This is just the first chapter. I'm still working on the second one. I would like to know of a few things. 1) Are the characters believable? 2) Are you still interested enough to move onto the second chapter? 3) Did the flow of the story seem to jumpy or were you able to follow along fairly easily?

The questions will be asked again at the bottom of the chapter. It's rather lengthy. Just thought I should warn you. So, without further ado... On with the story!

The Traveler’s Chronicles

Chapter 1

Faith sat up and groaned. Her head felt like it was splitting in two. The sunlight filtering through the curtains were like little pins in her brown eyes. She violently pushed the alarm button to off and plopped back into bed.

“Tomorrow,” she grumbled. “I’ll get up then.” She had pulled the covers over her head when another buzzer went off. It sounded like it was coming from all over her cluttered and highly messy room.

“Faith?”

She winced at the loud noise that made her head ache even more. “Go away!” she snapped in a hissed whisper.

“Faith?” the baritone male voice called again. “Oh, come on!” he wined. “You’re home. I know you are. I saw you’re bedroom light on at five this morning.”

Faith bolted from her bed. Every fiber in her was screaming, “Turn it OFF!” She snatched open the nightstand drawer. It wasn’t there. The pillow was tossed across the room. It wasn’t under there. ‘Damn. What could I have done with it?’

“Don’t tell me you didn’t come home last night,” he continued, now sounding worried. “Really, Faith. You could have done better.” He laughed, “And on grad night, too!”

Her anger flared. “Better!?!” she echoed venomously.

A shaky golden tanned hand racked through her long raven black hair. She could hardly remember last night. Not that it mattered much. The mind numbing throbbing in her skull was taking precedence over memory. She rummaged through her closet and came out empty. She paused, listening for the male voice to start talking again, hoping to pinpoint it. Her ears were met with very blissful silence. Sighing with relief, Faith sauntered to the bed and fell in face first.

“Star?” the male voice echoed so softly it was hardly heard. There was apprehension and concern in his voice. “Are you there?”

Faith sat up swiftly becoming worried. ‘He’s not upset about last night, is he?’ She rubbed her head, ‘What did I do last night? I know I had one too many drinks but… I don’t remember a damn thing about last night!’

Deciding that the need to know out weighted the pain in her head, Faith yanked open the window curtains over her bed and pushed open the window panes. Her window overlooked the left side of the house where the fence separated her house from the other. It also was right in line with the bedroom window belonging her best and dearest friend in the whole world, Ethan Hawkins.

He, too, had his window open and was perched on the seal with a walkie-talkie in his hand. He was dressed in the same clothes as last night: black dress slacks, white button up long sleeve shirt which was ripped at the seam of his left shoulder and smudged with something black and blood, and a loosely tied black neck tie. His mousy brown hair was a mess, grey eyes red and droopy, and normally lightly tanned skin was now pale and sickly looking. The black right eye and swollen bottom lip didn’t help matters much either.

“Oh, God!” Faith gasped. Instantly, her aching head and eyes were forgotten. “Ethan! What happened?”

Ethan smiled painfully, “Dad came home to congratulate me. Some present, huh?”

A hug. That’s what he needed. Or at least, that’s what she needed. Not caring about the fact that she was still dressed in pajama bottoms and a tank top, Faith positioned herself so she was crouched on her window seal holding onto the wall. Luckily, there was only three feet of air between their houses. The line of wire they had installed over both of the bedroom windows was still there and held strong… Well it did about seven years ago which was the last time she had attempted to climb into his window. She had no idea if it did or not now. True, she was several feet shorter and pounds lighter then but she wasn’t going to let that stop her.

“Help me over,” she instructed as she held out her hand. Bracing herself with a firm grip on the wire above, Faith leaned towards Ethan’s outstretched hand. Once contact was made, she swung out into his arms. He pulled her into his room and set her gently on the floor. The moment she felt her bare feet touch carpet was when she hugged Ethan tightly. “I’m sorry, Wolf,” she whispered softly. “I guess I should have come home with you last night.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he whispered back hugging her tighter. He chuckled sadly, “I tossed him out as usual.”

