Chapter 1

Kyra woke up that morning to several texts from Cynthia asking why she wasn't outside yet. Crap, she thought. Glancing up at her alarm clock and seeing that it was 7:50 and she was supposed to meet her best friend for their daily walk to school 15 minutes ago. The bright-eyed girl rolled out of bed and crawled across the floor to the giant oak dresser her father had bought Kyra when she had redecorated her room last fall. As she yanked open the drawer and searched for a top and a pair of cute shorts that would suit the scorching summer weather. She chose her favorite outfit, a tank top with the bowtie spray painted on the neck and the shorts with the flowers on the sides of the thighs. She rushed through the rest of her routine, only glancing at her fiery red hair and freckled face with her piercing green eyes before brushing her teeth and rushing downstairs. Stealing a piece of bacon from her bratty raven-haired brother before grabbing her bag and sprinting out the door.

"What happened to you? You're 26 minutes late," Cynthia inquired. Her dark curls framing her brown skin as she spoke.

"I'm always late Cy," came the reply. Cynthia blushed slightly, something she doesn't do often, at the nickname. Kyra was the only one on Earth that called her that.

"I know but it doesn't mean I like it," she quipped.

"Fine, I'm sorry I'll try to be on time," Kyra said, even though they both knew that she wouldn't.

"You won't," The black haired girl corrected.

"You're right. But you love me too much to quit waiting," Kyra taunted.

"I hate you," Cynthia replied, smiling her red headed friend.

As they continued walking and neared the last block on the way to the school, they heard the school bell that signaled that all the students should be inside.

"Oh no," Cynthia said. Kyra, feeling guilty responded.

"Race ya!" she screamed. They made it just as the doors were closing. Cynthia won the race, quick and agile because of her tiny size.