My first completely fiction draft!! It's a bit long...
She could hear the footsteps getting closer. Allie stopped walking and looked over her shoulder. Caleb was heading towards her, his cropped brown-black-and-blonde hair swaying in the slight breeze.
“What do you want now?” Allie asked, turning to face him, a frown darkening her usually bright face. Caleb stopped a few feet from her, and tilted his head as if to say ‘don’t you know?’. Of course, Allie could guess. She shook her head. “No. You can’t have the book.”
Caleb sighed. “Why not?”
Allie stepped back a little, then scolded herself. Why was she afraid of him? “I found it. It’s mine by right.”
Caleb scowled. “So what if you found it? That doesn’t mean it’s yours. It just means you found something that belongs to my family. It means you’re a thief if you keep it.”
“No! Leave me alone, Caleb!” Allie turned and ran as fast as she could. Unfortunately, Caleb was faster, and easily caught up to her.
“Allie. Listen to yourself.” He took her hand. “We’re best friends. I can find you,” It wasn’t a threat, just something they both knew. Allie could find him too.
She yanked her hand from his. “I don’t care. I’ll keep on running until I lose you, or you get tired and leave me alone,” said Allie as Caleb looked at her steadily.
“You know that will never happen,” Allie bit back an angry retort. She did know. Caleb would never stop trying to find her, never stop trying to get the book. He would never give up. Allie took a deep breath.
“Caleb, please! I don’t want trouble. Please, just leave me alone!” she begged. She was scared (or pretending to be scared), because she knew Caleb’s powerful family could cause a lot of trouble for her not so powerful family, and he really did believe that the book was his. Caleb seemed to be thinking.
“I can’t. My family needs the book. Just give it to me!” Allie shook her head.
“No!” she said as she ran away.... Allie woke up. She sat up, gasping, then fell back on her bed. “I’m sorry Caleb,” she moaned. It had all started this summer, when she and Caleb were still best friends. They had gone on a walk near the tiny lake right next to Caleb’s house. There were rumors of ghosts in the lake, so naturally two eleven-year-olds would want to explore. They had played and played until Allie, always the more careless and adventurous one, had hit on the amazing idea of playing ‘Who Can Push The Other Into The Lake First?’. Caleb didn’t really want to play, until Allie pushed him in. Then he got angry, as Allie knew he would, and pushed her in too. They were both laughing, and then Allie, while she was getting up, felt a hard, cool, smooth thing. She had picked it up, and found that it was a book, a very thick book.
Allie had looked up at Caleb, and had noticed that there was a very odd look on his face, one she had never seen before. She later realized that it was longing, and amazement, and awe. Caleb, who had never shown surprise or awe, ever, was showing it for a book? And then, Allie had remembered, after staring at the book for a while, the story Caleb had once told her of a lost relic of his ancestors. According to the story, Caleb’s great-great-great-grandparents had written a book telling about everything that had happened in the family so far, so it was very thick (kind of like the book from the lake). They had hidden the book, no one knows where, and ever since then, every generation, the book reveals itself to someone in the Vane family, and that family member has the task of documenting every single event that happens in their time. Then, when they feel it is complete, the person hides the book again.
No one had found it in this generation yet, according to Caleb. Allie had realized that Caleb thought the lake book was the book! He had demanded Allie to give it to him, and of course Allie had said no, being the stubborn cat that she is. Caleb had, of course, gotten mad, and had tried to grab the book. Allie had taken off running, and ever since, she and Caleb hadn’t been best friends. Allie sometimes wished that she had never found the book in the first place. It had just brought trouble.
Allie got up from her bed and opened the drawer where the book was hidden. She pulled it out, studying the intricate designs on the front. Once again, Allie tried to open it, with no luck. The lock, not unlike a lock on one of those diaries that you can buy at the store that come with keys that seem to be the exact same and are amazingly easy to pick...that’s it! Allie jumped up and, still clutching the book, ran across the room. In her Lego house was a paperclip already twisted into shape from when she had been bored earlier. She grabbed it and fit it into the book’s lock. Then, holding her breath, Allie turned it.
