Don't you guys just love the beginning of fall! It also means that it's close to winter! We are so excited! This chapter is too cute, we worked so hard. Finding time to talk has proved to be quite difficult when you live away from each other. Oh well we work it out. Hope you guys enjoy!

-Icelyn-

I am now 12 and in 8th grade. Sometimes I still can't believe that I'm going to graduate in a year! I swear my parents had tears in their eyes when I left on the first day of school. It was kind of annoying considering that Heather was right there, (her dad drives me and her to school every morning). I mean talk about embarrassing! Well at least they refrained from taking pictures. I would have really killed them for that! Luckily, the past few years of my life have been pretty great; not too many friend dramas or things getting awkward with James, or my secret ice power being discovered. Heather and I have gotten closer and closer and the same goes for James and I. James and I have been like brother and sister since the first day I talked to him. Sure my parents were kind of weirded out when I brought home a guy and claimed that we were nothing but friends, but they're used to it now. Thankfully he can now hang out here without things turning sour.

This morning I woke up with a groan. I hadn't slept at all last night and I desperately needed the rest for a big test I was supposed to take today! I sluggishly climb out of bed and scurry to my closet. When I'm done slipping on a comfortable yet fashionable outfit I head toward the bathroom yawning like crazy. Soon, I'm running down the stairs, my hair, makeup and clothes perfect. I slide into the empty chair in front of my dad at the dining room table and mumble good morning. He looks up from his newspaper to grin hello and then looks down again, shoving a piece of toast into his mouth. Mom slips out of the kitchen table with a another slice of toast for me and kisses my cheek. I nod to her and quickly scarf down my breakfast. Then, I hear a car horn and grab my backpack, take one more chug of OJ and run out the door yelling bye to my parents. They yell back as the door slams behind me. I scurry to Heathers car and greet her and her dad. She smiles back and we go over our math study guide for the test on the way to the middle school. Luckily, I share a few classes with Heather, and the rest of the gang. Izzy, Emma and Autumn are waiting just outside the school main entrance when we arrive. Heather and I run over and we all walk in together.

"I got no sleep at all and I have a huge math test today," I complain.

"Well at least we got some studying in on our way here," Heather says.

"I'm not getting any sleep either. Maybe it's a teenager thing," Autumn tells us as we go around a corner. Izzy and Emma nod. The three of them had already turned thirteen over the summer. Emma waves goodbye as she drops in front of her bottom locker. Izzy and Autumn also say bye as they both head down the hallway to my right. Heather and I keep going down the hallway until we reach the end. We have been locker buddies since the start of 6th grade. Once we've both gathered our things we head on to math. I just know I'm going to fail that test! Just before I enter the dreaded classroom I hear a yell and turn. James catches up to me, his cheeks flushed.

"Just wanted to say good luck. I know how nervous you've been about this test." I smile and try to ignore everyone's piercing stares. I hate how it's like a rule that if a boy and girl talk it instantly means they're dating, but we are not! No matter what anyone says!

"Thanks James! I will try my best."

"That's the spirit. Gotta go. Good luck again," he says sprinting down the hallway. A teacher yells at him to stop and he slows to a fast walk. I grin and roll my eyes when he turns around again to wave.

At the end of the day I regroup with my friends and we exit the school. Fishing out my cellphone I call my mom to tell her that Izzy's mom will drive us home today, (the moms take turns driving everyone home). By the time I'm home I'm starving. I wave goodbye to Izzy who is the last passenger and go into my house. I grab an apple and a few cookies, mount them on a plate and head upstairs. I wave at my brother, Jackson, through his open door. Just before I go into my room, mom sticks out her head from her office and says hello.

"How was your day sweetheart?"

"It was good. I have a lot of homework though..." I say motioning toward the big, bulky backpack. She takes the tip and waves goodbye, closing the door behind her. I breathe in the scents of my room as I walk in. I collapse on the bed and finish my snack. Then, I finally get started on the thick pile of homework that all my teachers had assigned me. Good news though, I think I didn't completely fail my math test! James would be proud. As if on cue my phone buzzes and I pick it up. The screen of my new iPhone is covered with James's grinning face. I answer it and wait for his laughing voice.

