Fall- 1

Chapter 1-

     Elliot raced to the the ash tree, his breath puffing in the cold winter air. The snow crunched beneath his feet as Asher raced to it with him. Elliot whooped triumphantly as he touched the tree. "Darn, but that was only about a centimeter apart!" Asher groaned, collapsing in the snow. His brown, gold-streaked hair stood out in the snow. Elliot shrugged. "I still won." He smiled, falling into the snow with Asher. Scream! a couple of girls were sledding down the slope on the field. Forest surrounded the big field, with some hills. "Girls scream a lot." Asher commented. 

     "I guess." 

     "Why do you think they do that? Maybe everything's scary to them."

    "I reckon they just like screaming." Elliot stretched, getting up. "Wanna snowball fight?" He asked, bored. "Sure." Asher scooped up a snowball, pretending to examine it. He suddenly jumped, laughing as he threw the ball at Elliot. "Hey!" He shouted, diving into the snow and dragging out a shovel that he buried. Elliot filled it with snow, flinging it at Asher. "HIT!" Elliot yelled. "Right smack in the face!" Asher was laughing, brushing snow off his nose. 

     "Hi." Serena was walking by. She smiled waving a gloved hand. Asher's cheeks turned red. "Um, hi?" He waved back nervously. Elliot stifled laughs, throwing a snowball at Asher. Asher's face turned bright red. He whipped around, throwing a snowball at Elliot. "Hey!" He yelled in frustration. "Calm down, okay? It was just a joke." Elliot rolled his eyes. "Anyway, we'd better start heading home now. They walked into the forest, following Serena's footsteps. She lived in the same neighborhood as them, and she was Asher's crush, since third grade. They  were in seventh now. Elliot yawned. "I'm so tired. They trudged through the frozen forest, their boots making deep marks in the snow. The neighborhood, East Hill, sat in the Canadian Shield region, around a lake. Asher shivered. "I'm cold." He said. The road was just up ahead. Across that was East Hill. Asher stepped onto the road, looking both ways. They speed-walked across. Elliot screamed suddenly, a red car flying at them. Elliot leaped back, tripping and falling into the forest, behind a snow heap. Asher had leaped across the road. The road was raised, above the forest a bit. "Elliot?" Asher yelled. Elliot croaked an answer. "Come back! I'm here!" He rasped. Elliot's vision faded to black.

A Journey Far- 2

Chapter 2-

     Ever dumped the last bits of dust into the trash can. "Lunch time!" Her father smiled, ruffling Ever's hair. It was 12:00. Her mother was carrying out the last dish, baked potatoes and a rare slice of butter. "Ever, take a shower today." Her mother smiled, sitting down. There was one small chair for everybody. Alice smiled, adding another layer of bloody-colored lipstick. Ever shuddered. Gross. Ever wondered how it would be like to put layers and layers of crayon-like things on her mouth. There was a portion of noodle for everybody, and the potatoes were cut nicely. A chicken leg and a handful of greens were also on the table. "Wow!" Alice gushed. "This will be delicious. And mother, I'm supposed to get my allowance today." Alice added, smiling. I need to look my best for school tomorrow. Ever sighed. She was in seventh grade, and she dreaded school because of the taunting and bullies. "Are you going to eat? Or else I'm going to eat your portion." Alice looked at Ever's food greedily. Ever quickly forked her noodles into her mouth, tasting the olive oil and tomatoes pasted on it. Fresh tomatoes from their big potted tomato plant. The pot was as big as can be, sitting next to an open window in the kitchen. She ate her portion of potato, nibbling on her butter. Ever finished quickly. Her mother started washing the dishes, humming. Ever sighed, getting up and going to her room. She sat on the bed, looking at her plant. An idea popped into her head. She grabbed a note. Dear Family, I am going on an adventure. I will come back, but the city is no place for me. I will take the compass, and my allowance and a bag. I just can't stay in the city. I promise to come back one day. Love, Ever She stood up, grabbing all her things. Ever looked at Penny. Would a turtle be good on a journey? She decided to bring it. Ever cut off a piece of her blanket and wrapped it around Penny. She slipped out the door, stepping out onto the road. The city was filled with dirt, the roads stinky and the apartments looming over her. Her bag was light on her back. Ever took out her water bottle, gulping up three big mouthfuls. I'll just keep walking... Until I find someplace, someone, somewhere or wherever this takes me.

A Journey Far- 1

Chapter 1-

     Ever sighed, sitting at the windowsill and gazing out beyond her house. It was an old house, sitting in a city. Her parents were poor, and her sister was mean. Alice was always taunting her, and never let Ever in her room. She wondered what was in there. Ever sometimes just stared out the window, wondering what went on beyond the dirty city. "Ever! You sweep the floor." Alice's sharp, sneering, voice echoed in the small house. The house had a kitchen, a tiny living room and two bedrooms. Her parents slept in the living room. There was one bathroom, and an old, small, washing machine. Ever didn't have many clothes anyway. Alice always begged for allowance, spending her money on make-up, heels, and fancy clothes, all junk to Ever. Ever usually just wore the cotton gray skirt, which was already very fancy for her, and a loose, big, light blue top that was big, but comfortable. "Come on! You think I'm going to sweep the floor?" Alice scoffed. Ever could her Alice brushing her long, scarlet, dress. Ever sighed, getting up and looking around the kitchen for the dustpan. The dustpan was under the wooden chair Ever was sitting on. The table was small, a little dark brown table with a red tablecloth and a clay vase that Ever made out of the river clay seam, when she was five. Ever had ran away then, finding the clay. Her parents had originally put  it in the living room that was converted to a bedroom. It had a mattress with a woolly blanket. The rest was just a plain floor with some of her mother and father's belongings. Ever's room was the smallest, since she was only twelve. Her sister was fifteen. Ever's room had another vase in it, and a small bed with blankets. She only had a potted rose to play with, and a little turtle that she promised to take care of. she named it Penny, like its copper colored shell. "Come on!" Alice yelled, walking into the kitchen and down the narrow stairs. "Alice! Don't yell!" Her mother chided, looking up from the counter where she was making bread. Her father was in the bedroom. Alice thundered past her mother, and cornered Ever. "Sweep. Don't let mother know." Alice kicked Ever's toe. Ever nodded, bending down and wincing.