Chapter 1 - Keep your friends close...

“Hehe, that tickles... Oh Ruby, cut it out..!”

The wet tickling sensation on my neck ceased rather abruptly when I said that, still half comatose. “RUBY? AHAHA! Oh my god, that's a good one!” Came the booming laugh from a very familiar voice. At once, my eyes opened wide with shock as I jumped off of my turquoise duvet. My sleep induced lack of balance meant I went flying straight into my ceiling lamp and fell hard onto my back, causing the laughs to increase. As I rubbed my aching head, a figure loomed over me with a bright white smile while holding my pet dog Scruff, who had clearly been going to town on my neck.
“Wakey wakey, star-shine! It's time for the princess to go to her ball!” he said in a thick American accent laced with his special mocking tone he reserved for situations just like this as he put Scruff onto my chest and went downstairs to make coffee. As I got to my feet and wiped the dog drool off of me, I yelled: “God you're such an ass for doing that! Who the hell said you could just walk into my room, Zach? I could have been doing anything!” to which I got a simple reply of “Yeah, you wish. Now go get washed, school's in half an hour and you look like hell!”
Zach McAlister lived down the road from me. He came to England about 5 years ago because of something to do with his parent's work, and I was pretty much the only one who talked to him. All the other 12 year olds just mocked his voice and how tall he was. At 6 foot six inches, he was the one person I knew who actually topped ME in height. And I'm not exactly small. I'm a very respectable six four, thank you very much. Although that's probably why I hit my head on the light...
Of course, these days Zach was the most popular boy in school. The guys had warmed up to him because of his intense participation in ever school sports club under the sun, and the girls swooned over him because of his personality and body. These days it was I that hung onto him. Did I ever introduce myself to you? Oh, sorry about that. I've kind of had a lot on my mind lately. I'm Justin Archer. Born and raised here in Blackpool, England. With my dull blue-grey eyes and my horrible brown wavy hair, I'm quite a sight when I've just woken up. It didn't matter how Zach saw me though, he's known me long enough to see past the horrible style.
As I stumbled my way to the bathroom, checking to make sure my father hadn't stirred from his slumber by all the racket, I smelt a faint whiff of smoked bacon and the delicious aroma of fried eggs. Zach definitely knew his way around my kitchen, that's for sure. Jarring the door shut using my clothes, (The bathroom door doesn't lock, my buddy Tristan and I kinda smashed it off once when we were messing around) I stepped into the shower and began to soak away the events of last night. The hot water felt wonderful on my naturally cold skin. I've always had trouble keeping warm. As I stepped out a few minutes later, I cast my mind ahead to the classes I had today.  Double English, followed by Math and Geography. While it seemed like a total snoozefest, I really didn't mind, since she sat next to me.
“HEY! IF YOU'RE NOT DOWN HERE PRETTY SOON I'LL EAT YOURS AS WELL, Y'KNOW! MY FOOD IS IRRESISTABLE!”  Zach yelled from downstairs. I rolled my eyes as I tugged on my favourite outfit. Some people might think it's weird to enjoy wearing your school uniform, but I really didn't mind it at all. White shirt, Black overcoat and matching trousers. It's rather suave, if I do say so myself. Well, apart from the collar, which stuck up so high it covered near all of my neck.
“About time. I hope you enjoy running to school.” Zach said as he tipped his head towards the clock. 8:55. Oh god. Cramming the bacon, eggs and sausage into a bun, I picked up my school bag and dashed out of the door with him, eating an increasingly sloppy sandwich as I ran.