Hello everyone! For starters, I would like to thank everyone for clicking onto my story and giving it a read. Hopefully, the description and reviews intrigued you. Secondly, I would like everyone to know that this may be my second go-around at a story; this doesn't mean though that I am any expert at this. This story and my work is a way for me to vent. I have come to the recent conclusion that fairy tales are to remain as such and they will never exist outside of pages in a book. Therefore, I would like to write a tale I can escape to; where everything goes exactly how I wish romance and life to be. I hope that all of you who see this can enjoy this small piece of the world in my head that I have shown you.

Chapter 1

"You know you are doing that completely wrong, right?"

The judgemental voice broke Kelsey's concentration as she observed the microbes on her microscope slide. She turned to see Karen, scowling in distaste at her. Kelsey wasn't surprised that this was who the voice belonged to. Leave it to Karen to try and point out a "better way to do things" at the most inconvenient time.

"You have to use a low resolution light on the microscope or you won't be able to see if the bacteria is gram positive or negative", she continued, her voice getting more high-pitched and nasally as she gave her critiques. "Didn't they teach you anything at that school you call a 'university'?"

Kelsey knew how the rest of this conversation would go. She would roller eyes, tell Karen she didn't know what she was talking about, and she would getting talked to about her attitude by her boss YET AGAIN. Since Kelsey started working there, Karen had a knack at getting her into trouble. It was almost as if that was the purpose of her existence.

Today, Kelsey decided she would play along in her game. "Oh gosh Karen, I had no idea that's how this silly microscope worked; thanks so much for letting me know" she said politely. If anyone would have been around that knew her better, they would have heard the sarcasm that was dripping from every word Kelsey said. But one of Karen's flaws, Kelsey had noticed, was her lethargic manner; she had never picked up the undertone of Kelsey's words.

Karen, satisfied with Kelsey's reply, trotted off and went to go annoy some of the other microbiologists on duty.

Kelsey signed, finally relieved to be alone, and went back to getting her work done. Being a quality control microbiologist, Kelsey never found anything too exciting under her microscope. An occasional cluster of bacterium would raise an eyebrow, but it was always found to be a lense flaw or dust in her viewer. Kelsey's mind strayed many a time to daydreams that they would find a rare bacterium in the toothpaste that would cause the zombie apocalypse in her microscope, and it was up to her to save the world! The thought of this ridiculous notion made Kelsey chuckle out loud. She quickly looked around the room to make sure no one was watching her. To her relief, everyone was too distracted to pay her any mind; even Karen was off clucking like a hen to another member in the lab about some nonsense.

The minutes in this lab crawled by like hours. When the days were over, Kelsey would rush home to enjoy her life; only to find that it was so little time before she had to be in this laboratory prison once again. She wished to have more of a purpose in life; more to live for than the fate of people's oral health in her hands. She contemplated the idea of forensics; maybe even research in a medical lab! But those dreams were far beyond her reach; she knew with time and dedication to her current job she would get there. But how these long days made it difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. All she wanted to do was be a hero, with a life full of adventure and excitement.

4:00PM finally showed on the ominous clock face that had taunted Kelsey all day. Time to leave! She quickly put her supplies away, hung her lab coat on its peg, and rushed out of the lab in a fury. Freedom at last! She would only have a short amount of time before her dance lessons; one of the few times that she felt at ease in her own skin. The other time would be when she was at home; losing herself in the labyrinth pages of the Lord of the Rings. She always loved the escape the books offered; taking her to places she would ache to be. The books were her only gateway to the wondrous land of Middle Earth.

As she pulled up to the dance studio, she saw her best friends Danielle and Caitlin waiting for her in the lobby. Today was ballet class for Kelsey , but her friends did not enjoy the graceful art like she did. They had a hip-hop class at the same time, so they would all meet a half hour before class to catch up on their days and eat snacks, preferably cheetos. It was the best way to end the day, Kelsey thought as she put her old, rusty Corolla in park. As she closed the door, it squealed in agony as it latched shut; Kelsey shuddered at the sound the old wreck made. She bustled to the studio doors of Sparkle Dance Studio with her dance bag and greeted her friends with a warm smile. The name was a hard pill to swallow, but it was a place of comfort nonetheless.

"Jesus, what the hell took you so long?", Danielle chided as Kelsey sat down in the corner with them.

