Floor 15

By Alexa Suber and Kamille Buckner

Lex doesn't seem to belong anywhere. That is until she is scouted by TAG-K, The Academy of Gifted Kids, for having incredible powers. Perhaps she belongs there, or so she thinks, but all is not what it seems at this school that seems too good to be true.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Feb 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781716071461

Book preview

Floor 15

By: Alexa Suber

Cover by: Kamille B.

(August 3)      3

Lex      3

(August 10)      18

(August 11)      20

(October 10)      21

Richie      21

Lex      25

Joey      28

Lex      30

Richie      32

(November 2)      35

Lex      35

(November 4)      38

(November 7)      42

Ivy Thom      47

Richie      49

Joey      51

Richie      52

Joey      53

(November 9)      57

Lex      57

Joey      59

Toby      60

(November 10)      64

Lex      64

Toby      65

(November 12)      67

Lex      67

Richie      71

Joey      72

Toby      74

(November 13)      79

Richie      79

Drake      81

Joey      82

Lex      84

(November 14)      87

Lex      87

(November 21)      93

Richie      93

Lex      95

Richie      95

(November 24)      97

Lex      97

(December 1)      100

(December 20)      102

Richie      102

Lex      104

(December 21)      109

Richie      110

(December 22)      113

Richie      113

Joey      114

Toby      119

(December 23)      121

Richie      121

(December 24)      123

Lex      123

(December 25)      124

(August 3)

Lex

I took my backpack out of my locker and slung it on my back just as my locker slammed shut. Jumping a bit and slowly turning around, I was met with the face of Billy, my bully. Behind him was his best friend, Jake, and his cheerleader girlfriend, Jenny. She was smirking at me. I frowned.

Jenny here says that you were excused from homework tonight! Why don't you have homework? Billy asked, his face set in a scowl.

I shrugged. All of my classes had homework, but all of my teachers said that I was excused from doing it. He angrily punched the locker and I involuntarily jumped.

Tell us, you fucking loser! He shouted.

I did a quick survey of the area. This hall had no classroom doors, only lockers. My locker was smack dab in the middle, about 8 yards from either set of doors. No one else was in the hall, probably all gone home. I frowned at him and shrugged again.

He groaned, lifted me by my collar, and punched me in the face. My head flew back and hit the lockers. Then he dropped me, making me fall to the ground with a thump. I was about to stand up when he kicked me square in the chest, knocking all of the air out of me. I fell to the ground and gasped for air. Ugly laughter sounded from above me.

I heard footsteps walking away from me. I stayed on the ground for a while, trying to get my breathing regulated. Eventually, I felt okay enough to stand. Slowly, I raised. Ignoring the screaming pain from my chest, I walked home.

* * * * * * * * * *

I slowly opened the door and stepped inside. No sooner had I done this than I was slapped, twisting my head to the side. I knew that this stinging pain wasn't the worst of it. It never was. I slowly turned to look at Emila, my foster mum. I only call her by her name, as she doesn't deserve to be my mum.

Where the hell were you!?!? You're an hour late! She punched my shoulder and slapped me again before storming off. I slunk to the attic, aka my room, and took off my backpack. Then I looked at my face in the mirror. My eyes were blue. I had a red bruise forming on my cheek, but I knew that it would go away. My eye was slightly swollen from the punch. I grabbed an ice-pack from my drawer. It was already cold, so I put it on my eye. I was just about to get comfy on my bed when I heard a shout for me to come downstairs. 

Sighing, I walked down to the living room. Emila and Dave, my foster dad, were standing across from a man in a suit. He was tall and lanky with curly brown hair and soft green eyes. He smiled as I entered the room. I turned to the foster people. Dave had a large grin on his face and Emila was staring at a piece of paper in her hand, smiling widely. I turned away from them and back to the man.

Good evening, Lex. I am Carter Williams, the headmaster of The Academy of Gifted Kids or TAG-K. I am happy to inform you that you have been chosen to attend. Your adult figures here have agreed with you coming. I hope you will agree as well. It is similar to a boarding school, I guess you could say. He said smoothly, like ice.

I’ve never heard of this until now. Where is TAG-K? What exactly am I gifted at? Is this some kind of cruel joke? Where is this place? How come I’m just now hearing of it? Was this why the teachers excused me from homework? Did they know? All of these questions swam through my head. My heartbeat was quickening. My breathing became shallower. I tried to calm myself down, tried to go to a happy place. I was failing. Dave, noticing this, quickly intervened.

