XIV

by Shaylex

Shaylex goes to West Millbrook Middle School, in her 8th grade year. She hated all three years. At least... she THINKS that she does. She thinks something's missing. Thta missing piece completes the puzzle as she is taken to The World That Never Was.

1. The Dance

XIV

By: Shaylex A. Tamolion

Chapter 1: The Dance

I ran into the 8th grade building, knowing that I was forgetting something in my locker. Dodging everyone in my path, I sprinted as fast as I could, "I'm gonna freakin' miss my bus!" I whispered to myself.

I ran pasted one of my best friends who's bus hasn't been called yet, Cazilo. "Forget somethin', Shay?" she yelled amusedly.

"Shut up!" I responded quickly. I nearly slammed my body into the locker. I twisted the lock onto the correct numbers to unlock it. Unhooking it, I opened it and grabbed the book I was missing: my writing journal. I put the lock back onto it's hinge and slammed my locker door and started running again. Cazi was holding out a hand, "See ya at the dance."

I smacked her hand with mine while saying, "Later!"

I ran outside, few people walking towards the bus stop. Shoot! I could've missed it! I kept running to see how many buses were at the bus lot. Only two… neither of them having the number "150" on them. I cursed and sighed. But then, an idea popped into my head. "Well… there's always Plan B." I smirked. I took out a metal piece that looked like a box. Pressing the small button in the middle, it beeped three times before I threw it in the air. It didn't fall to the ground. Instead, it hovered over the sidewalk, transforming into what seems like a board with capsules on the bottom sides. "I could always solar surf home."

I hopped on, foot straps securing my feet onto the solar surfboard. Starting it up, I was going up slow into the air. Some kids in the distance were staring with awe. "Here we go!" I burst into the air, soaring over the bus. Some 6th graders were laughing with excitement, pointing and saying, "Look at that!" I kept going, smiling and waving at the kids admiring me.

I focused on what path I was taking, "Let's go the long way." I went faster, flying over the wires from the street poles. "I see my bus!" I said to myself. I went even faster to catch up. On the back of the bus, I looked through the emergency window. None of the kids noticed me yet. So, I went around the left side, under the windows. Once I reach the one that I was supposed to sit next to, I could see my other friend, Galician, who was listening to her music.

Now kids were starting to notice me. Someone was getting Galician's attention, and they pointed at me to show her. She looked and was nearly shocked. I smiled and waved. "Good God, Shay!" She shouted.

I laughed, "What? Not used to seeing a flying girl on the other side of the window?"

She nodded, "Yah!"

I laughed again. One kid asked me, "How are you doing that?"

"Solar surfboard." They shook their head in disbelief. I shrugged, "Well, if you don't believe me, then how do you think I'm doing it then?" They were silent. "See ya later." I separated myself from the bus window and went on ahead for everyone to see. I smiled, doing a left-side spiral flip, and speeding on home.

Once I reached the cold sack, I noticed my brother was home, "…Crap." I muttered. I got off my solar surfboard, pressing the button again to make it turn back to its box form. I walked slowly toward the door, looking at the time on my mp3 player, "…3:20. That's too early." Knowing that I'm usually home by 3:40. "Bro might suspect something."

I walked through my house door, the dog running towards me, tail wagging and all. "Hey, Roxanne!" I picked her up, her giving me a face washing. I tossed my bag onto the floor. My brother was laying on the couch, watching a skateboarding video. "Hey." He said blankly.

"Hey." I put Roxanne down and walked into the kitchen, taking my shoes off in the process. Going towards the cell phone that was the house phone, I opened it. "1 missed call: 425-210-2625..." Then I knew who it was, and asked, "When did he call?"

"About 10 minutes ago."

Looking back to the number, I closed it and then went upstairs to the computer room. I opened AIM.

Buddy list online:

OtakuMasquerain

Effinghotpyro

Calonmerc

Teco8558 (away)

Shaylex14

I was surprised that he was on. I clicked on "Calonmerc," an IM window popping up:

Shaylex14: hey, you called earlier?

Calonmerc: yeah, then my phone died…

Shaylex14: which means I cant call you then… TT

Calonmerc: yeah… doing anything tonight?

