Dear Brad,

I know this may sound weird, but ever since the first time I laid my eyes on you, I have been madly in love with you. I love everything you do. I love the way you walk, the way you dress, every word that comes out of your mouth. You probably don't notice, but I have been to everyone of your games. I seen you throw the winning touchdown in last year's High-School Championship game. I watched that game Sophomore year, where you injured your leg. I even sent flowers to you in the hospital. Well anyway, I am writing this letter to you for other reasons then to tell you how I feel. I want to talk to you in person. So I was wondering if you wanted to maybe go out for dinner or something on Friday night. If you would, please meet me at the water fountain today after the second bell. I hope to see you there.

Love Always,

Kelly

~ As her eyes glowed with happiness, Kelly looked around to see if anybody was looking. She then quickly slid the envelope containing her true feelings into the slim opening of Brad's locker. She once again looked around cautiously, her smile never bending an inch in the opposite direction. As she lets out a breath of relief and courage, she sees Brad turning the hall, along with of his friends and teammates. His blonde, cleanly cut hair, his massive body protected by his red team jacket, his light baby blue eyes. Kelly stared for a brief moment, getting lost in her love's gorgeous strut. As she finally shook out of it, she quickly power-walked away, giggling and pretending she had done nothing unusual. As Brad made it to his locker, he hadn't noticed Kelly one bit. He laughed and talked loudly with his buddies, as he carelessly twisted the combination to his locker into the lock. As it finally clicked, he opened his locker, grabbing two textbooks off of the top shelf. As he took them out of the locker, he noticed the envelope fall gently onto the ground. He glanced at it, thinking it was simply a piece of trash, but then realized that his name was written on the front. He put his books back onto the shelf, as his friends continued to talk to one another, ignoring Brad's actions. He immediately ripped the envelope open, and unfolded the letter. He read on and on, focussed completely on the paper. ~

Haha, hey guys, get a load of this.

~ His associates turn their attention to him, leaning over his shoulders and reading the letter. Oddly, mostly all of them burst out into laughter. They mock the letter, impersonating Kelly's voice reading the letter, and poking fun at Brad. Brad crumbled the letter up and threw it in his locker. Suddenly, the bell sounded. He grabbed his books from the shelf once again, as the group quickly scattered into different classrooms. Brad, still smiling and giggling with 3 of his friends, pushed the door open to classroom "34". His teacher cockily confronted him. ~

Well Brad, how nice of you to join us. Why don't you take a seat?

~ Brad boasts a mischievous smile as he confidently takes a seat in one of the desks, dropping his books onto the desktop, and preparing to finish off his day of classes…

. . .

… As the second bell finally rings, Brad shakes hands with a few of his friends, hysterically laughing and preparing for an event he has no idea will be so important to his life. He turns the corner of the hallway, signaling for his friends to stay behind the wall and out of sight. He holds in his laughter, and sees Kelly standing by the water fountain as scheduled. She notices Brad, as her eyes light up with glee. She knows that this is the single happiest moment of her entire life. Brad puts a smile on his face as he finally approaches Kelly. She stares into his eyes, almost as if this can not be reality. ~

Hey. I read your letter.

~ Kelly, in disbelief that Brad has actually spoken to her, frantically stutters out words. ~

You, you did?

~ Kelly quickly stops talking to avoid sounding stupid, and just enjoys the moment. As they both stand in silence for a few seconds, Brad giggles. Kelly does the same. ~

Well, I'm glad you feel this way about me, Kel. And as shy as I am, I can no longer hide me feelings either. I love you Kelly, I always have and I always will.

