A Promise From The Heart

When Lana's best friend, Amelia was starting to feel like she was losing Lana to Lana's boyfriend Tim, Lana almost dumped him completely. That was the last thing Amelia wanted. Amelia only wanted Lana's happines. That was all she wanted.

"No Lana, don't." She begged. "But if it's what you want, and if it means I won't loose you, I will."Lana reasoned. "No. Don't Lana. You may think I hate you and Tim but if anything, it's the complete opposite." Amelia explained. "I just wish that I could talk to you sometimes. Without him, well you know, being there." "We'll talk. Tomorrow. Just you and me, promise." Lana promised her. "Ok, thank you." Amelia said.

Dreams

Naomi's favourite part of the day, eversince she was 5 was going to sleep. Sleeping so that she could dream. Naomi loved dreaming. When she dreamt, she escaped from reality. She fealt free. Like a board soaring through the clouds.

Naomi's dreams always started with her floating up high in the sky on a big, white, soft and fluffy cloud. It'd take her up to a gate which she would walk through and her resl dream began.

It would always end the same too. She would walk out the gates, which would close behind her, step onto the cloud and it take her, floating down, down and then, she would wake up. That was how she knew the dream had ended. When the cloud had finished floating.

Naomi loved dreams until one day, Naomi didn't have a dream, but instead a nightmare. She was standing in the middle of a deserted street, surronded by family and friends at first. But then suddenly, one by one they dropped to the ground, just like logs that had been cut off a tree.

When Naomi, went to have a closer look at one of them, her mother, she found that her eyes were closed. She tried nudging her. Nothing. Calling to her. Silence, still no response.

Nexct thing she knew, Naomi was awake. She sat up in bed, screaming. Her mother rushed to her side. "Naomi, what's the matter?" She asked, worridly. "It.. I... They.." Naomi spluttered but was interupted by her mother. "Oh great. It's that time. SHe's had one." She muttered. "What's allthe comotion aboout?" Asked Naomi's father appearing in Naomi's doorway. Naomi's mother edged toward her husband. "She's had her first nightmare." Naomi's mother whispered her explanation into his ear. "Go back to sleep Naomi." He told her, looking up. "It'll all be ok in the morning." Naomi's mother agreed. And so Naomi did go back to sleep.

Naomi had another good dream for the rest of the night, and completely forgot about the nightmare.

Naomi still loves dreams, and still loves going to sleep every night so she can afford them.

The reason

Kelly had been picked on her whole life. So much that she was desperately trying to find a reason to go to school everyday. That reason soon came in the form of three people, Libby, Kate and Michael. When they came, Kelly longed to go to school everyday and be with them. They were the reason she did go to school everyday. They were her everything, her world. The reason she lived. The reason she survived life in high school.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dedicated to Chantal, John and Elizabeth. You 3 are the best things that have happened to me since my cousin Ronald with born. You are my angels and the true reason I go to school everyday.

Twiste of Fate

Lilly had lived in a very strict religious community all her life.

It was almost her 22nd birthday. That would be the day her parents decided who she would marry.

Lilly, along with her best friend Mia, who also lived in the community thought this was unfair. "Shouldn't we have a say in who it is we marry? I mean, we're the ones who are going to have to live with them for the rest of our lives. We should at least get a little bit of a say!" Mia had complained to Lilly one afternoon. "I reckon we both need a break. Why don't we go on a holiday?" Lilly decided. "Great idea. I definently need a break from this place." Miua agreed. "And besides, I'm sure Mr and Mrs rule their kids lives for them and don't let them have any freedom sour pants won't object to it." She continued, sourly. "Come on Mia. They might be a bit controlable and over protective at times but they're still our parents." Lilly pointed out. She still got annoyed by her parents, but she wasn't as out there about it as Mia was.

So it was agreed, Mia and Lilly would go away for two weeks starting next week. Despite having a holiday away to look forward to, Mia was still sour. "I hate them. I wish thwy'd back off for one minute! It's not like we can't live without people watchimg over us 24/7!" She would complain to Lilly day after day after day. One day Lilly cracked. "Mia, just stop it ok?! I'm sick of hearing it!" Lilly fumed. Mia immediately calmed down. Lilly must've been pretty sick of hearing it for her to get like this, after all Lilly never got like this. "Ok." Mia said quietly.

