It was a normal day at Coronation High. It was almost 3:30 and students were walking through the hallways, heading on their way home. The building was quieting down, and only the sounds of closed club rooms in session could be heard. However, in the gymnasium...

   My face started sweating as I faced my opponent. I barely had a chance to take a breath when they lunged at me with their sharp sword. Slash. I ducked, the sword narrowly missing my arm. Breathing heavily, I raised my own sword and tried making a hit to the upper torso. They bounded back, avoiding the hit.

   I frowned. Defeating this one was proving to be MUCH harder than I had anticipated.  They were very fast and very strong ... however I had to be faster. Seeing an opening, I made a move and slashed my sword towards their neck. They saw my move, and using a deft stroke, sent my sword flying into the air. It clattered to the floor, and my enemy pinned me to the wall. They held me tightly, and I could feel the cold metal resting on my neck.

   "DANG IT LAUREN!" I yelled before laughing and pushing her off. My sister Lauren gave me a round of applause before pulling off her fencing mask. She wiped some damp light brown and blonde hair off her forehead, while she went to go get us some towels to dry off our gross sweat. Panting, I collapsed on the floor letting myself cool off a bit. That was an intense duel.

   "You're getting really good at this, Audrey." Lauren said, tossing me a towel.

   I took the towel and wiped my face and neck. "If I had been a bit quicker, I would SO have beaten your butt." I smirked.  Lauren rolled her eyes, tossing her mask at me. "Keep telling yourself that, Audrey."

   Dodging the mask, I smiled and went to the locker room. It was definitely time for a shower.  Book Club was about to start and there was no way I was going to get there smelling like Lauren's (and OK OK) my own sweat. Turning on the water, I immediately felt myself cool off.

   While I'm currently not fending off my fencing partner, I'll introduce myself. My name is Audrey and the other girl who won by a slim chance of luck  is my sister Lauren. She's one of my best friends, especially since it's just her and me in this world. My parents died when I was a baby, although Lauren never really likes to talk about it.  Lauren is basically my guardian angel and I love her a LOT. Yes yes, call me an adoring little sister.

     Anyways, besides being athletic( like having fun with weapons hehe), I also love to read. That's why I'm a proud member of our Book Club. My other best friend David is the President, and we both go every week( as in, during the first few weeks, he literally dragged me there.) David is super smart, and he wanted to make sure I didn't become some brainless muscle head(pfft, like THAT was ever going to happen but anyways) but it wasn't too difficult to end up liking the club because David is also pretty funny. David and I are super close, but he and my sister never talk much. They usually exchange a few civil words before they both become completely silent.

   Huh, I think to myself as I dry my hair, Maybe David likes Lauren. Maybe that's why he's too shy to talk to her, not the fact that's she incredibly intelligent and serious. I laugh, and head out into the halls of school.

  And who should I accidentally slam into except David Thompson himself.  With a heavy thud, he lands on the floor, his books flying everywhere.

   "Ah, crud! I'm so sorry David, I wasn't looking!" I say hurriedly, picking up his books and stretching a hand out to him. He gets up uninjured, except maybe with a bruise or two, and fixes his glasses. "It's nice to see you too Audie...man, you are really strong." he groans, taking back his books. I laugh a little bit. "Sorry, I was a little bit stronger today that usual. I was training in the gym."

    He adjusts his books, and turns to walk with me through the halls. I fix a stray hair from his forehead and nudge his arm- our way of making things all well. David can't stay mad at me, we've been friends for too long- it's literally impossible.

  "What training did you do today, Hulk?"

  "Gee thanks. Anyways, guess."

  "Swim?"

  "That's only on Tuesdays."

  "Track?"

  "Track's off while Jeremy is away to the Bahamas or wherever he went this time."

  "DID YOU DO MARTIAL ARTS AGAIN, AUDREY??"

  "No, no! Don't worry David, I've kept my promise! Although I wouldn't mind perfecting my punch- wanna be my guinea pig?"

   David looks at me and rolls his eyes, while smirking slightly.

I sigh. "Well then, I guess that's a no."

  "I can't think of anything else Audrey, unless you've tried out for cheer."

  I stop short, gagging. David knows how much I would NEVER do cheer. It's my turn to roll my eyes at him, and David laughs mischievously. He playfully pokes my cheek, and since I totally crashed into him and made him land on the floor, I decide to let it pass. Just this once. If David tries that again, he's losing a hand. We continue walking.

"Honestly, I would have been worried if you had joined cheer. The last thing I need is you coming to Book Club acting even more clueless, forgetful, impulsi-"

"OK, OK, I GET THE PICTURE," I say, cutting off his ramble of my shortcomings. "Thanks for subtly insulting me, David. I hold you in high esteem too, Mr.Educated."

David points a finger at me," AHA! YOU ADMIT THAT YOU ADMIRE ME! THAT YOU COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT MY AWESOME, SUPERB, INTELLIGENT BEING!"

   I cover my ears and blankly stare at David, who is busy throwing flower petals on himself. For someone so tall and thin and shy, he can be incredibly LOUD.

   David stops, then sheepishly grins,"Ehehe, I uhm.....may have gotten a little carried away." I laugh, and David smiles. Punching his arm, we continue our walk through the hallways. David is weird, but he's my best friend and always will be.

   "Hey David," I start, as a thought enters my mind. "Do you remember that book we read for Book Club a few months ago?" David looks at me and nods.

  "You mean Closer than You Realized?"

"Yeah. Anyways, you know how it states in the book that 'sometimes the people closest to you are the ones who have the best chance of hurting you'? Do you believe that's true?"

  David pauses, his eyebrows furrowing together as they always do when he's deeply thinking. finally, after a few moments, he answers.

"I do think that sometimes the most acute pain is the one inflicted by those we love.  I think it's just a matter of expecting everything. You never know what's around the corner, so be cautious. But I do think in some case, there are close ones who will never leave or hurt you. Those people I think you can trust."

"That makes sense," I agree. "Although anything un-expected happening HERE is pretty impossible. Coronation is pretty chill, and so is our neighborhood."

We approach the open Book Club entryway, but suddenly stop. First, we see dark stains on the carpet, and our eyes slowly follow their path as we see where they end. David's face goes white and my heart starts pounding as we see the scene inside.

"Oh my goodness," David whispers hoarsely, as we look upon the sight of a dark pool of blood.