"Hi Ice," he says, calling me by his favorite nickname. Usually I don't like it when people call me that but with him it's ok.

"Hi James! What's up?"

"Well, I have something to show you," he says his voice suddenly serious.

"Ok... What is it? Is something wrong?"

"No, well, not really. Just come to my house ASAP."

"Ok. I'll be there in a few," I tell him, worried. I hang up and hurry downstairs. I poke my head in my moms office.

"Hi, I'm going to James's house for a while."

"Have you done your homework yet?"

"Yes, mother." Which is totally a lie but I will finish the rest when I get back home. James is more important right now. A few minutes later I am tearing down the driveway on my bike. James's house is only a few blocks away but I peddle fast to get there even sooner. What is wrong? Is James ok? What if something bad happened? Thankfully, I get there before I pass out and lean my bike against his garage. Then I knock on the door and wait. It opens shortly and James serious face pops out. He motions for me to come in and leads me to his room. I greet his mom before I head up the stairs. James and his mom look nothing alike. They're like night and day as far as I'm concerned. Maybe his father was a bit more like him except I wouldn't know since I've never seen him before. Apparently he left before James was born. But who am I to judge since my own parents look nothing like me either?! James snaps me out of my thoughts with one shake.

"Huh? What's up," I cry, "what's wrong," I add when I see his face. It's a mixture of shock and despair. All this seriousness is so unlike him, usually he's always so happy and nonchalant. I wonder what's wrong. It looks like I'm about to find out.

"I, I... I'm adopted," he says, his voice a whisper. I gasp.

"I found a blanket that looked like a map in my closet. When I touched it, I got this memory of these two people, my parents, handing me to my mom. The mom I always thought was actually related to me. But I guess she's not!" I look at him, speechless.

"Oh, James... I'm really sorry," I tell him.

"Oh and that's not all. They were flying," he tells me. I cry out unbelievably.

"Listen, Ice, I've never told anyone this before, but I can do it too," his voice is now dead serious.

"What do you mean," I ask bewildered.

"I can fly Ice, I can fly. I've done it before, but it's been my secret. I haven't even told my mom. So please, please don't tell anyone." I stare at him, at the James that I knew so well. The James that I thought was nothing like me. But it turns out we do have one thing in common: our magic.

"Wow! James, that's amazing! I mean it's kind of unexpected and a little strange but still way cool," I exclaim. He meets my eyes and breathes a sigh of relief.

"You think so? Honestly? You're not freaked out? You believe me?!" I laugh.

"Well, just do it so I know for sure you're not joking." He smiles and slowly lifts off. I gasp as I watch him float around the room, twisting and turning. He extends his hand down toward mine and i grab it. He spins me around the room as I hold in my shrieks of laughter. He sets me down and does more flips and other tricks in the air. I wave to him laughing and he grins back. Finally he lands and I applaud. He bows, looking proud of himself.

"I actually have a secret of my own. But you have to promise not to tell a single soul," I demand, unsure of whether to trust him. However, he is probably the only person who will ever understand my magic, so I take a risk. He nods and i take a deep breath.

"I have ice powers," I whisper in one breath. It feels so good to let it out! I just hope he'll take it well.

"What?!"

"Just watch," I tell him. I wave my hand and thrust it forward, causing the window in front of me to be completely coated in ice. His eyes widen and his jaw about hits the floor.

"Wow! That is wicked," he yells, moving toward the window. He runs his hand over the smooth, shiny ice. I grin happy to have attention. He turns back to me laughing.

"Wow! I guess now we both have magic huh?"

"Yeah! It's bizarre!"

"I like it!"

"Me two! But you cannot tell anyone about my power!"

"Mine either!"

"Deal!"

"Deal!"

And so with those words we were united forever in a truce so powerful not even the strongest person could break it.