Ultimate talents, what are those you may ask? An ultimate talent is the term used to describe the skills of a high school prodigy who excels in a certain skill or skills, and is truly the best at what they do. They say any high schoolers would give anything to have an ultimate talent, as well as hold a talent of an ultimate. It truly is every high schooler's dream.
Though why is all of that so important? If you have an ultimate talent, you will be invited to attend a certain school known as Future Hope Academy. What is so special about this school? Future Hope Academy will only take ultimates, and if you graduate, you are guaranteed success for life in your field. Life will be just sweet for any ultimate that walks down this path.
If you're wondering why I know quite a bit about all of this, it is because I am an ultimate with an ultimate talent. I guess I should introduce myself first. My name is Natalie Bowie, and I am the Ultimate Receptionist. I know, I know, it isn't anything special. I honestly don't feel like an ultimate or that I deserve anything you get for being one. I'm just a simple receptionist, my skills only go as far as making me a really good receptionist. Who honestly cares about that? It isn't like I have any skills relating to sports, music, etc. I'm nothing special in the end.
How did I even get this talent you may be asking? Well my first job was as a receptionist for a big hair salon nearby. You know, I was just trying to make my own money. I didn't think it would be anything really. I would simply work part time as a receptionist while in high school, that is all. Of course, I always did my best at work, but I had no idea where it would take me. All of the customers really loved me greeting them and checking them in at the hair salon. Reviews for the business started to skyrocket past five stars, and not only because of me. I honestly couldn't believe it! I was simply doing my job and it was like I was a superstar for being a good receptionist.
The owner at the hair salon wanted me to work there full time, but of course I couldn't because I was in high school, so it would have been too much. The owner did comply, but always added on some extra hours to my schedule, while still keeping me part time. I guess it was nice to know I was doing a really good job, but I didn't see why it was a big deal. And while some people would of loved to be the center of attention, I'm honestly really nervous, shy, insecure, and lacking of a lot of confidence. That really is just who I am. While I couldn't tell customers to leave me alone at work, I wish I didn't have to talk to them more, it just made me anxious.
Getting back to Future Hope Academy, that school is only for upperclassmen, so you would only attend it during junior and senior year. I had started that job at the hair salon during freshman year, so by the time I was a junior, I had long gained my title as the Ultimate Therapist. Even then, I never would of thought they would invite me to attend. When I got the letter in the mail, I really didn't have an answer. Sure it would an amazing experience, and I would be set for life by the time I was done. However, I didn't want to be a receptionist for my career, I already had other plans. I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, but I definitely wanted to go to college and see where that would take me. But then again, even if I went to Future Hope Academy as the Ultimate Receptionist, there would still be some kind of success for me and I could surely change careers at anytime I wanted.
Therefore, I accepted the invitation and I was all set to attend Future Hope Academy as the Ultimate Therapist. Although I should have been happy and excited, I was simply nervous and honestly pretty terrified. Mainly, I still didn't feel like an ultimate, just a simple receptionist. But, I was still going to do my best and see where this experience would take me.
This is the part of my story where it gets really weird. I know I wouldn't know what to expect on my first day at Future Hope Academy, but I surely didn't expect to wake up in what appeared to be a hut, and judging by the view from a window, I appeared to be on an island.
"What the hell?!" I shouted.
I also didn't realize that I was lying in a bed, which I immediately jumped off. Unfortunately, I jumped too hard and fast and fell on my ass."
"Ow!" I cried out in pain.
I got up and tried to focus on what was going on around me. The hut I was in had a bed, window, what appeared to be a small closet, and a drawer. It appeared to be a real small space. There was also what appeared to be a tablet on the drawer. I slowly walked over to the drawer and picked up the tablet. However, it wouldn't turn on.
"Weird" I said out loud.
I looked on the back of the tablet, there was a note taped there. It read "Tablets will turn on eventually! For now, make sure you are dressed and head outside to explore the island! Make sure you won't need to come back to your hut after you step outside, afterthe door closes, you will be locked out for now! Take some time to explore your new home and meet your classmates! Once I feel like the time is right, I will call you to the beach! Bring your tablet with you too! Have Fun!"
I was more shocked than ever. I had so many questions. First off, I really am on an island?! And then, what did the note mean by my hut? And are there others like me stuck on this island too? By classmates, did they mean my classmates at Future Hope Academy? But more importantly, just what is going on here? Who is doing all of this?
I closed my eyes and tried to remember where I was right before this island. All that came to me was the night before my first day at Future Hope Academy. I was so nervous about it. I remember picking out my outfit for my first day as well. Even though my mother had tried to convince me to dress nice, I had just decided on my usual outfit, which was a pair of grey sweat pants and a blue hoodie, along with my usual white tennis shoes. I never been one to care about my fashion.
When I opened my eyes, I jumped in shock as I realized I was wearing the very outfit I had decided to wear on my first day of school at Future Hope Academy. My tablet fell to the floor.
