Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I grabbed my chest, gasping for air, only to find myself on my bed, back in reality. Sweat dripped down my head, as I sat on the cushy mattress, shaken from the dream. Ever since wolves invaded my dreams, I had been scared and constantly had them each night.

I checked the clock that read 2a.m. I still had a good six hours to sleep since it was summer break but I laid in my bed awake, unable to sleep for the fear of seeing the mysterious wolf that haunted my dreams. Then I remembered what day it was. My Day Before, literally the day before my 16th birthday, the biggest day of my life.

Everyone takes a mandatory test the day of their 16th birthday. No preparation would prepare me for this because no one exactly knew what would go on during the test. The government, who ran the tests, makes sure that no one knows about the testing materials. They give kids some kind of medication that takes any memory of ever taking the test. The Testers, as most kids like to call them, would call the kid up the day of their 16th birthday and they would take the test to see if they qualified.

What's so great about this school, you ask? Well it's the best school in the world and the selected students who are able to attend will bring lots of money for the town. I, like most people, live in a small town where money is scarce. So everyone's parents are always crazy for these tests wanting their kids to go for the education and the money of course.

Sadly, there's always a sacrifice made to something great like this. Kids who are accepted never get to see their family and friends but they leave knowing that the town will be well off with the money.

If someone did happen to get in, they would have only a day to pack everything and say good bye to practically everyone they knew since childhood.

Once the kid goes in, they never come out. They are however allowed to visit on random occasions but I heard that they never stayed too long.

According to the stories I've heard, the kids act somewhat different. More mature. Even the delinquents that miraculously got in were somehow changed. That's why so many parents are excited to send their kids to the Academy but barely anyone makes it in. Roughly only about twenty people get in each year.

I personally didn't care if I got in, but I was curious to see what the Academy was like. Tomorrow was my sixteenth birthday and I was anxious to take this test everyone was always freaking about.

3a.m. my clock read. I groaned as I waited, thinking about the test as the hours rolled by. Finally by 6a.m. the sun's rays made its way to my window. I could see my small bedroom now. It was only small enough to fit my bed, desk, and drawers. My guitar laid on a small stand next to my bed.

I had always grown to love and experience music. My dad owned a music store down the street and had given me the guitar for my thirteenth birthday. I hazily remember picking up that guitar and claiming that it had to be mine. I couldn't remember everything so clearly and when I tried to remember too far back, I had a huge case of migraines.

My head started to pound as I tried to think what was so special about getting a guitar in the first place. There was a reason why I wanted it but I didn't remember. I sighed and grabbed a bottle of pills that sat by my desk. I swallowed it and washed it down with a water bottle from yesterday.

Everything seemed little hazy after the incident and I had a hard time remembering everything. The Incident as I had called it. I wasn't so sure about the whole Incident but my parents had told me that I was playing with some friends when I hit something hard. I woke up in the emergency room two days after. Ever since the Incident, I had to take special prescribed migraine pills to lessen the pain and help with my amnesia. After my Incident, my parents thought it was best to move to a different place, a fresh start. I was eleven at the time I moved and I had been here ever since.

I was getting ready for a morning shower to wake me up when my phone chimed in a text message. I went over where my phone lay and opened it.

“hey girl! dnt forget to meet us at the café today!(;

xoxo Carly”

I smiled instantly thinking of my best friend, Carly. She was a carefree girl who had the bubbliest personality. Her bright platinum blonde hair reflected her happy, golden attitude that complimented her bright blue eyes that always had that excited sparkle that every guy was drawn into, especially Max.

Max, who is also my good friend, is a relaxing and easy-going type of guy. His shaggy brown hair hung over his forehead in side bangs that he always swept out of his face. His eyes were light brown that was always lit up and cheerful especially when he was around Carly.

They were going out but that didn't stop our tight friendship. We were such close friends that it didn't really bother me that they were going out. Yes, they did do really cheesy, couple-like things in front of me but I've gotten used to that.

The fourth member of our little group was Daniel. A tall dirty-blonde who was slightly tan with pale blue eyes that seemed to hold happiness and a smile that reached his eyes. He was kind of shy around other people but when we're together in our group, he and Max can get things talking. This past year, we've been getting closer and maybe more than "just-a-friend" level.

Carly would constantly tease me about it but all I had to do was tease her about Max. Soon she got used to the teasing and shrugged it off. Daniel and I have been taking things very slowly so Carly's constant teasing still affected me.

All four of us were like the type of friends who would be together until we get all wrinkly and old. We planned to go to the same college and live together in one house. It would be amazing to have that kind of life after high school but we were all stuck as a junior. That's another thing; I'm the youngest in the group. I'm technically supposed to be a grade younger but I guess I started early.

