Chapter 1 - The Project

Find more chapters at www.wattpad.co.uk/user/DanielaJamiso which is my wattpad account. I will post more on here if I get some more reviews :)

David’s POV

“David, dude, we’re friends and all, but I need to go to football practice. Can’t we just give up on this s**t project?” Sam groaned, exaggerating his evident dislike by dropping his head to the table.

Sam, Elisa, and I had all been sitting around the dining room table at my house for the past two hours, knee deep in work. Looking up from the table, I was momentarily blinded by the dazzling sight of the sun twinkling in through the huge, glass windows. I sighed and made to close the bright emerald folder in which we had put all the work, even though I didn’t exactly want to. Sam was the kind of friend I’d learned not to argue with.

Elisa, my next door neighbor and best friend, shot out her beautifully manicured hand and slapped it on the top page, keeping me from closing the folder completely. Her dark brown eyes bore into mine, challenging me to fight with her. "No, we have to continue. Just because someone has football practice doesn’t mean we can’t continue on without them," she demanded in her American accent.

I broke eye contact, already feeling myself surrendering to the stubborn girl I was so in love with.

I could sense Sam’s emanate explosion as I sighed, taking Elisa’s side. "Please, for god’s sake, football practice? Can’t you can go some other-"

"Seriously?” Sam cut me off, raising his voice in apparent hate for Elisa. “Who even invited her to work on this in the first place?" He shoved his seat back and stood, towering over the table. He narrowed his eyes at Elisa who stood as well, angrily eying him back. I sat, torn between the two. They were opposites and anyone could see that. Yet that was no excuse for them arguing all the time, was it?

"Ha!" Elisa fake-laughed at last, rolling her eyes as she crossed her arms. "Who asked him to come? We were supposed to be working on the project, not that freak." She pointed at Sam as she muttered freak.

God, will they ever shut up? I thought to myself.

Sam turned to me, obviously hoping for some man defense. I don’t know why they always acted like five-year-olds. We were almost adults, seventeen with only one more school year left after the summer holidays. Why couldn’t they act like it?

"Guys, stop bickering like little children. I asked both of you to help me with this project so get over it. There’s a lot at stake so shut the bloody hell up," I growled, anger taking over my brain.

An amazing writing contest was taking place in London that summer. First prize was £5000, second was £2500, and third was £1000. With such a substantial reward, I was dead set on winning.

Elisa sighed, sinking down into her seat. Sam followed suit, running a hand though his hand has he shook his head slowly.

"Whatever." The word came out of both of their mouths at the same time.

"Right; so back to work."

As time passed, Elisa’s mood lightened considerably and she and I soon were laughing back and forth. Sam’s, however, changed very little.  A scowl always seemed to be present on his face and he offered very little in the way of our collaboration.

"Right, so take a look at the plan and let’s see what we need to do." I passed them each their own copy of paper. It had six numbers, all written in black pen, and at the end of number six there was a massive red question mark.

 “D, what’s up with the question mark?” Elisa wondered aloud, leaning in closer towards me.

I found myself leaning in as well, though my mind hadn’t yet formed a coherent response before Sam cleared his throat.

"Look, David, sorry to interrupt your romance talk and all," Sam started, "but as you said, we do have a project to finish. If you and your girlfriend over here,” he shot Elisa a dirty look, “could cool it, I’d like a shot at the prize money." His voice portrayed very little enthusiasm as he breathed a deep, tired sigh.

Feeling my face heat up by his insinuations, I argued, "Dude, I've told you a million times, we are not going out." Not that I didn’t want to, I just didn’t know how she felt about it. And just because I liked her didn’t mean he could say that.

"But I'd like to," Elisa mumbled so quietly I could barely hear her. I was taken completely by surprise.  Wait, she likes me?!

"What did you say?" Sam spat out, obviously as taken back with the fact that Elisa could like me in that way as I was.

