These trees are hidden deep within the woods, and have the power to-
"Autumn Davidson." Snap. "Your book?"
Ms. Greene, my ELA teacher, the bane of my existence, holds out one hand to take my book, the other grasping a meter stick.
"Am I in trouble?" I clutch my book.
"May I remind you that this is the fourth time this month that I caught you reading during class?"
"Yeah," Kelsey Brown, the most popular girl in the school, and the other bane of my existence, adds. "You better stop misbehaving, Autumn."
"You shouldn't be one to talk, Kelsey. I've caught you breaking the rules much more than Miss Davidson has."
Davidson 1, Brown 0.
"So, Autumn," Ms. Greene asks again, "Your book?"
"Can't I just keep it?" My knuckles are turning white from how hard I'm holding on to the book. "It's the last day of school. I promise to pay attention."
Ms. Greene sighs. "Since it is the last day, you won't be in trouble, and you can keep the book. But put it away, or else you'll have an automatic suspension at the beginning of next year."
"Thank you, Ms. Greene," I say, as if it matters if I get suspended. It's not like I'm going to still be here by the fall.
"Just do not disrupt the rest of the class. We must get through this lecture to prepare you for your 7th Grade classes."
I don't pick up anything from the rest of the lecture. I think I fall asleep for a while, because when the bell rings, I'm confused why I'm not in the forest running from vampire cheerleaders.
I'm shoving my books into my faded green book bag when Kelsey walks up to my desk.
"So, what were you reading that was so important?" She smirks. "Another pathetic 700-page fairy-meets-dragon series written for third graders?"
I look down at the maroon book sitting in my lap. The gold hand on the cover gleams in the fluorescent classroom lightning, the number 1 prominently announcing itself from the palm.
"Sure," I grin. "Let's go with that."