clock runners || h.s

prologue ≫

I’ve lived in Joppa Creek, Virginia for seventeen years.

 Many of those years were spent biking with Roxie and Troy to Cone Zone with just enough change for a banana split, camping with Bella at the lake where she stripped her clothes and jumped in the water butt naked, and gossiping about the irresistible lifeguard who just so happened to save my life in the deep end later that summer. A little, lifeless town like Joppa Creek passes by in an instant. No one stops here, and if they do it’s to purchase a pack of cheap cigarettes from Reggie’s gas station.  

So many days, months, I’ve dreamt about finally escaping the only place I’ve ever had to call home, and just explore the world. I wanted to travel everywhere, see everything, meet everyone. I’ve never come close to picking up my things and throwing a dart at a map to see where it’d take me. The furthest I’ve gone is to Old Hickory Bridge where it separates Virginia from Maryland. Even then I didn’t dare step one foot over to the other side. I’m too comfortable with familiarity and security. 

And I carried on with my life, pushing the burning desire to travel into the depths of my mind. I threw myself into schoolwork and reading, forced myself to at least pretend to enjoy the Thanksgiving rival football games, and participated in the Decade Dance committee where I was dreadfully elected president. Much of my education distracted my mind from the growing curiosity of Europe, and Asia, and not to mention South America. 

Roxie used to tell me that I didn’t belong in a small town like Joppa Creek, that I should be spending my days in massive cities, exploring the sights and living my days like they were my last. Then all of a sudden she snapped, turned dark and wore heavy makeup, pierced her tongue, and completely crushed my dreams. I had collected photos secretly of where I wanted to travel, which she found and threw into my flaming fire place. 

I didn’t have the heart to completely start anew. 

My junior year I thought that my world was hurdling down a hill, until a few college students changed that. They had found a cave by the abandoned quarry where there was said to be a luxurious secret waiting inside. Many attempted to reach it, but failed and the legend of, “The Secret in Joppa Creek” began.

 I remember my best friend selfishly dragged me along his expedition to find out what really was hidden in the cave one day during senior year. But I couldn’t lie to myself and try to believe that I wasn’t as thrilled as he was.

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        AH SO I FINALLY PUT UP THE PROLOGUE I'M SO SO SOOOO SORRY THAT IT TOOK 5EVER okay so I wrote this really quick because I didn't want to give tooooo tooooooo much away haha:p but I'm editing and kinda changing the first chapter! I'm so so excited for this ah can't you tell? i've been going crazy trying to think of how to start this thinger but i finally decided on explaining a little of Jane-the main character's- backstory and how it'd kind of affect her in the future. i know this might be super boring and sucky i'm sorry. I just wanted to give you guys SOEMTHING lollll. okay well i'm gonna leave ya to it! Enjoy xx