Chapter 1:

As the jeep rolled down a typical city neighborhood, a man in his late 30's stared out of the window, wondering if his family could start over here. He liked seeing kids playing like he did in his childhood years and adults conversing adult things. He loved watching little kids jump into the piles of leaves. He and his daughter had just moved to LA from San Diego, tearing them both away from his wife's death. He drank in the sounds of the radio since no conversation came from the 11-year-old next to him. Like he, she wore glasses but unlike him, she wasn't happy about the move.

He stared back outside to the scenery. "What do you think, Heather?" he asked. "Looks beautiful here. Very picturesque." He pulled up into their new driveway and turned to her. "You'll love it here." He smiled warmly, in an attempt to comfort her.

Heather only looked forlornly out of the window. "It's so spiffy here." she said, sardonically. "I want to go back to San Diego. At least, I had friends there. I had a girlfriend there too."

Mr. Drake took a deep sigh. "Of course you did, Heather. She was a girl and she was a friend." He stared into the green eyes that reminded him so much of her mother. "I want you to go out with BOYS. That's how life was MEANT to be. Now get your stuff and pick out a room, they're all upstairs." he instructed as he cut off the engine and radio.

Heather rolled her eyes and grabbed her duffel bag with her toiletries. She sulked up the steps and opened one of the large, oak doors, walking inside into a new life. She slammed it shut before the popular crowd could even throw a 'hey'. She treaded up the stairs and glued her eyes to the ceiling. She always wanted an attic room. Finally, she spotted a chord dangling. She gave it a quick tug and stairs cascaded down towards her; inviting her into a new adventure.

"Have you picked out a room yet?" asked Mr. Drake from downstairs. "The movers are here."

"Yeah, I pick the attic!" she shouted back, throwing her bag onto the bed.

"Ok! You got the attic! I'll tell the movers! You just go hang with the crew here!" he called back. Heather rolled her eyes and walked downstairs and outside in her favorite black wrap.

Her ears picked up on something whimsical coming from the next porch/stoop. She looked over to the person sitting in front of the firebrick firehouse. A girl held a guitar and was concentrating before scratching out something on a sheet of paper. She finally looked up in Heather’s direction. Her eyes were very dark, almost black and her hair black as night with one lone red streak on the layered right of her bangs.

"Hey!" she shouted towards the girl. "What's your name?"

The girl squinted and smiled before answering, "I'm Juli Saunders! What's yours?"

Heather laughed, "Heather Drake!"

Juli laughed. "I think it'd make a lot more sense if you'd get over here so we won't have to shout about 10 yards!" Heather smiled and walked over. She sat on the same ledge as Juli.

"Why don't you hang out with those guys over there?" asked Heather. Juli looked up from her guitar and over towards the popular crowd.

"Popularity is something I try to avoid." Juli replied. "Besides, they wouldn't understand me if I spoke plain English. When did you move in and why aren't you going to hang out with the Twinks?"

"Well, I moved in today I guess...I moved from San Diego with my dad. I never did fit in with the popular people. I usually hang around people who are...well, let's just say, different." Heather smiled as she toyed with a tassel. Oh yeah, her friends were different, all right. They cut, prick, impale, take Valium, have depression, and everything odd. Unhappy, distortional, dysfunctional, crazy. She heard people talk about them.

Juli laughed and threw her arms wide open. "Welcome to LA! Where are you going to go for school?" she asked.

"Jackson Middle School." Heather giggled.

Juli's eyes widened. "Are you serious? I go there too! Hey, don't worry about rides. I can get you one. Maya is getting my another broom from town." she said proudly. Obviously, there was a magical air about Juli that Heather couldn't quite put her finger on.

She looked at her new friend as if she was crazy. "A...broom?" she asked.

Juli smirked and leaned close. "Yeah, a broom. Let's just say it's a stereotype come true. I like practicing elemental magic." She focused back on her guitar. "It's a hobby to keep me busy. That and my music. I have to work on it until I can score a deal."

Wow, they had so much in common already. Heather smiled. "You looking for a deal too? Maybe we can work together and be a duo act?"

