The high school bell sounded over the intercom system. Students excitedly packed up their bags and rushed from the rooms. The last day of school just ended and everybody wanted to get home to start their summer breaks.

One boy stood out from the rest. He slowly rose from his seat, nose an inch away from the pages of his favorite book. Unique aqua eyes soaked in one last paragraph before he flipped the hard cover closed.

Slinging his black school bag over one shoulder David Philips held "Eragon" in his left hand. Out of the four books in the Inheritance Cycle the first one would always be his favorite. This would mark the third time reading the series. He had trouble finding another book that caught his interest like these four did.

Thoughts about the book circled through David's head. The details were already ingrained in his mind from reading each book at least twice. Even then he still liked to think of possible scenarios. Brom living would change a lot of things. Same with Arya finding Murtagh before the twins kidnapped him.

His musings cut off when a string arm wrapped around David's shoulders and squeezed. "Can you believe it?! Another year down. We'll be seniors next year,then after that: college!"

David rolled his eyes at the boy next to him. "You're thinking way to far ahead, John."

"I'm sorry?" John, David's best friend throughout high school, clutched at his chest in mock hurt. "Thinking too far ahead? It's you, sir, who's not thinking enough!"

"'Not thinking enough'?" David echoed incredulously.

His friend nodded sagely. "Exactly. You've got your face stuck to those books twenty four seven. You need to get out more."

"I go out plenty!" David refuted.

John brought up his hand and started rubbing it through David's auburn curls. "No you don't!"

"Cut it out, John!" He pushed uselessly against John's arm. The other boy played on the school football team, making him a lot stronger than David.

In one swift maneuver John used his free hand to snatch "Eragon" out of David's hand. They pushed away from each other, and David's eyes screamed murder. "It isn't funny, John. Give me back my book."

"Come on, man." He tossed the book between his hands carelessly. "You're overreacting."

"No," David denied, "I would really just like my book back." When his friend continued to throw the book he grew more irritated. "John!"

"What–oops." John accidentally missed his hand when tossing the book. It landed in the street beside them with the front cover facing the sky.

David groaned irritably. "Seriously?" He glanced over the street briefly before going to retrieve his book. "Some football player you are."

Back on the sidewalk John laughed. "Sorry about that man. Didn't mean for it to go into the street."

He shrugged casually and brushed off the book cover. "Don't worry about it–" the loud honk of a car horn cut David off. He spun around to see a car speeding towards him. A scream echoed hollowly in David's ears, but before he could see where it came from the car collided with his body.

Pain ripped through his body. It was all he could focus on until a shrill ring pierced his ears. Everything around him came into sharp focus before fading to white, and then finally black.