Believe

The book

Hi. I'm Ellie. I'm 14 today and I have to admit, I'm not the best child in the world. That's got to be my best friend, Bethany. She believes in all sorts of weird things; Santa, the tooth fairy, the thought that Peter Pan will come and take her Neverland. She's got this thought that he'll fall for her and she'll become a Lost Girl. I swear she's high. She's the smartest girl in our year when it comes to history but she never applies her brilliant brain to the real world. I don't believe in that nonsense. I've told her time and time again that life isn't some book where a prince will kiss you and it'll all be okay.

I meet her at school and she gives me a big present with a pink bow. "Happy birthday Ellie!" She hugs me. Whatever it was, it is very heavy. "Open it at lunch!" She tugs my arm. I punch her and stuff the package in my bag. We go to History skipping like idiots, laughing so loud we get a couple of stares. I'm not paying any attention to Miss Martineau at all. She said something about the history of Christmas and Santa. I'm far too busy wondering what Bethany got me. A box of chocolates? Magic tricks? She knows I want to be a professional magician one day. "Ellie? Ellie? Are you even paying attention!" Miss Martineau brings me back to reality. "I'm sorry. What were you saying, Miss?" She sighs and looks at the rest of the class. Bethany starts praying. One of those weird things she does. I look at her with utter confusion. Miss Martineau is still staring at me. "Let's see if you have been paying attention. Name a place where Santa has been spotted." Bethany's hand shoots up. I stare at her. She's mouthing something like Spitsbor. What? Oh, Pittsburgh. I look back at Miss Martineau. "Pittsburgh?" She looks shocked and I see in the corner of my eye, Bethany taking a bow. I smile at my friend. "Thank you!" I mouth to her. Miss Martineau looks at Bethany. "See me after class," She points at me as well as Bethany. "Both of you."

After class, we go up to Miss Martineau. She just tries to give Bethany a lecture in not helping other students when they are called upon. She knows that Bethany knows the answer. Miss Martineau tells her to leave and turns to me. "I know you well Ellie. You don't believe in half of the stuff your friend does do you?" I nod my head. No one believes in what she does. "I want you to read this, think of it a homework." She hands me a book. I try to open it but it's locked. It needs a key "Read it with her, she has the key." Miss Martineau has finally lost it. The book has every fairy tale in existence. Why would a teacher give a 14-year-old this?

I see Bethany at our lunch table. She seems very excited to see the book. "You," She bows down to me. "Are the chosen one! Martineau chose you to open the book! Hang on, I have the key." She reaches inside her bag and pulls out a gold key. It fits the lock and her eyes grow wider, like a child on Christmas. "Wait, Ellie, there's something you should know. Miss Martineau isn't just a history teacher," I laugh at her but she seems serious. Still, this is coming from the girl who thinks Jack Frost is real. "Just open the book, Beth." She flips it open to the first page. "Cinderella." She reads. Then something shoots out of the book. A red flash. Followed by an orange. Then a yellow. Then every colour of the rainbow. The pace quickens. More and more colours shoot out and they begin to circle round me and Bethany. She looks up in excitement. We are now floating, our hair getting higher. She holds my hand and we slowly dive in to the book.