Period 3.2015 Nautilus High School Class Novel In Progress
Editorial Board Members:
De Los Santos Vega, Eymi
Duffy, Zach
Grossman, Lilly
Mitchard, Celie
Rugg, Collin
Salgado, Esther
Torres, Brenda
Period 3 NHS Character Sketches 2014-2015
Girl: Jacklyn Merle
· Has red hair and hazel eyes
· Usually acts quiet and shy, but has a temper, and finds herself yelling at those close to her
with no real reason
· Hates the fact that whenever she loses her temper, people blame it on her red hair
· Loves red nail polish
· Has strict parents
· Has a favorite long-sleeved black sweater that she wears so often that people suspect she
doesn’t have many clothes
· Is really good at drawing, and loves to doodle in her notebook all the time
· Is allergic to any kind of nuts
Boy: Harry Richard Young
· Wears his black hair rather long
· Has a tattoo on the curve of his shoulder; not many people know about it…
· Except when he’s running cross country or track, then the tattoo shows because of the tank
top he wears while running
· Struggles with the stress of senior year, so he’s not sure if he’s going to continue competing
on the high school teams, but he can’t give up running on his own to relieve his stress
· Is pretty good at school, gets mostly As
· He’s pretty skinny—may be running too much, possible hidden health issues
· Plays guitar in his spare time
2nd Girl: Maria Lara
· Is pretty
· Lives with her aunt
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Has been going to the La Jolla schools since kindergarten
Appears confident at school, but has lots of problems at home
Her cousin, Angelo, has been in trouble with the police
Often has to babysit her two nieces
Is fond of Star Wars and Harry Potter movies; likes to watch them
Would love to go to college in San Francisco
2nd Boy: Ricardo Sanchez
· Is rich
· His family is from Mexico City
· His grandparents are Jewish
· When people first meet him he comes off as cocky and selfish
· Also has anger issues
· He is handsome, and some of the girls consider him a player becomes he never pays
attention to just one girl for any length of time; he’s actually emotionally insecure
· He likes watching ballet and folklorico dancing, but doesn’t admit it to anyone
School Counselor: Mr. Aries
· Advisor for the Mormon Club on campus
· Runs a counseling session/group for students with anger issues
IDEAS FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF CHAPTERS
UNTITLED NAUTILUS HIGH SCHOOL YOUNG ADULT NOVEL • PERIOD 3 • 2015
Chapter 1 • Jacklyn
Over the summer, I had gotten rid of my acne, grown a few inches, and grown my
awkward bangs out. I had just transferred to Nautilus High School and today was my first
day. I didn't know anyone, but was confident that I was going to be happier here.
Today was going to be the day that everyone was going to accept me, I thought to myself. I
didn't know how at that very moment, but I knew that I had to at least try. I knew everyone
felt this way at the beginning of the school year, but I really believed that this year was
going to be different for me. No one would know about my past, so I could make my own
identity and be who I wanted to be instead of who people thought I should be. I was the
new Jacklyn, with my trusty black sweater of course. But I was sure I was going to wow
everyone.
Rinnnnnnnnnnnnng. I heard the first bell ring. I took a deep breath. My new life was
about to begin.
By the time fourth period rolled around, I was exhausted. I looked at my schedule
and it said I was to report to room 311 for Economics. I had no special desire to learn about
economics, but it was a class that was required for all seniors to take. It was also a class
where I’d have to see all of the people I was graduating with. So far barely anyone had
talked to me. It felt like the only person I would ever be friends with was my third period
English teacher. And that was only because she complimented my hair when she signed
my schedule. The second bell rang and I knew I had a minute left to find this class.
Thankfully, I recognized a couple other seniors and just followed them and they led me to
the correct classroom.
This particular room in the 300 building here at Nautilus High School was pleasant.
It was one of the few air-conditioned buildings in the school. I noticed that many students
flocked over to this building, whether it was because of the heat or a club. One of the clubs
was led by Mr. Aries and it seemed that everyone loved him. This room had a spectacular
view of the ocean through both windows, and was fairly taller than the other buildings here
at Nautilus High. The historical props were also very eye-catching and unique to the room. I
instantly knew that this was going to be one of my favorite classes of the day.
The class whirled by because it was so entertaining and relaxed. I don’t even
remember talking about economics to be honest. But the girl who sat next to me talked to
me the entire period. Her name was Maria and she talked a mile a minute. We initially
bonded over the fact that I had just moved from San Francisco and that she wanted to
move to San Francisco. But as soon as the class period was over she dragged me to join
her for lunch. She was pretty and very confident and I decided I liked her after spending the
class period with her.
I didn’t pay attention to my fifth period class because I was too busy thinking about
my new friend Maria. I was amazed by the person I was and the person I had now become.