“As usual” was becoming too often. This would make the third time this week Ethan’s father tried to force his way back home. His father’s abusive attitude was why Ethan took up martial arts. He didn’t want to see his mother beaten up all the time and making excuses for the bruises. After the first time Ethan had successfully defended his mother, Mr. Hawkins left.

That was a little over three years ago. Mr. Hawkins had made attempts to improve but his depression got the better of him. He resorted to drinking, which made his temper flare even worse. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins had filed for a separation and been in counseling ever since. Both parents were in denial of the anger management issue making events like Ethan’s black eye and busted lip a frequent occurrence.

Faith pulled back long enough to look Ethan in the eye, “This has to stop, Wolf.”

He frowned, “What? Climbing through my window?”

“No,” she rolled her eyes, “Your dad! Mama Hawkins should get a restraining order on him.”

Ethan laughed in disbelief, “Mom will never do that! She’s still in love with him.” He pulled Faith into his arms, holding her tightly. It was as if he was holding onto a life preserver. “I wish I could make him go away… permanently.”

A shiver shook through Faith. She hated it when he talked like this. His dark side had grown a lot over the years and was now at his worse. Ethan was a two time black belt with his third well on the way. All that power was going to his head.

She pushed out of his arms, backing away like he had burned her. She couldn’t look at him. “I’d best get back home. Mom and dad will be calling soon. You know, to check up on me.”

“Oh yeah,” Ethan said, remembering. He followed Faith to the window. “They’re on vacation. Can I come over?”

Faith was about to swing back into her window when he asked. She froze and said without thinking or turning around, “Only Ethan Hawkins can come over, not Darth Vader.”

She heard his sharp intake of air but didn’t wait for his response. Her hands had a firm grip on the wire as she swung back through her window. Good thing too. The wire snapped. She landed on her bed and bounced onto the floor. Right as she landed on the floor the phone rang. Scrambling for the nightstand, Faith answered in a rushed voice, “Coongan residence, can I help you?”

“Star?!?” Ethan called out. “You alright?”

“Is everything ok, Morning Star?” her mother asked on the other end.

“Just fine, mom,” Faith told her mother, failing to hide how out of breath she was, and waved to Ethan. “You woke me up. That’s all. So, how’s your trip to Arizona so far?”

~::*::~

“Only Ethan Hawkins can come over, not Darth Vader.”

Ethan sighed and glanced over at Faith. She was standing beside him waiting in line to see a movie. He had managed to talk her into going out with him after four hours of continuous pestering. He knew his comment about his father had made her angry but not that angry. Faith’s wrath was almost as bad as Ethan having to face his father. He cherished her friendship and trust. He didn’t want anything to break them up, not his father or his bad attitude.

He wrapped his arm around Faith’s shoulders and pulled her to him, “Thanks.”

Puzzled, Faith looked up at him, “For what?”

“Everything,” he said with a smile. The swelling in his lip had gone down considerably but the cut still looked bad. Especially when he smiled. Even his black eye – which was covered in make-up because Mrs. Hawkins insisted on it – marred his normally hansom, chiseled features. He wasn’t about to let that get in the way of his apology. “I shouldn’t have said what I said.” The memory of his mother cowering in a corner with his father looming over her made Ethan sigh, “Even if he deserves it.”

Faith grabbed Ethan’s face with both hands forcing him to look at her. “Deserving it or not, Ethan Hawkins,” she began slowly, “doesn’t mean you lower yourself to be just like him. Got it?”

“Hey!” the clerk behind the glass window called to them. “You buy a ticket or get out of line!”

“Yeah, yeah,” Ethan said and stepped up to the window. Faith’s comment stung and he was happy for a distraction.

The movie was some romantic flick about a princess and her knight traveling through some maze to find a wizard. The wizard was trapped in a castle made of crystal in the middle of the maze. Only by working together and falling in love, the princess and the knight was able to navigate through the dangers of the maze get the wizard free and save the realm.

Faith and Ethan always took turns to pick a movie. It was Ethan’s turn. Faith wasn’t into romantic movies a.k.a. “chick flicks.” She never believed in them. Ethan, on the other hand, loved them just as much as he loved torturing Faith with them. He watched with great delight as Faith squirmed at all the mushy parts.

