Stella and the Secret. 

Chapter one: The First day.

Imagine this: Your top student in every class, your parents are more proud of you than they’ve ever been, and you even have a feeling a cute boy likes you. But then BAM!!! You’re suddenly part of a ridiculous tangled web! And all because you wanted some coffee. Okay, okay not all of that is completely true, say for the boy and the beverage related problems.

Let me explain. Hiya I’m Stella Morgan, I’m sixteen, live in New York, and have a secret the size of Wyoming! But let’s start this story at the beginning. 

It was a not so bright and sunny day. In fact It was pouring outside, which is normal for Syracuse this time of year. It’s the first day of school and to make it worse I overslept!

“Hurry honey or you’re gonna be late!”

My mother stated as I rushed down the stairs with a toothbrush in my mouth and me struggling to get a rain jacket on. 

“Mom, that might be the understatement of the century! Considering the fact I’m already late!” 

 I took one look at my watch, grabbed a mini waffle, and bolted out the door. I obviously didn’t wait for the bus since I could see it going down a neighborhood two blocks away. I quickly ran to try to catch it and almost did because of my awesome running skills. (That’s a joke. I am fast but not as fast as a bus two blocks away up by a hill) I did Run as far as I could, but eventually burnt out and discovered I was both soaked and holding a soggy waffle. After throwing it away in a nearby trashcan I walked around and saw three people that seemed to be heading to my school as well. And me being the extroverted person I am, I went over to talk to them because 1: I thought it‘d be good to make friends at school as soon as possible and 2: Because it was so relieving to see other people that were just as late as me. 

“Hi, do you guys go to the high-school a quarter of a mile up there?” I asked pointing to the direction we are all going in. 

“Yeah! Do you go there!?” As I look over to see who said that, I see a girl in a cute  medium length skirt and wearing a beret with a little frog that seems to be hand sewn. She looked my age and had hair that rested perfectly right by her shoulders and earrings that appeared to be small teddy bears. She looked at me with excited eyes like a dog when they see another  dog. She seemed to nearly jump at me with excitement when I came over. 

“Hi! I’m Mary! You know, like the one in the Bible!”

 “Which Mary in the Bible?”

 I mumbled unsure if she heard me.

“And this is Cleo, like Cleo Patra. 

She pointed to a shorter girl next to her. She had on a very fashionable outfit and had a seemingly sharp look about her. She was holding a phone and seemed to be on it for the rest of the conversation while still listening and replying. 

And this is Peter, like Peter Pan-But you can call me Pete,

 The third one cut in 

“That’s what everyone calls me. Unless you can think of a better pet name.” He smirked at me until Cleo added: 

Don’t listen to him. I think he’s broken.” 

Cleo said with an annoyance in her voice. (Just so you know this is not the boy I mentioned earlier.)

Peter was tall, Brown eyes, dark brown hair that had a little swirl of hair that landed right above his right eyebrow, and a small Spider-man key chain on the zipper of his backpack.

 “Well it’s really nice to meet all of you, I’m Stella like…” 

I suddenly realized that there wasn’t a finish to that sentence that I could think of. So I shook my head and continued.

“Anyway… I hate to say it but I think we are all kinda late. 

Well I know how we can get there sooner” Peter seemed to have a ‘Pumped Up’ look in his eyes when he said that. Then I looked over to see Mary had made the same face. I suddenly realized we would be running the rest of the way. Cleo caught on as well and sternly protested. 

“There is NO way I’m running that far. I’m wearing heels. And I’ll mess up my hair!” 

“Okay you’re Majesty.” Peter rolled his eyes jokingly at her.”

“Pete, you wouldn’t get it” Her hand raised in front of he’s face as if to say “That’s right I am royalty and you disrespect me with your face.” 

“Well have fun being late!” 

Pete replied right before he started dashing toward the school. Mary quickly followed behind until she overtook him. (pretty easily too) 

“Wait for me!!” 

I exclaim as if they could hear me. By now they were long gone. 

