January 4th, 2009
In the end, it doesn’t really matter, I thought bitterly, quoting my favorite Linkin Park song. I shivered violently as I sat on my doorstep watching the snow fall lightly, giving the bushes a powdered sugar look. I slowly stood up and walked into my yard, tilting my face towards the sky. I slowly rotated in circle. The snow felt good on my warm, wet face. Tears silently rolled down my face as I cried. I spun around and around faster and faster, hoping the world would just spin away.
2 months earlier… November 3rd 2008
“Happy Birthday, Emily!” Maddie sang as she waltzed up to our locker.
“Shhh!” I whispered, glancing around to see if anyone heard her.
“Aww, c’mon. Aren’t you glad its your birthday?”
“No! I told you before. I’m old now.”
“15 isn’t old!” Maddie laughed. “If 15 is old, then I’m ancient.”
Maddie is only a year older then me in age but she is a junior in high school. I’m a freshman. We have been best friends since we were born and sometimes people actually think we’re related. We both have dark brown hair but my hair is cropped short and brushes my jaw line. We also have the same shaped face but that’s about it. Maddie’s eyes are bright green, like the color of grass in the summer. Mine are blue, like the ocean near the Bahamas, as my friend Dan likes to say.
“Whatever, just don’t tell anyone, okay?” I asked, pulling out the materials I needed for my first hour class.
“Alright, I won’t. But you know they announce peoples birthdays on the announcements. There’s no avoiding it. Hey can you hand me that book? I’m too old to get down and get it.” She winced jokingly.
“Oh shut up.” I laughed, bending down to get the purple book.
“Hey!” I heard a group of people chortle behind us. I turned around reluctantly and saw Dan, Jenna, Mark and Lauren all standing beaming at me.
“Don’t -” I cried but they all cut me off in a booming chorus of “Happy Birthday”. People hanging around their lockers and their friends craned their necks to see whose birthday it was. The song ended and the students burst into applause, laughing and pointing. I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment.
“So how old are you now?” Dan asked, giving me a hug.
“Old enough.” I sighed heavily.
“It’s okay.” Lauren laughed, shoving Dan aside to give me a hug. “15 isn’t old.”
“15?” Dan’s face went blank. ”Oh, yeah I forgot. You’re a freshman.”
“I keep on forgetting you’re a junior. And you’re a senior.” I added looking up at Mark. He flashed me a grin while sweeping his blond hair out of his eyes with a sexy jerk of his head. I felt my heart jump into my throat.
“It’s not hard for me to forget you’re a freshman. I mean you’re like 4 feet tall.” He replied, smirking.
“I so am not! I’m 5’ 2”!” I exclaimed.
“You’re still short.” Jenna sidled up next to me.
“Well, yeah, compared to you! You’re practically the Empire State building!”
“Hey!” Mark growled. “That’s not very nice!” Jenna and I glanced at each other and cracked up. The ten minute bell rang suddenly, all of us jumping.
“Oh my gosh, I haven’t gotten my books yet!” Jenna cried. “Come with me. Maddie.” She grabbed Maddie’s arm and dragged her away quickly. Maddie turned and waved at me, grinning sheepishly.
“Yeah, I gotta get my books, too.” Lauren said, grabbing Mark’s hand. “See ya in science, Em.” She and Mark strolled down the opposite hallway. As I watched them go, I could feel Dan’s gaze studying my face.
“What’s up?” I asked, glancing up at him while turning back to my locker.
“You know…Lauren and Mark are going out.” Dan said slowly.
“Yeah, I know.” I muttered, my cheeks burning.
“Emily…” Dan trailed off.
“Dan, I’ve got to get to class.” I said abruptly, slamming my locker door shut. He winced as he shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Okay. See you later.” He muttered and as he turned, I sighed and grabbed his arm.
“I’m sorry, Dan. It’s just that I hate that it’s so obvious I like Mark. I’m not trying to be mean or anything.” I looked at Dan’s face. “And it doesn’t help you’re his best friend.” I added, smiling faintly.
“It’s just that…there are a lot of other guys that want to go out with you and I don’t think you should waste your time waiting around for him.” He glanced at me quickly and then looked away.
“Dan…” Dread slowly filled my stomach up as I realized the real meaning behind his words.
“I got to go, now. See you later, Toadstool.” He grinned at me before he jogged away. I mulled over what Dan said as I walked to my first class. It was true, I liked Mark a lot but was it worth the wait? I mean, besides the fact he was going out with one of my best friends. And he was a senior, now that was something to think about. Does age difference really matter? As I scrunched my forehead with possible answers, I stumbled over a stray book someone left in the hallway. I shrieked as I toppled over but before I hit the ground, someone grabbed my arm and steadied me.
“Thanks.” I murmured as I brushed

