Into the woods

Chapter 1: In trouble again

 It has been two years since the accident with Summer. Two years ago, we were Summer and Winter, Winter and Summer. Now it is just Winter. Plain old Winter. Two years ago, me and my twin sister, Summer, were in the woods that all of our friends say was haunted. Summer did not believe them, so she volunteered us to go. I could not leave my sister to go on her own, I had to go with. Plus, my name was going to be 'scardey cat' if I didn't go with. 

  Summer was always the brave one. I was the scared one. We went into the woods. The woods my parents told us not to go in. We were playing tag when something grabbed Summer and took her away. It is all my fault! Why didn't I go and save her? I was too scared.

  

  I was walking to my locker this morning, at school, and someone decided to put their leg out to trip me. I fell for it. I tripped over their leg and my stuff spilled all over. Everyone was laughing. Someone picked up my folder, I thought they were trying to help me, but I didn't realize who it was that picked up my folder. When I looked up, I saw McKenzie Star. Just the person I didn't want to see. 

 She picked up my folder and went rummaging through it. That was my writing folder! It holds all my stories and everything! This day is getting worse and worse. I got up when McKenzie was taking out my prized story. The one about Summer. I was in trouble. I  had to get that paper from her. 

"Summer?" said McKenzie. "You are so lonely, Winter. Get a life," 

She took the paper and ripped it up. Her and her group of what used to be Summer's friends laughed and walked away. I look at the ripped paper pieces on the ground. When I go to pick up the papers and folders, I notice my writing folder is missing. This was bad. I searched all around. 'No, no, no, no, no.' 

  This could only mean...McKenzie took my folder! I will have to get it later. I take a look at my watch. I was almost late for homeroom. I and my mess self walk over to my locker. While I am putting my things away, I get a tap on the shoulder. "Ms. Hart?" asks someone. 

"That is me," I say.

"Please, could you come with me?" asks the person. I turn around. Uh oh. It is the principal. Principal Ingrid. Ms. Ingrid gives you that cold shiver down your spine when she looks you directly in the eye. Her prized possession is McKenzie. I am probably in trouble from McKenzie.

 I follow Ms. Ingrid to her office. And just as I suspected. McKenzie, fake sobbing. And around her eye was a big black mark. McKenzie was going to frame me like she always does. I can tell that mark is made with marker and makeup. "Ms. Hart, please apologize to Ms. Star now." Ms, Ingrid demands. "For what?" I ask, innocent. 

"Ms. Star says you took her folder with the poem for her mother and ripped it up. Then, you punched her in the eye." Ms. Ingrid said.

I could tell even ms. Ingrid was lying. She loved McKenzie so much that she would be in on framing a fellow student? "I can tell you both are lying. Fakers." I say.

"Ms. Hart, I am calling your parents. I do not tolerate such behavior and language in my school." Ms. Ingrid says sternly. 

"Go to the nurse, honey." Principal Ingrid says sweetly to McKenzie.  "Detention for you. After school till 4:30 pm, and before school at 5:00 am." 

"You do not have any proof that I did anything." I defend. 

"McKenzie's poor eye?" asks Ingrid.

"Marker and makeup," I reply. 

"What about her poem?" asks Ingrid. She hands me a piece of parchment, scribbled on and torn a bit. I take a good look at it. It is scribbled out in black marker, the color or McKenzie's eye.

"This is all fake," I say.

"I am calling your parents," Ingrid says, walking over to her desk. This is bad. My parents are super gullible. I will be in so much trouble. I bring up Summer. "Summer would know you are lying," I say.

"Winter Hart, we do not bring up a dead person here!" Ingrid says.

"She is not dead!" I shout, a little too loudly. The superintendent comes through the door. Mr. Natale. He is the only one who has power over Principal Ingrid. "Mr. Natale, Principal Ingrid is lying and so is McKenzie Star!" I say.

"Elizabeth, is this true?" asks Mr. Natale.

"No," defends Ingrid.

"You cannot lie to a superintendent..." points Mr. Natale.

"Alright. McKenzie told me how much she was mad at Winter and so she told me that she would do something very special if I did this," says Ingrid.

 Even now, I can tell Ingrid is still lying, and Mr. Natale can tell too. But he lets her off the hook. He takes my hand. Over to a chair. "Now, I know you don't want to believe it, but your dear sister has passed. And you gotta accept that," he says calmly. I nod in return. "Now go off to class," he says. I walk away. Then I remember my folder. 

"One more thing, Mr. Natale." I start.

"Yes?" he asks.

"McKenzie took my folder. It may only be a folder, but it means much to me. Can you see if McKenzie will let out where she is hiding it?" I ask.

"Sure," replies Mr. Natale. 

  During the first period, math, I decided that I have to go back in the woods. I have to get Summer back.