WritersRealm

Once upon a time...
A senior in high school found herself falling for a younger guy. He was eveeything she wanted; smart, kind, funny, attractive, and had one those smiles that made you smile back every time you saw it. She managed to become his friend and over time she liked him even more. He had such great view on life. She was too shy to tell him how she felt. She waited and hoped he would ask her out someday. That day never came. She graduated.
Fifteen years later, she was talking to her best friend about the good old days and the people tbey haven't heard from since then. He immediately popped into her head. She decided to look him up on Facebook and send a feiend request.
A few days later, he accepted. She was excited and nervous. She wanted to start a conversation, but didn't know what to say and just sent a wave instead. They ended up texting for hours. Then days. Eventually he revealed that he had liked her back then too. She admitted that she is still attracted to him now. He became an addiction to her and she hadn't yet seen him in person (in fifteen years) or felt his touch. However she was always thinking about him and texting him all day and night. Every day and night. She was just as struck by him as she had been before. Her heart raced every time a notification appeared on her phone. Even though she blushed redder thsn her hair, she even told him how she felt and the things running through her mind. He said he was interested in her too. They made plans for things they wanted to do together and places they wanted to go.
Will it work out this time? Is it fate? Will one of them change their mind? Will they someday get married? Will they go their separate ways for another fifteen years?
Unknown.

The Forest

   The Forest is a magical place. Is it real magic? Another dimension? Virtual reality? Some kind of combination? No one is certain, but what everyone does know for certain is that all it takes to get there is a bright blue crystal and concentration.

Chapter 1
   Iris had been working overtime for two years to save up for this moment. She held the crystal tight and stared at the beauty of it.
  "I'll finally be able to enter The Forest!" She concentrated hard and pictured lush green grass and tall, full trees. She imagined the sound of the breeze rustling the leaves and the sweet woodsy smell. Nothing happened. Nothing at all. "Argh! Why isn't it working?!" She flopped on the bed in frustration. She focused hard but she was still in the same four bluish gray walls of her bedroom. Why won't it work? Why can't she get in? Since it was discovered its been all Iris could think about. She longed to experience The Forest for herself. It was said to be a beautiful, magical, sometimes frightening place. The interesting thing about the forest is that it is slightly different for everyone. Its believed that your thoughts guide what you see. Positive thoughts and feelings create a lovely forest, negative thoughts and feelings create a dark, dangerous forest. There's even a theory that your thoughts and emotions can change the type of creatures that you see in The Forest.
   Its an experience that everyone has been talking about nonstop. You can interact with others that are in The Forest as well. Its supposed to be a huge sensation. You can be whoever you want to be inside The Forest with no consequences in your normal life. How exciting! If she could only figure it out, just imagine the adventures she could have! She rolled over and grabbed her phone. Hopefully Ava could help her figure out what she did wrong.
   "Did you love it?!"
   "I'm sure I will if I ever figure out how to do it. Can you come over?"
   "Be there in ten." She hung up. Iris knew she would do her best to help because Ava knows how much she wants this. An escape from the boring, lonely life she leads. She hadn't spoken to her parents in nearly three years. Since she told them she didn't want to go to college and they told her to move out. The only real friend she had was Ava and with their work schedules they didn't get to spend much time together. In The Forest she would meet lots of new people and see new things and have plenty to explore. She would never have to be bored and lonely. No one would know her as poor or disowned by her family. She could have a fresh start and a separate, maybe better, life.
   Ava knocked on the door exactly 9 minutes later. Iris let her in with a smile. Her best friend was wearing pajamas. "Of course she didn't bother getting dressed," Iris thought with a smile. Ava was a natural beauty, with curly red hair and soulful brown eyes. She never seemed to put too much effort into her appearance but always looked gorgeous, even in her lavender pajamas with the adorable hippo print. Ava plopped down on the couch and Iris joined her with the crystal. Iris was wearing a sundress with her long blonde hair in a braid. She still didn't feel nearly as pretty as Ava was, simply in her night clothes.
   "Ok, gimmie." Ava held out her hand to inspect the crystal. "It looks genuine. Must not be trying hard enough. I don't have any trouble with mine." Ava had gone into The Forest several times in the past few months and always told such great stories about it. Ava offered to share her crystal, but Iris wanted to wait to get one of her own. As Iris watched, Ava relaxed against the cushions and soon seemed to have fallen asleep. Then she suddenly sat back up.
   "Well, it works. I just popped in and out easily. You'll have to keep trying. Clear everything else out of your mind and picture it clearly. Really concentrate. Focus on picturing details, the texture of the leaves and bark, the sounds, the smells, the sun shining through the leaves, the soft feeling of grass under your feet." She handed the crystal back.