Middle School—2nd Place

"Seeing Double, A Novel Excerpt" by Emily Smith, 6^th grade Holy Cross School

Chapter 1- In the Perspective of Gabriella

            I woke up in a rush. I glanced at the alarm clock that I’d never even bothered to set. It read 5:30. Who wakes up that early? I do apparently. As long as the sun is up, I’m up!

            I tried to recall last night’s events in my head. It was something my mom had taught me to do to help with my short-term memory loss. Nothing. Ever since I was little, I had always forgotten what happened at night. Sometimes I could recall bits and pieces of foggy memories, but they never made sense.

            “Gabriella, let’s go!” my mom shouted.  It was time for school. Before going downstairs, I looked out my window. I liked to think I had the best view in Oregon. You could see the small lake, the vast forests, and a mountain in the distance. You could also see our small town. There was a rundown general store, a market, the town meetinghouse, the grade school, the high school, and a few farms. Nothing special, but I loved it.

            I ran downstairs, scarfed down a pancake, and ran out the door. Since our town was so small, I walked to school. I soon caught up with my five best friends- Kellie, Meg, Sarah, Elizabeth, and Brittney at the nearest stop sign. We passed Katherine Hall’s house on the way. “You missed the best night of your life last night. Katherine’s Sweet 16 Party was huge!” Sarah said to me. I glanced at the house. It wasn't a mansion, but it was close. She had a pool, a movie room, and bedrooms the size of apartments.

            Suddenly, an image filled my head. I was at the party. Music was blaring, the walls were shaking, and all my friends were off dancing in a corner, but I was sitting alone. Well, it felt like me, but the girl had blonde hair and green eyes, where as I had brown hairs and brown eyes.

            “Gabriella? Are you okay?” I could hear Kellie say. I snapped up and the party was gone. My head was pounding and I felt fuzzy. “What was that?” Elizabeth asked.”All of a sudden you went into this trance and your eyes turned this cloudy gray.”  “And you kept mumbling ‘Olivia’; it was freaking me out!” Britney finished. I shrugged. This wasn't the first time it had happened. We soon approached the high school. As the six of us burst through the door, we were greeted by the varsity football team. 

            “Hey, so me and the others are gonna have a party Friday night to celebrate our season-8:00! See ya there?” Brian Westpoint, the star quarterback, asked. The girls nodded anxiously. He turned to me. “Um, I can’t. My mom is making me babysit my neighbors’ kid,” I lied. I was used to missing parties by now. What was I supposed to say? Sorry, I can’t because I black out when the sun sets?

*

            I barely paid attention in my classes. When the dismissal bell rang, I basically ran to my locker, shoved a couple random books in my backpack, and flew out the building. I ran all the way to Katherine’s house. I knocked on the door. Her mother opened it with a smile. “My, didn’t you get here in a hurry, dear?” She exclaimed. “I have a really important question for Katherine!” I nearly shouted. Mrs. Hall looked startled. “Just have a seat on the porch swing. She’ll be home in a second.” Sure enough, soon Katherine came bounding up the steps. “I need to ask you something about your party. I’m pretty sure there was this girl there who doesn't go to our school. She has blonde hair and I don’t think she danced much. Sound familiar?” I asked. She paused for a moment. “Yeah,” she said slowly. “I am pretty sure her name was Olivia. Now that I think about it, she sort of looked like you!”

            I gasped out loud. My vision was true? I didn't even know that girl! Katherine invited me in. One tweet later, Kellie, Meg, Sarah, Elizabeth, Britney, Katherine, and I were seated In Katherine’s room. “I can’t believe your missing the party!” Meg complained. “Can’t you get someone else to sit?” “I was the last resort. They asked everyone on the block.” I lied.  I glanced out the window. The sun was nearly down. Without hesitation, I grabbed my stuff and ran out the door. I ran as fast as I could home. I was feet away from my house when my knees buckled, I fell to the ground, and everything went black.

Chapter 2-In the Perspective of Olivia

            I slowly opened my eyes. I glanced around. I sprung up from the middle of the street I was on.  I was confused, but it wasn't the first time I had woken up there.  Once I had even woken up in a different house! In the glow of the moon light, I entered my house.  My mother was sitting on her favorite couch.  “I woke up in the street again!” I said.  Mom’s mood changed from worry to sorry. “Oh, Honey, I know this is hard for you, with your condition and all. I promise everything will be okay,” she said, wrapping me in a huge hug.  I knew she was talking about my problem.  I couldn't explain it, but whenever the sun rises, I fall asleep.  I don’t know why, but Mom refuses to let me see any doctors.

            She handed me my bag and we got in her car.  Due to my condition, I attended a night school for people who cannot be around the sun.  In the car she asked, “Do you remember anything from this morning?”  I started to say no, but a memory quickly filled my head.  I was at this huge mansion with these six other girls.  But my blonde hair had turned brown and so had my eyes. “Well?” my mom said again.  “A little, but it doesn't make sense.  I was at Katherine’s house – you know, the girl who had the Sweet 16 Party – with these six other girls. But I’m sure it’s just nonsense because my hair was brown,” I said, confused.  She gasped.  “Mom!” I screamed. She swerved just in time to miss hitting a passing van. “I knew it. I knew this was going to happen.  How can I tell them?  If only their father was still alive…” Mom started mumbling frantically.  She made a quick U-turn and sped back home.

            “First of all, what did Dad have to explain to us, and second of all- who’s ‘US’! I explained.  “Home,” she whispered.  “Wait ‘till we’re home”.

*

We sat together on my cozy bed.  She stroked my hair and said, “Pretty room you got, nice view.”  It was.  Despite the rain, you could still see the town with mountains, and a lake in the horizon. “Olivia. I don’t know how to say this.  Umm…here, let me tell you a story.  Once upon a time a woman was in the hospital, having twins- Olivia and Gabriella Smith.  The mom loved them dearly. They were raised with care by their mother and father. But then one day, the father didn't come home. He was killed in a work accident. The mom couldn't get a job to support the twins so she was forced by the government to give either one or both twins up for adoption. She couldn't bear to do it,” she began.  A tear rolled down her cheek. “She took the twins to a witch in the forest who put an enchantment on the girls so that they would become one person – a split personality,” Mom finished.  More tears. I was confused for a second, and then it hit me. “I have a feeling that’s not just a story,” I said softly.  She nodded. “Your sister, Gabriella, controls the body from sunrise to sunset. You control it from sunset to sunrise.” I sat for a moment taking it all in.

To Be Continued…