming terrified out of their wits for no reason. I'm sure there is a perfectly logical explanation that doesn't involve ghosts or anything of the sort. As soon as the lunch bell rings, you are dismissed."

As soon as he finished speaking, a familiar,

"RRRRRRRRRIIIIIINNNNNGGGG"

sounded in the school. All the students leapt up from their chairs and flooded out into the hallway.

—*—*—*—*—*—*—*—*—*—*—

Outside, it was cloudy and windy, my favourite weather.

"Well, what now?" asked Sameera.

Half of me just wanted to go home, crawl into bed, and read. I'm such an introvert. But the other half of me wanted to hang out with my friends. After all,  they were my friends for a reason. Anika, Michelle, and Sameera were the weirdest, craziest, funniest, idiots I knew. That's why I love them so much. Fortunately for me, I didn't have to decide.

"I have to go home and help my mom prepare for a party tonight." Michelle said, shoulders slightly slumped.

"Yeah, and I have to go to my uncle's wedding. I was going to be pulled out of school anyway." said Anika.

"I may as well go home and start my birthday celebration early then." my introvert side said, "See you guys later!"

"See you."

You're probably assuming that my adventure starts right there. It doesn't. It actually starts one and a half weeks later.