The Element Keeper by Jinxrox (best book recommendations .TXT) 📕

This is my first story please comment or vote AND criticise please!!! hope u like it!! :p ~ Jinx

The Element Keeper

Chapter 1: The Birthday

The golden morning light streamed through my half curtained window. As always, it seemed to uncannily always land exactly on my now opening eyes. I struggled to remember what day it was. Thursday, no Friday. Yesterday was the twelfth so that would make it the thirteenth. October,Friday the 13. The most unlucky day in the whole year, AKA the exact day I was born, weekday and all. I shot up. 'It's my birthday', I whispered to no one in particular. I scanned my room looking for something to throw on over my white tank top and underwear. For once it was clean, my periwinkle laptop laid partly open on my century old wooden desk. I got up passing my full length antique mirror then stopped and took a few steps backwards. Ugh, I look horrible. When opening my lilac bureau I grabbed a pair of orange shorts and an old green shirt. While quickly pulling them out and putting them on, I discovered a brush and quickly ran it through my hair. Now I was presentable.

I undid my trapdoor on the floor of my attic room. Three minutes later with the fold-able stairs unfolded I climbed down to the first story. While strolling into the kitchen almost tripped on my sleeping mother draped across the ripping green (if you could call it green) couch. Sneaking past, I went into the kitchen and grabbed a bowl and started fixing Frosted Flakes. Opening the fridge, I discovered we had no milk.

'Orange juice it is' I grimaced. Even as I sat down and ate my cereal and orange juice, I still could not believe that I was 16 years old, of today. The concept was mystifying and kind of scary. At least I could now drive in my state of Virginia without adult supervision. My only joy....

Mom stirred and fell off the couch with a thump. 'Ow' she said quietly. She repositioned herself and sat up, seeing that I was in the room, and said

'Happy birthday.' Soon she was up and walked over seeing my cereal floating in orange juice she remarked, 'no milk?' I nodded and she groaned because she wanted milk in her coffee.The only thing I really dreaded today (besides of course school) was the party tonight. It was mom's idea that is all I have in my defense. After the silent breakfast (mom had not drunk her coffee yet) I traversed upstairs to get dressed. Blue tank top with multicolored braided straps, worn down jean shorts and my favorite pair of tan gladiator sandals is my daily attire. I quickly thought of what else I had to do...

1. Eat breakfast- check

2. Get dressed -check

3. Brush teeth - ummmmm not check?

4. Make bed clean up room - not check/check (its presentable at least)

In record time, I was outside and ready for Sarah to pick me up. Five minutes later..... Lisa, where are you? I was about to call her when I heard a loud honk and a old, yellow, rusty Volkswagen bug pulled up in front of my tiny house.

'Bree!!!' shouted Sarah while opening her passenger door and inviting me to come inside.

'Hey Sarah, how's life?'

'Sucks as usual, and you?'

'Ditto' I replied.

While closing the door, I accidentally wobbled the car door handle.

'Oops?' I said.

'Its okay, happens all the time'

'Happy Birthday!' my really good friend, Sam, yelled from the backseat. I grinned and Sarah immediately copied his words. About halfway there, Sarah suddenly remembered something.

'Oh, yeah! Bree; hear this is for you!', she said, handing me a pink wrapped box. Opening it slowly, I couldn't help smiling at Sarah's eagerness. Inside was a pair of beautifully crafted silver flats. Little rhinestones, that I usually weren't a fan of, framed the toe. They were beautiful.

'Thanks so much Sar, I love them!' I gave her an awkward half-hug.

'Eyes on the road!' Sam shrieked like a girl. Sarah and I giggle, but obeyed. Maybe this day wouldn't be so bad.

§§§§§§§

We arrived to the large brick prison that everyone else called school. Please, parents don't put us in here to "learn" but to attain life lessons, like how to get your best friend from beating up your other friend. Useful stuff like that. Sarah and I had math first thing, so we said goodbye to Sam, who had English. We chatted on our way to class, and were interrupted a few times by people wishing me a happy birthday.

We waltzed into class just as the second bell rung. Class was uneventful, but it was hilarious when some guy in the front row threw small wads of paper at Mrs. Becker's back. Sarah and I were laughing all through lunch, telling the story to Sam. I know, I know, I said school was a prison, but hey, I'm not a morning person, alright. My last class of the day was world history, which I had with Sam. I didn't really want to pay attention to the events that provoked the French revolution, but soon started to as Mr. Harrison started quizzing the students. After poor Paul was interrogated until he had nothing left, Mr. Harrison turned to me. He locked eyes with me, green on silver. Not me, I silently pleaded, but knew it was worthless. To my surprise, he turned away, and started questioning little Claire. Before he could get a word out, the bell rang. Claire looked relived.