Finally, after what seemed like years of waiting it came time for Lilly and Mia to go on holidays. They were both looking forward to it, more than ever. They both truly, desperately needed a holiday to.

"It's so nice out here." Mia said, spinning around on the grass outside the cabin they were staying in. "The cool, fresh breeze, I can just smell the freedom here Mia." Lilly agreed.

On their third night away, Mia and Lilly had the time of their lives. They were out on the grass in front of their cabin, when two men appeared. "Come with us, beautiful ladies." Said one, holding his hand out to Lilly. "We'll show some good fun." Promised the other. "I don't know about this Mia." Lilly was a bit nervous. "Lilly, who cares. We're on holidays! We deserve to have a good time!" Mia pointed out. "True. Alright." Lilly agreed and so the men took them out.

They later found out that their names were James and Sam. "Thanks guys. We had a really great time tonight. Right Lilly?" Mia jabbed Lilly in the elbow, quite hard. "Right. Sure. Thanks." Lilly spluttered.

Lilly and Mia ended up going out with James and Sam every night for the rest of their holiday. On their lasty night away, James proposed to Lilly. "I can't." Lilly admitted, apologetically. "Why my Lilly?" James was shocked, as any man would be by the rejection of a proposal. "I'd be shunned." Lilly turned to Mia. "If you're shunned, I'm shunned." Mia promised. "We live in a really strict religious community. If we marry someone from outside that community, we'll be shunned." Mia explained, remembering the poor two guys standing before her and Lilly.

"Well in that case I will." Lilly agreed. "Better make that a double wedding mate." Sam elbowed James' side. "Mia," Sam turned to face Mia. "Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" He dropped to one knee and presented a huge diamond ring in a box. "Of course I will!" Sam lifted Mia up in the air and spun her in circles.

"Well that's the Mr and Mrs No Freedom Sooky Pants problem solved isn't it?" Mia dangled her legs on the end of the dock near their cabin. "Yep. Looks like we're not going back." Lilly agreed.

Lilly, James, Mia and Sam were married 6 months later and Mia and Lilly lived happily in reality.

The Big Race

I wanted, so much to be a runner, get into the olympics mabye, hopefully.

My big break came when I was in year 9. My PE teacher, Mr. Lowe told me about it. "There's a race down at the local oval for your age group. It's on in two weeks, so I'd train hard if I were you Catherine." He had said. So I did. I trained until everything inside of me hurt like hell.

It was 3 days until the big race when it happened. I had been training, again. I broke my leg.

Mum took me to the doctor's that very afternoon. "I'm sorry, Catherine, you won't be able to compete in the race." The Doctor told me. 'Great!' I thought sarcastically, 'this could've been my big break.'

It was another 3 months until another race came up. I got to compete in that one. And I won. I won a scholarship, including a trainer, a 3 year membership to a gym, and a 5 year scholarship to a running school. It was my big break, and the best day of my life.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

dedicated to Elizabeth, the best runner in town. You are going to ace every single race you enter. I know you can!

Dream Love

Rose was 15 years old when she discovered who it was she really loved. Tyler. He was in all of Rose's classes.

He'd had numerous girlfriends. Rose on the other hand, was a first timer. She was desperate for him to notice her. So desperate, that she'd spend around fifteen minutes in front of the mirror each morning, checking her appearence was just right.

He finally noticed her after dumping his latest girlfriend, Kayla, the queen bee of the class the day before.

It all started when he greeted her the morning after he'd dumped Kayla, when he greeted her "Hey Rose" he had said to her. "Hi." Rose blushed. She was nervous, excited and suddenly shy all at the same time. She didn't know how a person could feel all of those emotions all at once, but she sure did feel them. Every single one of them.

The next day, when she went on facespace he had added her as a friend. Filled with delight, she accepted.

After a week of sitting next to Rose in class, Tyler finally asked her out. Again Rose accepted.

She ended up getting her wish, and they are still together to this day, as happy as larks.

Made for Each Other

There were once two people, Liam and Giselle. Giselle liked Liam, but didn't really act on it until after a harsh relationship had ended for her. Liam was just well, there. He was there right through the messy break up and for comfort and support afterwoods.

