Something Pretty's Under There

Prologue

The giggles corrupted as I stood atop the smooth lake stones. I covered my ears as they called my name. Ta-li-a. Ta-li-a. They’re cool voices made me want to swim away. So I did. I stepped out and across the cold lake. The pretty thing will sink! The pretty thing will sink! The cold, squeaky voice chanted. I gave a shriek as I stumbled in, not able to get a foot hold. Bleak, opaque light streamed through the water as I fell, giving an eerie felling as I died. I felt a hand touch my face and bring me closer to the bottom. I welcomed it and sank, to the murky bottom, allowing the sand to cover me. I felt sleep coming over my body and I closed my eyes, knowing that death would soon absorb me.

1
“Lovey, Time to wake up,” A soft voice cooed. I groaned and stuck my head under the covers. I didn't want to wake up... I wanted to finish my darn dream! “Wake up, Talia!” A squeakier voice urged. I pulled the covers down, revealing my bed head and grumpy eyes. My mother and younger sister’s body were blurry against the dullness of my mind currently. I blinked out my weariness and slumped over. “I don’t want to wake up!” Then a thought entered my mind. My birthday! I leapt up and shooed them out of my room. I got into some nice clothes, a flowing shirt and some lovely Khaki shorts. I looked myself over in the mirror once before trotting down the stairs to see my mom and sister, her name Rose, sat, holding out a pancake with a candle in it. "Good Morning, Talia! Happy 15th Birthday!" I smiled. The warmth of our open lake house had a musty yet lovely feeling.
A sudden knock made me jump. I gave a giggle with my sister and walked over to the door, opening it to find my friend Ryan standing there. He smiled and gave a whistle. “You look…. nice, Talia.” I felt color rising in my cheeks. “Thanks, Ryan.” His strawberry blond curls bounced as he walked in. Rose gave a little wave and continued to color on the sheet with the Crayola Crayons I bought her the other day. Still brand new, just like how little Rosie would keep them. Her thick blonde hair ended in small curls in the middle of her back. I guided Ryan into the kitchen and my mom smiled. “Good Morning, Ryan!” She chimed. Ryan smiled back and nodded. He sat in the seat he usually sat in, my father’s seat. He left us… so it didn’t matter to me. I looked down to see an old, lumbering dog padding in. “Good Morning, Shack.” I said. He looked up, his eyes droopy. He wagged his tail and lumbered to a spot next to the refrigerator in which place he always slept.

I rubbed his ears and walked to the deck, Ryan trailing behind. I placed my hands on the railing and sighed. “I don’t want to grow up, I still want to be 14 forever,” I said, my voice dripping with grief. Ryan placed a hand on my back. Electricity wound through me. I looked over at his face, the morning sun reflecting in his green eyes. I gave a silent, girly giggle in my head and turned to face the lake, a glowing orb reflected in it. I rested my chin on my folded arms as I gave a sigh. “Well, why don’t you? I’ve stayed the age of 11 since I met you.” I stood up at Ryan’s comment and punched him lightly in the arm, allowing a soft laugh to release. “Yeah, I’ve noticed.” We stood there for a bit before a vibrating noise broke the silence. Ryan looked down at his phone a groaned. “My mom wants me home. Something important.” I smiled, although sad to see my friend go. He gave a wave and walked inside and through the front door. I gave a sigh. True love or not?

2

A sudden rush of cold air hit me as I entered school. People swarmed around me at the lockers. I gave a smile at some boys and a giggle when one winked at me. I moved on to my locker, on the inside, after I opened my locker, was pictures of me and Ryan, my only friend. I looked over the pictures then someone rapped on my locker. Ryan’s face poked around with a smile. “Good morning, 15-year-old!” He cheered. I rolled my eyes. “Oh yes. Because I’m so old.” I giggled and turned back to my locker and gathered my things. “C’mon. Let’s head to math,” Ryan mumbled, obviously grumpy at the thought of Algebra.
I sat in my seat, doodling hearts, only me knowing what would be stored inside of them. T+R? I gave a sigh, hoping Ryan felt the same. A sudden throat clearing by our teacher made my head leap up. A skinny thing covered in blonde curls and powdered make up skipped behind him. I sneered and looked back down, not listening to the introduction. A finger jabbed into my side. I looked up to see the girl, her face twisted in rage. “Ahem?” She said. I looked over in confusion at Ryan. He shrugged and motioned me to a seat in front of him. I narrowed my eyes, as if saying, No way… I can fight my own battles. He looked down and my eyes centered back to the girl with an ugly sneer. “May I ask why you want my seat?” I crossed my arms, proving my point. Her eyes looked into mine and I swear for a second her forked tongue darted out of her mouth. “Well, considering that my friend sits right there-“ her finger snapped to a girl smothering her lips in lip gloss- “Then, I believe that this is my seat.” I scoffed and felt everyone’s eyes on me. Ryan’s emerald eyes pleaded me to move. I narrowed mine and stood up, my head towering above her’s. Stupid height, making me look weird. She seemed to cower and I rolled my eyes. “Okay. You know. You can have this seat.” I muttered some words under my breath and stormed away, taking a seat in front of Ryan. I looked back at him and he gave a shrug. “Who is she?” I whispered. “Not listening again, Talia?” Ryan said his curly hair bouncing as he laughed. I rolled my eyes. Oh geez, now Ryan’s being weird. I turned back to the front of the classroom where the teacher was, of course, teaching Algebra.