It worked! The lock opened, and Allie let it fall to the ground, taking the time to put the paper clip back safely. Then she walked slowly back to her bed.
“I wouldn’t get my hopes up if I were you,” a voice called from her doorway. Allie jumped, dropping the book on her bed.
“Caleb!” she gasped. Caleb was leaning across the doorway, his eyes dull.
“Hi Allie,” he whispered. Allie slowly walked towards him.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
“Yes,” Caleb sighed. “Eric found the book,” Allie raised an eyebrow.
“You mean Eric, your brother, found the book you thought this was?” She held up the book she was about to open. Caleb nodded.
“Poor Cal!” Allie said, using Caleb’s old nickname. “You had wanted to find it so badly!”
“Yeah,” Caleb seemed to sag under the disappointment. Allie put a reassuring hand on his arm.
“Maybe you’re just too cool to have been chosen,” she suggested. Caleb smiled.
“Thanks,” And then his smile turned mischievous. “Which obviously means I’m cooler than you are!” he teased. Allie sighed.
“Aren’t we getting too old for this?” she asked sadly. Caleb looked at her in amazement.
“My best friend Allie Pinson thinks we’re too old to have fun?!” Allie suddenly smiled, secretly happy at how quickly they became friends again.
“I was kidding! Which means I am cooler than you, ‘cause you believed me,” She stuck her tongue out at her friend, then ran outside. “Race y-” she called, but Caleb had already passed her.
“I know you too well Allie,” he said to her surprised face. “You can never beat me!”
“Caleb!” she scolded, half laughing, half annoyed. He grinned at her. Then Allie remembered something. “So what was the book we found?” she asked. Caleb shrugged.
“Let’s go see. Maybe it’s a diary,” Allie and Caleb headed back into Allie’s room. Allie picked up the book, and studied the cover.
“Look!” she said in excitement. There was faded writing on the cover.
“The Booke of Vane,” Allie and Caleb read aloud. Caleb suddenly grinned.
“That’s it! The Booke of Vane, that’s the book!”
Allie gasped. “So this really is the book you thought it was..” she said, lost in thought. Caleb’s grin disappeared as he saw her face.
She could hear the footsteps getting closer. Allie stopped walking and looked over her shoulder. Caleb was heading towards her, his cropped brown-black-and-blonde hair swaying in the slight breeze.
“What do you want now?” Allie asked, turning to face him, a frown darkening her usually bright face. Caleb stopped a few feet from her, and tilted his head as if to say ‘don’t you know?’. Of course, Allie could guess. She shook her head. “No. You can’t have the book.”
Caleb sighed. “Why not?”
Allie stepped back a little, then scolded herself. Why was she afraid of him? “I found it. It’s mine by right.”
Caleb scowled. “So what if you found it? That doesn’t mean it’s yours. It just means you found something that belongs to my family. It means you’re a thief if you keep it.”
“No! Leave me alone, Caleb!” Allie turned and ran as fast as she could. Unfortunately, Caleb was faster, and easily caught up to her.
“Allie. Listen to yourself.” He took her hand. “We’re best friends. I can find you,” It wasn’t a threat, just something they both knew. Allie could find him too.
She yanked her hand from his. “I don’t care. I’ll keep on running until I lose you, or you get tired and leave me alone,” said Allie as Caleb looked at her steadily.
“You know that will never happen,” Allie bit back an angry retort. She did know. Caleb would never stop trying to find her, never stop trying to get the book. He would never give up. Allie took a deep breath.
“Caleb, please! I don’t want trouble. Please, just leave me alone!” she begged. She was scared (or pretending to be scared), because she knew Caleb’s powerful family could cause a lot of trouble for her not so powerful family, and he really did believe that the book was his. Caleb seemed to be thinking.
“I can’t. My family needs the book. Just give it to me!” Allie shook her head.