After a few days of Liam and Giselle being together, Janae and Hayley would keep stepping back to watch the two interact and be together. After at least two days of this, they decided that they looked like they were made for eachother, like the modern day 'Romeo and Juliet', minus the death of course.

Hayley would sit there during breaks just to watch them. For her, it was like Giselle had gotten every possible happiness she wanted, and deserved. Giselle would keep asking her why she did this, but Hayley wouldn't tell. All she said was "you'll soon see" and left it that, open for Giselle to find out.

Hayley and Janae never did tell Giselle, and to this day Giselle and Liam remain together, with every possible happiness, blessing and love possible.

Holidays

Once each year, Rita and her family would go on a holiday. Just to get away from reality for a bit, forget their worries and have a great time filled with fun.

On this particular year, Rita's family was set to go to Melbourne. Everything was booked, the flights, accomadation, even some of the places they would visit while they were down there. All the bags were packed.

But just two days before they were set to leave, Rita's little brother Tyler grew ill. It started out as a stomach bug, then it grew worse. Tyler described as 'a bag full of stones in his stomach.'

After a day, Rita's parents decided to take him to the doctor. "I'm afraid your son has appendicitus." The Doctor told them. "Oh dear. " Said Rita's father, upon hearing the news. "We were due to go to Melbourne tommorow. Rita will be so dissappointed." Rita's mother aggreed, equally dissaoointed and upset by the news. "Wel, you could still go." The Doctor replied. "But if you did, it would be almost certain that your son would die. He needs this operation if you want him to live Mr and Mrs Green. It's that simple. But I can understand your dissappointment." He went on.

Rita's parents, Alan and Heidi quickly picked Rita up from her friends house and raced, with Tyler to the hospital. He was admitted and the operation was scheduled for the next day. Heidi and Rita stayed by Tyler's side the whole time, whilst Alan spent hours on the phone cancelling everything for the holiday, postponing it if he could.

The family ended up going to Melbourne three months later. They had a wonderful time, and they all agreed that 'it was worth the wait'.

Miley the Miracle

Paige needed a friend a good friend. She was always having break downs, almost going insane and always getting picked on and the like. She found that friend when Miley came along.

Miley was everything Paige wanted and needed. She seemed to be and was the perfect friend.

She helped Paige to survive through thick and thin and was there for her whenever she needed it. In return, Paige tried to do the same for Miley. But she never truly knew whether or not she had succeeded. She thought she had, but she wasn;t sure.

Miley meant the world to Paige. And when Paige thought she was going to lose her, her heart slowly broke into a million pieces. She sat in her room for days on end. Crying. When she saw Miley at at school one day, Miley again worked her magic and helped Paige through one of the toughest times of her life.

To this day, Paige ad Miley are still the best of friends, and Miley still works her magic every now and again. Paige tries to as well.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dedicated to Elizabeth, the miracle angel magic worker that I love so dearly. I could never ever lose you, and If I did, my heart would break from the part of it you took with you when you left.

Star Struck

Five year old Lucy first met her favourite children's entertainers. Her pre-school had won a competition to have them come and perform at their pre-school. It was a band that came, the Rainbows they were called. There were six of them, Rosey Rachel, Bluey Bella, Olivey Odette, Violet Vanessa, Sunny Steph and Creamy Carmel. Lucy's favourite was Sunny Steph.

At the end of the concert, the children were given oppurtunities for photos and autographs. Lucy had a photo with the whole band. She got individual photos and autographs from everyone but Sunny Steph. Lucy was too scared to go up and ask. Her mother kept telling her but Lucy wouldn't She was a very stubborn little girl when she wanted to be.

Five years later, when Lucy was 10 she got out the pictures from the concert all those years ago. "Mum, why didn't you try to make me see sense and go get it signed?" Lucy asked. "I did try, Lucy. But you were so stubborn back then. You just wouldn't do it." Her mother explained. "So why didn't you do it for me?" Lucy was still stubborn, even now. "I wasn't as smart as you are Lucy. I just didn't think of doing that." Her mother admitted. "So why didn't you...." Lucy was interupted by her mother. "Stop it Lucy, just stop it ok?!" Her mother got angry and rushed out of the room, leaving Lucy alone with the album of that concert all those years ago.

To this day, Lucy still regrets the fact that she was too shy to confront Sunny Steph and hopes to confront a bigger fear sometime in the near future.....