Shaylex14: I'm going to a school dance from 7:30 to 9:30

Calonmerc: …

Shaylex14: … what?

Calonmerc: o, nothing

Shaylex14: ok, well, I need to get on my hw, k?

Calonmerc: k. bye

Shaylex14: bye

Calonmerc signed off at 3:25 pm

I got off as well. Getting up, I went downstairs again to get my stuff. Then I went back upstairs to my room.

Then I went back upstairs to my room. I plopped on my bed, turning on my mp3 player and getting out my books.

"She's a lot smarter now. I think it's time we pulled her in." a deep voice acknowledged.

"Darling, don't. Let's wait a little longer." a woman's voice warned.

"She's strong and older now. I'm sure she'll be able to handle it." The deep voice pulled out a list. No.1 was him, 2, 3, 4,… "No. 8. He knows all to well how to get a girl's attention."

"You called?" The man the deep voice spoke of appeared, wearing a long black robe just like him. His hood was up and concealing his face.

"Think you could turn into this guy?" he tossed a picture to the man who had arrived. He revealed his face, red spiky hair popping back on his head. He had bold emerald eyes. Upside down purple, teardrop tattoos under his eyes. He looked at the picture, ".. Kyle? Why him?"

"You know him?"

"I've been watching him. What's going on?"

The deep voice motioned him forward to look onto the computer screen. He pointed to the girl on the bed, "We need you to go catch her."

The redhead smirked, liking the appearances, "This'll be pretty easy. When and where?"

"I'll have to explain a few things about her first before I let you loose… Axel."

I was on my last question until I heard the door open and close. "Mom's home." I told myself. I finished the last question, turned off my mp3, and then headed downstairs. "Hey mom." I sighed as I entered the kitchen.

"Hey. How was your day?"

"Good. I just finished my homework." I explained.

"That's good. What're you gonna wear to the dance?"

"Just this. It's not like the Eighth Grade Dance. That isn't until June." I was wearing a blue tank top with a white hood. On my top was two white belts that crossed like a wide "X" over my stomach. Then I had black long pants with slits from the knee on the outside to give it a little flare. Then I wore white and sky blue Etnies. On my upper arms were black stretchy bands that covered the muscle, showing my shoulders. As for jewelry, a black choker with a diamond shaped charm with black rubies in a spiraled form.

"Okay, that's fine." Mom sat down on the recliner and turned on the news while I walked over to the fridge to get a drink.

"Welcome back to Breaking news on WRAL. Just in, a bus was so thought to be chased by a flying girl. Brenda Ross is on the scene while driving behind the bus."

"Bus number 150 was driving along Fall of the Neuse Rd. from West Millbrook Middle School when a girl on what seemed like a flying surfboard floats right up to a window. She waves and then flies ahead, doing tricks and flips. More information on this teen is unknown."

"If you know who this girl is, email at ."

I froze through the whole story just announced. Mom was still as well. "Shay…?" she said in a controlled angry tone.

I sigh and shut the fridge door, "Mom, don't get to upset. I had no other way of getting home."

"You know you could've called either me or dad OR your brother."

"And make you waste your time on your job? Heck no! Besides, I wasn't even thinking of that at the moment!"

"You're not going to the dance tonight."

I completely froze. "But mom! I've already got my ticket! And my friends-"

"Too bad! You're not going. Now go to your room."

Instead of going to my room, I go to the computer. "Cazi's still on. "I said. I click her name, an IM window popping up.

Shaylex14: hey Caz

Cazilo1313: lol you were on the news!

Shaylex14: I wish it wasn't on though

Cazilo1313: why?

Shaylex14: guess who's not going to the dance tonight?

Cazlio1313: NO

Shaylex14: yep! TT

Cazilo1313: but you've already got your ticket!

Shaylex14: that's what I told my mom but noooooo… instead she sends me up to my room

Cazilo1313: man…

Shaylex14: BUT… she didn't say I couldn't leave the house again

Cazilo1313: … oh no…

Shaylex14: Oh YES, dearie…

Shaylex14 signed off at 6:37 pm.