“No!” she said as she ran away.... Allie woke up. She sat up, gasping, then fell back on her bed. “I’m sorry Caleb,” she moaned. It had all started this summer, when she and Caleb were still best friends. They had gone on a walk near the tiny lake right next to Caleb’s house. There were rumors of ghosts in the lake, so naturally two eleven-year-olds would want to explore. They had played and played until Allie, always the more careless and adventurous one, had hit on the amazing idea of playing ‘Who Can Push The Other Into The Lake First?’. Caleb didn’t really want to play, until Allie pushed him in. Then he got angry, as Allie knew he would, and pushed her in too. They were both laughing, and then Allie, while she was getting up, felt a hard, cool, smooth thing. She had picked it up, and found that it was a book, a very thick book.
Allie had looked up at Caleb, and had noticed that there was a very odd look on his face, one she had never seen before. She later realized that it was longing, and amazement, and awe. Caleb, who had never shown surprise or awe, ever, was showing it for a book? And then, Allie had remembered, after staring at the book for a while, the story Caleb had once told her of a lost relic of his ancestors. According to the story, Caleb’s great-great-great-grandparents had written a book telling about everything that had happened in the family so far, so it was very thick (kind of like the book from the lake). They had hidden the book, no one knows where, and ever since then, every generation, the book reveals itself to someone in the Vane family, and that family member has the task of documenting every single event that happens in their time. Then, when they feel it is complete, the person hides the book again.
No one had found it in this generation yet, according to Caleb. Allie had realized that Caleb thought the lake book was the book! He had demanded Allie to give it to him, and of course Allie had said no, being the stubborn cat that she is. Caleb had, of course, gotten mad, and had tried to grab the book. Allie had taken off running, and ever since, she and Caleb hadn’t been best friends. Allie sometimes wished that she had never found the book in the first place. It had just brought trouble.
Allie got up from her bed and opened the drawer where the book was hidden. She pulled it out, studying the intricate designs on the front. Once again, Allie tried to open it, with no luck. The lock, not unlike a lock on one of those diaries that you can buy at the store that come with keys that seem to be the exact same and are amazingly easy to pick...that’s it! Allie jumped up and, still clutching the book, ran across the room. In her Lego house was a paperclip already twisted into shape from when she had been bored earlier. She grabbed it and fit it into the book’s lock. Then, holding her breath, Allie turned it.
It worked! The lock opened, and Allie let it fall to the ground, taking the time to put the paper clip back safely. Then she walked slowly back to her bed.
“I wouldn’t get my hopes up if I were you,” a voice called from her doorway. Allie jumped, dropping the book on her bed.
“Caleb!” she gasped. Caleb was leaning across the doorway, his eyes dull.
“Hi Allie,” he whispered. Allie slowly walked towards him.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
“Yes,” Caleb sighed. “Eric found the book,” Allie raised an eyebrow.
“You mean Eric, your brother, found the book you thought this was?” She held up the book she was about to open. Caleb nodded.
“Poor Cal!” Allie said, using Caleb’s old nickname. “You had wanted to find it so badly!”
“Yeah,” Caleb seemed to sag under the disappointment. Allie put a reassuring hand on his arm.
“Maybe you’re just too cool to have been chosen,” she suggested. Caleb smiled.
“Thanks,” And then his smile turned mischievous. “Which obviously means I’m cooler than you are!” he teased. Allie sighed.
“Aren’t we getting too old for this?” she asked sadly. Caleb looked at her in amazement.
“My best friend Allie Pinson thinks we’re too old to have fun?!” Allie suddenly smiled, secretly happy at how quickly they became friends again.
“I was kidding! Which means I am cooler than you, ‘cause you believed me,” She stuck her tongue out at her friend, then ran outside. “Race y-” she called, but Caleb had already passed her.
“I know you too well Allie,” he said to her surprised face. “You can never beat me!”
“Caleb!” she scolded, half laughing, half annoyed. He grinned at her. Then Allie remembered something. “So what was the book we found?” she asked. Caleb shrugged.
“Let’s go see. Maybe it’s a diary,” Allie and Caleb headed back into Allie’s room. Allie picked up the book, and studied the cover.