Who knew I would have gone from the girl with anger issues that everyone picked on to a
new social pariah. Things were certainly changing for me.
When the bell rang to signal that fifth period was over I decided to go to the bleachers by
the field to draw since I didn’t have a sixth period. There was a good view of the beach from
there and I could wait until the school day was officially over. I made my way up the
bleachers and settled down and sighed with contentment as I began to draw.
Chapter 2 • Harry
I kept pushing past each hurdle on the track. I tried to jump higher and higher as I
came to each hurdle. But it was just so difficult and I had so much fogging up my mind. I
pushed my raven black hair out of my eyes for what felt like the twentieth time. I had to let
go of the pressures of school and the stress of senior year and push harder.
That was when I really began to gain speed. I was actually jumping higher. And I
was actually running faster. I felt great inside. I could feel my tank top exposing my tattoo
that I was positive Coach would be furious about but I just couldn’t care.
When I was rounding the corner to the last hurdle was when I saw her. She had
startling red hair and was wearing a plain black sweater. She was just sitting on the
bleacher doodling on her notebook. I wondered what she was doodling and how I had
never noticed her before with her vibrant hair.
I was so absorbed in my thoughts about this unusual girl that I hadn’t been paying
attention to the track. I ran into the last hurdle which brought all eyes on me, including
Coach’s.
“Young!” he called out to me already sounding displeased, “What’s the meaning of
this? Can’t you keep your eyes on the track and focus for once?!”
But I wasn’t listening to Coach. I was too busy looking at the girl who was looking
back at me. She brushed the hair out of her face and nervously looked back down at her
doodles. My coach grabbed my arm and I was startled back into reality.
“Young, you are my best hurdler by far. But how will you ever win us a race when
you can't even focus until the end of one?! You need to get your head in the game, boy.
Now, go hit the showers.”
My head was in the game and I knew what I had to do. I stumbled up the stairs of
the bleachers when I suddenly realized—I couldn’t just talk to this girl. What was I
thinking? I tried to formulate a sentence in my head when suddenly her bright hazel eyes
locked with mine. I opened my mouth to speak but suddenly, she spoke.
“Took a hard fall there at the end didn’t you?”
I felt my cheeks get warmer as I tried to think of an excuse. She saw it happen? Of
all the things she could have seen, she had to see THAT? I spoke, “Yeah, that last hurdle
was… uhh… slanted,” I spluttered, “Yeah! The last hurdle wasn’t level with the ground
causing me to… you know…”
“Eat it?” she laughed gently. “You’re never going to win a race from the ground.”
Then she smiled, “I’m Jacklyn, I’m new here!”
I looked at her outstretched hand and then back at her. I shook it, but before I could
introduce myself, I heard Coach calling for me. “Oh, I better get back. See you around!” I
ran away faster than I had run in my race. My heart was beating rapidly. How dumb of me! I
should have introduced myself. I turned to see if I still had a chance but she had vanished.
Now all there was to do was hope she was in one of my classes. This was going to be an
interesting year.
Chapter 20 (or so—a much later chapter) • Harry
I blinked away the tears, feeling them run down my neck, making me shiver. I spat
more blood onto the hard and grimy tile. Slumped against the wall, I stared blankly at the
bathroom wall, making sure once more that the stall was locked. My face numbing, I was
left alone with my thoughts, but I didn't know what to think. I knew they were coming for me
There was nothing left to do, no story I could possibly tell them to save myself. Another
wave of tears surfaced and joined the others; tears of pain, tears of regret, tears of fear.
One thought bounced around my head, tearing me to pieces, killing me. How did it get like
this? How did this happen?
Chapter 21 • Jacklyn
For later… the school finds out that it was Ricardo who was fighting Harry.
"Mr. Ricardo Sanchez, report to the office now. Come to the office now," called out
school counselor Mr. Aries.
I wonder what he had done now? That selfish cocky bad boy never seemed to miss
going to the office. I couldn't believe so many girls found him so interesting. He was nothing
but trouble to me.
Maria turned to ask me a question as Ricardo walked away to follow Mr. Aries to the
office. "Hey, Jacklyn, what do you think about Ricardo Sanchez? You think he would be
interested in me?”
I looked at Maria, surprised. We had had this conversation before. Maria was
beautiful, and many girls wanted to be like her—including me if I was willing to admit it. She
could choose from almost any guy, but no, she preferred bad boys. And Ricardo was her
newest obsession.
“Oh, he would definitely be interested,” I told her. “But steer clear of him. He’s
always getting in trouble. He’s bad news.”
Just then, Harry came over to our table at lunch, and took a seat next to me. Maria’s
jaw dropped as she got a good look at his black eye and swollen jaw. “What happened to
you?” she demanded to know.
“Ricardo happened to me,” my boyfriend replied quietly.