“Tell me something,” Ethan said cautiously as he and Faith walked to the bus stop from the theaters. “How can you watch every bloody, gore infested movie with out batting an eyelash but when it comes to kissing or …”

“EWWW!” Faith shuddered and pretended to be wiping something off her arms. There was a light pink hint to her cheeks.

He tossed his hands in the air and exclaimed amusement, “What’s wrong with kissing?”

“Nothings wrong with it,” she answered in a rush and fell silent. Her blushing intensified.

Ethan leaned closer to her with a teasing smile, “Yes? Nothing’s wrong but…?”

“Sheesh,” Faith whispered. Her cheeks were beat red. She wrapped her bare arms around herself, “It certainly got cold quick, huh?”

“Stop stalling,” he laughed. They had arrived at the bus stop and Ethan plopped onto the bench. He patted the empty portion beside himself, “Sit down and tell me all about it.”

She eyed him like she didn’t believe him. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her onto his lap. She squealed and busted into laughter as he tickled her. “Alright! I’ll talk!” Faith managed to squeak out in between laughing fits.

Ethan didn’t let up. “You didn’t say the magic word,” he sang as he dodged a flailing arm.

“Uncle! Uncle!” Faith chanted until she realized he stopped. She rested her head on his shoulder giggling off the last bits of the tickling sensation. She could feel his hand rubbing her back softy. It was mighty soothing, made her feel like saying anything. Faith twisted around so she was sitting on him like he was the bench. She closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder again.

“Are you going to fess up,” Ethan asked in a warning tone, “or do I have to tickle you some more?” He wrapped his arms around her before she could leap off his lap. “Gotcha!”

Faith sighed playfully, “I give up.” As she relaxed against him, her smile faded. “It’s not like I don’t like kissing…”

“You’ve said that already.”

“Do you want to hear it or not?” she snapped swiveling around to glare at him. The glare quickly softened at his smile.

“Sorry,” he said in a whisper, not hiding his growing amusement. “Continue.”

Faith’s eyes lowered and she fidgeted with his collar. The pink huge was back in her cheeks. “How can any of that be real?” she asked after a moment of silence. “I mean, can two people love each other that much? Can there really be a happily-ever-after?”

The seriously pained look in her eyes worried Ethan. He shrugged when his mind drew a blank to her questions. “I don’t know, Star. I’ve never seen a real live happily-ever-after. The closet thing I have seen are your parents.”

Faith shook her head, “Nope. That doesn’t count. They’ve both been married three times before they met. Happily-ever-after is with the first person you met and fell in love with. That love is supposed to be unbreakable by anything. Not even a super nova could damage it!” She had stood up unexpectedly, flinging her arms out to explain how big the super nova was. Shaking her finger at him, Faith continued her tyrant, “You show me a real, live, honest-to-God, true blue happily-ever-after and I’ll show you a girl ready to sign up for it.”

“Oh, Faith,” Ethan chuckled sadly. “I’m sorry I asked.”

“Whatever,” she mumbled and sat down beside him. Faith crossed her arms across her chest, pouting. “Just don’t ask ever again, okay?”

“Okay.” Ethan eyed Faith out of the corner of his eye. He had no idea it bugged her that much. ‘All those movies I made her sit through… I feel like an idiot.’ “So,” he said slowly, “What do you want to do now?”

A growl from her stomach answered his question. Faith smiled sheepishly, “Food?”

“Sure, and here comes our bus.” He placed a comforting hand on Faith’s shoulder, “I promise I won’t make you watch anymore chick flicks unless you really want to.”

She laughed, “Whatever!” and climbed onto the bus.

~::*::~

“I’m FULL!” Faith exclaimed as she stepped out of the fast food restaurant.

“And now the rest of the world knows,” Ethan said sarcastically. He easily dodged the playful punch that Faith tossed his way. “Hey, watch it,” he chuckled.

She stuck her tongue out at him and said with a laugh, “It’s not like I could hurt you!”

“Ha!” he scoffed. “You have mean right hook. Ask Craig Johnson or have you forgotten that?”

