TSP Draft Three - Prologue-Ch1

Overview: https://kaylinrosealexande.wixsite.com/kaylinalexanderbooks/post/draft-three-of-the-secret-portal

Read-aloud, pt1: https://www.tiktok.com/@kaylinrosealexander/video/7187034325077003566?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7168171927235937835

Previous: https://kaylinrosealexande.wixsite.com/kaylinalexanderbooks/post/tsp-draft-two-book-four-ch11

We are finally out of Draft Two which means we've arrived at the stuff that's actually decent!!!

There are actually two different versions of Draft Three, because I actually edited this one. I consider them the same Draft because they're still the same version of The Secret Portal. The changes are minor. I will mark the different versions.

Version One has this prologue:

Is it coming through?

Of course! Why wouldn’t it?

I don’t know.

Okay, we better get started.

You go first.

Okay. Um, hi.

Hi? Really?

Shhh!

Sorry.

Okay. This is a top secret recording. You really shouldn’t be listening.

Stop. I thought we wanted them to listen.

We do, but…

Then why did you say….

I didn’t mean to!

Do we have to start over?

We can’t!

Then can I go?

Sure.

Okay. Top secret. You should be listening. Your life may depend on it.

The only way you could’ve found this is if you were one of us.

And that means you’re in danger.

So if you’re younger than 10, you need to wait until then.

You rhymed!

I’m aware.

It’s funny!

Can I go on?

Sure.

But if you’re 11 or 12, find a 13 year old or older to help you.

It can’t be someone random.

A friend? A sibling? A friend’s sibling?

That last one was me.

But those are the ones that are most likely.

You really shouldn’t give this out to anyone.

Wait for it to come to you.

Don’t go looking for it.

Fate will bring it to you….

I put the italics for your benefit. Those weren't there before, but this is supposed to be Alexia and Maddie talking. I cut this in Version Two, which I supposed is for the best.

I decided on the chapter headers in Version Two to include the year, 2024, which is what it is now. I've taken the liberty to highlight the stuff that's only in Version One and underline the stuff exclusive to Version Two.

Chapter One

Date: November 22nd, 2024 Time: 1:28

Place: Falconwing Middle School; Mrs. Moon’s class

Alexia

My Best Friend Gets Swallowed by a Rock

I sat at my desk, waiting for the bell to signal that the day was over. I’d be able to go home early, and have a whole week off for Thanksgiving. Plus, I just wanted the bell to ring. I mean, it’s my birthday! I think I should have a day off! To be fair, it was a great day, AND a half day. I don’t think I could have asked for a more exciting birthday.

I looked over at my friend, Aurora Hathaway. She was looking at her watch impatiently. My hand went into my pocket. I felt the metal detector I had brought for science class. We were allowed to bring whatever we wanted to help for the scavenger hunt. I brought the metal detector. Most of the items were metals, so why not? Aurora brought a mirror. She would hold up the mirror to the sun and see it reflect off the metal objects.

It was weird finding the metal detector. It was a few weeks ago actually. I was clearing out the closet and pulling out games we never played anymore, and I found it. The weird thing about it was that I was never planning to clear out the closet. My mom didn’t ask me. I don’t know why I did it. It was almost as if someone was whispering inside my head to do it.

Sound weird? Yeah. It does. I must be reading too many books. But, I mean, everyone has been through something like that, right? I personally have had weird stuff happen for years.

Somewhere around three years ago, in fourth grade, Aurora and I did a little comedy skit for the school talent show. On the day of the show, we started to freak out, thinking we had lost a prop. But right before we went on, I realized I was holding it the whole time.

Aurora and I have been friends since 3rd grade. The next year, we were so close, people thought we were psychic or something.

We were close, and seemed to know what the other was thinking. Well, more like Aurora. She seemed to know what I was thinking. Honestly, I hardly know what she thinks. I’m not observant enough. Sometimes I think something, and I must’ve said it out loud, because Aurora heard it. I mean, really. All this school must’ve fried my brain over the years.

I looked at the clock. 1:29. Almost time for Thanksgiving Break. And almost time for my birthday. I looked at the second hand. 5…4…3…2…1…

At exactly 1:30, the bell rang for the end of the school day! The entire class erupted with cheers!

“STOP!” Mrs. Moon shouted. “Before you run out the door like elephants, I would like to say, be thankful for what you have and what you get. Have a good week!”

I turned to leave when Mrs. Moon said, “Alexia.” I looked back at her. “Happy birthday.”

