The Broken

Chapter 1 - Seventeen

17. The page number stares up at me tauntingly. It's the day of my birthday and how old I am. It's the number of math problems I have tonight and my apartment number. The number seventeen is also the age I'm assigned my life partner.

I sit at my simple, wooden desk and stare out the classroom window to ignore the horrid number. Today, like many other days in this province of Aureliana, it was pouring outside. Subconsciously, I squished my toes around in sopping wet socks and wrinkled my nose. Unlike everyone else at my school, I loathed the rain. It was annoying to all of them, sure, but rain was out to get me. It's like all of the sky gods wanted to drown me!

I scowled at the barely visible street.

"What are you doing, Kay?"

I jumped, "Laura!"

In front of me, Laura stood with her slender arms crossed. Her brown hair trailing to her mid-back shakes every time she sighs. Laura pushes up her purple framed glasses and rolls her eyes, "You're going to scare someone with all your glaring." To make her point, I glared at her dark blue school uniform and green, checkered bow.

"Not like anyone's out there!" I counter.

Laura sits in the desk next to me and pushes her hair behind her ear. "You're probably the only person who doesn't want to be out there."

I shake my head furiously. "Anybody from the Haru province would agree with me!" I shake my fist at the window and resume my heated staring contest with the sidewalk.

Laura's adorable giggle draws my attention back to her.

"Well then, I have some good news for you!"

My eyes meet her hazel ones. "What is it? More homework?"

She rolls her eyes again, "No! I wish it was so you'd ask me to do it for you."

Laura Bellamy, my best friend since I accidentally punched her in the face in first grade. She's pretty, smart, and kind, like an angel. Basically, guys should go flocking to her whenever she speaks. Laura's always been there for me, whether I need help with homework or a shoulder to cry on.

I lean forward onto my puffy, red winter jacket's sleeves. "If it's not nerd stuff, then what could it possibly be?"

Surprisingly, Laura doesn't seem bothered by my comment. Instead, she lights up excitedly and bounces on the edge of her seat.

"Today's the day they come out!" she shouts, her eyes sparkling.

Everyone still in the classroom immediately advances on us. This was the most exciting news all day. The crowd around us murmured with anticipation, wondering if Laura could possibly mean-

"The Brokens?" I asked in a meek voice.

The entire room held its breath.

"Yes!" and the crowd went wild.

"Brokens! I can't believe it!"

"Who turned seventeen today?"

"Man, I didn't make the cut..."

"It's about time! I'm almost eighteen!"

I stared at Laura, not believing her. It couldn't be happening, not today of all days! I growled with frustration and face planted on my book. I could feel Laura shaking me, but couldn't hear her over all my classmates.

"ATTENTION!" a voice barked, effectively silencing most of the noise. I looked up to see the hideous face of our teacher, Mr. Cremmings.

Mr. Cremmings glared at the students until they all sat down. His beady, brown eyes drilled holes into our faces as he paced the front of the classroom.