Chapter 1
I’ll never forget that day. The day at the Grand Canyon. The day Annabelle died. We were going to hike the South Kaibab Trail which was steep but we didn’t care. After all, we were 14 now. We could handle it. We couldn’t.
Looking out over the edge we shouted, “We will, we will rock you!” as a joke and then I turned around to my dad and the rest of the group and said, “ C’mon Let’ g-” but I was cut off. I heard a short scream and I rushed to the edge.Now a loud, long scream shot out of her mouth. “Kiera!!!”
That’s me. Kiera. Annabelle’s best friend. Anna belle’s last thought. Annabelle’s last word.
I wish I knew how it happened so then I could stop it. That’s what I’m going to do. Find out what happened to Annabelle Clermont.
But I couldn’t yet. First I had to make it through Freshman year. Now that Annabelle was gone I was alone for the first time since kindergarten. On the first day in my homeroom I sat next to an empty desk when Mr. Howard began to drone “Think of this time spent in my class as a-” A shaggy haired boy ran in, “Am I late?” “No not all, it is perfectly acceptable to come to my class 20 minutes late!” Mr. Howards stated sarcastically.
“Detention for you Mr. Lander!” Mr. Howard aforementioned as the boy plopped down in the seat next to me. He was a brunette with bright green eyes. He was wearing a striped yellow shirt, gray denim cargo shorts, a black jean jacket and tattered Vans. He looked cute,better than cute, Almost Hot. “This sucks.” he muttered under his breath as he ran his hand through his hair. “He’s the devil.” I said, trying to make him feel better while also remembering my terrible year with him in seventh grade.
He looked up trying to figure out who spoke the reassuring words. He looked my way, “ohh sh*t” I thought. I brushed my auburn hair out of the way so he could see my face “Um hey sorry it’s just your right. I had him last year. He’s a total beotch.” “heh” he replied,”you got that right.” That small smile that he gave me as the bell rang sent shivers down my spine. He brushed the bangs out of his face and said, “You wanna walk together? I got science next.” “Me too” I replied, trying not to sound too excited.
“Great. We can be lab partners. Oh by the way what did you say your name was again?” “Oh I didn’t, it’s Kiera.” The boy responded with, “Kiera I like that. I’m Finn.” “A pleasure to meet you mistress Kiera” Finn stated in a funny, forced British accent. He sounded hilarious. I laughed a good long laugh which I hadn’t done in a while.
For the rest of the passing period and all of science we talked.I learned some interesting things about Finn like how his sister Jenna had emancipated at 17 and they had traveled around for the past two years before settling here. He told me how they were living in a small two bed one bath apartment and how he was hoping to get a dog.
Too soon though we had to part ways, I drifted through the next three classes feeling floaty and disconnected from the world. And the odd looks of sympathy and whispers of “That’s the girl who’s best friend died” and so on and so forth. But I didn’t care or at least not until lunch.