Faith blushed, “No… but that’s not the point.” She fell silent as they walked down the street towards the nearest bus stop. The sun had set and streetlights were popping on. The streets were still busy with pedestrians and cars. Faith looked around at all the activity and sighed. “Home’s gonna be empty, Wolf. I don’t want to go home just yet.”

“I’ve got an idea,” he replied with a huge smile. Grabbing Faith by the arm, he said, “Follow me. You’ve got to see something.”

“Hey!” she laughed. “Where’s the fire?”

Ethan let go of her but didn’t slow down. “I’ve been meaning to show it to you since I bought mom’s birthday present. I just don’t want them to be closed when we get there.”

They did an about face and speed walked nearly ten city blocks before reaching their destination. It was an old fancy building with huge windows on either side of highly decorated doors. In the windows were mannequins dressed in vintage outfits and jewelry amongst refurbished furniture and paintings. In bold curly gold letters on a green background was written “The Traveler’s Chronicles” over the doors.

Ethan beamed and exclaimed, “It’s still open! Great!”

“What is this place?” she asked, eyeing the mannequins skeptically.

“It’s like a consignment store of sorts,” he replied in a rush. Ethan was practically bouncing with excitement. “What I want to show you is inside.”

He pulled her in by her hands. The store didn’t look as big from outside. Faith thought it was a one story hole-in-the-wall. It wasn’t. It was two stories tall and at least as long as the city block was wide. Every inch was covered with merchandise from pencils to lamp shades. All of it was exotic either from another country or hand made. Either way it was clear that anything in this store wasn’t like the cookie cutter normal stuff.

“Isn’t it great?” Ethan asked Faith who was too shocked to say anything. “Yeah, that’s what I though, too.” He glanced around, “Where is it? I hope they haven’t sold them.”

Someone gasped behind them, “Oh, Mr. Hawkins! What happened to you’re eye?” A very thin woman dressed in a vintage nineteen forty’s purple flappers dress, black lace shawl, knee length stockings and a black lace head band around her platinum blond hair walked up to them. Up close they could see the wrinkles behind layers of make-up. She looked rather upset with Ethan’s black eye. “Such youthful perfection should never be marred,” she announced stoically before turning her attention to Faith. “Ah, the raven haired friend of yours,” her smile made Faith’s stomach twitch. “Miss Coogan, was it?”

She swallowed hard before saying in a shaky voice, “Yes, ma’am.” The woman looked like a fortuneteller to Faith. She hated fortunetellers, figuring that nothing good could come from them.

“Faith, this is Madam Popinjay. I bought mom’s earrings from her.” Faith visibly eased up due to the introduction. Ethan stifled a laugh. He knew what was running through her head. He thought the same thing the first time he met her. “Madam Popinjay? Do you still have those medallions for sale?”

“Ah,” Madam Popinjay cooed in approval. She tapped Ethan on his nose, “I knew you would return for them. He has such a good eye. Come,” she took him by the arm, “this way.”

Faith followed fuming at how close Madam Popinjay was to Ethan. She knew Ethan wouldn’t say anything about it. To do so would be in direct violation of his code, which was something Faith found stupid. Madam Popinjay led them to a waist high glass display case. There were two levels packed with all sorts of jewelry. Madam Popinjay moved to behind the counter, opened one of the doors, and pulled out two three inch round silver medallions. Both were on thick braided black leather ropes and had intricate designs etched along the outer edge. They also had the same saying written on the back of them.

None of that mattered to Faith. What was in the middle of each medallion caught her attention. One medallion had the design of the moon in the middle and the other the sun. The moon medallion had a thin mosaic layer of moonstone in it. The sun medallion had a thin mosaic layer of both garnet and yellow topaz stone in it. She picked them both up, one in each hand, looking at each detail with silent awe.

Ethan smiled and asked after a moment of silence, “Do you like them?” Faith was unable to respond verbally. Her shock hadn’t worn off. So she opted for a nod. He laughed, “Good. I’ll take them.”

Madam Popinjay clapped her hands, “Excellent!”

“What?” Faith exclaimed, puffing up for a protest.

