Chereads / Call Of The Sea: A Journey Of Magic & Adventure / Chapter 3 - Chapter 03: The Journey Begins

Chapter 3 - Chapter 03: The Journey Begins

As Quinn started his day, he couldn't shake the feeling of excitement and anticipation. He felt as though something big was about to happen. He went about his usual routine, but he couldn't help but feel that something was different. Something had changed within him, and he knew that his life was about to take a new direction. He couldn't wait to see what the future held. 

Quinn's hands trembled as he packed his backpack. He couldn't stop thinking about last night. The glowing orb, the mysterious voice, the overwhelming sense of peace. He felt like he was going crazy. Or maybe he was just sleep-deprived. But he couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted within him. Something had changed, too bad it was school day and he has little to no time of thinking about last night's events.

As Quinn was getting ready for school, his phone buzzed with a text message. He looked down and saw that it was from a number he didn't recognize. The message simply said, "Meet me at the park at 3pm." He tried to remember if he knew anyone with that number, but he couldn't think of anyone. It was almost as if the message had appeared out of thin air. But he couldn't help but feel curious. Should he go to the park at 3pm? Shouldn't he go? He was having an internal conflict.

Quinn's mind was racing with questions. Who was this mysterious person? What did they want with him? But there was one question that kept nagging at him: Should he go to the park? A part of him wanted to say no, that it was too risky. But another part of him was curious, even excited. He had to know what this was all about. He looked at the clock. It was already 7:30am. He had to get to school. But he couldn't stop thinking about the mysterious message. He wondered what would happen if he went to the park at 3pm.

Quinn's parents were already in the kitchen, having breakfast and chatting about their day. They didn't seem to notice that something was bothering him, they just thought it's part of being a teenager. They were just going through their usual routine, totally unaware of the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions swirling around in Quinn's head. Quinn's parents were nice, but they could be a bit oblivious at times. They were always so busy with work and chores, that they often missed the little things that were going on with their son. 

As Quinn ate his breakfast, he looked around the kitchen table. There were pictures of his family on the wall. His mom and dad were smiling in every photo, always looking so happy and content. But he knew that wasn't the whole story. They had their struggles too, just like everyone else. Maybe that's why they were so focused on their routine. Maybe it was their way of coping with the challenges of life. 

"So, Quinn, are you excited for your first day of high school?" Quinn's mom asked. Quinn forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah, it'll be great," he said, his voice sounding a little unconvincing even to his own ears. "Come on, you've got to be excited!" his dad said, winking at him. "New school, new friends, a whole new adventure." Quinn tried to look enthusiastic, but inside he felt a wave of anxiety building up.

"What are you most worried about?" his mom asked, her face softening as she looked at him. Quinn hesitated, not sure if he wanted to share his worries with his parents. But he knew that they were just trying to help. "Well," he said, taking a deep breath. "I guess I'm worried about fitting in. And making friends. I know it's a new school and all, but I still get nervous thinking about it." His mom smiled and reached out to put a hand on his shoulder. "It's perfectly normal to feel nervous, sweetie. But I know you'll do great."

As they drove to school, Quinn's dad tried to make conversation. "So, have you thought about what clubs you want to join? Or what sports you might want to play?" Quinn shrugged. "I don't know. I'm not really sure what I want to do yet." His dad smiled. "That's okay. You don't have to decide everything right away. Just try out a few things and see what you like. And if you don't like something, you can always try something else. It's all about finding what you enjoy." Quinn nodded, but he still felt unsure.

When they arrived at the school, his dad pulled into the drop-off lane. "Are you ready?" he asked. Quinn took a deep breath. "Yeah, I guess so," he said, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. "You're going to have a great day. Just remember to be yourself and have fun," his dad said, giving him a quick hug. Quinn nodded, and then got out of the car. He walked into the school, his backpack slung over his shoulder, feeling the eyes of the other students on him.

As he walked down the hallway, he noticed a group of kids gathered around a bulletin board. They were laughing and chatting, and he could hear snippets of their conversation. "I heard the drama club is doing a production of 'The Sound of Music' this year," one girl said. "I wonder who will play Maria?" another girl said. Quinn stopped for a moment, his heart pounding. He had always loved musicals, and he had even been in a few productions at his old school. Maybe he could join the drama club here.

Quinn was tall and lanky, with brown hair that always seemed to be a little messy, no matter how much he combed it. He had hazel eyes, a freckled nose, and a dimple in his right cheek. His full name was Quinn Thomas Smith, and his parents were named Matthew and Sarah. His older sister, Emma, was in college, and his younger brother, Jack, was in middle school. They lived in a small town, and Quinn had always loved the tight-knit community. But he was still nervous about starting at a new school.

Quinn walked into his first class, English, and sat down at a desk in the back of the room. The teacher, Mrs. Jones, was writing something on the whiteboard. She turned around and smiled at the class. "Welcome to English 9. I'm so excited to have you all here this year. We're going to have a great time reading, writing, and exploring the world of literature." Quinn nodded, and tried to smile, but he still felt a little nervous. Mrs. Jones began to call roll.

When Mrs. Jones reached Quinn's name on the list, she looked up and smiled at him. "Quinn Smith? Welcome, Quinn. It's nice to have you in my class. Are you ready to begin your high school journey?" Quinn took a deep breath and forced himself to smile. "Yes, ma'am," he said, his voice shaking a little. Mrs. Jones nodded, and then continued calling roll. After a few minutes, everyone was accounted for, and Mrs. Jones began to talk about their first assignment.

Mrs. Jones began to pass out packets of information about the class, and then she started talking about the first book they would be reading: "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Quinn had heard of the book before, and he felt a small spark of excitement. As Mrs. Jones talked about the book, Quinn couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. Maybe high school would be a great adventure. He just had to take it one day at a time.

As the school day came to a close, Quinn couldn't stop thinking about the mysterious message he had received earlier. He still had no idea who had sent it, or why. But he decided to follow the instructions and go to the park at 3pm. He left the school and began to walk toward the park. As he got closer, he started to feel a little nervous. He wasn't sure what to expect, or who he would meet. But he took a deep breath and kept walking. As he entered the park, he noticed a figure sitting on a bench.