“Look!” she said in excitement. There was faded writing on the cover.
“The Booke of Vane,” Allie and Caleb read aloud. Caleb suddenly grinned.
“That’s it! The Booke of Vane, that’s the book!”
Allie gasped. “So this really is the book you thought it was..” she said, lost in thought. Caleb’s grin disappeared as he saw her face.
“Yeah. It is,” he began slowly.
“And your family would want it,” Allie continued.
“So I need it,” Caleb finished. The two friends looked at each other for a very long time, both thinking different things.
‘I wonder what it says?’ Allie thought. ‘I will never be able to read it if Caleb takes it. He wouldn’t let me. But I want to! What harm would it do?’
‘It’s the book!’ Caleb was thinking. ‘The book of my family! I can’t let Allie keep it, I have to bring it home.’ Caleb opened his mouth, determined to convince Allie to give him the book, but Allie, knowing what he was going to do, clutched the book, decided.
“No,” she said. “I’m sorry Cal, but I can’t give you the book yet! I’ll die of curiosity if I can’t read it.”
Caleb blinked and frowned. “Allie, you can’t read it. There are secrets in there, secrets only a Vane can know!”
Allie glared at him. “I don’t believe you,” she declared. Caleb tried to grab the book, but Allie avoided him. “Get out of my room, Cal. It’s not nice to steal something that isn’t yours.”
Caleb was shocked. “Allie....?”
She turned away. “Go away!” Caleb looked at her in complete surprise. No words would come. He just left, letting the door close behind him. He walked, not noticing where he was going, letting his feet lead him where they wanted to. Now what would he do?!
Allie waited until she heard the downstairs door close, then sat on her bed. She couldn’t believe she did that! The look on Caleb’s face... Allie shook her head. She glanced at the book that was the subject of their argument. She did want to read it, but now she couldn’t without feeling guilty. She briefly considered the idea of going to Caleb’s house and apologizing, but quickly dismissed it. What would Cal say? Allie was a little cheered by thinking of all the fights she and Cal had gotten into. Maybe this was like those ones, and they would forgive each other soon? No, no, this seemed different. Allie made a decision.
“Mom!” she called, “I’m going to Cal’s house!” She grabbed the book and her jacket and tore through the house. She stopped at Cal’s house, nervously gasping. Allie knocked on the door, using Cal and her secret language for ‘I need to talk to you!’ She could hear a whispered conversation, and then a groan.
“Yes?” Cal said grumpily. Allie smiled up at him.
“Hi Cal!” she said cheerily. Cal glared at her.
“What da’ya want?”
Allie still smiled. “Can I come in? I have to give you something.” Cal’s eyebrows jumped at her last few words.
“Oh, okay then. Come in.” He quickly ushered Allie to his room. She sat on the bed, and then pulled the book out of her pocket. Cal’s eyes sparkled as soon as he looked at it. Then he looked at her. “Are you giving it to me?” he asked quietly. Allie hesitated.
Then she nodded.
“It’s your book,” she pointed out. “And, well, I looked inside...” Allie ignored the furious look Cal was giving her. “I can’t understand what it says. It’s really messily written, which means it would probably be easy for you to read.” Cal impatiently shifted weight from one foot to another. Allie almost burst out laughing. “All right, all right, I’ll give it to you,” she said.
“Thank you!” Cal burst out. Allie didn’t offer the book yet though.
“On one condition,” she added. Cal sighed. Whenever his best friend said that, he knew she was going to ask something ridiculous.
“What now?” he asked ruefully. Allie smiled mischievously.
“You have to tell me what you read.” Cal thought about it for a while. He wasn’t even going to tell his family, and now Allie wanted to know? It was supposed to be a secret! And he almost said no. But then Cal thought about it. He knew Allie, well enough to know that there was no other way to get the book. And it’s not like the world would end if his best friend, who wouldn’t tell anyone else, knew.
“And your family would want it,” Allie continued.
“So I need it,” Caleb finished. The two friends looked at each other for a very long time, both thinking different things.
