Hey, I'm Skylar (Sky) Rey Coast. No, 'Rey' isn't my middle name. My last name is 'Rey Coast'. I'm 14 years old but I act older than I am (I still have a troublemaker side though). I'm tall for my age since I'm in seventh grade and 5'5. No matter where I am, I have to be moving and I love to read, swim, and listen/sing along to music. I have long, golden, wavy hair, crystal blue eyes, and perfectly tan skin. I grew up in California and everyone always says that I'm a stereotypical California girl. If it means I can prove them wrong, I'm okay with it. I look like a stereotype but I'm so much more.

I start walking to school glaring at my uniform as I walk. When I come face to face with the gates I smile slightly. It's the last week of school and I'm ecstatic. I walk in the gates and greet my best friend Riley and begin talking and laughing as we head to our classroom. We go silent as my old friend, Zach, walks by.

"Don't you dare let him get to you." Riley threatens and I looked back at him but nod anyway.

"You know what happened. How could he use that against me?" I ask and I feel my throat tighten and my eyes burn.

"He's an idiot. All he wanted to do was hurt you. Don't let him win."

"But he-"

"I don't care. It's the last week of school and you're going to enjoy it."

"Okay."

"Okay."

After that we walked into our literature class and learned more about the Greek and Roman gods. We ended up having a pop quiz about the gods. It had things like, who are they, what's their Roman form, and what are they the god of. I have a strange feeling I passed. That was one of the easiest tests ever taken.

I walk out of the door and I wasn't looking in front of me so I ended up running into someone. I turned around ready to apologize but I'm met with Zach's eyes. My expression changes from nice to a hard scowl that would make Hades hide. Zach returns my stare with one of equal hatred.

"Watch it, peasant."

"You are at equal blame here." I shot back.

"Whatever. At least I'm not a total reject. Your only friends are the two biggest freaks and a girl who can't make any other friends. What a group."

"That was once your group, Zachary."

"Yeah, and then I was pulled into reality."

"Some reality. You ditched your best friends."

"At least I have a father."

"I'd rather be fatherless than have a father who ignores me."

"You don't know anything."

"Oh, but I know everything about you. We were friends for six years."

"And look how that turned out."

"It was your mistake."

"More like the best decision I've ever made."

"I don't even care. You're a jerk. Later, Zachary."

"Whatever, weakling." With that, we stormed away from each other. How could he call me weak?

I take a deep breath and when I'm far enough away from Zach, I lean against a wall and let the few tears drop to the floor.

"Sky, I told you to ignore him the last time you guys went at it." I hear Brandon say and I look up and smile sadly at him. Wow, I am weak.

"He was my best friend though. I can't just ignore the fact that he used my being-"

"Skylar, you know that it doesn't matter. No one judges you because of that."

"I know but I trusted him and he broke me."

"You are not broken. You're the strongest person I know. Mentally and emotionally you are strong. You can hold yourself together for so long. Never give up, Sky."

"Okay."

"Good." Brandon smiles at me and helps me up. He lightly shoves me towards the field and we head to recess meeting up with Riley on our way.

"Where's Jake?" Riley asks.

"He said something about Zach not being able to have children after today and went after Zach. Who knows." Brandon told us casually. We stand there silently looking at each other until we break into fits of laughter.

"Twenty bucks, Zach show up in class in pain." Riley laughs.

"I think he'll show up fine, so, you're on." I say because, when it comes to Jake and Zach, there's no telling how it will end.

"You guys are so amusing." Brandon says.

We shake hands making the bet official. Whoever wins, is leaving here with twenty extra dollars. I pray to the gods because the twenty bucks I have is the yearbook fee. We hang out and towards the middle of recess, Jake shows up and he has an amused smile on his face.

"What happened?" We all ask the same question but Jake just shrugs and joins our conversation.

"Wait. You guys bet on it?" Jake asks in disbelief and Riley and I nod, "Unbelievable."

"Tell me about it." Brandon says.

"Well, I'm sad to say, you both lost."

"What?" Riley and I asked in unison.

"Zach isn't in pain-"

"Yes!" I shout.

"But he isn't fine either."

"I don't understand." Riley and I whine together making us laugh.

"I gave him a black eye but he isn't in any visible pain. Therefore, you both lose."

"So, no one gets the money." Riley finished and we both sighed.

"You've got to stop doing that." Jake and Brandon say together.

"Ah, man!" they say again and they groan as Riley and I laugh.

The bell rings, signaling we have five minutes until our next class. I pout making my friends laugh and I smile at them. I look to the left at the school gates and see a very large dog. It sees me looking at it and growls showing razor sharp teeth and it's eyes glow red. I gasp making the others look at me in concern.

"Are you okay?" Jake asks and I look at him then back at the dog.

"Look at that dog!" I shout pointing at the large thing.

"It's just a dog. You've got to get over this fear." Brandon says and I look at the dog again to see, that it is in fact, a boxer. The thing is, the one I saw before was much bigger and looked more like a seriously over-grown pitbull.

"Oh, right." I say confused.

Before they can say anything else the bell rings and we head off to class. Talk about saved by the bell. I sigh quietly as my friends walk away and try to calm my nerves. I take one more look around the field, making sure nothing else is there, I walk to my classroom. What's going on?

As I walk to lunch with my friends, I see a shadow move next to me. I snap my head towards it but nothing's there. I glance around the cafeteria only noticing a man standing by the doors. Probably a new sub. I try to reassure myself but as I walk to my usual table, the man keeps his gaze locked on me. Glancing nervously at him, I sit down afraid of why the guy keeps looking at me.  

"Is it just me or does that guy keep staring at Sky?" Riley asks.

"I think he is." Jake answers.

"What a creep. Do you know him, Sky?" Brandon asks.

"Sky? Hello-o-o? Sky! Skylar!" Riley snaps me out of my train of thought.

"Huh?" I ask.

"Do you know that guy?" Brandon repeats.

"I-I don't think so." I answer.

They give me skeptical looks but we go back to our lunch. All I can think about is how familiar the man at the door looks. His sea green eyes and black hair suit his perfectly tanned skin like a puzzle. When he sees me staring at him he smiles making his eyes crinkle indicating he smiles a lot. He nods at me and a person walks in front of him for a second and he's gone. I blink and I tune back into reality still wondering who he was.

You'll know me when the time is right, child. Use your necklace well. A male voice says and my hand automatically grabs my shell necklace that I've had since birth.

It's a seashell outlined in pearls with a triton engraved on the inside and on either side, is a charm. The charm on the right was a sword and the one on the left was a bow and arrow. How...?