"Sorry honey, but I work alone." Juli stated. Until I get to know you real well, we'll just swap music." She looked west to see the sun disappear behind the tall buildings. Her face became tense as she hurriedly grabbed her things. "Sundown. Gotta get inside."

"Why?" asked Heather.

"Maya's new boyfriend doesn't like it when I stay outside too long, he's a control freak like that." Juli explained. Heather looked at her strange. "Maya's my foster mother. She's cool, you'll have to meet her one day."

Heather spotted a dark bruise on Juli's arm. "Hey, where'd this come from?"

Juli yanked her arm away from Heather. "I'll tell you someday. Well, it was nice meeting you." She opened the door and slammed it shut behind her. Heather stares at the door for a moment before getting up and walking back to her house. A girl about her age with obvious blonde hair stood in her way.

"Why are you hanging out with Juli? Don't you know she's a witch?" she asked.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" asked Heather.

"I'm Ashley. I answered your question now answer mine." Ashley replied, her blue contact eyes bore into her.

"Well Ashley, it's rude to say those kinds of things. And two, she seems to be an interesting person." Heather replied, slightly annoyed at this Ashley that judged people.

"Look, I can welcome you into popularity. It's the greatest high in the world." Ashley offered, still not moving from Heather's path.

"I don't think so," Heather smiled, "I wouldn't be a Twink if you paid me." She moved Ashley out of the way and walked into her home. "Maybe LA won't be so bad. It might actually be fun." she smiled.

Sunlight streamed through the window of the Drake household. Heather could feel its warm beams at the foot of her bed. She didn't want to get up. The strong hold of sleep kept her in the land of fantasy. Somewhere in her mind she heard, "Heather, wake up! It's almost time for school!"

Her eyes opened sleepily. She grabbed her glasses that rested on he nigh table next to her bed. She screamed as she saw the time. She flew out of bed and down the attic stairs and into the restroom. "Dad! Why didn't you wake me up earlier?!" she screamed.

"I tried but you looked too cute, all sound asleep in your bed." Mr. Drake grinned. "Your friend Juli is here." Heather ran down the stairs and into the kitchen, screeching to a halt when she saw Juli sitting calmly at the table.

"Decide to be normal today?" asked Heather.

"Yeah, just to spare you the shock." They started to walk down the road towards the school.

"So what's Jackson like?" asked Heather.

Juli shrugged. "I wouldn't know. I don't pay attention. I do whatever assignment is up on the board." She grabbed Heather's schedule out of her hands. "Let's see what you got." Her dark eyes scanned the piece of paper. "Well, you have English and History with me. Ms. Amos is real nice. Trust me. After school, you wanna meet at the Flag?"

"Um sure." They approached the school and parted. The school day was long for Heather. It seemed to her that the hours dragged by more and more as if some kind of demon was keeping her a forever prisoner. She walked into room 317. a young woman shook her hand.

"Hello, I’m Miss Amos. You must be Heather. Welcome to English and World History. Why don’t you have the seat behind Juli over there?" she smiled genuinely and pointed towards Juli who sat in the back.

Heather smiled and slid into the seat. "Hey." Juli smiled. "Twink alert." she murmured as Ashley walked up to Ms. Amos. "Ashley Aretta. Queen of the bubblegum people. Watch this, though."

"I'm sorry, Ashley, but I can't transfer anyone out of my class because you don't like them now please take your seat." Ms. Amos sighed. Ashley huffed and stormed back to her seat, glaring at Juli who calmly stared at the board.

"Told you. What'd I tell you?" whispered Juli as Heather giggled. After school, they walked home. Their shoes crunched on a brown leaf that fell from a tree once in a while. "So what'd you think of school?" asked Juli.

"I wouldn't know. I love how we click right away." Heather grinned.

Juli stopped and faced Heather. "Ok, then how's this? We promise to be best friends."

Heather stopped too and smiled. "Yeah, for now and forever." They shook hands and threw their arms on each other's shoulders. "You know, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

They laughed as the fall wind trailed around them. How did they know forever was that far off in the future?