Me and my friend are taking the train into the city in a couple weeks
we want to eat somewhere and go shopping or whatever
we’re from long island so we dont need to see touristy places like central park or empire state building
we just need some ideas of where to go to chill out and have funa nd we need a set plan so our parents dont flip cuz we’re only in high school
so please help me plan my itinerary with my friend!
start at penn station ahhaha
10 points to the best answer and i’ll love you !

Heavy Metal Albums

1. I was walking with this guy I like (leonard) and all of a sudden he stopped and grabbed my shoulders and backed me up against a wall and picked me up and started kissing me, then he carried me somewhere while kissing and we walked in some door, but then he dropped me on the ground(not like too heavy drop, like sexy drop) and i sort of blacked out for a while,but i could kinda see that we “did stuff”, but then i saw me lying on top of him with his hand in my pocket and we were kissing and he said he loved me… Also at the end i shot his current gf but then i felt really bad about it cuz she is like one of my best friends
2. Bryce (this guy i used to like) was dangeling me from the top of the empire state building and Leonard came and pulled me up with one hand while fighting Bryce, then he pushed Bryce off the top but Bryce climbed back up and while me and Leonard were kissing and i was shaking and he was comforting me, he kicked Bryce in the face and then Bryce died… Then i woke up (bryce and i were never in a relationship)

I: Complete the letter
This is a(1)…………holiday. Every day we do something different. We had a fantastic day yesterday. We(2)……………to Manhattan. It was brilliant!
We had breakfast at the top of the Empire State Building but we didn’t see Hong Kong
Then we went to Wall Street. At lunch time we(3)…………..a picnic in Central Park. There were hundreds(4)………………..people there-all jogging! In the afternoon, we(5)…………………the Museum of Modern Art. It(6)…………………wonderful. After that we went to China Town. We had a big meal and it was really cheap
Hope you’re well. See you next Friday
Lost of love,
Mary

How much will these things typically cost in NY?
A standard 10 min taxi ride?
A nice american breakfast?
Lunch of a sandwich crisps etc (also where to buy lunch? we have marks and spencer here)
A good dinner? (somewhere nice but not overly posh?)
To go up the empire state building?
Visit ground zero?
Go to the rockerfella center?
Also what is American highstreet fashion like? In the uk we have topshop/River island etc? Is there anything similar in the US?
What are the main cosmetic/drug stores in the US, like in the UK we have boots and superdrug?
What would be an average amount of money to take for 5 days in NY…we want to visit a few places, eat out (not to extravagantly) and do some shopping (not really in designer places though) ?
Just any hints tips or places to visit woluld be great??

A few of you helped me once. I have revised them. Tell me what you think. Thank you so much and I can’t wait to see your city!!!!!!!
Day 1
Brooklyn Bridge (walk across)
Staten Island Ferry ride
Battery Park – World Trade Center eternal flame
Wall Street (not sure what I’m looking for here…a street? building?)
Ground Zero and St Paul’s Church
New York Fire Museum in Soho
Shopping in Soho on Canal St (very long street, more specific?)
Day 2
Strawberry Fields in Central Park
American Museum of Natural History
Walk over to Guggenheim
Empire State Building
Macy’s
China Town
Day 3
Grand Central Terminal
Times Square and Bryant Park
Broadway and 42nd to see Toys r us and m&m
42nd and 7th/8th for more good shopping?
Rockefellar Center and 5th Avenue
Museum of Modern Art
Top of the Rock
Day 4
Central Park
Statue of Liberty (from NJ on my way out)
Please tell me where my plans are off or what I might be missing.
Thank you so so much for your help, guys!!!!!!!

