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The Imposter

[Chapter One]

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imposter \im-PAHS-tur\

(n.) a person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others

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Today was like any other day at Richmond High School in Irvine, California. The sun was blaring through the palm trees, scorching the ground and clouds littered the sky. Yesterday it looked like it was going to rain, but the weather was so fickle here, it was no surprise that today was hotter than hell.

There was some basketball game this weekend, I think, and the cheerleaders were in a competition or something. I don't really pay attention to what goes on around school. I'm too busy counting down the days until graduation. Only about two weeks until prom and then after that, only a month of school left. So all together I had 42 days of hell left.

School, for me, was just a boring routine I had to go through until my life really started. The summer before college was going to be a blast and I couldn't even wait to go to college. I had already been accepted to UCLA on a science scholarship. I got my brains from my parents who are robotics scientists. I'm not really sure what exactly they do, but it's very hush-hush. Anyways, at school I wasn't a nerd, but I certainly wasn't in the popular crowd either. I just never clicked with the fake bitchy ways of the 'elite'. I had my two best friends, Olivia and Andrew, and that's all I needed.

"Hey, squirt!" Andrew grinned, slamming his full tray down next to mine. I grunted a response and inspected my apple carefully. Olivia and I never understood how he could eat so much and remain so fit. He had two burgers, a slice of pizza, fries and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on his tray with a can of coke. It made my stomach roil just to look at it. I don't think I've ever seen Andrew work out either. He must poop it out right after he eats it. Ridiculous.

"Hey are you all right Dayna?" Olivia asked, looking concerned.

I looked up from my half eaten apple and frowned, "Yah, I'm fine. Why?"

She shrugged delicately and pushed her curly blonde hair out of her brown eyes, "I don't know, you just seem different lately. Not yourself. You're just not as bubbly as you used to be."

I sighed and rubbed my forehead angrily. So she had finally noticed that I was slowly going insane. I hadn't told anyone because I figured it wasn't going to be that big of a deal, but lately, things had started to get out of control. "I'm fine, but I can't seem to remember certain things anymore. I don't know, it's like my body is acting without my brain recalling any of it."

"What do you mean?" Andrew asked with a mouth full of food. Olivia and I both made a disgusted face. "What?" he asked innocently. As if he didn't know it grossed us out.

"Really Andrew? You think we want to see that," Olivia scoffed. "Ick." Andrew closed his mouth and winked. "Anyways," she said sarcastically, looking at me again, "What exactly is going on?"

This was why I loved my friends. "I'm really not sure. But apparently I keep doing things I can't remember. What's weird is that it's stuff I would never normally do. Yesterday my neighbor, Mrs. Muston, said that the other day she saw me speeding down the street, and I had deliberately chased a man on a bike. I would never do that!" I looked desperately at my friends for reassurance, but they were laughing at me.

"Mrs. Muston is crazy," Andrew chuckled, "She probably just thought the person looked like you."

"Right, and they just so happen to have the same car as me too?" I said sarcastically. They looked stumped after that.

I have the oldest car on the planet. Well maybe not the oldest, but it's a piece of crap and I don't think I've ever seen anyone else drive one. I own a 1986 Subaru GL Wagon. It used to be a bright yellow color, but it's started to fade because of sun wear and has now decided to peel in random places.

Basically an eye sore and a sign that screams 'Dayna Rochester, coming this way!' Andrew nicknamed it 'The Beast' the beginning of my freshman year and since then, that's all we've called it. Frankly, I'm surprised it's lasted this long. But the point is that no one else has a car like mine.

"Maybe someone stole your car for a joy ride?" Andrew gave a sheepish smile and shrugged his shoulders. I rolled my eyes at him. As far as theories go, that one sucked. There's nothing joyful about riding in my car.

Olivia pursed her lips thoughtfully, "That can't be the only thing that's happened though, right?"

I shook my head. That was only the beginning. "It's not only that but-" I felt myself blushing already and I hadn't even said it. God what is wrong with me?

"But what?" Andrew asked in a hushed whisper.

I braced myself, "More than one guy has come up to me today and told me...how good I was."

Andrew and Olivia looked like someone had dropped a bomb on them. "What? Since when do you put out?"

"That's not what I meant!" I hissed, horrified. "They told me that I was a good kisser. At least I hope that's all we did. How could I not remember that? Three guys have already come up to me. Three!"

"Maybe you're losing it," Andrew said, "Hey how about you kiss me and then I'll ask you later on if you remember!"

"Hell no," I muttered, "You're not my type sweetie." I patted his cheek lovingly. Andrew was attractive with his wavy brown hair and sea blue eyes-don't get me wrong-I just never saw him as anything more than a brother.

He placed a hand over his heart and pretended to be wounded, "If your intention was to shoot an arrow through my heart...bulls-eye!" Olivia and I burst out laughing at The Producers reference and eventually Andrew joined in with a light chuckle. "So who were the three lucky guys?"

