A/N: Just to save later confusion, italics are Ditzy's thoughts, bold italics are the Voice, and normal writing is, well, the story! Enjoy!

Aaaah I just read some other stories and realised I'm supposed to put disclaimers in!

Although I think I'll start putting them in when one of my chapters include something that belongs to Marianne Curley (who is a BRILL author!), which should be Chapter 7 I think!

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Okay. I was freaking out. I have a voice…in my head. I'm going crazy.

I sit down and think.

Okay, I'm going crazy. Loopy. Mental. Cuckoo.

No, Ditzy. You aren't. You're special.

Aaaaah! That creepy voice again!

Special? What do you mean, special? I'm not special!

You are destined for great things Ditzy. Never doubt yourself.

Okay. I'm definitely crazy. Who are you, anyway?

You are a key to the future and past of this planet, Ditzy. You're not crazy, you're special.

For the last time, I'm not special! You've got the wrong girl! So get out of my head.

I haven't got the wrong girl. It was inscribed before your birth that you were destined for great things. Think about it. You've had weird experiences over the last few days, yes?

I thought about it. Well there was the dream. And the…things…from my dream appearing in the hall, and then gone again at the blink of an eye. And the thing with Ms Streek. And this voice.

You're right. Okay 'voice'. Tell me everything.

All will be revealed Ditzy. All will be revealed when the Chosen One turns fourteen.

Who's the Chosen One?
Why can't you tell me now?
When will the Chosen One turn fourteen?
Who are you anyway?


No answer. That was it. No voice. No matter how many times I screamed inside my own head for answers. No voice.

I didn't have time to think about it, because my dad came home. I went downstairs and started cooking dinner.

I yawned. Pasta tonight I think. I'm so tired. I looked in the cupboard.

Crap. No pasta. I'm in the mood for pasta! Plus, it's so easy to cook, and I really can't be bothered tonight. I have too much on my mind.

I turned around, and there was pasta on the side. Hmm. I swear that wasn't there before. Oh well, I'm so tired, I probably got it out without even noticing.

Special, Ditzy. Remember that. Special.

I AM NOT SPECIAL!!!!!!!

At the little voice in my heads sudden reappearance, I started think-screaming (does that even exist?) at the voice to tell me more, but, once again, it disappeared when I actually wanted it there.

Typical.

But the whole thing with the voice had got me thinking about the pasta again. How had that got there? It wasn't there before. I suppose I could add that to the list in my head of weird stuff that's happened around me lately.

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SIX DAYS LATER

"Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday, to Neriah,
Happy Birthday to you!"

Everyone cheered.

I looked over at Neriah, and when I saw the tears glistening in her eyes, I realised she was happier than she'd been in a long time.

All her friends were here, all her family, and I was so jealous.

Of course, my life couldn't be that way. That would just be too good for lil' ol' Ditzy, wouldn't it?

Neriah's birthday meant there were only four days to go until mine. I looked around.

All of Neriah's class were here, congratulating her on turning six and showering her with gifts. She was so lucky.

There were a few older people here too – Grandma, Grandpa, my Dad, my aunts and uncles. I was watching from the shadows and smiling at my sister's luck. I was really jealous, but also glad. I didn't want her to have a rubbish life too.

When the celebration was over, I retreated up to my room and lay on my bed, feeling like I didn't belong. I didn't fit in at school, I didn't fit in at home, I had no friends, and my birthday was coming up in four days and I would be spending it alone. I didn't want to spend it with my family, nor with anyone from school, well, apart from one person.

Nick.

Wow.

I hadn't thought about HIM in a while. I'd felt so alone, so hollow, but when I was around him, I felt whole. I'd gotten quite close with him since I started. He was the only person who I wanted to spend my birthday with. Well, him and Neriah. But no way was that going to happen - I could either spend my birthday with all my friends and family, or none of them.

One minute…

Today was a Saturday, which meant in four days it would be a Wednesday, and I would be at school. So would Nick. Hopefully. So I could spend my birthday with Nick, but no way was I telling him!

On Sunday I played with Neriah, trying out her birthday presents.

On Monday I went to school. Nothing happened. I guess the gossip girls didn't tell.

On Tuesday I was walking down from Science to History with Nick, and I was deep in thought. Only one day to go.

"You okay?" he asked, noticing how I had drifted off.

"Yeah," I said vaguely. "Just thinking."

"Oh. What about?"

"My b-" I started, and then realised I'm not telling anyone. If I don't tell, Nick won't see how nobody cares. "Nothing."

"Tell me…" he said. "You're thinking about your…something beginning with b…your boyfriend?"

"Nah, I dumped him yesterday for a college boy." I teased, because Nick knew I didn't have a boyfriend. (Thanks to the gossip girls who had tried to hook me and Nick up[Thankfully they didn't actually tell Nick I liked him though!)

"Tell me," Nick prompted. "Or I'll…or I'll tickle you!"

Still I resisted. Stupid me. As soon as we got to the bottom of the stairs he started tickling, making me roll on the floor, giggling while he bent over me, making sure I stayed there. He tickled my sides, my neck until I finally gave up.

"Alright, alright!" I gasped, and Nick stopped tickling. Should I lie to him? No, I was sure he'd know. "I was thinking about my birthday. I'm fourteen tomorrow."

"Oh," he said, and my stomach sank. He didn't care. He thought I wasn't worth it. I straightened up, and brushed my skirt off. I began jogging to History, side by side with Nick. "You're not fourteen yet? Wow, you're young and smarter than the rest of us! That doesn't say a lot about us! What are you doing tomorrow?" he asked.

"Nothing," I sighed. Nick seemed deep in thought. He looked up, surprised.

"Nothing at all? You're not doing anything for your fourteenth birthday?"

"Nope. If I said I wanted to do something to my dad, he would invite my whole family, and give me invitations for my whole class." I rolled my eyes. "I haven't had a birthday celebration since I was nine."

Nick looked so surprised. He opened his mouth to say something but we were quickly interrupted by Ms Streek, as we entered History.

"Where have you two been? You are approximately," - she glanced up at the clock – "three minutes and thirty two seconds late! Mr Daniels, sit down, and copy the date and title off the board."

Nick went and sat down, and she turned to me. "Miss Stewarts," she boomed. I narrowed my eyes at her.

Remember a week ago. Remember what happened. Do you want me to show you up in front of the whole class again? Be nice, and I won't do that. Just be nice.

"Please," she said, her voice strained to the maximum at just the thought of saying this word to a student. "Please fix your hair and take your seat." I nodded, and sat down. I got my mirror out of my bag and looked at my hair.

I bit my lip.

Oh no! When Ms Streek told me to fix my hair, I thought she had just meant it was in an inappropriate style!

But no, my hair was sticking out. And me and Nick arriving together, late, out of breath…people were going to think we were making out!

I quickly retied my hair and began copying down the date and title.

Great.

Just fantastic.