on the floor of his apartment, gazing at it; talking to it.
1-24-2059: Weeks later Bernard got an idea. He had thought about it while dreaming. He was to strike it with one of the most powerful forces known to man, lightening. People thought him as crazy
when he climbed up the thousands of stairs of the Empire State building, just to see some lightening. But he was not there to “Sight see” he got to the top, but to get passed the suicide rails He pushed passed security,
and sight seers. With item in hand he lunged passed the bars, flying 25 feet away from the building. People watched in panic as he flew passed their office windows. Bernard was full of hope, that the lighting would strike,
that the secret would be finally revield to him. But nothing happened… not even a spark.
They found his dead mangled body, stuck to the front of a Toyota’s hood. Even though the “Item of wonder” was never seen again, Bernard was finally at peace. It goes with out saying “Some things are better off left alone”

Logo Design

My boyfriend (who has never been to NYC) and I are going to the city Saturday and Sunday. I have been several times (born in NY) and am in charge of our agenda. He isn’t a planner, so I know I need to make a list and times of things to do before we get there, otherwise we’ll wonder around and not really see anything. I’m not sure about times yet, but I have the following planned for us on Saturday and Sunday, and I was hoping some of you would be able to let me know if it’s fairly walkable and what trains to take and the like. We’re trying to avoid paying for a tour bus if possible. Some good/cheap places to eat in the areas we’re in would be good too.
Saturday:
12 pm: Arrive in Times Square (our hotel in on West 55th between 8th and 9th ave, so a great location. But we would not go to the hotel until later that night.)
Until 3 pm: Walk around Times Square/Have Lunch
4pm: See the Debt Clock (boyfriend’s requesst)
Empire State Building (not sure if we’re going on top)
Chrysler Building
6:45pm: Get to the David Roth Theatre for Fuerzzabruta
8ish: Get out of show, take the subway back to Times Square for dinner/night walk around
10ish: Cab back to the hotel
Sunday:
9am: Subway to Battery park to take the ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island
12pm: walk to South Street Seaport for lunch
2pm: Walk to Financial District/Wall St (another request from the boyfriend)
3pm: World Trade Center
4pm: Subway back to Central Park, take a walk
5:30: Go to Times Square, catch a quick dinner, and wait for 6:30 bus back home to DC
So….am I giving us enough time? How should I spread these out?
Thanks!

Would you read this book?
1960’s United States.
Tension is higher that ever between the Soviet Union and the US.
3 Soviet Rogue Agents commit an act of terrorism on the Empire State Building, in a way that you’d never expect.
A grandfather calls his grandson and tells him to fly to London immediately where he will start his new life, and departs for a plane immediately because his Grandfather is afraid of a Bio Terror on the US. The Rogue Agents happen to get on the same plane, and the boy uncovers them post plot, and runs and locks himself in the cockpit. One of the Agents misfires and kills the pilot through the door, trying to bust in and kill the young boy.
Before you know it the plane is going down rapidly, and the boy buckles himself into the co-pilot seat. He isn’t able to steady the plane, and the wheels won’t work very well. They open just as they land in a big field, pushing the plane past its pressure limit and killing it. The boy hears a large thud just as the land, and peaks through one of the bullet holes, to see all of the Agents in a heap in the back, unconscious.
He is able to find his balance and keep a peaceful mind, and opens the hatch and escapes into the wilderness. Its then a race to London, hoping that the Rogue Agents don’t catch him.
He goes through many tremendous challenges, and eventually makes it to London, but the final showdown in the streets shall not be revealed.
THIS BOOK CURRENTLY HAS A PENDING CONTRACT.
KEEP IN MIND IT WAS WRITTEN BY A 14 YEAR OLD.
ANY ACTS OF PLAGERISM SHALL BE TAKEN AS A LEGAL OFFENSE AND PERPETRATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW.

OK, I’ve never tried this before. I’m a bit of a skeptic, I admit, but a dream I had last week has really stuck with me so let’s see if it means anything!
I was with a large group of people who were familiar to me but I did not recognise, all about my age (22), both male and female. We were in a city but I have never been there before, and we were all residents in some sort of home/ shelter or hospital; it looked like some sort of huge Dickensian workhouse from the outside, but it was absolutely huge…think the Empire State Building, but as wide as it is high, too.
I was in my room, which was bare but comfortable. Suddenly a tannoy blasted in to life and announced we were about to be bombed by jet planes; everyone panicked and rushed outside as an air raid siren started- I remember noticing the sky was very overcast. A group of us hid behind a small stone shack that was a little distance from the large building, but in plain view of it, as two fighter planes zoomed overhead…