The rest of the day went by the same way, the new girl getting introduced in all of my Core Classes. I groaned in every single one. Because, get this, I sat next to her friend in every single core class. I finally got to just relax in Art because that was the only class I didn’t have with that snobby rich girl, Ella. A girl who sat with me, Rachael, looked at my mad expression oddly. “What’s up with you, Talia?” I shrugged. “Nothing.” Rachael’s expression dropped and she twiddled her thumbs. “Oh.” I sighed and explained how my stupid day went. She seemed to understand… which made me wonder, was this how her day went?


3

I walked home silently, my eyes diverted to the ground below. I hissed in surprise as a finger poked my back. “Hey there, Tally!” A voice said. I spun around to see Ryan, his eyes glowing. “Yeah, hi,” I muttered. He raised his eyebrow cautiously. I rolled my eyes and walked forward, my feet scuffing the ground. “Tally!” He called. I ignored him and scuffled faster. “Talia Grace Reed!” He yelled, snagging my shoulder. “What’s up with you?” He said with concern in his eyes. “I’ve had a suckish day with that… that… Snob!” I yelled. He narrowed his eyes. “You mean Ella?” I blinked. “Ella… That’s her name?” Ryan nodded and I shook the thought from my head. “Never mind… walk me home?” I asked, starting forward. He smiled and walked next to me. “Hey, prom’s coming up,” He said, sticking his hands in his pockets. My eyes widened. Prom… was he going to ask me? My heart began to flutter as he went on. “Yeah,” I replied coolly. Ryan’s strawberry blonde hair glinted in the afternoon sun. “I was wondering who to ask, and… I figured I ask Ella,” He said, looking forward. My jaw dropped. “E-Ella?” I Stuttered. He nodded. “Yeah, we hung out a lot today. I think she likes me.” I blinked at him and looked forward to see my lake house, the basement a book store. I gave a small smile. “Yeah… you should ask her. There’s my house, see ya,” I said, running toward my house. My messenger bag clattered against my hip as I realized he was asking Ella, not me. I threw ajar my front door and ran inside, ignoring a happy bark from Shack. I ran upstairs and slammed my door. I spun around and looked at a note on my bed. I picked it up and gave a small smile. It was what Rosie was coloring this morning. A guy… Orange hair… A girl… Brown hair. It the background a heart was scribbled around them. I flopped onto my bed and groaned. Not right now, Rosie… Not right now.

“Oh, Ta-li-a!” Rosie’s voice called as she pounded up the steps. “There’s a customer in the store!” I got up from my homework and looked at Rosie in the doorway. “Okay, I’ll head down there,” I said, beginning down the steps. I traveled down another flight of steps to the book store, shelves beyond shelves of new, old, and hand-me-down books. I wore my best How-May-I-Help-You? Smile and walked over to counter. The customer spun around with a smile painted on her face. Mine immediately dropped when I saw her face…. Ella. I plastered on my smile again and she groaned. “Oh, so you work here?” I nodded and raised my eyebrow. “How can I help you, Ella?” I asked cheerfully. She rolled her eyes and glanced around. “Do you have any fashion magazines?” I pretended to think for a bit and nodded. “Over here!” I said, motioning her to a rack with magazines. She plucked one up and dropped a quarter on the counter. “Bye, loser!” She called as she rushed out of the store. I gritted my teeth. Wow! You hardly know someone and you already call them a loser! Clever thinking Ella! I thought sarcastically. I grabbed a book off the shelf and plopped down in a chair near the counter. I looked up about 10 minutes later when the service bell rang. Rachael looked down at me with her usual shy smile. “Hi, Talia,” She squeaked. I nodded. “Hey! Welcome to the Bookworm Redemption! How may I assist you?” The girl walked forward to the shelves, her black hair swaying. “Just browsing,” She said, scanning the teen books with her finger. I smiled and looked back down at my book a ten dollar bill fluttered down on the counter and I saw a smile on Rachael’s Mouse-Like face. “So,” I asked, “you going to prom?” She shook her head. “No, I don’t think anyone would ask me anyway.” I gave a sympathetic smile. “Eh… I know the same feeling.” She smiled back and waved good bye. The door closed as she swept out the door. I sighed and returned to my book. When dusk hit, I headed back up stairs to Rosie. I smiled as I saw her sleeping on Shack’s flank. Sleep tight, Rosie. I move her to her pink, flowery bed and tuck her in.

I know Nora's been waiting. :3