‘I wonder what it says?’ Allie thought. ‘I will never be able to read it if Caleb takes it. He wouldn’t let me. But I want to! What harm would it do?’
‘It’s the book!’ Caleb was thinking. ‘The book of my family! I can’t let Allie keep it, I have to bring it home.’ Caleb opened his mouth, determined to convince Allie to give him the book, but Allie, knowing what he was going to do, clutched the book, decided.
“No,” she said. “I’m sorry Cal, but I can’t give you the book yet! I’ll die of curiosity if I can’t read it.”
Caleb blinked and frowned. “Allie, you can’t read it. There are secrets in there, secrets only a Vane can know!”
Allie glared at him. “I don’t believe you,” she declared. Caleb tried to grab the book, but Allie avoided him. “Get out of my room, Cal. It’s not nice to steal something that isn’t yours.”
Caleb was shocked. “Allie....?”
She turned away. “Go away!” Caleb looked at her in complete surprise. No words would come. He just left, letting the door close behind him. He walked, not noticing where he was going, letting his feet lead him where they wanted to. Now what would he do?!
Allie waited until she heard the downstairs door close, then sat on her bed. She couldn’t believe she did that! The look on Caleb’s face... Allie shook her head. She glanced at the book that was the subject of their argument. She did want to read it, but now she couldn’t without feeling guilty. She briefly considered the idea of going to Caleb’s house and apologizing, but quickly dismissed it. What would Cal say? Allie was a little cheered by thinking of all the fights she and Cal had gotten into. Maybe this was like those ones, and they would forgive each other soon? No, no, this seemed different. Allie made a decision.
“Mom!” she called, “I’m going to Cal’s house!” She grabbed the book and her jacket and tore through the house. She stopped at Cal’s house, nervously gasping. Allie knocked on the door, using Cal and her secret language for ‘I need to talk to you!’ She could hear a whispered conversation, and then a groan.
“Yes?” Cal said grumpily. Allie smiled up at him.
“Hi Cal!” she said cheerily. Cal glared at her.
“What da’ya want?”
Allie still smiled. “Can I come in? I have to give you something.” Cal’s eyebrows jumped at her last few words.
“Oh, okay then. Come in.” He quickly ushered Allie to his room. She sat on the bed, and then pulled the book out of her pocket. Cal’s eyes sparkled as soon as he looked at it. Then he looked at her. “Are you giving it to me?” he asked quietly. Allie hesitated.
Then she nodded.
“It’s your book,” she pointed out. “And, well, I looked inside...” Allie ignored the furious look Cal was giving her. “I can’t understand what it says. It’s really messily written, which means it would probably be easy for you to read.” Cal impatiently shifted weight from one foot to another. Allie almost burst out laughing. “All right, all right, I’ll give it to you,” she said.
“Thank you!” Cal burst out. Allie didn’t offer the book yet though.
“On one condition,” she added. Cal sighed. Whenever his best friend said that, he knew she was going to ask something ridiculous.
“What now?” he asked ruefully. Allie smiled mischievously.
“You have to tell me what you read.” Cal thought about it for a while. He wasn’t even going to tell his family, and now Allie wanted to know? It was supposed to be a secret! And he almost said no. But then Cal thought about it. He knew Allie, well enough to know that there was no other way to get the book. And it’s not like the world would end if his best friend, who wouldn’t tell anyone else, knew.
“Fine,” Cal said boldly, hoping that his family wouldn’t disown him when (if) they found out. It was almost worth it to see the look on Allie’s face.
“Really?!” she asked, almost literally leaping off Cal’s bedroom walls.
“Yes, really,” he confirmed. Allie handed Cal the book and motioned for him to sit on the bed next to her. Cal took the seat warily, knowing what Allie could do if she was excited enough. Then he opened the book, and started reading...
“Really?!” she asked, almost literally leaping off Cal’s bedroom walls.
“Yes, really,” he confirmed. Allie handed Cal the book and motioned for him to sit on the bed next to her. Cal took the seat warily, knowing what Allie could do if she was excited enough. Then he opened the book, and started reading...
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