Isabella

I hadn't been this excited since my 15th birthday. Christmas felt the same way, with heaps of gifts waiting under the tree. Essentially, excitement had been missing from my life for the past eight years—until now.

I couldn't understand why I felt so giddy the morning we were to meet Andrew Garrett. I pulled Paula out of bed and dragged her to my room to get ready.

"I want pants," I told her. "Something loose. I want to be able to run." My smile was wide enough to crack my skull, but I didn't care that my cheeks hurt or that she looked at me strangely.

"Hurry!" I yelled,...