Seventh Life - Sarah Cornett (books for 9th graders txt) 📗

Chapter One

Glossamer’s tail glimmered behind her as she glided soundlessly in the crystal-blue waters. Other merfolk swam around her, talking and chatting, some with human friends alongside them. She stopped and looked into a store window, eyeing the sparkly top she so greedily coveted.
“Hey Glossamer!” the voice of her friend Jade broke her thoughts and she turned to see her human friend floating behind her.

Rosc hesitated before typing a reply, her fingers moving deftly over the touch-keys. Her avatar, Glossamer, made small hand gestures as she spoke to Jade.

“Hey Jade. How’s it going?” Jade’s avatar smiled and she did a flip, her red tail sending bubbles toward Glossamer. “Bubbly!” the avatar exclaimed, grinning from pixel to pixel. “Ramon should be meeting me here soon.”

Ramon was Jade’s avatar’s boyfriend. He had sent a friend request when they first met in Seventh Life, the game Rosc had invented, and it had soon transformed into a heated romance. If Rosc was jealous of the online relationship though, she didn’t show it.

“Awesome!” Glossamer replied. “Have you found out who he is yet?” Rayne shook her head slightly, her dark hair swaying in the current. “Nope. But I don’t really care.”

I adjusted the mic above my mouth and glanced at the clock. Already seven, shoot! I was supposed to remind Jade!

“Hey, school is about to start!” Glossamer told Rayne. Jade’s avatar gasped, sending bubbles toward the surface. “Shoot! Thanks for the last-second reminder, Rosc!” Rayne said, and then disappeared as Jade logged off.

I smiled and leaned backward in my chair, unhooking my head set. I was SO glad I didn’t have to go to school. I had already graduated. Okay, now you’re probably asking yourself, huh? Well, I just happen to be a genius as well as billionaire. I graduated Yale when I was fourteen and now I was seventeen. Yeah. I got my driver’s license at the same year. No permit needed. Now you probably think I am some nerdy, square glasses-wearing shy girl. Ding ding ding! Wrongo! I was as about as far from that as you could get.
My hair was dyed a bright neon green that would’ve made the Joker jealous and my laugh was obnoxiously similar. I usually wore wild and crazy clothes, like today I was wearing a pair of bell-bottom jeans covered in Star Trek pins and a ripped, black half-shirt that read, Stupid and Proud! The ensemble was completed with 80’s style red pumps. Yeah, I wasn’t that shy.
My computer ding!-ed me out of my thoughts and I leaned forward in my chair. It was Jade, requesting a video chat. I accepted, wondering how in the world she was pulling this off in the middle of school.
“Hey, Rosco!” she whispered. I smirked. “Jade, why is your phone out during class?” I asked. She rolled her eyes. “It’s on my tablet, mother. You know, the one you gave me?” I thought back on that day, when I had given it to her. Bad idea.
The tablet had been the first released, except for my personal one of course. I had invented it, ya know. Paper-thin and a clear, see-through screen, plus holographic capabilities, I was the real world’s personal Tony Stark. If he existed, that is. I turned back to Jade.
“Put it away, Jadelynn!” I scolded quietly. She smirked. “Fine! I guess you don’t wanna know who asked about you today.” She threatened and my heart sped up. “Was it Luke?!” I demanded. Luke is my crush from, like, second grade if y’all were wondering. Jade smirked. “Oh, it doesn’t matter, you want me to turn my tablet off……” she trailed off and I glared daggers. “You wouldn’t.” She widened her eyes. “Oh, I both think we know I would.” She said, and she ended the call. I scowled at the screen for a couple more seconds and then jumped up, grabbing my phone, which was modeled after Tony Stark’s phone. Don’t you judge me. I slung my black purse over my shoulder and dashed to the glass elevator of my mansion.
When it dinged and the doors opened I ran straight to my garage. I jumped on my Harley and jammed the keys into the ignition. It started and I raced from the garage, leaving skid marks. Now how many girls do you know that can do that in six inch heels?
*****
I highly doubted Jade was expecting me to do what I did. But I did! After parking my motorcycle and running to the doors breathless, I swung open the doors with a flourish and sashayed past the milling students, my sights set on Jade’s second period classroom.
I knocked politely and peeked my head in.
“Mr. Malock?” I said. Mr. Malock looked up and smiled. “Miss Crane! What a pleasant surprise! What may I do for you?” I smiled gratefully and turned my gaze on Jade, who was slumping her seat as if to avoid my notice. Yeah, riiight. “I need Jade Picker. She has a doctor’s appointment with Dr. Winnie.” I told him. Jade snapped her head up, her eyes wide. Don’t. You. Dare. Her eyes seemed to say. I just smiled. “She has a wart that needs zapping.” I finished, earning chuckles from the class. Mr. Malock blushed and gestured to Jade. “Miss Picker, you can go.” Jade gathered her books, hatred burning in her eyes and stalked toward me. I just smiled and exited the classroom, waiting for Jade.
“You will pay for that.” She growled when the door shut. I gestured to myself. “Billionaire equals bodyguards!” I said sweetly. She rolled her eyes. “Now tell me!” I demanded

Publication Date: 02-09-2013

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