"What the hell is going on?!" I cried out loud.
Honestly, even my hair felt like it was the same length and size as the night before my first day of school. I have really long, blond hair. My hair reaches past my ass and I am somewhat tall. I normally keep it in a long ponytail, which it was in now at the moment. I grabbed my ponytail and played around with it for a bit, I tend to do that whenever I'm suffering any negative emotions. I was starting to really freak out, this was all too much for me.
I quickly looked around the room for anything else that might be able to help me, but I didn't see anything. Therefore, I quickly picked up my tablet and left the hut. When I got outside, I was greeted by bright sunlight. And just as I had guessed, I was actually on an island. I saw it all, palm trees, coconuts, water, sand...it was an island!
As I stared in awe at my current location, I then quickly turned back to my hut. Just as the note said, the door was locked, and appeared to have some kind of security system on it. I was stuck outside and forced to explore. Turning away from my hut, I then realized my hut wasn't the only one. There were seventeen other huts as well, nine on both the left and right side, mine was at the very top on the left side.
"Could these belong to others?" I asked myself. "That note did say I had classmates on this island."
As I looked around at the other huts, someone came out of the hut that was directly across from mine. It was a boy who appeared to be my age. He had short, red hair and was quite shorter than me. He was sporting a black with white stripes on it football jersey with a big zero in the middle, as well as bright blue jeans and black tennis shoes. He held a tablet as well.
Honestly, he was really cute and I think I started to blush, but I quickly got embarrassed as I realized he saw me blushing at him for quite a few seconds.
"Uh...Hey?" he greeted.
I was immediately flustered and nearly dropped my tablet, but I quickly regained my composure. "Hi!"
The boy gave me a small, quick smiled before getting serious and somewhat freaking out. "What is going on here? I just woke up in that hut on this island and I found a note on this tablet here, and it said to go exploring...But what is going on here?!"
"Calm down, please! I don't know at all, I'm in the same boat as you. I don't know anything either."
The boy started to tremble and shake a bit as he looked around the island. "Someone brought us here! But for what!? I was just suppose to go to Future Hope Academy!"
I was shocked at the mention of Future Hope Academy. "You were suppose to go to Future Hope Academy as well? Then, are you also an ultimate student?"
The boy quickly turned back to me. "Yeah, I am. You said you're an ultimate too?"
I nodded. "I guess we should probably introduce ourselves first. My name is Natalie Bowie, I'm the Ultimate Receptionist."
The boy stared at me for a bit while still in freak out mode. "I'm Dane Anders, and I'm the Ultimate Water Boy."
"Water Boy? I guess that explains the football jersey."
Dane looked away from me, appearing embarrassed.
"I hope I didn't upset him or anything" I thought to myself. "Though so far, Dane appears to be more freaked out than I am."
Dane turned back to me. "Yeah...I was the water boy for the football team at my old high school, and I pretty much been doing this job my whole life."
"I see, well we all bring something different to the table, you must really keep those guys hydrated if you got an ultimate talent."
"I do, the way I prepare their water always keeps them extra hydrated and they always win."
"Always win?"
"Yeah, during my whole career as a water boy, every time I did water for a game, my team always won."
I was impressed. "Wow Dane! That is just amazing! What is your secret?"
Dane looked down at the ground. "I mean...I just take some extra time to make sure the water is the best quality it can be."
"I bet you were a real popular guy with the players."
"No!" cried Dane, which startled me. "No! Even though I always do my best for them, I'm just a joke to those jocks! They never respect me! And the coaches never do anything about it!"
Dane looked real angry.
"I'm sorry Dane! I shouldn't be assuming things. Please calm down!"
I took my free hand in his and did my best to comfort him. It took a few seconds, but Dane's anger went away and he slowly cooled off. Once, he was cool, he pulled his hand out of my grasp.
"Thank you Natalie...I'm sorry I yelled."
"Please, don't be Dane. It was my fault."
"No, don't worry about it, it was mine."
Dane and I stood in awkward silence for a bit.
"Um...Well...Like our notes said, we should really go check out this island" I said to break the ice.
"Right, I guess I will see you around later Natalie" replied Dane.
Dane started to quickly walk away from me.
"Wait Dane!"
Dane apparently walked too fast and he tripped over his own feet and went straight to the ground. And somehow, he ended up rolling down the path of the huts, which eventually went downhill. Dane's rolling body eventually disappeared from my sight."
"...We should explore this island together" I finished.
I was now a bit down, I really wanted to explore this island with Dane, as well as get to know him more. As well as the fact is, I kind of already have a crush on him.
I stood there blushing for a bit, until I snapped back to reality. I was still on this island that I knew nothing about, and I have no idea why I'm here, as well as who brought me here. I had so many questions that I wanted answers to.
Quickly getting myself together and making sure I had my tablet with me, I started walking away from the huts to find those answers.