"Sorry, the lab witch got me distracted" Kelsey answered. This reply invoked a gaggle of laughter from her companions.

"What is her problem? She is always giving you crap!" Caitlin exclaimed as she stretched her legs next to Kelsey.

"I don't know, but I wish I could tell her off sometimes" Kelsey said with a disappointed look on her face.

"Ya and look where that got you last time? Straight in the principal's office!" Caitlin joked.

Kelsey rolled her eyes and began to lace her ballet shoes around her feet. Leave it to Caitlin to bring her back to reality.

"I would stick mayonnaise in her locker before a weekend. That way it can get really nasty before she gets back and she can be the STINKY lab witch" Danielle whispered with glee. Caitlin gave Danielle a glare, but she and Kelsey were already lost in giggles at that point. Danielle would always be the one plotting pranks on unsuspecting rivals.

"So anything exciting happen today?" Kelsey asked the girls as they all began to warm up on the cold, hardwood floor as the florescent lights flickered above them.

"Well", Danielle began as a sly smile grew on her lips, "I may have set you up on a blind date".

Kelsey looked at her in disbelief. "Seriously!?" she replied, "I told you not to, why would you do that Danielle!?"

"Because I am having an intervention", Danielle defensively replied, "You are too lost in your stories to realize that real men are out there who can offer you love and affection".

"And checkbooks", Caitlin said under her breath.

Danielle laughed, but then continued. "What Kelsey, do you think that one day some knight in shining armor is going to rip through the pages of your book and whisk you away to some magical castle where you will live happily, ever after?!"

"If only", Kelsey muttered. Both Caitlin and Danielle heard this comment, they both scoffed and rolled their eyes.

"Well, there is really nothing you can do about this date because it is right after dance class tomorrow at ballroom night", Danielle said.

The studio that Danielle and Caitlin attended had a ballroom night once a week. It was where everyone was able to come together and socialize in the studio, while practicing some of the ballroom moves that they had rehearsed throughout the week. With Kelsey's schedule of dance classes, it was almost as if she were wasting this free time to practice if she didn't attend.

"You suck, fine", Kelsey grumbled. Danielle, not caring Kelsey's response wasn't enthusiastic, and with her answer she squealed and clapped her hands.

"I brought you this top to wear, and some yoga pants. There is no way you're wearing leg warmers, a leotard, and a skirt to this date!" Danielle exclaimed as she flung a bright blue shirt into Kelsey's face.

Kelsey noticed the color of blue was at least her favorite, but she wished that she could stay in her dance clothes. She always felt most comfortable in what she always wore, even if it was plain. A classic day to day outfit for her generally was a plain shirt, comfortable jeans, and her favorite black boots with a slight heel. It wasn't anything impressive, but she loved the simplicity and relaxed style it gave her.

She shoved the clothes into her dance bag just in time, for the class was beginning to start. The two gave her hugs goodbye, and they all made their way to their classrooms.

It was very late before Kelsey finally made it out of the dance studio. The night was finally over, and she was thankful to be going home to bed. She was going to relax with a cup of tea and her book; hopefully clearing her head of the day's havock. As soon as she got home, she threw her bag on the couch and prepared a small dinner for herself. Kelsey later noticed that as her dance bag fell on the couch, it had scattered some of its contents. She saw the blue top that Danielle had lent her, and the thought of tomorrow's blind date came to mind. She groaned at the thought of another date. This would be one of many that Danielle had set her up on. Danielle had been with her boyfriend, Randy, for several years and had made it her life goal to make help Kelsey find her "special someone". Caitlin and her girlfriend were recently engaged, but Caitlin was never one to push like Danielle would.

Kelsey thrusted the clothes back in the bag, and retreated to her bedroom where her portal to Middle Earth lay waiting for her on her side table. She sat with her tea and book and began her nightly ritual. She was at one of her favorite parts in The Fellowship of the Rings; where Frodo and his companions are trapped in Weathertop and Frodo is stabbed with the morgul blade of the Nazgûl. She felt herself slip into the pages, almost hearing the whistling wind as it whipped around the towering stones of Weathertop and feeling the chill they brought. Just as the group meets with Glorfindel at the River Bruinen, her eyes began to grow heavy. She decided to close her doors to the land of Middle Earth until the next night when she would open them again. Her journey for the night was over...or so she thought...