Month: January 2011

I gaped at Deilian. ” A hut?!” I asked angrily. He nodded and smiled patiently “You told me it would be a pleasant place, not a place crawling with rats and salmonella!” I yelled, wanting to claw that wretched smile of his face. ” Salmonella is a disease that comes from-” “I don’t care!” I yelled, balling my fists “I don’t care! I don’t care! I don’t care!”I ranted, stomping deep pits into the ground. He sighed “What were you expecting? A 20 bedroom mansion?” I nodded “Actually yes I was. You rented the Taj Mahal for a week before! Remember?” He nodded  ”Yes, but that was an emergency.” ‘And this isn’t?! We’re being hunted down by an army, and you don’t call this an emergency?!” He shrugged “I found this place, and it’s much less conspicuous then the Taj Mahal. Plus, there is more to it than this.” My eyes lit up, maybe there was still hope. ” Really? How many bedrooms?” He grinned “Well… it’s not exactly that…” I moaned “Well, what exactly it this ‘more’?” ” About 50 acres of pasture.” He said, smiling. “Pasture?” I asked “Yes, for the cows.” “Cows?” “Yes, about a dozen of them.” I gaped at him, when I finally could speak I said “Let me guess, we also have some fifty odd chickens?” “Actually sixty.” I took a deep breath “Joy oh joy.” “Well at least you will have company.” “Chickens? Company?!” “Look on the bright side, you can read your diary to them and they won’t laugh.” I glared at him. “I am done with this conversation.” I said crisply and stalked of into the little hovel-like hut.

I ran into the dining room were Deilian was sitting reading a cookbook. “Deilian!” I screamed even before I entered the room. I stopped in front of him, my face red with rage and embarrassment. “One of your stupid chickens made a nest in my hair!” I bellowed, unconsciously running a hand over the large clump of feathers and hair on my head. “You know chickens are actually more intelligent then they look.” he said from behind the cover of the book. The cheery picture of an apple pie on it’s cover only fueled my rage. I ripped the book out of his hands and flung it into the trash. ” Look at my head!!! This is the work of one of your precious demon chickens!  I swear if- Hey! Stop laughing! This isn’t funny!” I glared at him, literally shaking with fury. He managed to contain his laughter and reduce it to an insolent grin “Well, I’m sure this could become a new trend if you adjusted that tuft of hair and moved that feather a bit.” I drew myself up  “This isn’t a joke, I am serious! If I see another one of those evil fiends I will wring their necks!” He leaned back in his chair and plucked the book out of the trashcan ”Maybe it was your fault.” I was taken back by this remark “Wa- what? My fault? How?” he shrugged “Maybe it was the shampoo you use.” My rage returned ” ‘Shampoo’ my foot! Transforming my hair into a Casa De Chicken was fully their intention!” With that I turned on my heals and stormed of, Deilian’s laughter sending fresh waves of anger and embarrassment coursing through me.

“You know that they always shuttle off the new kids first to foster homes?”, Miranda asked. I assumed this was a rhetorical question, so I didn’t answer. “Geez Miranda. You’re probably freaking her out. Have some sympathy. After all, we didn’t know our families. She did. First she lost her parents, then she lost her aunt. And we’re only twelve.”, Faith preached. “Ok, ok. Look who decided to become Ms. Preacher. ” , Miranda taunted back. After only knowing them for about an hour, I could already tell that Miranda and Faith had an odd type of friendship, where Faith would constantly have to tell Miranda to shut her trap. Another surprising thing is that although Miranda and Eliza are identical in terms of looks, they are nothing like each other in terms of personality. Eliza is pretty quiet. For example, right now Eliza was standing with a look like she was laughing at and mocking Miranda in her head. It was pretty funny. Finally, Eliza spoke. “Well, we better head to school now. How fun.”, she said in a sarcastic tone. “How about we meet in the lounge after we do our homework?”, Miranda asked. “Uh… Where’s the lounge?”, I asked.  Faith told me since Miranda would probably give me a whole long explanation. Woah. This orphanage was almost like a camp!