I smiled, thinking about all of them. We were the perfect pair of friends and we basically claimed the café to be our territory although that's where the whole student body usually went to hang out. I was ecstatic. Without a hesitation, I quickly responded "can't wait" and threw my phone on my bed, heading towards the bathroom to hit the showers.

 *******************

I left the house, telling my mom that I would be at the café.  She wasn't those strict parents who kept their children indoors. My mom didn't really care and I was OK with it to. It was just the way things happened to run in my household.

I walked up the neighborhood walking on the sidewalk where all the stores lined up. I walked on passing by each store's window until I found our meeting place. I stepped in as the door chime rang shrilly. I observed the whole room to find Carly waving. I smiled.

I followed her beckoning and sat down on the opposite bench of the booth. "Hey guys. What's up?"

"Hey! Happy Day Before!" They stood up and each hugged me.

I noticed Daniel wasn't there. "Where's Daniel?" I asked trying to hide my disappointment.

"Don't worry he said he's going to be little late. Said he had some errand to do but don't worry girl you'll see him soon enough," she said laughing. "Don't even try hiding that obvious expression of yours, I know everything," she winked, smiling dangerously. That's the thing about Carly, she can be sweet and amazing but she had her dangerous side where it was well advised not to mess with her.

"Hey look at that. Here comes Daniel now" Max said breaking my thoughts. Daniel came in with his warm smile. This brown hair hung loosely, a little curled at the end.

"Hey, guys," he said nodding to each of us. "Happy Day Before Julie," he said giving me his special smile that reached his eyes. He slid in the booth next to me.

"Thanks," I replied. I couldn't help but smile.

After the constant chatter about the Academy and such, we finished eating our food and headed over to the Arcade where the pool table was located.

"Wanna play?" Daniel asked, smirking.

 "Why you smirking? You think you can beat me?" I challenged.

"Maybe," he replied.

I grinned. "You're on."

He handed me a pool stick and grabbed another for himself. I saw Carly and Max talking at the table, laughing away like a cute couple. Daniel noticed me staring. "Should I start?" he asked inconspicuously.

I turned back and smiled, "sure."

Daniel broke the triangle and three balls easily went in the pockets. What had I gotten myself into? I didn't even know how to play.

"Your turn," he said after he finished his round. I pretended that I knew how to play. I got in position of what I thought was right and shot, sending a ball out of the table.

Daniel picked it up laughing. "You should be disqualified for that."

I grinned.

This went on quite a while but basically, I lost at the end. He had squashed me like a little bug.

"Well, I think we know who the clear winner is," he said with his lopsided grin.

"Whatever," I said giving my stick back to him grinning, rolling my eyes. "I'm done."

He laughed as he took my stick and put it back in its place. We went over to where Carly and Max were sitting and drinking their lattes. They noticed us as we were coming up which was a surprise because they were usually...busy when they were alone.

"Hey guys, sit," Carly said scooting over for us.

"We were just planning a little trip to Kings Dominion," Max said getting excited. "We wanted go on the Intimidator."

"Um, no. That was you. I wanted to go on the ferris wheel," Carly said.

"Well, of course. I was saving that for the sunset," Max said smoothly. I coughed, trying to hid my laughter.

Carly smiled. "Hmm, it better be good," she teased.

"Of course," he said giving her one of his uneven smiles that she loved.

"Well, let's get back on topic here," Daniel said rolling his eyes and landed on mine making us laugh. He always seemed to find Carly and Max's couple thing to be way over dramatic but I personally found it amusing.

"Right. So we were planning to go tomorrow after Julie's big test and all," Max said with an easy smile.

Everyone looked at me for approval. "Yeah. Sounds like fun," I answered.

"Then it's settled," Carly said smiling her white-teeth smile. We all nodded. It was done. I had something to look forward to then that intimidating test. I smiled at my friends. This was going to be pretty awesome.

We hung out a little more until Carly and Max excused themselves saying that they needed to head home. I raised an eyebrow to Carly and she smiled back innocently. I smirked not trusting them that they would actually head home the fastest way. They waved and walked out of the Arcade. It was just me and Daniel. I leaned back in my chair sighing. Tomorrow was going to be a hectic day especially with the test.

"Worried about the test?" he asked reading my mind.

"What else?" I groaned. "You're so lucky you already got the test over with."

"Well, I didn't make it in so it isn't exactly all that good," he said shrugging.

"Well, if you had made it, would you have left me?" I asked quietly. I was curious for his answers.

"I would never want to leave you, but you know they don't give you much choice," he said sadly. “But, I'm not going anywhere," he said firmly and smiling at me. I flushed.

"And I'm not either," I said with a smile matching his.

"We got that over with," he said grinning. "So...is this trip supposed to be a double date?" he asked with a curious thought.

I paused. Was it? "If you think of it that way..." I said slowly.

His smile reached his eyes. "Then I guess it's a date," he winked.