I swear she winked at me when she said that. She pushed her dark raven-black hair out of her bright, bright blue eyes.

Some kids swear Mrs. Moon is a vampire. Pale skin, dark hair, thirst for blood. Okay, maybe they were exaggerating, but the way she smiled at me proved the theories.

It was a weird thought. I was usually the one who said vampires weren’t real, but some kids thought otherwise. Or maybe they just didn’t like her. I don’t know why. Mrs. Moon is one of the nicest teachers, but you can’t really tell by looking at her.

After I finally came to my senses, I skipped out the door to catch up to Aurora. I could have sworn I dropped my pencil, but it was in my pocket. But didn’t I put it in by binder? I thought. I shrugged it off. Like I said, weird things like this had been happening for a while now. I was used to it.

When I caught up to Aurora, she was talking to our other friend, Andrea Armstrong. Our other friend, Lana Daron, wasn’t there, but I had lost track of how many happy birthdays I’d gotten from her. Lana was the type of person who was nice to everyone. As soon as I walked in the doors she ran up to me and gave me a big birthday hug.

“Will you practice your euphonium over the week?” Andrea was saying.

“Duh!” said Aurora. “Band is my life! Will you practice you percussion stuff? Like the red xylophone?”

“Xylophone?!”Andrea fake-punched her. “For your information, it is a marimba! Xylophones are for toddlers! And I have to practice other instru- ments, so don’t call them stuff!”

Aurora sighed. “Euphoniums are AWESOME!”

“Duh!” said Aurora. “Band is my life! Will you practice you percussion stuff?”

“Of course!” said Andy. “But don’t call them stuff.”

Aurora sighed. “Will you see You-Know-Who over the break?”

Andy sighed dreamily. “I hope so.”

I rolled my eyes. Band corrupts the mind of girls and makes them boy-crazy. You-Know-Who is the name we gave Andy’s crush, Gabriel. [Hey, it's Kaylin. This was me being asexual and not knowing that.] Andrea and Aurora are total Band Geeks! I’m in Orchestra. Violins rule! Yeah! Anyone agree? Anyone? No one? Okay. But I still love it!

“I don’t know why you’re such an Orch-Dork, Alexia!” Aurora scoffed.

I honestly don’t know how she does that. But we’ve known each other since 3rd grade. We knew each other well. It was almost like we could read each other’s minds. Sadly, I sucked at it compared to her. Sometimes she says stuff that are exactly what I was thinking. Like I said, strange things had been happening for a while. I have to admit, I’m a little jealous.

“Hey, Lexi!” said Andy Andrea. “Can’t wait for tomorrow’s sleepover!”

I smiled. Andy Andrea wasn’t going to turn thirteen until May. “Remember, bring everything you want! And also-”

The intercom interrupted me. “Bus 79 is leaving in 5 minutes.”

Andy Andrea gasped. “Bye guys! See you tomorrow!” She ran down the hall with her long brown hair flying behind her.

Aurora and I walked out of the school and to where the walkers and bike riders went. We usually walk to the bike rack together then go our separate ways, but this time, Aurora followed me.

“I’ll walk with you,” she said. “My parents aren’t coming home until later and I’m going to your house along with Mikey and Hannah.”

I nodded and the two of us headed down the field to where we would meet our siblings.

My mind started to wonder about tomorrow night. Aurora, Andy, Lana, and my other friend Lucy Harris would be there. I invited others, but they were busy. And honestly, I didn’t want it to be big. And, of course, my sister Madison’s friend, Trixie Johnson, to keep her company. We would watch movies, eat popcorn, and play games, that kind of stuff. Today would be special, because today I’m a teenager! Aurora has been 13 since Sep- tember, and hasn’t let me hear the end of it. Big whoop. You’re two months older than me. Yay.

I had been so into daydreaming I hadn’t realized we weren’t anywhere near the meeting place. Instead, Aurora and I were in the middle of the field. I looked around, but I didn’t even see the school. “Where are we?”

Aurora shrugged. “I was just following you.”

She set her black-and-white backpack on the ground and started to go back where we came from. “I’ll try and find the school! I’ll come back if I do!”

I watched her go for only a few feet. Then she disappeared! I ran to where the last place she was, but the only thing there was a rock.

Already, this is so much better than anything in Draft Two. It's far from perfect, and very self-inserty, but it's actually tolerable. The fact that there was only a year of time between writing these is insane, and I'm not sure how I improved that much.

But I'm glad I did!

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