“Would you like them in a box,” Madam Popinjay asked in a rush before Faith could get in another word, “or would you like to wear them?” That last bit was directed to the still puffed Faith who deflated at the question.

“You can’t buy these,” Faith protested in a meek voice. It was clear by the way she was petting them that she wanted them. “They’ve got to be too expensive.”

Ethan placed a hand on her shoulder, “Let me worry about that. Do you want them or not?”

Faith opened her mouth to protest again but decided against it. Instead, she said with a sheepish grin, “Yes, I would like them.” She eyed them again as he paid, “What made you pick these out, Wolf?”

“You’re grandpa’s stories,” he replied. “You remember the one about Sunbeam and Grey Wolf, right?”

Faith swelled with pride. Ethan had normally walked off or ignored Grandpa Coogan when he told the story of Sunbeam and Grey Wolf. He preferred the stories about the Indian warriors fighting against nature and/or other tribes. She gasped in delight, “I thought you had forgotten about that!”

“How could I?” he asked in shock. “It was your favorite story. You would have him tell it over and over when ever he was at your house.”

“Oh, I love a good story,” Madam Popinjay purred as she leaned on the counter. The beaded fringe on her shawl tapped against the glass counter. A charming, yet slimy smile spread across her wrinkled features, “Do tell.”

“Um, well,” Faith stuttered, still not over how Madam Popinjay could go from classic aging beauty to a wrinkled aging misfit in two seconds flat. However, Ethan was very much beyond her rapidly changing looks and happily hopped in.

“There was this Indian maiden named Sunbeam,” he began in a mystical tone mimicking Grandpa Coogan, “and an Indian warrior named Grey Wolf. They had fallen in love and went to their parents to ask if they could get married. Both parents said, ‘Yes.’ But,” Ethan sang sadly and paused. “The Shaman of the tribe wanted Sunbeam for himself. He was so angry about their marriage that he placed a curse on them.”

Madam Popinjay gasped, dismayed at the curse. She grabbed Ethan’s shirt arm in her red clawed hands and demanded, “They made the Shaman take the curse off, yes?”

Gently prying her boney hand from his shirt, Ethan said, “Sorry, Madam Popinjay. On the morning of their wedding, both Sunbeam and Grey Wolf went missing.” Madam Popinjay clapped both hands over her mouth and looked like she was about to cry.

“It’s alright,” soothed Faith. “They were both together even after all the Shaman did to them.”

She sighed in relief and shot a glare at Ethan, “Oh, you naughty boy! You lied!”

“Honest, Madam Popinjay!” he pleaded with his hands up. “I didn’t lie. The curse was never lifted. Just let me explain,” he added when she gave quizzical looks to both himself and Faith. “The Shaman cursed them to never be together in human form for the rest of their lives. Sunbeam turned into an eagle during the day and at night Grey Wolf would turn into a wolf.”

There was a pause where Madam Popinjay glanced hopefully between Faith and Ethan for more to the story. When neither of them said anything, she asked, “There’s more? Isn’t there?”

Faith shook her head, “Nope. Grandpa never said there was. He always ended it there.”

“Oh, how tragic,” she sighed. “To be so close and yet not…”

“Yeah,” Faith said softly as she looked at the medallions again. There was a hint of sadness in her voice and eyes. The same look was mirrored on Ethan’s face but he remained silent. “Can you put them in a box?” she asked Madam Popinjay.

“Of course, my dear,” Madam Popinjay said happily with an all-knowing grin.

~::*::~

Faith and Ethan walked to the bus stop in silence. Faith clutched the little hunter green box close to her chest and wore a hidden yet dazed smile. She was still in shock over Ethan’s gift. He had a long history of spoiling her with gifts and doing things for her. She had tried to talk him out of it but he never listened. Eyeing his profile, Faith thought, ‘I wonder if he will stop once I’m married or something like that.’ Something about that didn’t sound right to her. It made her feel uneasy and upset. The urge to walk away from him hit Faith like a ton of bricks.