Elisa instantly backpedalled. “Nothing. Did you hear something? Might have been your brain playing a trick on you," Elisa teased, returning back to her usual self. "But then again, you don't have a brain, do you?"

Sam immediately took offense but I spoke up first. "Elisa!” I reprimanded. She shrugged. “That's it! I've had it up to here with you two. This project is over!" I shouted. Hoping to prove a point, I stormed out of the room, bashing the door closed behind me.

"David, wait!" a voice shouted after me. It sounded a little bit like Sam although it could have possibly been Elisa. I didn’t care. I ran out the front door, tripping over some sneakers on the way, and ran out into the garden.

Outside, clouds were beginning to swirl about in the inky velvet sky, and they weren’t pretty white ones. They were dark gray, black and ominous; definitely thunderstorm season. I wasn’t about to hang around to see what the weather had in mind. I look around for an escape and noticed the window from the garage. It was lying open, half broken, almost as if someone was already in there.

"DAVID!" the person shouting for me screamed loudly. I stopped for half a second, considering my options, and then sprinted towards the open window without giving thought as to why it was broken.  

I slid through the window and jumped down, landing on my Grandma's old leather sofa. She’d always hated this couch and, having recently bought a new black leather one to replace it, had given it to me. It was grungy and smelled strongly of alcohol from all the parties I'd had here in secret when my mom and dad were gone, but it was still my favorite sofa.

Sinking into the comforts of the warn-in cushions, I sat for a few moments before glancing up to the window above me. I saw black converses with multi-colored rainbow laces running around the garden, searching for me.

"Elisa," I whispered, to myself recognizing the shoes immediately.

"Yes?" a small whisper replied.

Startled, I jumped back and whipped around, my eyes darting to and fro until I found the source of the voice. A pale girl with blond hair and emerald green eyes stood on the other side of the garage by a stack of boxes. Peering back at me, her face showed no emotion. I didn't recognize her as anyone I knew, but she looked vaguely familiar. Strangely, I wasn’t put off by her unexpected presence in the garage, but I still thought I should be cautious.

I grabbed an old, rusty saucepan from a nearby shelf and held it up as I frowned at the peculiar girl. "Who are you?" I questioned hesitantly.

“I’m Elisa Stonewright." The answer clearly came from her, yet her mouth didn't move.

“Don’t think so, honey,” a slightly American accent drawled from the doorway.

Author's Note

If you review I will review yours :)

Reviews

[Cynical_Art]

Your dialogue is enjoyable, I think it feels very natural and believable. It's also plentiful which I like. I think the best way to develop characters is through dialogue. Haven't really grasped what the story will revolve around but I guess you give the reader enough to grasp their curiosity. Overall I think it's an interesting start, very different from my usual type of story, but great stories can be found anywhere :)

[Daniela Jamiso]

Thank you, that means a lot :) It probably it quite natural because well... it's based on a fight between my best friends (boy and a girl) when we did a project a few years ago.

Dj x

[Daniel Periera]

Wow this is really good. You should be a published author! Your amazing! Thank you for writing this its just... wow!

[Daniela Jamiso]

Aw thank you! Your so sweet xx

[patti]

Has a good cliff hanger at the end of this chapter which makes you wonna read the next part of the story, Is nicely paced throughout but maybe in my opinion there could be little bit more character developement or establish why sam and elisa have hate for each other, or little bit of a background story to this friendship... Well i hope you will find this useful

[Daniela Jamiso]

I did write this years ago ... when I was 13 I think... so yeah it needs a bit of work. I've tried editing my own work but I can't do it!!! Thanks :)

[patti]

yeah i know what you mean i find it bit hard to edit or check my work

[Daniela Jamiso]

Ahaha lol :D

[BCBates]

That has put me in complete suspense. Unfortunately i am no where near qualified to give you any tips or anything. Even if i was, i reckon i would still say "That is epic". Looking forward to the next chapter!

[Daniela Jamiso]

Thanks, posted just for you :)