Okay, so a few things before you start reading this…
This prologue takes place a few years back, and then it'll jump forward to this year in the first chapter. Throughout this story, it also will include or mention some non-canon events in relation to the show, as well as some for real life, just to fit in with the storyline. Characters will be a few years older than their Total Drama selves, so don't get confused if something happens… like Sky going to college, for example. And one other thing – since the main setting is Los Angeles, it'll be where everyone lives.
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Contents…
Prologue – Big Dreams
Part One – Refuge
Chapter 1 – Simpleton's Escape Route
Chapter 2 – Compare and Contrast
Chapter 3 – The Girls Left Behind
Chapter 4 – Invitation Over Spilt Coffee
Part Two – Change
Chapter 5 – New Digs, Old Friends
Chapter 6 – Lips Are Sealed
Chapter 7 – Complete Makeover
Chapter 8 – News is Out
Part Three - Nostalgia
Chapter 9 – Common Ground
Chapter 10 – Bowling Down Memory Lane
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
Part Eight
Epilogue
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Prologue – Big Dreams
I never really had any big dreams after high school, apart from getting into an art college. But there were some people who did.
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I regretted absolutely everything the moment I stepped outside of the school building and into the pouring rain, which was a first for Los Angeles.
"Why are you bringing me?" I asked my classmate Sierra, who was just a few feet in front of me.
"Because Cody said so." She replied haughtily, briefly looking back as she stuffed the large envelope she was holding into her satchel. "And uh, no one else on the yearbook team could come."
"Oh come on, I never even liked Cody in the first place. He's just a guy dreaming big, and you know I had a boyfriend for most of high school anyway. But I guess it… is a bit different since we broke up a couple of days after prom."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well I don't know, really. But to be honest, I'm actually enjoying being single. And I found Cody pretty annoying anyway."
Sierra didn't say anything, and just tucked a strand of her purple hair behind her ear. I could only roll my eyes at how hard she was to be convinced about anything, which was ever since freshman year.
Once we got out to the street, I felt the rain get heavier, and darted across to the bus shelter. At the same time, I felt my phone vibrating in my satchel, and stepped back as I pulled it out to see that my friend Leshawna had texted me.
Where you at ya prom queen? I thought you were gonna come over to study for world history and pre calc
I would have replied right then, but a school bus pulled into the bus stop just as I was about to start typing. I saw Sierra sprinting over to it, and quickly put my phone in my raincoat pocket before following a bunch of others on the bus. Feeling the dry air against my wet skin, I sighed in relief and yanked my hood back, then flopping into the front seat.
"Oh, why'd it have to rain?" I heard Sierra complain, and looked over to see her on the opposite seat facing the window.
I couldn't understand the weather either. It had been a long, agonizing drought, then suddenly, a big dumping of rain came, and that was all there was supposed to be for another long time, if light showers didn't count.
A few stops later (during which time I replied to Leshawna's text), I saw that it wasn't the usual stop – instead of stopping at another high school, we were at the subway station already. Remembering what Sierra had told me before we left, I grabbed my stuff and got off the bus, going straight to the stairs leading down. As soon as I got down to the bottom, Sierra rushed ahead and got on the waiting train. I decided that I had no choice but to follow her, narrowly missing a couple who seemed to be arguing about something.
"I swear, if you get ONE more piercing!" I heard the girl shout, and I winced. I never saw who the guy was, but I still felt sorry for him.
After a half-hour subway ride, and a ten minute walk, I found myself standing outside what was apparently some sort of magazine editorial building. For a moment I completely forgot why I had bothered to let myself get dragged along to the central city. But that wasn't important.
"So is this to get a job or something?" I asked Sierra, who was looking a bit nervous.
"Mhm…" she trailed off and I could hear her gulping. "I dunno what they'll think of my article…"
"What was it about again? Something to do with that new mansion being built in Beverly Hills?"
"It's… got a lot of people after it, like one of the Kardashians, and Justin Timberlake, and Taylor Swift… oh yeah, and Chris McLean."
"Chris McLean?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow. "You mean the guy in that badminton movie?"
"Yeah, he actually is pretty rich, but a lot of it is inheritance or something." Sierra looked up at the building and sighed. "I think I'm ready now."
"Do you want me to… wait anywhere?"
"Uh… just by the elevators on the top floor. That's where the editor's office is."
I nodded silently as we slowly walked inside, then going over to the unusually shiny elevator doors. I hadn't read Sierra's article, but I had read previous ones she wrote for the school magazine, which were actually pretty good. I still didn't understand why she didn't press further with Cody and leave me to my study session with Leshawna.
I knew about some of the plans for the mansion – it had been all over the papers for several weeks on end. But I didn't know that I was to find myself inside it one day, for a reason that I probably would have dreaded if I did know.
Simply put, this wasn't going to be the last I heard of the mansion. And that wasn't counting more newspaper articles.
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And there you go, that's the end of the prologue. Next chapter will be up on Friday (or Thursday for some), so keep an eye out for it.
On a side note, I know this prologue may seem rather confusing and not make sense at all, but that was basically the point. It doesn't relate to the story much at all, but will have a bit of relevance… quite a bit later on.
Until next time!