I went to my room and opened my safe. I took out ten bucks out of the 50 I had saved. About one hour later, I prepare my solar surfboard. The board hovered by my window. Then I heard someone coming upstairs. I quickly wrote a note and placed it onto my bed. I hurried onto my board, shut the window, and then took off. It was my mom at my door. Without knocking (even though she didn't need to) she opened the door, "Shay, Din-… Shay?" She saw the note on my bed. Mom grabbed it and read it:

"I'm not skipping out on this dance! No matter how much trouble I'm in! I'll be back 9:40 at the latest.

Shaylex"

Mom dropped the note, in complete shock. The shocking face turned into anger. "Just wait until you get home, young lady. You are in so much MORE trouble now."

I arrived at the dance, transforming my board back into the box and put it into my bag. Then I took out my journal to find the reserved blank page. I wrote at the top "3rd Dance" And then numbered it from one to twenty. Then I closed it and put it away. I walked up to the door, giving the guard my ticket before going in. I was walking through the lobby when one of my other friends ran toward me; Exomi. "Shay! You made it!"

Cazilo was following behind, "So you snuck out?"

"Nah, mom apologized and let me come." She raise her eyebrows in surprise. I rolled my eyes, "Of COURSE I snuck out! Mom would NEVER forgive me for that!"

Cazi sighed, "Yeah, yeah, whatever."

"C'mon! Jekai was wondering where you were." Ex explained.

"Huh? He… was?"

Ex nodded, "And so did everyone else! Dizon, Xanilus, Grethica, Arikal, and Galician."

I shrugged, "Well, it's only…" I looked at the clock, "… 7:36. Not a lot of people are even here yet."

Cazi nodded, "True, but our gang is here."

"Well, well. If it isn't the Flying Gothic Girl. You looked rather hilarious on TV today."

I furrowed my brow, "I think you would, too. After all, I'm not the ugliest guy in the school. But don't let that stop you. Trust me, I've seen much hotter guys like you. AND those who can hold a comment about other ethnicity."

They all "ooh"ed. The one who just spoke, Inzol, walked up to me, "You think you're all tough, huh?" I stayed where I stood, not backing out, "Well, let me tell ya somethin', girl, you're not as tough as me…" his face got closer, "…and you NEVER will."

I smirked, "Underestimate me again, and that mouth will be ripped right off your butt ugly face." Saying that, I pinched his lips together hard and pulled them. He winced in pain. Letting him go, and using only one finger, I pushed him back into his group, who caught him to prevent him from falling. I smirked, "C'mon, guys, let's go." I walked away, Ex and Cazi following, into the dark gym.

Ex went ahead, They're all in the mat room. Follow me."

We followed her there, and everyone was sitting at a table. Arikal scooted over for Ex to sit with her (the seats were very small, but we do it anyway), Cazi sitting in between Grethica and Galician, and I sat between Jekai and Xanilus. "So," Galician started, "We here from Cazi that you snuck out."

"Yep!" I smiled, "And I'm proud of it, to be honest. I wasn't gonna skip out on this dance! You know that!" I told.

"Hmm… I suppose you're right."

"She's always right." Xanilus replied.

"HEY!" Cazi screeched, "I'm the SMARTEST in the group! Don't give her ALL the credit!"

"Calm down, Caz! I'm not gonna take all the credit! Relax!"

"…I've got my eye on you." she said as she sat back down.

Oy, she's like Hayner on KH2. I thought. Suddenly my phone started ringing. I opened it and read the number, "…919-210-2625? That's Kyle's number," I read aloud, "Since when was he in NC?"

Ex looked up at the stairs and saw a boy on the phone, looking straight at us. "Shay! Up there! On the stairs!" she pointed.

I whipped around, but saw nobody there. "No one's there, Ex."

"But I… thought I saw someone."

"Hmm…" …maybe that dream I had last night is coming to life. But HOW? I didn't see anyone, Then I looked back to the number, which was now placed as a 'Missed Call.' …but it could explain Kyle's number… maybe he's HERE.

"Shay?" Jekai asked.

I snapped back into reality, "Wha… huh?"

"Can we pause this situation? I need to talk to you."

"Oh, okay." I replied. I turned to face him.

