This is an epic story about strength, courage, and BLAH, BLAH, BLAH! I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that this is a load of poo, you should shut this book right now, and you're wondering when I will FINALLY get to the good part. Well fine, be that way. At least you're happy.
I was sitting in a chair, in a library, right in front of an old P.C. (which I was trying to hack into.) I don't what y'all think of when I say 'chair', so let me clarify. It was not a comfy armchair with big, padded cushions. It was not a relaxing rocking chair. It was one of those ugly, plastic blue chairs that hurt your butt when you sit in them for too long. One normally associates them with 'school'. So not comfortable.

Anyway, back to the computer I was hacking into. I typed in the password that I stole from computer registration sheet in the secretary's desk, and hit log in. I crossed my fingers, said a prayer, and...

BEEP.......BEEP.......BEEP.......

An alarm went off. Crap! They set a buzzer so thy would know if anyone logged on past a certain time. Why did did people have to make things hard for me? I just wanted to do some research!

" Hands up, young lady. You're surrounded." said this really old guy with a fuzzy beard and no hair. "Just come with us downtown, and we can call your folks." The fuzzy-beard man paused to wait for an answer. In the meantime, I analyzed my situation. Not counting Mr. Fuzzy-beard, there were 6 men in nerdy night-guard uniforms standing in a circle around me. I couldn't get over how nerdy they looked! I mean, last years I thought last year's were bad, but this year's were like... so 'Revenge of the Nerds' if you know what I mean. All of the men were fat, and they were trying to look scary. (Notice I said 'trying' but not succeeding!) None of them had guns. I really hated to do this to them but I had no choice. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

I drew my sword from it's sheath at my waist. Yet again, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking 'How did she get a sword?' Don't ask. It's a long story involving stealing, fighting, and flirting with several guys. Told ya you didn't wanna know. Anyway, I started slicing my way through geeky security-type dudes (don't worry, I didn't hurt them.) Now who was the scary one? You guessed it, ... moi. In a blur I made it to the outside door. Then I a evil, demonic, genius idea.....

I'd like to say in a fit of mercy, I let the men go free, but that would be lying. In reality, I tied them to each other and threw them into a locked storage room, after knocking them out and removing all possible lock-picking devices from them. How much you wanna bet they get fired? Never mind.... Anyway, the point is , I'm on the run. Again.

I guess I should probably tell you about myself. well, I'm almost 12 years old, and I've been on the run for about.....um.....9 months now. My mom and I argue frequently, and things just don't seem to work out between us. I have a tendency to get under her skin. What can I say? It's a talent I have.

I bet it would help if you knew my name. My name is Zoe. Just Zoe. I don't really like it. It's to strange, if you know what I mean. My blond hair is almost always pulled back into a ponytail, and my eyes are the deepest shade of black. I have some acne on my nose, but my nose is so sun burnt and red, the acne blends right in.

Anyway, back to the present. I'm running away from a library and had nowhere t go. By my watch, it was around 11:00 pm. Come on! can't I get some rest in peace? ( i don't mean 'rest in peace' like r.i.p. on gravestones, i just mean.....never mind.)

Resigning myself to a lonely night, I found an old, empty bandstand to curl up in. a cold, dreary wind howled in the distance. I didn't think I could possibly sleep, but I laid down my head. Then I slept.

I woke up with a boy standing on me.

It happened like this: I heard a strange voice say get up, but I thought I was imagining it, so I ignored it. then the mysterious voice pulled my hair, which kinda ticked me off, so I rolled onto my stomach.

Then the boy made one of the worst decisions in his life.

He stood on me.

Let me give you a very good piece of advice. Do NOT under ANY circumstances step on a sleeping girl who has a friggin' SWORD!!!

I grabbed the dude's ankle, rolled out from under him, and BOOM! Idiot-boy hit the dust. Spinning around, , I drew my sword and stepped on the small of the guy's back. Angrily, I said" HOw do YOU like being stepped on, huh?" I really hope I sounded tough. I heard a muffled "Humma Hemme Hup?" I then realized the little twerp couldn't talk 'cuz his face was in the ground. Whoops! I decided to be merciful to the little sucker. " I'll let you go if you PROMISE not to be a bad person. I heard a muffled "Hi 'romise", which i took to be an 'I promise'. I let him up, but kept my sword at the ready. Like I was going to be the one who got my butt kicked 'cuz I put my sword down.

I decided to start the customary interrogation. "Who are you? And don't lie, 'cuz I'll know." Yeah, right. i couldn't be a lie detector to save mine or - for that matter - anyone elses life. But I hoped he didn't realize that. He replied, " I'm Zach. Zach Murfreeson. Who're you?" "I'm Zoe." I said. Why didn't I give him a fake name? Ugh. I'm pathetic.

By this time I'd gotten a good look at the boy. He was older than me by ...maybe 6 years? His nose had beem broken several times by the look of it. He had light brown hair with multiple cowlicks. His eyes were deep green. He was kinda cute - not that I cared, but he had a mischevious smile, like he was gonna play a practical joke on me. Instinctively, I put my hand on my wallet, forgetting it was empty.

His voice broke through my reverie. "Ummm..... so you're a runaway." I immeadiately got suspicious. What if my mom had asked him to ... like capture me or something? To stall i said "Not necassarily." He replied cooly "you needn't lie. It's just, you're sleeping alone in a bandstand. Kinda clues me in." I blushed as his green eyes hardened. I hoped I hadn't offended him too badly. He's the only one I've talked to in... like... weeks!! I muttered a feeble " sorry." The green eyes softened. and I knew I'd been forgiven.

"I could take you to the place where I live with a bunch of other special runaways." he offered kindly. it sounded good, but... "What do you mean 'special' runaways?" I asked. Zach looked uncomfortable. "I'll tell yuo when we get there."

I was suspicious, but it would be nice to live in one place for a while. Why not? He was cute...Whoops! Did I say that aloud? Awkward.......

Anway, Zach and I left the clearing, and I only looked back once.

:)

Hope you like it. Please send reviews.

Ciao, MACARONIGIRL

Bye y'all