Anubis: The Staff of Shadows

Part 1

Chloe's POV

My name is Chloe Patterson, I'm 20, not to brag but with an IQ of 189, I am a genius. I have an amazing boyfriend, and I'm a student at the Richardson's University of Archeology.

It's a crisp Friday afternoon, early-December. "Great, just great," I mumble as I sit down on a bench next to my boyfriend Cooper.

"What's wrong with you?" Cooper asks while taking a bite of a granola bar.

"I don't know, I'm nervous about going to Egypt, and I have a 95 in math."

"What's the big deal about having a 90?" Cooper asks crumpling up the wrapper and shoving it into his pocket, "I am failing in almost every class."

"Cooper, you and I both know that is not your fault." I say standing up off the bench to stare at him, "you also know exactly how much my parents expect me to keep high A's in every class,"

"So, are you ready for our trip this weekend?" Cooper asks me, "I'm thankful that the principal let me go even though my grades stink."

"Once again Cooper, that's not your fault." I reply back, "you're just, different." I try to smile at him, but he appears focused on something in the distance. I see him squinting and murmuring to himself.

"What is it?" I ask, trying to figure out what he saw.

"I thought I saw-...never mind." he says as he relaxes back onto the bench.

This is beginning to get awkward, but before I can say anything, the school bell rings, and Cooper gets up giving me a quick kiss. He seems to have forgotten about what he had just seen and doesn't seem bothered by the awkward pause.

"You'll be fine," he says soothingly as he grabs his bag, swings it over his shoulder, and walks toward the school.