Her parents split, she's stuck in a new, small town at a school full of Aberzombies and Haters, she has a crush on someone she really shouldn't like, and she's stuck with the nickname Freak Girl. Sometimes it's enough to retreat into her drawing—her manga is totally important to her—but when she gets Fields of Fantasy for her birthday, she knows she's found the one place she can be herself. In the game world, Alexa can transform from regular outcast high school student to Allora, a beautiful Elfin princess with magical powers to take down enemies with a snap of her fingers and a wave of her wand.

As Allora, Alexa's virtual life is perfect, and she even finds a little romance. But a real gamer girl understands that real life comes first—Alexa can't escape from her IRL problems. She has to find ways to kick back at the Haters, rock her manga, and find the new, real-life friends she knows she deserves.

To be continued

see you next chapter

thank you for reading

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thanks again for reading my story 😊

GRANDMA'S HOUSE was a study of crystal and glass and contained 1,153 unicorns. I knew, because I counted one drizzly, dreary Thanksgiving when we were stuck inside waiting for the world's slowest turkey to brown. Horned beasts of crystal, glass, china, wood—she called them her “babies” and treasured them more than her dwindling life savings. (Dwindling mainly due to her unicorn habit. You wouldn't believe the prices of these things from the Franklin Mint.) Whenever we'd come over, she'd sit me down and show me her favorites.

She had a lot of favorites.

The was fine and tolerable when we lived an hour away and saw her once a year. Over the river and through the woods and all that. But now we were living with her. In her museum like house. Surrounded by unicorns.

I suppose my story isn't unique. After all, half of marriages end in divorce, or so they say. Maybe I should count my blessings that Mom and Dad stuck it out as long as they did. Still, having to vacate our über–hip Back Bay Boston brownstone, leave my private school and friends behind, and move to Unicorn Land—all in the middle of my sophomore year—was a bit much.

But I had no choice. Mom and Dad weren't speaking, unless they were yelling, Neither one could afford the mortgage on the brownstone, so they smacked down a For Sale sign and split—Dad to a smaller apartment down street and Mom, me, and my eight-year-old sister, Emily,to New Hampshire. To Grandmother's house we go.

I can't even begin to tell you how painful that last day at my old school was. Saying goodbye to all my beloved teachers, promising my friends I'd IM and text at every possible second, cleaning out my locker, and tearing down the My Chemical Romance poster I'd stuck on the inside door on the first day of the school year. I'd been so full of hopes and dreams for the year back then. I was going to join the art club, write for the school paper, and, of course, make Ashley's older brother, David Silverman, my boyfriend. (Okay, the last one was a long shot, but you couldn't blame a girl for being goal oriented, could you?)It was going to be the best year ever.

Now, four months later, It was gearing up to be the worst.

“Alexa! You'd better get down here or you'll miss the bus!” Grandma called from downstairs, bringing me back to reality, aka my first day at Hannah Dustin High School. There were prisoners on death row more excited about their pending visit with the electric chair than I was about my enrollment.

I mean, hello! First off, there was a bus. An actual bus to take me from my middle—of—nowhere Grandma's house to my still—middle—of—nowhere school. Back home, I always walked. Met my friends at Dunkin' Donuts for French crullers and coffee, then giggled and gossiped all the way to the campus of Boston Academy. Now I'd actually have to board a smelly, fume—filled, environment–destroying bus to get to school. At least I was getting my license in a few weeks when I turned sixteen. Though my chances of getting Grandma to lend me the car were slim to none.

My cell buzzed, scattering all thoughts of transportation. I glanced down to see the text. From Caitlin.

GOOD LUCK ON FIRST DAY!

I Smiled, feeling a tiny bit better. At least I had my friends. Sure, they were farther away from me now, but they still cared. I punched in Caitlin's number.

“Hey, girl," I said into the phone after she answered.

"Oh, hey, Alexs, how's it going? How're the 'burbs? They arrest you for not wearing Gap yet? Turn your mom into a Stepford wife?" Caitlin had habit of asking at least four questions in the same breath, making it impossible to answer any of them.

"Hardy–har–har,” I replied. “You are too funny."

"whatevah. At least I'm not funny–looking.”

TBC