Right now it’s the end of school and everything is a bit fuzzy. But the good news is I share most of my classes with Mary and the bad news is I also share some classes with Pete. He isn’t too bad, he’s more like the class clown if anything. And since Cleo is in a grade above us, we don’t share a class.

Pete sat behind one of his friends, Noah, who Pete used as a drum and two pencils were his drumsticks. Noah soon grew tired of this but that didn’t seem to bother Pete and his own little world. And during PE we played dodge ball and Noah jumped on Pete’s back to protect himself. I suppose this is how boys work, one moment you hate each other, the next you depend on one another to protect you. (Boys.)

Before I knew it, it was lunch time, but before I went to the cafeteria I had to stop by the restroom. As I was coming back from the bathroom. I realized there was gum on my shoe.(Stupid dirty bathroom floors) I grabbed a paper towel from the dispenser and tried to get it off. I started hopping on one foot while struggling to get it unstuck. I wasn’t looking where I was going and I had traveled out of the bathroom was about to fall. I closed my eyes, accepting my fate still holding my foot. But I then felt someone catch me. I was timid about opening my eyes for the fact that if it was Peter I knew he would never let me forget about the time he saved me from the dangers of falling in my face. But when I looked up I saw a tall boy smiling at me. I tried to wake up from whatever strange daydream I was in. As I got back up on my feet, I started apologizing

“I’m sorry I didn’t see you there.” I quickly forgot about my foot I felt red in the face and I heard him ask

“Are you alright?” I suddenly felt my mouth moving!

“Yeah I’m okay thanks. I just wasn’t looking where I was hoping.” I laugh a little and start to cool down. He chuckled as well and then we just looked at each other for a second. I hoped he would say something to break the silence but I decided to do it myself.

“Well it was nice meeting you…” I waited for him to answer.

“Oh! It’s Jack. And you are…

I’m Stella.”

We looked at each other one more time, when I quickly remembered my friends.

“Oh, I’m sorry I have to go to lunch. Do you want to come sit with me?” As I asked, I realize that might have been a weird thing to ask.

“Oh I would love to, but I work with the school’s newspaper and it meets during lunch. I’m the editor.” He lifted his chin with pride when he added that.

“Well good luck!” I comment before I turn around and start heading for the lunch room doors. I open one before looking at him for the last time.

“See you later then.” He waved at me and gave a grin before he too turned around and walked away. I decided not to bring up any of this to my friends since I didn’t see the importance of it, but I did think about it during lunch

I walked into the cafeteria trying to find the lunch line. (which wasn’t hard) I got in line and quickly noticed how weirdly bouncy the mash potatoes were and how soggy the sandwiches looked.

Once I got my food I saw Mary waving me over where the others were. I sat down and listened to the conversations they were sharing, which was good for me because I learned a lot more about these people, like Mary has three older brothers, two in collages and one is married. Cleo is an only child and likes it that way apparently, and Peter has a little brother who’s in middle school. They liked talking about themselves and their lives knowing I cared. As I was listening I glanced across from my table to see three girls that appeared to be heading in our direction.

As they came closer they appeared to walk with more confidence than a cat returning to its owner with a dead mouse in its mouth. They all had perfect hair and designer bags that probably cost more than our car. Their makeup looked like they had just gotten back from a photo shoot. And as they walked everyone made a path for them as if they were royalty! Everybody seemed to be either in awe of them or fearful of them, which made me nervous when they came closer. As the three girls walked over you could tell the girl in the middle was the leader. She was Beautiful and had a powerful look in her eyes. That is until she started talking. It suddenly turned into a loving sweet look. 

“Hi! I’m Caroline! And you’re Stella Morgan. 

“Yeah…” 

I think to myself wondering “how she knows my name and why she would even talk to me.” I guess I intimidate her with me and my ability to pull off wearing a puffy green rain jacket and not look like a giant pear. (It’s a gift really) 

“Well I hope we can become CLOSE friends” She seemed to snarl while grinning. I didn’t know you could do that. It confused me until I wondered if it might have had something to do with what happened right before lunch.