“Looks like rain,” He said staring at the dark cloudy night sky. “We’d better get home soon.” Faith remained silent. Ethan could see she was happy with her gift but some thing was bugging her. “Star?” he asked once they stopped at a red light. Faith’s attention was everywhere else but him. She clutched the box a little tighter. “Star?” he asked a little louder.

“Hmm?” she blinked looking up at him. “What?”

Ethan chuckled, “Lost in space?” A look of uh-oh flickered across her face as she glanced from him and the crosswalk signals. The little green man lit up. Faith crossed without a word. Ethan froze, both mentally and physically, in confusion. “Did I do something wrong?” he called after her and ran to catch the light.

When Faith didn’t respond or slow down, Ethan grabbed her arm turning her around to face him. She wiggled out of his grip easily, “I’m alright. Just thinking.”

He opened his mouth to say something but the drop-it look on Faith’s face made him stay silent. Again, she silently continued to the bus stop. He followed but kept his distance. Something he had done had upset her greatly. All signs of happiness had drained out of her by the time they had reached the bus stop.

‘Maybe buying the medallions wasn’t such a hot idea?’ Ethan guessed as Faith plopped onto the bench. He didn’t even bother sitting beside her figuring that distance was what she wanted. ‘I didn’t think the story made her sad. It was her favorite. Could it be me? Did I do something wrong?’ He took up pacing behind the bench to help his thinking.

Ethan’s pacing was driving Faith’s anger to higher points. He was frustrated and he had every right to be. Faith had been acting weird for a while. She admitted to herself but not anyone else. If he had knew that he was the reason for her weirdness, then he would want to know why. Faith hadn’t figured that out for herself yet!

She opened the box and took out one of the medallions. It was the one with the moon in the middle. For some odd reason, looking at the moon medallion made her think of Grad Night. She and Ethan had gone to the party held at the school together. Neither expected the other to stay together during the party. There were no ties. They were free to mingle with anyone.

Abigail McFadden had asked Ethan to dance. That was fine. What seemed to hurt more than it really should have was finding Abigail and Ethan in the school hallway attempting to find each other’s tonsils. Faith calmly and quietly walked from the scene.

Presently, Faith asked, “This isn’t an I’m-sorry-gift?” as the bus was approaching.

Ethan stopped pacing in mid step and leaned on the back of the bench. “What was that?” he asked. Faith didn’t answer. She shoved the medallion into the box and climbed onto the bus. Both of them ran their bus passes through the machine before finding a set at the back of the bus. “Care to repeat yourself?” Anger was evident in his voice.

Faith winced and looked out the window, “I wanted to know if this was an I’m-sorry-gift.”

Her words were like she had physically slapped him in the face. Snorting in annoyance, Ethan said, “No. Why would it be.”

‘Yes, why would it be?’ she snapped at herself. Sighing her defeat, she answered, “I saw you and Abigail kissing in the hall. I thought you might have seen me walking away.”

Ethan remained silent for a few moments as he processed the words. Anger and confusion fueled his words as he spoke, “I shouldn’t have to apologize for that, Star. If anything, we should be even with you going off with BRENT of all people!”

The few people that were on the bus were now casting them puzzled looks. Faith sank into her chair a little clutching her box as if that would rescue her. As he glared at her, the words slowly sank in. “You’re upset about that?” she asked in a hushed voice.

Ethan huffed, crossed his arms across his chest and sat back pouting. “No,” he said, clearly lying. She gave him an oh-yeah-right look. “It’s Brent, Star,” he said trying to defend himself. “The guy is practically bragging about bedding the last virgin in school!”

“The last!” she squealed in shock before falling forward with laughter. “Oh, that’s rich!”

Ethan, however, wasn’t laughing. “Seriously, Faith,” he said turning her to face him. She wore a broad grin which quickly faded at his glare. “Did you and he…”

“EW!” Faith covered her face, “Not in ten billion years!” Ethan sighed his relief and sat pack. She eyed him and asked in a cautious and curious tone, “We’d be even, huh?”

Sitting up and waving his hands, he said in a rush, “No! I didn’t! It was just a kiss. I mean, she wanted to but I didn’t. I couldn’t. I wanted you not…” He stopped, eyes big, and slapped his hands over his mouth. He noticed the bus slowing down. Their stop was next. Without warning, Ethan shot from his set to the front of the bus.