Look at that! She’s so happy she can barely speak! When is she leaving? He asked. Carter's eyebrow raised, but he answered nonetheless.

Tomorrow, directly after school. I will stop by here to pick up her things and pick her up directly from school, so do not expect her return tomorrow. I shall be leaving now, as there is business to be handled. Good day. He then quickly exited as my eyesight blurred. Next thing I knew, everything went black. 

* * * * * * * * * *

When I peeled open my eyes, I was confused. Daylight swarmed through the window of my attic room. I was on the floor, near my bed, and had an ache in my back. It was like I had been thrown onto my bed and had fallen off. I slowly stood up just as the door swung open and Dave staggered in.

Get the hell up! You’re late and you haven’t packed! He yelled before slamming the door with way more force than necessary. I sighed, took a shower, dressed, and then took out the suitcases I had when I first came to this wretched place.

Packing everything up, I took out my guitar case and skateboard. The case I put on the floor with my suitcases, the skateboard I gripped in my hand. I looked around, but I couldn’t find my backpack. Well, I didn’t have anything important in it anyway. I slipped my iPod into my pocket, put in the earbuds, and walked out of the house, not bothering to say bye to Dave or Emila.

The ride to school was peaceful. No one was around, so I even sang a bit with my music as I did tricks on my skateboard. I clammed up as I got to the school. Getting the board into my hands, I walked in. The office wasn’t busy. The secretary, Mrs.. Bomen, and the principal, Mr. Knirt, were talking and laughing. As I walked up, they both smiled at me.

Good morning! Be happy, you get to go to an elite school soon! The principal said, sipping some of his coffee.

I’ve always liked you! You’re so quiet and polite. I'll miss you. Mrs. Bomen said. I gave them both a ghost of a smile and went to sign the tardy sheet. Mrs. Bomen quickly stopped me.

You’re excused today! She said. I nodded and walked out into the halls. I stopped by my locker to get my math book and hurried off to class.

* * * * * * * * * *

In every class, I was excused from any work. All-day, I just sat around and read books. Students glared at me, others gave me a look of respect. They talked about me, wondering why I was so lucky. I was easily able to tune this all out by putting in my earbuds. At lunch, I sat behind a big tree and slowly ate an apple, wondering when I was going to get attacked. Surprisingly, not a soul messed with me. It was after school that was the problem. I walked out, skateboard in hand, and looked around.  I wasn't sure what Mr. Williams's vehicle looked like.

Soon, I saw a sleek limo pull up. A window rolled down and I saw Mr. Williams's smiling face. I was about to walk up to him when someone stepped in front of me. It was Billy. Behind him was Jake, grinning.

Where do you think you're going? You're overdue for a beat-down. Billy huffed at me.

I frowned and tried to step around him. He responded by stepping in front of me again and shoving me to the ground. I went to stand up when he sent a kick to my side. It didn't hurt too much. I went to get up when Jake sent a hard kick right at my head. Pain exploded from my head and stars covered my vision. 

Hey look, her stupid eyes are doing it again! They're white! Jake yelled. I was about to cry from the massive pain in my head when something weird happened. I heard a voice inside my head.

It sounded like a girl. It was ordering me to stand up and protect myself. I knew I was going crazy. I have finally broken. Nonetheless, I did what the voice commanded. I stood up and looked at my opponent. The voice said to find their weak spots.

With a swift kick, I kicked Jake where no boy wants to be kicked. He fell to the ground in pain. Then I grabbed Billy's arm, twisted it behind his back, and yanked up. He cried out in pain as a loud pop sounded. He cradled it, shouting in pain. I stood there in shock. When had I learned to do that?

There was a shocked silence all around me. I sucked in a quick breath, grabbed my skateboard, and ran to the limo. The door was thrown open from the inside. I quickly got in and the door was closed.

A quick look around the vehicle showed that Mr. Williams wasn't there. I saw a girl and four boys, slight smiles on their faces. They all looked around my age. The girl had blond hair and watery blue eyes. The boy sitting beside her had dirty blond hair and green eyes. The next boy beside him had blackish-greyish hair and teal-ish greyish eyes. The boy across from him had blond hair and blue eyes. The boy next to him, closest to me, had blond hair with blue tips and green eyes. My heart started beating harder.

"Hi, I’m Richie. I’m