The Cracked Stone: A Sticks and Stones Story: Number 6

By Kimberly Vogel

Paige is living with her cousin after her parents' deaths. Although she's found a house to live in, it doesn't quite seem like home. At school Paige has friends, but she also has enemies. Trying to balance the two doesn't always go well. Sometimes the roles get thrown into opposite postions. (Sticks and Stones Number 6)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Dec 9, 2012
• ISBN: 9781300488354

Book preview

The Cracked Stone: A Sticks and Stones Story: Number 6

The Cracked Stone: A Sticks and Stones Story: Number 6

Copyright

Copyright © 2012 by Kimberly Vogel.

ISBN eBook 978-1-300-48835-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

For additional copies refer to:

http://www.lulu.com/shakkathi

Acknowledgements

I want to thank my family and friends for supporting me.

Without you, I don’t know where I would be.

Chapter 1

A group of teenagers walked down the hallway of a high school on their way to class after lunch. One cluster chatting together was made up of three girls in the junior class. They had become close friends since the moment that they met at the beginning of the year.

That was a fun party last week, said a tan brunette teen. She was Debbie, the shortest in the group. Her height was five foot three inches.

It was, said another pale redheaded teen. She was Thelma, the tallest of the trio. She was six foot exactly. We should have one of our own.

You should host one for your birthday party, a pale black haired teen said as she looked at the brunette. She was Paige. Her height was closer to Debbie’s, though she wasn’t considered short like the brunette was. She was five foot six inches tall. It’s in two weeks. That’s not too soon.

Maybe, but I don’t want to be seen as a repeat, Debbie replied. Besides, I don’t have a big enough place to host it.

You could have it at my house, Thelma offered.

Debbie smiled at her. Then it faded as she asked, That’s sweet, but won’t your parents mind?

I don’t think so, Thelma replied, shaking her head. We’ve known each other for years. They won’t mind helping out since you’ve got an apartment and we’ve got a house. It’s a pretty decent sized one too.

Paige nodded as Debbie thought it over. She was the newest to the group since they met at the beginning of the year, but she wasn’t at all a third wheel. Speaking up she said, And I can help with the planning.

Thanks, but let me think it over. I’ll let you know tomorrow after I talk to my parents, Debbie said with a smile. She glanced between the two girls. While Paige was older at seventeen, Thelma was younger at sixteen. It wouldn’t be long before Debbie was seventeen too.

That’s fine, but don’t take too long, said Paige.

Thelma agreed then continued, We have to let the others know so they can put your party first on their calendar.

I know, Debbie said. I’ll do it.

Okay, Paige said. Glancing at her watch, she gasped. Oh, we’d better get to class. We’re going to be late.

Hurrying to their lockers, the trio collected their books for the last two classes of the day. When they entered the classroom on the second level, the trio clustered in the back of the room. At the front of the classroom, Mr. Cooper droned on through Science and Math class.

At the end of the day, Paige happily closed her textbook. Turning in her seat, she spoke to her friends, I’m glad that’s over. Are you doing anything after school?

Sorry, I’m busy, Thelma said. I’ll see you tomorrow.

Me too, said Debbie. And I should get home to ask about that party.

Alright, call me if anything changes, Paige said. With a slight wave, she bade farewell to her friends. Looking around the classroom, she pondered on her next moves.

Are you ready to go? Another student asked. This was Wyatt. They had a similar appearance with identically cut black hair, brown eyes and pale skin. They almost looked like twins, but they were cousins instead. He pushed his silver framed glasses up over the bridge of his nose as he walked through the aisle to Paige’s desk.

I guess, Paige replied as her brown eyes glanced up at him. She was two inches shorter than him, even though she was older by almost a year. Picking up her books, she walked with him to the door.

I got the car from Mom, so we don’t have to ride the bus. Walking down the hallway, Wyatt glanced around. Where are your friends?

They had other things to do. Shrugging, Paige walked with him to the lockers.

Oh, well, I don’t have anything afterschool either so I can take you straight home. Wyatt pulled open his locker and collected his stuff.

That’s fine, Paige replied. She pulled her coat on over her uniform. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she walked with her cousin down the stairs to the outside door.

Stepping out onto the sidewalk, Wyatt glanced around. They’d exited near the assembly room. A stone quad was to the right of them. Across it was one of the parking lots designated for students. While they had a car to use right now, it didn’t have a permit for the lot. Turning left, Wyatt walked across the street to another public parking lot.

As she walked, Paige scanned the bundled figures. She didn’t have very many close friends. Most of the teens were mere acquaintances, or enemies. Her trio was a close knit group, which intimidated many of the students. 

Wyatt didn’t pay much attention to the people they passed. He only really paid attention to his closest friends. All of them were still inside of the school. Everyone else he passed received a faint nod or wave. He was always cordial to those around him, even if it was too subtle to be noticed most of the time. 

Walking up to the little car, Paige tossed her backpack into