Faith followed demanding, “Finish what you were going to say!” He didn’t answer. He bolted from the bus once it stopped and speed walked towards his house. Faith didn’t give up. She caught up with him and jumped into his way, “You wanted me not Abigail! That’s what you were going to say, RIGHT!?”

A flash of lightning made both of them jump. The clap of thunder that shook the very concrete they stood on made them run. It was a mad dash through rain that fell relentlessly. In five minutes of running through the rain, Ethan and Faith arrived at the first familiar porch, which was Faith’s, dripping wet. Gasping for air and judging how quickly he would need to run to get to his porch, Ethan waved, “I’ll call you on the walkie-talkie.”

She caught his hand and yanked him back onto the porch, “Oh no you don’t! You didn’t answer my question!” She held him by the wrists, eyes pleading. The box was forgotten, lying on the ground beside them. Her heart felt like it was in a vise. ‘This is why I have been acting weird. I’ve fallen for my best friend.’ “Say it,” she begged in a soft voice that was nearly drowned out by the thunder.

Ethan was lost. His mind was spinning with uncertainty and fear. In one hand, he had the chance to tell the truth and open a new door to their relationship. In the other hand, he risked loosing Faith and all that mattered to him. “Can we talk inside?” He watched her face contort with frustration and hoped she would agree to the momentary pause.

Faith waved a warning finger at him, “Fine but you are talking!” Rolling his eyes, Ethan waited as she franticly fidgeted with the house key and lock. A few seconds later, the two of them stood in the hallway still dripping wet. Faith was leaning against the locked door looking something a kin to a cornered wet cat. “Alright, buster. We’re in the house.”

“Yes,” he said. Grey eyes stared into brown, never flinching or blinking. It was almost like the kind of stares he would give to his sparing partners in a martial arts match. A chill ran down Faith’s spine. Another clap of thunder was heard in the silence.

‘I am such a fool! Here I am acting like such a…’ Her eyes widened in shock and she sucked in a lot of air really quick. “I dropped the medallions!”

She unlocked and yanked the door open. The box was where it landed when she dropped them. The medallions had tumbled a bit from the box. Faith picked up the moon medallion. Ethan picked up the sun medallion. “Keep that one,” she told him. “I’d like for you to have it.”

“But I bought them for you,” he protested.

“That’s right,” she said as if talking to a child. “And I want you to have one.” She pushed his hand with the medallion back towards his chest, “Please, keep it. We’ve both just admitted to falling for each other. I’m not ready to seal that with a kiss. So, take the medallion in its place. Okay?”

After a moment of thought, Ethan nodded. There was another moment of silence as both looked at the medallion they held. “I forgot to tell you about the words on the back,” he said, wanting to break the silence. Flipping them over, he added, “Madam Popinjay said she had named the store after them. They’re called The Traveler’s Medallions.”

Faith read, “Like day and night, our two souls unite.”

Ethan finished, “As one forever, new worlds shall we find.” A bright light, followed by a crack, then boom made Faith and Ethan look away from the medallions. They missed the flash of light coming from the mosaic designs in the sun and moon. Ethan was the first to look away from the stormy sky to Faith’s profile, “Maybe we’re heading into a new world now?”

She felt her cheeks heat up, “Yeah. Maybe.” Ethan was inching closer with a hungry look in his eye. Her heart was speeding up and mouth becoming dry. ‘Well, this is not the way I expected to end the day or school!’ Faith’s mind raced as Ethan’s lips moved closer to hers. The phone rang in her house. “I’d best get that,” she said and scurried to answer it.

Ethan watched in shock and dismay as the door closed and locked. With a sigh, he put the sun medallion on and headed for his house at a leisurely pace.

~:*:~

End of Chapter 1

Ta-da! I hope you like. Please review! ^_^ The questions I would like to have answered are as follows: 1) Are the characters believable? 2) Are you still interested enough to move onto the second chapter? 3) Did the flow of the story seem to jumpy or were you able to follow along fairly easily? Please feel free to add any other constructive comment you may have. Thanks.
3nodding