Dear, Elle

prologue

I think we have a purpose in life.

Maybe it wasn't being on a champion Lacrosse team or bullying someone against the cold, metal lockers, but something else. I think we're destined to be something, anything. I think we're destined to be a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher, something worthy.

Being a Grade A asshole wasn't one of those things.

The weather was downcast today, full of fog and clouds covering the usually bright sun. I think we were all like that fog and clouds today. My eyes moved to the coffin in front of me and I sucked in a sharp breath from in between my teeth, swallowed past the forming lump in my throat.

"She'd want you to be happy," Mom chimed in beside me and I couldn't help but clench my fists tightly at my sides.

What a typical, cliche statement.

I bit back a rude remark as I spoke.

"I guess." was all I said, nothing less and nothing more. Mom seemed to get the hint, then, turning her attention back to the funeral.

"Sorry for your loss." A sentence I'd heard too many times today. I wanted to say that it was their loss, that they'd lost someone so goddamn great, but I didn't. Instead, I smiled and nodded.

"Sorry about your friend," A voice piped up from behind me and I turned around, and suddenly, the smile was too forced, too tight.

"Me too," I responded slowly. Another smile. Too forced, too tight.

I didn't recognize the boy standing in front of me, but I recognized the faraway gaze in his blue eyes all too well. It was a look that I was wearing at that very moment, along with my too forced and too tight smile.

He rubbed at the back at his neck, and I didn't bother asking for his name or making any kind of small talk. We weren't going to see each other again, I know.

He was fighting for something else to say, and while I wanted to ignore him and turn back around, I didn't. I waited, a few seconds too long.

But he didn't say anything else.

Car rides were not supposed to be silent.

They were supposed to be chatty, loud, maybe a little uncomfortable, but never silent. Our car rides were always chatty, loud and a little uncomfortable.

"Are you excited to go back to school?" Dad asked, his gaze peering at me through the rear view mirror.

No.

"A little," I lied, right through my teeth.

And he didn't press any further, but it was Mom's turn to glance at me, head turned slightly.

"Are you going to join any clubs this year, Elle?" A question I never had the answer to, and she knew that I never did. But yet, here she was, asking me the same question that I never had the answer to.

"I don't know," I finally answered, small shoulders lifting up into a shrug, one that was a little too nonchalant.

The huff that left my mother's lips was an exasperated one and with that, the conversation was seemingly over.

"You know, you probably should join a club, kiddo. It'll get your mind off of... things." Dad spoke again after a short pause.

Things.

Ariel was not just someone I could forget with just the snap of my fingers, someone that I could just somewhat replace with some stupid after school activity.

My mouth was suddenly dry then, and I was at a loss for words. What was I supposed to say when my brain was racing at one-hundred miles per hour? What was I supposed to say when all I wanted to do is scream and cry and tell them that I didn't want to just throw myself into schoolwork?

A deep breath. "I'll think about it,"

And the car ride was silent after that.

i hope you enjoyed the prologue! i know it was a little short, but while writing, i began to realize that prologues are meant to be short, sweet and straight to the point. my intention was to do just that, and i really didn't want it to be too long.

this book is going to be a mix of drama, mystery and a hint of romance. i've been trying to step out of my comfort zone, so i decided to just throw myself at the drama and mystery categories (which i hope i'll do justice).

i have so many plans for this book that i can't wait to unravel to you all, so with that being said, go ahead and vote and comment your thoughts down below! what are you expecting from this book and what do you think will happen as more things occur?