Chapter One

I don't know how it all started. I don't even know when it started.

All I know is that we've become accustomed to it; we've learned how to get around it without getting caught. My best friend Claire is the master of fooling our superiors and making them think she does her homework, then goes straight to bed.

What they don't know. What they don't see, is that she is the mastermind behind everything.

We are currently in math class the only room in the whole building with a clear enough view of the male building, which is about a mile away from here. If you look carefully enough you can see them. Sometimes fooling around, other times seriously taking notes -or what looks like it- But there are times when they also seem to notice us, they look back at us. But that is just if you have perfect eyesight and I have never experienced it, other girls in the ORDER claim they have. (ORDER: Only Rebels Dare to Encounter Re-evaluation)

They say that when your eyes connect with theirs you can see a million stars and a billion butterflies start to flutter inside your body. It's too exaggerated. And after all, it is prohibited to have contact with the other sex without permission from the top.

We don't even have male teachers. Based on the rules, there should be no male contact until we hit our college years.

But, why? Why all this precautions?

Well the generations before us were a bunch of messed up teens. Drugs, alcohol, suicide, overdose, pregnant teens, drop outs, violence...ETC. It got ugly enough to the point where the government had to step in.

It took a while for them to figure out what to do since the peaceful method had failed. Once they had found a good enough system (ORDER), for all this crazy teens, it went like this:

5th grade would be your last year of what they call Elementary school.

Then you'd take 6th grade all the way to 12th grade of High school, then go on to college and finally be able to socialize with the other sex.

In their books, the closer we'll ever get to a male right now is a magazine or a picture. But they are wrong.

I sensed Claire smiling at me from the side; she's holding her cell phone under her desk so the teacher doesn't see it. I examined her eyes, big, round and chocolate like, sparkling with enthusiasm; and I know why this is.

"Don't tell me. Another party..." I whispered, so that only she could hear.

"You know it!!" she squealed.

The teacher seemed to notice and looked back in search for the culprit. We act as if what's on the board is interesting enough to hold our attention. After giving everyone suspicious looks, she turned around and continued to write on the board.

"Shh! don't react like that especially in here." I quietly scolded her.

She sighed in agreement and went back to her phone; I, in the other hand go back to daydreaming.

Claire Tinsley, has been my best friend since all of this became new and unknown. She has become the life of all the parties; there isn't one she isn't invited to. These parties aren't official "all girls' parties"; they include the male population of the Rethman Academy, it's the male academy that's across from ours. And yes it is illegal.

We -as in girls- reside at the Marilyn Girls Academy (MG Academy). The parties are held in different locations every time; the place where most of the parties are held is at the old lake house. 2 hours away from our campus. Even though I know all this details I have never assisted one, I hate the idea of breaking the rules.

Students from all the other academies attend as well. But we are the closest to the locations, and they say the guys across from us are the hottest. Just informing you, I'm in no way interested. All I want is to get this last year over with.

Now that we have the explanation out of the way, it seems like I will be sleeping on my own today. Being that Claire is also my roommate and every time there's a party she returns around 3-4 am, the time when I go for a jog around the school riverfront.

The bell rings, indicating the end of class and snapping me out of trance.

I stand from my chair and sigh heavily. This will be a long day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's lunch time and Claire is eagerly staring at her phone, most likely waiting for a replay. From who? I don't know.

Today we have a terrible menu of tomato soup, which I hate because it looks like blood. I don't dare look at the side dishes, too used to this already.

"Claire, you look too obvious." I said making her look up with a smug smile on her lips "Who is it today?" I asked.

"Why are you making it sound as if I have a new one every day? In fact I've known him for a week now." She stated, as a matter of fact.

"Well that's a record for you." I laughed.

"Ha-ha. Very funny! I bet if you ever came along you'll be just like me." she smirked.

"Sorry to disappoint, but I'll never attend those things." I informed her for the millionth time.

"Why not?" she asked, completely unaware of the answer, she's too naïve for her own sake.

Déjà vu all over again, "Don't you understand that it is illegal." I answered her, I can't count with my fingers the times we've had this conversation.

I noticed her, frustration with my answer. She furiously shook her head, making her blonde hair look whiter with the bright sunlight that bounced off the 7 feet windows. Her face was as red as a tomato; she placed a hand on her heart and said, "I swear on this day that I'll make you come to one of the "things" -Parties- with me, before going to college. That is my new goal." We can't mention parties out loud, it just doesn't seem right. So we call them the "things".

My eyebrows immediately crease at the words that came out of her mouth. "Not amused Claire not amused at all." I sighed once again, and leaned into my chair.

~~~~~~~~~

After lunch, I had Physics and Claire had English. Class went by really fast, I'm guessing it's because I didn't pay attention to Mrs. Grey lecture on Newton's law. It gets tiring having to hear the same concepts you have previously learned already. There is nothing new to learn; it's the same old that gets me bored.

I'm back at the dorm and I can tell Claire is already looking for her outfit. She noticed me and smiled while holding a black, sparkly, short dress towards her, "How does it look? This will be my outfit."

"Why all dressed up?" I asked. Claire turned peach red and it finally hits me.

"He'll be there!! What's his name?" She got even redder confirming my suspicions.

"His name is Steve, Steve Crossley." She whispered.

I nodded my head understandingly. Then I told her to get ready they'll start monitoring soon and if she wanted to get out without being caught, she needed to hurry.

It's 8 p.m. and Claire has safely made her escape, meanwhile I got ready for bed. I have finished my homework and there's nothing to do, the crappy music they allow us is as I mentioned before crappy! Movies crap, books crap but Claire has gotten me a few that I have read thousands of times. 

I'm bored... or should I say, Lonely...

Don't get me wrong, I have many friends thanks to Claire's popularity, everyone knows me. But there seems to be something missing... I decide to take my diary from inside my pillow cover. Yes, it's hidden inside my pillow cover for one main reason. I don't want people reading my things, specially the inspectors. Why? Because the things I write in there are really deep shit; the thoughts I get when I'm feeling down and all about our dirty little secrets.

After a while of writing down my emotions, I decide it's time for bed and see what awaits me tomorrow.

One day down, another to come in the same routine.