this little town.

feeling like there's nothing to figure out
count to ten
take it in
this is life before you know who you're gonna be
at fifteen

The air smells like pineapple. My mom chats with some uptight-looking
women in hats and pearls, glancing every so often at my slumped body
in the rocking chair. We moved to this quaint old town to get rid of
the 'evils of the city' and I feel like Kevin Bacon in Footloose. A
female version, of course.

I catch a few snippets of conversation; 'Ally', 'dance', and 'school'.
These words don't surprise me; it's my name, after all, and she's
probably asking these strangers about the dance schools in the area. A
part of me really wishes I had never quit dance, and it lightens up at
the prospect of taking it again, as far behind as I may have gotten. At least dancing isn't banned in this little town.

The taller one of the two ladies turns around and stares at me with a
beady eye.
"Oh Maureen, your daughter must get acquainted with my son, Columbus!
He would be a very good influence on her."
I smile politely, but inside, I'm screaming. We HAD to move to the
strange little town where ladies gossip in pearls and name their kids
things like Columbus. Seriously?

I stare at my chewed nails and inhale the pineapple scent until these
ladies bid their goodbyes and walk down the steps of our crumbling
porch.

"Well, they seem nice," my mother sighs.

I humph and walk inside, slamming the screen door behind me.




The analog clock reads 7:32. As I sit out on the rickety porch
watching the sunset, I discover a small slip of paper tucked into a
bush.

Hello Ally, the note reads. Welcome to Veldale. You have potential.
Come to the Lanstrom's barn tonight at 9. If you want to enjoy
yourself here, you will come. Sincerely, the V.

After reading the note a few times, I crumple it in my pale fist. The
V? This sounded like some gang. But still, curiosity licks at my
mind. Just go, it tells me, go and bail if things are bad.

and I don't want the world to see me
cause I don't think that they'd understand
when everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am



At 9:00, I slip through the creaking door and tiptoe down the porch.
My mom is lying in bed with a headache, and I doubt she'll hear.

I reach the barn in the Lanstrom's back yard in about five minutes.
The Lanstroms are the most well-known family. Mayor Lanstrom lives
there with his daughter, who's a year older than me, and his mother.

My foot, outfitted in black Converse, steps on a twig. It makes a huge
CRACK noise, and the barn door creaks open.

"Ally Rochester?" a hushed voice asks.
"Yes?" I answer cautiously.
"What is your full name?" the voice inquires.
"Alexandra Jane Rochester. Why?" I inquire.
"Come in," the voice orders.

Three people are in the barn, but the flickering lanterns only give
their shadows.

A figure steps forward into full light, showing his face. He's really
cute, with blond hair and deep green eyes.

"Hey Ally, I'm Cole," he offers his hand and smiles crookedly. I
hesitantly shake it.

"This is Kirsten and Kayla," he points to the other figures.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"As you can see, our little town is a bit boring," a tall girl with
dirty blonde hair steps forward. "A bunch of us got tired with it and
created a secret society called the V. We hold get-togethers here in
my barn." I guess that she's Kayla Lanstrom.
"What kind of get-togethers?" I ask.
"Not crazy ones. There's no alcohol or anything. It's just us, having
fun, doing things we wouldn't normally do in front of our uptight
parents." The other girl, who's freckle-faced and cheerful, explains.
"I'm Kirsten Leary," she smiles.
"So how many of you are there?" I question.
"Uh, about 10?" Kayla looks at Cole for approval, and he nods. "Not
everyone comes all the time, though."
"So basically, you want me to join you?" I ask my last question.
"Yes." Kirsten grins and pushes back her long dark hair.
I pause for a second and respond, "I'm in. I need some fun."
Cole flashes that crooked smile and Kayla looks pleased. Kirsten hugs
me.
"Meet back here tomorrow night at 9. We'll introduce you to everyone
else." Kayla prompts.
"I'll be here," I answer.
"Can you find your way back home?" Kirsten asks.
"Uh..." I hesitate. "I think so."
"I'll walk you." Cole volunteers.
"Um, okay." It would be nice to have a guide. I don't want to get lost.
I say goodbye to Kirsten and Kayla and set out with Cole.
"Here, there's a shortcut through this field, we won't have to take
the main road."
It seems as if the moon has disappeared from the sky. "I can't see a
thing!" I whisper.
"Here, take my hand." Cole says.
I reach out into the empty darkness and find his hand. It's warm and
feels safe.
"Thank you."
We trek through the field for about two minutes, until Cole leads me
to a path that leads directly to the side door of my house.
"How do you know this path?" I ask. My eyes have adjusted to the dark
and I can see his face.
Cole looks a bit uncomfortable.
"I used to know the people that lived here before. I would come over a
lot."
"Oh. Well thank you for leading me home."
"No problem." He smiles crookedly again.
"Good night!" I say.
"Good night. Sleep well," he disappears into the night.