I made a face as I thought back to the jerks that had come up to me during passing period. "Connor Sacks, Mark Patterson and Reese Pennman."

"The basketball team?" Olivia's eyes were the size of saucers. "I don't understand how making out with them is a bad thing. Mark is dreamy."

"Um...because I don't remember it, nor do I make out with random guys whenever I feel like it. I leave the slutty behavior to Hannah and Mandy, thank you very much." I had never been kissed. Never. And I planned to keep it that way until I met someone worth kissing. Certainly not idiots like Connor, Mark and Reese who were only looking for some action.

"Hey Dayna," a deep voice said, drawing me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see James Hiaasen, point guard of our basketball team and Richmond High's 'It' boy, smiling at me. He had dark brown hair and emerald green eyes that always sparkled with warmth. James was also 6'5'' with perfectly defined features. I felt myself melt a little bit on the inside.

"Hi," I heard myself squeak out from a long distance. I am such a moron. Why is he even talking to me? Oh my God, did I kiss him too and not remember? I felt myself turning red again and started to mentally beg: please let me not have kissed him, please God, please.

"I was wondering if you wanted to come to the party I'm having tomorrow night at my house. It's starts at eight and you can bring your friends."

"Why?" I blurted without thinking. Damn.

He looked adorably confused for a minute before smiling warmly again, "Well Connor was telling me how cool you are and I realized that I've never invited you to my parties before. I'd really like it if you were there."

A red flag went up in the back of my mind but I ignored it. "Really?" Swoon. James Hiaasen wants me, personally, at his party. "I'll be there," I vowed.

"Ok then, see you around." I watched him walk away, admiring his shapely butt. Snap out of it Dayna, no time to daydream.

"Did you hear that? James Hiaasen just talked to me!" I grabbed Olivia's arm and gave a little squeal. "I could die!"

"He only talked to you because Connor told him you were hot," Andrew pointed out, deflating my bubble. I shot him a glare, realizing that he was right. Oh well, James was a little dense anyways.

Regardless, I wasn't going to go to his party, circumstances aside. I can't believe I actually agreed to go. Curse my damn hormones!

The bell rang, announcing the end of lunch. I sighed and picked up my tray in unison with Olivia and Andrew. Time for another boring class period. At least it was Pre-Calc, I sort of enjoyed that class. Sort of being the key word.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, Porthos," Andrew said, slinging an arm over my shoulder after we had deposited our trays.

"It's alright, Athos, I forgive you." We smiled at each other, an understanding passing through us. At the beginning of freshman year all three of us had English together and our crazy teacher made us read 'The Three Musketeers'. That was the class that we all became friends in so we thought it was fitting to adopt a musketeer name. Andrew became Athos, Olivia became Aramis and I became Porthos. It was our little secret.

Andrew left us to head to Psychology while Olivia and I headed to our lockers. I grabbed what I needed and waited for her. "So what do you think is going on with you?" she asked, walking me to class.

"I really have no idea," I muttered. "Maybe I'm just being paranoid. Someone could be playing a prank on me. I certainly wouldn't put it past Andrew." He would try and pull something like this too. I just can't believe the basketball team would go through with it. He must really have something on them. But, then Mrs. Muston seeing me racing down the street didn't add in. Nor did the other events that had started to occur. I shook my head in frustration; I'd have to figure this out later.

"I'll see you in English," Olivia said, leaving me at the door to Pre-Calc. I made some sort of reply and robotically made my way to my seat. Opening my book, I tried to ignore the provocative looks Reese kept shooting my way. I hoped he would give up on me and just leave me alone.

"Dayna," he whispered from behind me. "Psst." Gah, just leave me alone! I wanted to yell. I checked the clock, willing the little hand to move faster. Come on! Mr. Higgins was always on time, never a minute early or late. He had five seconds to arrive. Five...four...three...two...one...

"Good afternoon class," Mr. Higgins said crisply, shutting the door with a click, "Open your books to page 294." I sighed in relief, finally, now Reese would have to stop staring at me.

Thankfully, class went by pretty fast. Whatever we learned today was fairly simple and I managed to breeze through the assigned homework in the extra time we were given after the lesson. When the bell rang I practically ran out of class, attaching myself to Olivia as soon as possible.

"What is wrong with you? You look like someone is going to attack you," Olivia laughed at me.

"Reese," I whispered breathlessly.

"Ah," she murmured, understanding completely. "You know, most girls here would die to be in your shoes. Having four guys from the basketball team after you."

"Four?" When did I add another guy to my list?

I heard her sigh and felt her roll her eyes, "Did you forget about James already?"

I smiled sheepishly, "Maybe." Whoops. Like I told you, I didn't really care about anything but Olivia and Andrew. James was hot, but I wasn't going to kid myself into thinking that he would ever entertain feelings for me. Maybe in another lifetime where I had big boobs and blonde hair, but certainly not in this lifetime.

