• Prologue: The Dream
    Chapter 1 Part 1
    Chapter 1 Part 2
    Chapter 1: Final


    “8:00—AND there's the bell!” I said running frantically down the hallway, stumbling over an abandoned backpack. I was only going to be about a minute late, so I was hoping that our history teacher, Mrs. Johnson, would cut me some slack.

    “Well look who decided to show up,” she said, scrutinizing the three of us as we tiptoed into the classroom. I hated being late. I never understood why every kid in the class had to stare at you as if you'd committed some sort of crime.

    “Sorry, Mrs. Johnson. It was my fault.” Of course Julie had to take the blame and be the hero. I immediately felt bad for thinking that way, but I knew that Mrs. Johnson wouldn't get mad at her, and if it were me taking the blame, I'd get a tardy, and the other two would get off free.

    Mrs. Johnson smiled softly and placed her agenda book on her desk. “Don't take all the credit now, Julie. Go have a seat you three. I'll let you off the hook this time.”
    Thank God. Dodged another bullet.
    As much as I hated the fact that every teacher adored Ju, it did come with some benefits. If only the teachers loved me half as much as they loved her, which didn’t make much sense since I made much better grades than Julie, and I didn’t cut up in class nearly as much.

    “You're assignment for today is on the board, so get started. I have a lot of essays to grade today.” Everyone immediately took out his or her books and started on the class work. After glancing at the questions, I was happy that I sat right behind Jeff. He always knew the right answers and never thought twice about helping me out.



    NEARLY TWENTY minutes had passed when I felt a sudden pang of anxiety in my stomach. It was almost like a jab of nervousness. The kind you get right before getting on some huge roller coaster that you’re not sure you'll ever get off of again. I instinctively wrapped my arms around my stomach and rested my head on the desk.

    “You okay?” Ju asked from across the aisle. She pretty much sat right next to me.
    I turned around and shook my head. “I don't feel right. It's weird.” Jeff turned around and shot me a concerned glance.

    “Are you sick?”
    I shook my head. “No...I just feel kind of anxious for some weird reason.”
    “Maybe it's an ulcer.” Ju whispered. I rolled my eyes.

    “Ju, I do not have an ulcer. It's probably nothing. Don't worry about it.”
    Suddenly there was an abrupt knock at the door. “Come in,” Mrs. Johnson said.
    “Continue your class work, guys. Don't pay any attention.” Of course everyone pretended to answer the questions but spared quick glances every now and then up to the front as the school counselor came “skipping” in. It was then that the feeling in my stomach intensified, and for that split moment I thought I'd throw up.

    “Not here,” I told myself.
    I started to raise my hand and ask to go to the nurse when I noticed the boy following not far behind the counselor. At first glance I felt as if my heart had literally stopped, just for that split second, and I quickly averted my eyes to the problems in my book.
    Who is that guy? I'd never seen him before, and as much as I wanted to look again to make out who it was, my mind wouldn't let me. Something inside was telling me not to look at him.

    What's wrong with me?
    A few minutes went by, and Mrs. Johnson clapped her hands twice. All the students excitedly looked to the front. Of course they were paying attention the entire time. “It seems that we have a new student.”

    I began to slowly lift my head.
    “His name is—”

    She paused, and my eyes locked onto him.
    “Vincent Balentine?”
    My body froze in my seat, and I could feel the color slowly begin to drain from my face.
    “Balenteen,” he corrected. “Vincent Balentein.”

    Chapter 2