"…Privately."

"Ohh…" We got up and walked into the gym. "So, what's up?"

"I was thinking… maybe, perhaps this weekend, you and I could… well… umm…"

I sighed, "Are you asking me out?" I obviously stated.

He sighed, then smiled and nodded.

"Perhaps on Sunday." I said. Then I pecked his nose and slyly walked back into the mat room.

As I sat down, Cazi asked, "So what did he want?"

"Oh, nothing much…" I told smoothly, "…he just asked me out, that's all."

Everyone was in shock, "Did he really?"

I nodded. While we were talking, more and more people started coming in. Then the DJ's started to turn the music up louder. "Hey, let's go dance now!" Cazi yelled over the people talking and gossiping and carrying on. All the girls were up for it, but the guys stayed put. We shrugged and ran into the gym.

We danced for about a few songs, and then I wanted to go get the boys. Then suddenly, I see Inzol and his groupies, looking straight at me. Uh oh… I thought, I better sprint for the mat room. When I glanced to the mat room, I saw a figure I've never seen before. I stared. Then the figure motioned me to follow him. I ran for it. When I ran in, Inzol and his gang went into the lobby.

I saw the figure on top of the stairs, He's a fast runner. I thought. "Xani! Toss me my bag!" I shouted.

He quickly took it out and threw it. I caught it with ease and ran after the figure into the other door in the lobby. "Wait!" I yelled. But he already ran out the door. Then, standing a meter away from the door, was Inzol and his gang. "Trying to scare him away? He wouldn't wanna hang out with a freak like you."

I growled. So, I ran and hopped on the rail, and soared over Inzol's group, landing perfectly on my feet and headed out the door. They tried to grab me, but I was out of their reach.

I looked for the figure. He was standing in a dark pillar thing, holding out a hand. I ran and grabbed it. Then he pulled me in. I held on tight. Suddenly, when I open my eyes to find out we weren't moving anymore, we were in a completely white room. I looked to see who I was holding on to. "KYLE!" I reached out and hugged him.

He hugged me back. "Hey, Shay."

I looked up at him. "How did you get to NC? I never knew you were coming!"

He scratched his, "I… wanted to… make it a surprise, y'know?"

I smiled, but then looked around the room. "I…don't recognize this place. How did we-…" I looked into his eyes. But then I noticed something. His eyes aren't emerald green. They're usually brown. After a few seconds, I realized it and gasped. I tried to push away, but he held my arms tight, "YOU AREN'T THE REAL KYLE!" I looked at him again, "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!"

The imposter laughed, "Wow, you sure do remember his features." he chuckled.

I blushed and kept trying to push him away, "No! Let me GO!" I gasped again as he pulled me closer.

Darkness surrounded him as he turned into his real self. He was tall, but very handsome. He also had very bold, bright, spiky red hair. And his eyes had purple , upside-down, teardrop tattoos under them. His outfit consisted of a completely black robe with black gloves and boots. I stared in awe and confusion, "Who are you?" I asked hesitantly.

"I'm Axel. I already know who you are, of course." He smirked and held my torso tightly, so I wouldn't escape. "You are Shaylex. And…" he brushed my face with one hand, "… you are very beautiful."

I reddened even more. I kept trying to push away, but he kept holding me tighter. "Let me GO, you jerk!" I shouted.

Seconds later, another dark pillar appeared. And a silver headed man stepped out, "Axel, that's enough. Catching her is all I needed you to do, not corrupt her."

"Aww, c'mon, Superior," then he cuffed me with special handcuffs. And they were surprisingly comfortable. Then he walked me over to the man called the 'Superior,' "I was just getting started."

The silver head quirked an eyebrow, "You can't be serious. What did I tell you earlier?"

Axel sighed, "Whatever."

Axel pushed me into the silver head. The guy caught me though. He opened another pillar, took my shoulder gently, and led me inside. I looked back to the pyromaniac. He winked at me and waved. I rolled my eyes and glared.

Okay, for some reason, my chapters are being cut in half. I'm trying to fix them but IT'S NOT WORKING (until now, haha). So this is the updated version of Chapter 1... good thing the other chapters aren't like this. TT;