~ With these words, Kelly's smile amazingly grows even larger. She sports the happiest face in the world proudly, as she just stares wide-eyes at Brad. Brad slowly inches his was closer to Kelly, shocking her. Her smile lowers to a passionate stare. They stare into each other's eyes as their heads move closer and closer together. Kelly closes her eyes, and awaits what embarrassingly is the first kiss of her entire life. Brad, however, turns his head to the end of the hallway, seeing all of his friends watching on, trying to keep their laughter down. Brad suspiciously reaches his hand into his left coat pocket, pulling out a bottle of ketchup. Kelly opens her eyes, still smiling, to see what is taking Brad so long. Her smile easily turns into a shocked and afraid face, as Brad squirts the bottle of ketchup into Kelly's face. She lets out a long scream, as Brad continues to squirt. All of his friends come stampeding down the hallway, laughing hysterically and cheering. Brad and his friends quickly flee the scene to avoid being caught by a school authority. Kelly wipes the ketchup off of her face, as tears roll down her cheeks. She pants and screams, still confused about what just happened. She looks around the halls and sees the football team, along with Brad, and all of the beautiful cheerleaders amongst others, still laughing and slapping hands. They stare at her, pointing and mocking. She quickly runs to the closest door, opens it, and enters room 17, closing and locking the door behind her. She is so upset, she doesn't even realize the trouble that she could get in to for entering a teacher's room without authorization. Outside the school, the freezing cold wind blows through the crack of a broken window, but she still doesn't feel any other emotion or change. All she feels is the pain and misery from the cruelty of her peers. Brad and his friends once again begin to tease Kelly, this side knocking on the glass of the door, point and mocking her crying. She angrily gets up, shuts off the light, and pulling down the shade on the door, putting her into complete solitude. The only light is the tiny amount shining in slightly from behind the black clouds in the chilling sky. Not much is able to be seen, but you can see Kelly's face, tears still pouring down, as she buries her head in her hands on the desk. ~

I feel your pain Kelly, I know your agony.

~ A cold breeze once again blows through the window, as the light-switch is frighteningly switched back on, this time to a lower, more sorrowful shade. ~

Who, who's there?

~ Kelly's voice of once anger is now changed to fear. Standing before her at the doorway is a man that the troubled society has become familiar with. He stands powerfully, all black outfit, white and black face paint, gloved hands gripped tightly in fists. His presence brings one of strength and domination as he stares calmly into Kelly's destroyed eyes. ~

Don't worry Kelly, I won't hurt you. Actually, I am here to help you. I know what those boys did to you, and it's a shame.

~ Kelly's face, still alarmed, begins to feel strangely comfortable with the sadistic looking stranger. ~

I followed my heart. I did what my feelings told me to do. I can't believe he could do this to me.

Well, that just goes to show you how cruel this world can be. But you can't show weakness, Kelly. When the world is cruel to you, you must be cruel to the world.

~ Kelly's facial expression changes to one of a listener, as she begins to question the man's instruction. ~

Cruelty is not the answer. Jesus was never cruel to others. Jesus lead the happiest life ever, and that's because he forgave, rather then hold grudges.

Despite what you think, Kelly, there is a whole other world out side of the Christian religion. Think about it, has Christ ever actually helped you? I mean you have lead a life of devotion, and kind acts. And just when you ask Him for one favor, this is how he repays you? Do you really think that Jesus Christ is fair?

~ Kelly, baffled by the man's great points, continues to listen. For the first time in her life, she is looking towards the guidance of another, and not Jesus Christ. ~

Where is this world, this paradise you speak of?

~ The man, seemingly ignoring the young woman's question, walks closer to Kelly. He is now towering over her as she sits in her desk, staring in fear. He reaches his hand down towards her head, slowly not to scare her away. He puts his hand behind her ear, and pulls out a tiny switchblade. The naïve girl, ignoring the man's "trick", suddenly lights up with understanding. She stares into his eyes, as he gently drops the tiny yet lethal knife into her hand. ~

I know you will make the right choice, Kelly.

~ The man slowly backs up, pace after pace, not taking his eyes off of Kelly's. He eventually reaches the door where he entered. He flicks the light-switch again, returning the room to darkness, as Kelly sits alone, baffled, yet focussed. She stands up to walk away and complete her task. She knows what she must do, she must take away the life of the person who has taken away her's. She flicks on the light-switch one final time to find the door's lock. However, instead of leaning towards the doorknob, her eyes are drawn to the teacher's desk, which is burning. She approaches and looks on the desk. She stares amazed at the sight. On there lays a razor blade, covered with blood. Kelly then sees a thick rope with a knot tied around the end, leaving a lasso type pattern. Her unaware eyes become even more amazed, as she backs up and sees the fire, burning out the word that finally makes her destination clear…~

BeGiNnInG