Coincidence?

Twas a dark and stormy morning, October 1992. Jenna Acnaib shuffled in the school doors through the wind and the rain. Things felt alright; even Jenna felt like a normal girl, in a new town and new school. It was just a week ago, a week ago she found a journal. When she looked around on the top shelf for a pencil she noticed a string hanging through the top vent. The way she got it down no one understands. But we do know it changed her life. Jenna Acnaib had the life every girl imagined: good grades, friends, a loving family and talented at everything. Jenna eyed the the leather bound, dusty journal,. Engraved in the bottom corner, in gold cursive read Bianca Annej. She opened the cover slowly to see a journal entry 100 years before; September 14, 1892. To her dismay, it was nothing exciting. Involuntarily she tossed it into her backpack. The next day, she had a strange urge to read the journal:

//September 14, 1992 // //Well, the move is going pretty well so far. I've made a few friends, my teachers like me and best of all, I was asked to sing the solo in my choir concert! This place might not be so bad after all. //

Jenna thought she and Bianca were quite similar. The journal could even help her with her own move. To her disbelief, when she arrived at school the choir teacher approached her in the hall asking, "Jenna, how would you like to sing the solo at the concert?"

"I would love to!" Jenna replied. Jenna froze, thinking of what just happened. She tried to shrug it off, telling herself it was just a //coincidence//.

When she got home she threw down her backpack and sat down with the journal.

//October 2, 1992 // //Things just keep getting better and better! Today I aced our hard Math test. 100%! I'm so excited! I was the only one above a 95%. I even have the best grades in all my classes. Even though I'm in 7th grade, Stanford may be in my future. //

"She's a 7th grader too?" Jenna mumbled to herself. Jenna also had always dreamed of going to Stanford. They were too alike. Jenna had an odd feeling about their connection. But because all she'd read were good things, she put the journal away and relaxed.

Two "//coincidences//" made her question her theory. Was it more than a //coincidence//? A week later at school she got her hard math test back. But this time, to her expectation, red numbers across the top of the page read: 100%. Jenna's stomach turned. Confusion filled her nerves. Over the next month everything in the journal, that happened to Bianca happened in real life to Jenna. She was happy with her life, but never read ahead in the journal to see what was to happen next. Only an entry every week or two. The next entry she read shocked her.

//December 4, 1992 // // Ok, get this!! Broc Nahte, the most popular guy in school, who I have been watching since the first day of school, asked me to go steady today! AHHHHH! I'm so happy. All my friends have been freaking out and everyone wants to be my friend! We are so the "it" couple and I love the attention! I just hope our relationship lasts. //

As soon as Jenna saw the name Broc Nahte, she thought of the in her grade, Ethan Corb. That's when it occured to her. Bianca Annej....Jenna Acnaib, they were the same backwards as fowards! A chill ran down her spine. Would Ethan really ask her out tomorrow?

Surely enough, at lunch the next day, Ethan approached her. "Jenna, will you go out with me?" Jenna's eyes widened. "Sure..uh..I mean yes!" Jenna replied with a smile. She couldn't believe it! Well, actually after all that happened, she could.

She loved her life even more and the next month was normal. Things turned the night Ethan asked Jenna to go on a "joy ride." After school Ethan approached her, "Hey, meet me at the Candy Shop at 10 tonight and we'll go up on the bluff over looking the town." "Sounds good!" Jenna replied anxiously. She couldnd't wait!

That night at 9:45, excited, Jenna threw the journal and phone into a bag and ran down stairs. She snuck out, without saying goodbye to her parents...what a mistake.

She met Ethan and they drove to the bluff. As they drove, Jenna read the journal entry. It was written the same date as that day:

//February 13, 1993 // //So, Broc asked me after school to ride up onto the bluff over looking the town at night with him! I'm so excited. As I write, I'm in the car with him! Ahhh! And if you're wondering, he is 14, and he does drive, well not legally. But I'm thinking about what we're going to do. What should I saw? Well, I'm sure it will all be fine. We're finally up here now. //

Jenna was eager to see how her night was going to turn out. Ethan just then pulled up over the bluff and parked on the edge. "What are you reading?" Ethan asked worriedly. "Oh, nothing," Jenna responded shieling the book. Her hair covered her face. Ethan had to hurry before Jenna knew to much. She kept reading:

//The sight is so beautiful! The town's lights sparkle. //

Jenna agreed. Ethan looked at Jenna suspiciously and said, "I have to check something on the car, I'll be back." Jenna just smiled. He got out, leaving the car in neutral. Jenna looked back in Bianca's journal.

//Well I can relax a little, Broc just got out of the car to check something. //

Jenna's eyes widened.

//Omg..the car is moving, it's rolling back, Broc killed m //

Jenna screamed in terror. It was too late. The car rolled off the back of the bluff.

The next day Ethan walked into school, disguised by his sweatshirt hood. No one inquired about Jenna...yet. He slipped the journal back into the top of Locker #213, (2-13, Feb 13). It was more than a coincidence.