Chapter 1: Last Day of School

Come on, you stupid bell! Ring! Ring! 24-year-old Ashley Azaelia Montes thought as she looked at the clock. Today was finally June 17th, 2012, a Friday, and next week was the start of summer break and she wanted school to end already. Ashley and her friends Gloria Angelina Zuniga, Caitlin Marie Thomas, Jessica Leanne Barnaby, and Melissa Cassandra Avalo go to Tranquility City College (TCC). Ashley was taking classes to become a doctor. She was born on Dec. 14th, 1988. She had grown up from a good and bad youth. She's gone through tough times like everyone but she also went through many good times. One of her greatest losses, however, was the loss of her grandfather, who unexpectedly passed away when she was in 7th grade. He was going to pay for Ashley for college, but she had to get a scholarship to be able to go. She came from Victorville and moved to Tranquility. Ashley is a smart, fairly lively, occasionally funny, and sometimes odd person. She would try to cheer anybody up if they were down and mostly spoke the truth. One strange thing about her was that when she's mad, she doesn't like people bothering her or anything. But a few minutes later, she'll be laughing along with you and talking to you like nothing happened.

Her friend Gloria was taking criminal justice classes to become a criminalist. She was born on December 16th, 1989. Gloria grew up from a very tough childhood. She had gone through many things throughout her life. She had suffered from the death of a close family member, the separation of her parents, and many other problems. But she had managed to survive it all. She is a tough, very funny, sensitive, understanding, determined, and smart person. Some of her friends, especially Melissa, refer to her as a leader. She gets along well with some people but others give her many problems. She also had a temper and gets a bit hostile when angry. But she eventually gets over it. She also had to separate from Ashley and the others when she was in 7th grade because her family had run into money problems, forcing her to move to an apartment. They chose San Bernardino and she continued school from there. She had gotten a scholarship from her school in San Bernardino and moved from there to Tranquility to go to TCC.

Another one of Ashley's friends was Caitlin. Caitlin is a very energetic, funny, yet odd at times, and smart (but has her stupid moments) person. Caitlin was taking classes to become a marine biologist, a seal trainer, and an actress. She was born on September 2nd, 1990. Caitlin grew up from a fun and, from time to time, hard youth. She went through problems, like everyone, but she went through many fun times as well. She had good times as her church, going to trips, meeting people, and doing other things like that. Her family was able to afford the money for Caitlin's college education. She moved from Victorville to Tranquility. Her friends thought of her as very strange, but that's what made her such a fun person to be with. She could make you laugh, even if you were down. She somehow got some of her friends to be strange like her.

Jessica, another on of Ashley's friends, was taking classes to become a pediatrician. Jessica is now energetic at times (before she used to be shy until one of her best friends Briana Battaglia changed her), funny, lively, and also weird from time to time. Jessica was born in May 19th, 1990. Jessica's formative years weren't all that hard. In fact, she had more good times than bad. She struggled in the 9th grade, but eventually managed to complete ninth grade as well as the rest of her high school years. She got a scholarship and moved to Tranquility, only because it had a beach and it was the closest to Victorville. Jessica is a fun person to be with, but every now and then becomes annoying. She also has her stupid moments like Caitlin.

Last but not least, Melissa was taking art, English, and veterinary medicine classes to become an artist, an author, and a vet. She was born on July 6th, 1990. She had gone through hard times like Gloria, apart from the fact that her problems weren't as bad. But there was only one thing that had happened in her life that transformed her forever in her teenage years. To this day nobody knows what it is, except Gloria. Melissa had told her what happened and Gloria promised to never tell anyone. She had met good and bad people at school and had difficulty with ex-friends of hers. Middle school wasn't at that tough but high school was complicated. She lived through it to get a scholarship and move to Tranquility. Melissa is sensitive, smart (but has her stupid moments like Caitlin), determined, and energetic. When angry, she tends to get aggressive. She overreacts when it comes to her friends. She worries about them a lot, especially if they're far away, like when Gloria lived in San Bernardino.

The bell finally rang and everyone in the classroom got up. They walked out of the classroom, ready to go home after a long day. Ashley walked out and waited by Jessica's locker. After waiting for about 5 minutes, 22-year-old Jessica appeared and said, "Sorry I'm late. I was doing something and it was taking me quite a while. Now let's get going! We don't want to keep Gloria, Melissa, and Caitlin waiting any longer."

They both went outside to find 22-year-old Melissa's silver 2006 Lincoln Navigator in the school parking lot. She was one of the only ones out of all her friends to have a car. It was bought by her parents. On the sides of her car, it had a white serpentine dragon with blue electricity behind it. On the back window of the car, it had 2 dragon stickers. The other person that owned a car was Caitlin. Hers was a white, two doors, fast 2003 Pontiac Grand Am GT. It was given to her by her mother. It had a big Roxy heart on the back window, tinted windows, and CD player.

Gloria, Jessica, and Ashley were trying to save money for a car. But they wouldn't be able to get one for another long while. 23-year-old Gloria and 22-year-old Caitlin were already with Melissa. She opened the driver side window and cried, "Hurry up, Ash! We don't have all day!"

"Alright, jeez! You should be more patient, Mel!" Ashley cried.

Ashley and Jessica got inside Melissa's car. She started the car and drove it out of the parking lot. When they stopped at the first stoplight, Gloria asked, "So what do you want to do today?"

"How about…we go to the movie theater?" Caitlin proposed.

"Ok, but which movie should we see?" Ashley asked.

"How about…'The Pink Panther'?" Melissa suggested. "My treat."

"Ok," Ashley and the others agreed.

"Then let me go home and get my wallet," Melissa said.

Melissa drove to her house and quickly got some money for the movie. She then drove to the theater and they all saw "The Pink Panther". But little did they know that something evil was slowly spreading throughout Tranquility and that they would be in the first war of their lives.