'Read pages 124 through 145 for Monday' , he shouted. The class groaned.

'Are you complaining he asked? Well then, also do questions 1 through 8 page 135.'We knew better than to complain again.

§§§§§§§§§§§§

'Honey, I'm home!' I called as I walked in the door. No answer. She must be working one of her many jobs. I was just about to grab an after school snack when the doorbell rang. We don't get many visitors, so I wondered who I was. I opened the door to see..... The UPS delivery guy.

'Miss Brianna Coll?'

'That's me' I answered. Handed me a sheet to sign, then a small cardboard box. He left and I went inside. I wonder who it's from. I bet it's for my birthday. I looked for the return address but there was none. Strange. I opened the cardboard box and inside was.... Another box, wooden this time. Inside that box no inside was a sliver chain with a beautiful white stone with rainbows of color dancing inside. From my limited geology experience, I still knew that this was an opal, my birthstone.

'Cool' I said to no one in particular. But who would have sent me this? I was about to investigate farther when I saw a small piece of paper taped to the inside lid of the box. There were only three words on it "From your father"

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whew, i just finished editing this and chapter 2, now on to the 3rd chapter.

I spent all day on it hope u like it! please comment and vote ~ Jinx


Chapter 2: The Party

I stared at the box. Unconsciously I stepped back and slammed the door in the poor delivery guy's face. This must be something from Mom that she addressed from Dad. That HAD to be it. He NEVER had sent anything to me for my birthday or Christmas before, why should he start now? I sat there twirling my waist length hair on my finger. I still hadn't moved when the door opened and Mom walked in.

'Hi sweetie', she said.

When I didn't reply, she came over and sat next to me. Wordlessly, I handed over the lid of the box.

She smiled.

'Ahhh yes, good it came'

I stared at her.

'Well of course I sent it. Hard to do to, the mailman asked a lot of questions why not only why I sent the package to my house, but that I insisted on no return address.' She chuckled. I knew it. But I couldn't help feeling disappointed. She (as all moms do) noticed that I was sad so she told me,

'Right before he left he gave me this box, instructing me to give it to you on your sixteenth birthday.'

'Why didn't you just give it to me, instead of going through all this trouble?'

'Well,'she answered,' I wanted to be a little more creative than that.' Her brown eyes sparkled with mischievousness, showing off her impish quality.

'So', I replied hopefully 'it really was from him?'

'Of course, I wouldn't lie to you about that,' her strange tone almost implying that there were other things she was keeping from me.

***

The doorbell rang yet again (twice in one day.....I think that's a record) and as Mom stopped her suspicious diggings around in the cardboard box she brought in, to answer the door, it all came flooding back to me. The party. Pushing my thoughts of Dad aside I ran upstairs to get dressed. Throwing practically my whole wardrobe on my bed, I noticed a white box on my bed. Long and white, it looked like the article inside was very expensive. Here we go again I thought another "present" from dad. But was surprised to see a small note taped on that was signed "Happy Birthday sweetheart. Love, Mom." I opened it and sucked in my breath. Inside was an exquisite dress of gray silk. I put it on and looked in my outlandishly old mirror. It was a centimeter above my knees, perfectly fitted, and matched my eyes. Hurriedly I brushed through my caramel colored hair and put on my new silver ballet flats (obviously my mom and Sarah had coordinated this outfit together) and, on second thought, put my new necklace on. I pushed down the stairs and glided down. Before I could close them I gasped. Sliver tablecloths hastily covered our worn down table and candles flickered everywhere. Sarah was hanging up sparkly silver lanterns when I entered.

'Oh my God!' We said exactly at the same time, me referring to the room, her to my dress.

'You look fabulous!' she squealed obviously over her earlier breakdown. She was wearing a beautiful pale pink dress, complimenting her pale skin, and her blond hair was whisked up into a cute messy bun. Before I could tell her how cute she looked in her flouncy pink number, people started pouring in.

***

Ding - dong went the announcing the last of the ten chimes, signaling ten o'clock. Our small, old, but powerful clock reminded me of the time. I looked around, drink in hand. The party was going great. My friends from the swim team were chatting with Claire and Lisa from school. A cute guy from the soccer team was nervously talking to Sarah. She, in return, laughed just a little too hard at his un-funny jokes.I noticed a very familiar body walk towards me. His light blue eyes gleamed at me.

'Happy Birthday!' Sam said, giving me a quick hug. He flipped his blond hair nervously, and handed me a small blue box. I posed my drink on the table nearby.

'Sam, you shouldn't have' I said. He sorted,

'Well I can always take it back',