Hey Guys! So this is the first full-length story I've been working on, but about zero of it is super original. The plot is based of the story True Love, the Sphynx, and Other Unsolvable Riddles by Tyne O'Connell and all of the characters belong to Lisi Harrison (that was my disclaimer), but maybe it has a little bit of my own touch to it. I hope it does. Anyway, if you've read the book here is how the characters match up: Derrick is Sam, Cam is Salah, Massie is Octavia, and Claire is Rosie. I sort of thought it worked out like how the four of them became couples in the second/third Clique books. And if you haven't read it, PLEASE DO. It is such a good story and if you like this at all you will adore the real version, pinky promise! So yeah. Here goes...
**DERRICK**
As usual, no one in Ginnah's fourth period geography class was paying any attention. iPods/Phones were visible throughout the room as she drew a detailed diagram of who-knows-where on the board. The clicking of texts being fired was heard, but of course Ginnah didn't notice. The middle aged super progressive teacher was too concentrated on perfecting her diagram. Bored, I tried to roll my eyes at my best friend Cam to get a laugh out of him, but he was busy staring out the window like the weirdo he is. He is so laid back, and as one of the hottest guys in San Francisco, he always is breaking girls' hearts. Which I don't mind, of course, because then they come running to me.
Sighing, I fiddled with the new camera lens my dad had sent me for my birthday. Though he is never around, he insists that we share a "bond" because we are both into photography. I was about to snap a picture when Ginnah finally turned around; she rolled her eyes at the sight of everyone texting under the desk, but she was used to it.
"Derrick!" Ginnah snapped, and I jerked my head up. "Can you tell me what this picture is of?"
I glanced around the room for help, trying to find someone who could slip me the answer, but everyone had the same clueless expression on their face.
Ginnah sighed, exasperated. "Just guess, at least," she encouraged.
"Uhhhhm, some kind of dragon? Or maybe mountains or something?" I guessed, not caring if I was right.
She sighed again, and then called out, "Cam!"
He snapped his attention away from whatever was out that window, and squinted his eyes at what was on the board. After studying for a bit, he spoke up in his soft, relaxed manner, "that's the Mediterranean Sea. Italy is that boot-looking peninsula." Then he went back to staring out the window. I groaned, he had an advantage, being Greek and having been to the Mediterranean plenty of times.
"Very good, Cam! Now, here's something that might catch your pretty much non-existent attention," Ginnah paused to see if any of us would react, but nobody did. "Our class has been granted special permission to go on a historical cruise tour around the Mediterranean." That did get our attention. Ginnah grinned as the sound of tapping keys stopped and everyone looked up, intrigued. "but that's not all," she continued, and I wondered what could add to a cruise around the Mediterranean. "Students from Octavian Country Day School will be joining us. OCD is a private girls' school in Westchester, NY," she informed us, a grin on her face.
Once again the sound of texts firing was heard, everyone updating their friends, or discussing whether or not the OCD girls would be hott. Ginnah shook her head understandingly, still smiling. "Turn your permission slips in by Friday," she said, patting the stack by the door as the bell rang.
**MASSIE**
It was last period and Mr. Myner was droning on about who knows what, again. I faked a yawn, tapping my hand over my mouth, in an attempt to draw some giggles. And like always, it worked.
"Massie!" He snapped, once again correctly identifying me as the source of disruption.
"Yes, babe?" I turned on the charm and batted my eyelashes. He still scowled, but the anger in his features lessened.
"Could you please stop disrupting my class long enough to let me make this very important announcement, that I think even you will be interested in?"
"Of course, babe" I replied sweetly, and he sighed and returned to his announcement.
"Class, we have a very exciting opportunity in front of us. We are going on a historical cruise around the Mediterranean!" the class erupted in excited whispers. Even I couldn't completely contain my excitement. I locked eyes with my BFF Claire, and we telepathically squealed to each other while keeping up a somewhat composed façade. Claire was beyond excited, I could tell. She adored history, and a beautiful cruise stopping at gorgeous ports around the Mediterranean could spark her creative side and inspire another song.
I think I need to take a second to describe Claire. My best friend is pretty shy around almost everyone, but actually one of the coolest and funniest people I know. She's a stunningly leggy white-blonde, but not in the classic, cookie-cutter way. And yet somehow she's managed to convince herself that she is always in my shadow. I've tried telling her multiple times that it's because she is too wrapped up in her work, not that she isn't beautiful. Guys try to get her attention all the time, but she's always writing some song or another and doesn't give them the time of day. She has this totally casual natural style that I sometimes envy, but I know that I always look amazing in my high-fashion outfits, and I've always appreciated good dressers. Yet it'd be nice to be able to look that good without trying.
"Massie!" Mr. Myner snapped, and I had to refrain from rolling my eyes.
"What is it, babe?" I asked, knowing that he would either get ticked off by my continued sassiness or he would drop the matter and call on someone brighter, like, say, Claire. Luckily for me, he chose the latter.
"Head in the clouds again, Ms. Block?" he asked, partially amused. "I thought the prospect of this trip would manage to hold your attention!" he added before turning to Claire. "Claire, pass out these permission slips, would you?" she nodded, turning her big blue eyes on me excitedly before starting around the room with the forms. I didn't even glance at it before stuffing it in my Louis. Most girls were whispering to their friends or texting their boyfriends at Briarwood. When Claire sat back down I pulled out my iPhone to signal a texting convo, when Mr. Myner busted me again. Somehow he always knows when I should be in trouble.
"Massie, please put your phone away, because there is a second part of this announcement that I'm sure every one of you," he looked pointedly at me, "will have an interest in.
I started to roll my eyes at Claire, tuning him out, but when my eyes where half way around I caught, "students from Hotchkiss Academy, a boys' school in San Francisco, will be joining us on this trip."
My mouth fell open, both out of excitement and worry. Then I allowed myself permission to squeal out loud, despite the fact that it was rather LBRish. Everyone else in the class was doing it, so hey! The bell rang and Claire and I were the last to leave, like always. The second we got out of the school, though, we held hands and jumped up and down, shrieking for a good three minutes before gathering ourselves and climbing into her range rover to head to her estate. I sighed settling into the leather seat, knowing this would be the best school trip ever.
Thanks for reading! More to come soon. I've got a few chapters written out already so the first few updates should be pretty quick. After that, no promises. Hope you enjoyed the first chapter!
Hugs, Sky