We entered our last class of the day, English, and sat next to Andrew. It was our tradition to always have English together and therefore English was my favorite class. Our teacher this year was a little erratic, but we loved him to death. Mr. Kramer liked to believe that he was an accomplished English man in every sense of the meaning. Even though he was American through and through he liked to believe that he was English. He pronounced each word crisply, sometimes dropping the 'h' at the beginning of words and gave life and meaning to each phrase he spoke.

Today we were reading Dubliners by James Joyce and analyzing what Joyce's goal was when writing the fifteen short stories. As we sat there in class, talking about a search for a national identity and purpose I realized that that's what we all do. We live each day like we think we're supposed to, but do we really know our purpose? It's up to us to define ourselves and make something of our life. After listening to Mr. Kramer lecture I decided that that was what I was going to do from now on. I wouldn't let myself fall into a paralysis, watching life from the sidelines like so many people did.

Olivia nudged me suddenly breaking me out of my reverie. "The bell rang," she said, "are you ready to go?"

Nodding, I stuffed my books into my bag and swung it over my shoulder, "Ready Freddy." Smiling we left the room, arm in arm with Andrew trailing behind happily. I stashed my books in my locker and grabbed what I needed to head home.

"Whose house are we heading to?" I asked.

Andrew frowned, "Sorry, Dayna, I promised my mom I'd pick up Tim and Kathy from school today. I can't."

"Me either," Olivia said, "Sasha is picking me up at 3:30 to go try dresses on." She made a face, making me laugh. Olivia's older sister was getting married in a couple weeks and had become the ultimate Bridezilla. She insisted on being at every fitting for each of her bridesmaids to ensure that her wedding was perfect. Since Olivia was her sister Olivia got the worst of it.

"Tough break," I said sympathetically, "I'll just head home; I have a lot of homework anyways." We had almost made it to the front doors when I heard a god-awful sound behind me.

"Miss Rochester, where do you think you are going? Have you already forgotten that you have detention after school with me?" Ms. Cabinger screeched at me from down the hall.

"What?" my heart froze in my chest in fear. What the hell was she talking about? I didn't even have class with her today. How could I have gotten a detention? Maybe I looked at her wrong. Stupid pig.

I watched as her face turned a mottled red color when she started to storm over to me. Andrew, Olivia and I all took a reflexive step back when she stopped centimeters away from me. Spittle formed at the corners of her mouth when she responded. "Don't play the idiot with me, I'm tired of your disrespect! I don't know what's gotten into you lately, but if a detention will set you straight, so be it!" With that she 'humped' and waddled back down the hallway, shooting glares at whoever was unfortunate enough to be in her way.

"How the hell did I get a detention?" I asked hollowly. Please don't be something horrible. Please. How can I not remember this? Ugh, this was getting to be so damn frustrating.

Andrew swung an arm around my shoulder and sighed dramatically, "Don't you remember? The whole school knew about it minutes after it happened. I heard about it during Psych. Apparently you cussed out Ms. Cabinger and called her a fat ass along with other creative names." I felt my jaw drop open in shock and horror. Me? I would never do that. I might think it, as did most of the school, but I would never have the courage to say that out loud and to her face.

"Oh crap," I moaned, "What's happening to me? I don't remember doing that. Can you even see me doing that?" This was ridiculous. Maybe I was developing Multiple Personality Disorder. Logically, that made sense, but to me, it just didn't seem right. Who was I kidding? If I had MPD the memory loss would make sense.

"You know, it does seem a little odd that you would cuss out a teacher. I don't think anyone but Tony and his gang would dare to do that," Olivia said encouragingly.

Suddenly, a thought hit me. Maybe I could track when these events I couldn't remember happened. Then I would be able to find a connection or something. Maybe. It was a little far-fetched, but I had nothing else to do. "When did this occur?"

Andrew frowned and rubbed the bridge of his nose, a gesture I recognized that meant he was thinking. He snapped his fingers and pointed at me, "It was towards the end of lunch, in this hallway. At least that's what a lot of people are saying. Apparently some people witnessed it."

"End of lunch?" I gasped. "But I was with you guys the entire time. I didn't leave to go anywhere until the bell rang. And even then I was with Olivia, heading to Pre-Calc." So I wasn't suffering from MPD. The only other explanation I could think of was that someone else was responsible for getting me a detention. The same person who raced down my street chasing a bicyclist and the same person who made out with Connor, Mark and Reese. Someone was pretending to be me. But why?

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alright. first chapter so far. as a fun fact, i'm planning on making each chapter 5 pages (in ms word) so the chapters will be slightly longer than my usual post. so let me know what you think. I'm really excited about this story. mostly because it's more scifi and mystery than i usually write. and yes, there is romance :)

xoxo nichole