Ms. Robinson led me to a small room. There was somebody sitting there. “This is Andie. She’s your tutor.”, she said. “Come, sit down.”, Andie said and pointed to a desk. The desk had fresh supplies and books with my name written on them. Cool. This was better than school. In school, we would always get these old textbooks from 1975 with tons of names written in them. One time, I got my mother’s textbook! Andie told me,”Take out the looseleaf.” She handed me some labels for the plastic dividers and folders in the looseleaf. I labeled them neatly with all the subjects. I liked to be organized. Then she said, “Take out all the books in the desk.” She came over to the desk. She showed me which books were for each subject. Then she told me to label the notebooks “Math” and “Spelling”.  Finally, we started. Andie was lots of fun. She was studying in college to be a teacher and was twenty years old. She was very easy-going and tried to make learning as fun as possible with games. Best of all, she only gave me a few easy things for homework per night!

On the way to the lounge, everybody was questioning me about school. “So who’s your tutor?’, Miranda inquired. “Andie.” “Oh my god! You’re so lucky! I heard she’s lots of fun and gives very little homework!”, Miranda exclaimed. While she was making this statement, I was struggling to keep a straight face because Faith and Eliza were pretending to turn an off button on Miranda’s back.

When we got to the lounge, we grabbed some snacks. “So what should we do?” “Oh my god! You have not lived until you’ve seen Ms. Robinson’s DVD collection!”, Miranda exclaimed. One thing I noticed about Miranda is that she doesn’t talk. She either exclaims or inquires. Anyway, the collection was huge! We picked out Breakfast at Tiffany’s and popped it in to the DVD player.

“So you’re the new kid Ms. Robinson was talking about?”, a girl with black hair asked me. “Yep.”, I replied in a casual tone. We moved up the line a little bit. “Well, I’m Miranda. My twin sister, Eliza, is over there.’” She pointed to a girl who looked exactly like her a few feet away. The girl waved. “And this is my friend Faith.” She motioned to a girl with blond hair behind her. Faith waved. Feeling slightly winded from all the introductions, I simply said, “I’m Shannon.” “What’s your table and room number?”, Miranda asked with a slightly hopeful tone.  “Uh….”  I looked at the paper Ms. Robinson had given me. “Table 5 and room 234.”  “Oh my god!”, Miranda shrieked with glee, “That’s my table and you’re in the same room as me, along with Faith, Eliza, and Nadia. Nadia’s pretty stuck up and spoiled. And to think that she’s now an orphan. Her parents must’ve spoiled her.” She shook her head in slight disgust. After I processed all this information, I just said, “Brain overload!” Faith said, “You better get used to it. Miranda once kept us up ’til five in the morning with her talking.” “I did not!”, Miranda objected. Faith and me were already collapsing in laughter. Faith held up her fist, and we bumped fists, delighting in Miranda’s obvious defeat.

It smelled like citrus fruit in there.  Not real of course, but like somebody had sprayed a citrus fruit flavored air freshener. I knew it was air freshener because in between the overpowering scent of the freshener, you could smell a faint, musty smell like most old buildings have. “And this is where you sleep.”, a voice, which I had already gotten accustomed to being  Ms. Robinson’s, spoke. Ms. Robinson was petite, maybe about five foot three, had long, shiny, straight brown hair that fell down her back and looked like a horse’s mane, and grass green eyes. She seemed to be in her twenties. She had a soft voice, but she seemed like she knew how to treat kids and knew how to be authoratative with kids too. Ms. Robinson handed me a paper that was typed quite neatly. It seemed to be a schedule and some rules.

8:00 AM:  Wake-up.

You make your bed every morning and on Thursday, you change your sheets.  You should put out your clothes the night before.  Somebody will take your clothes from the day before and will return them to you washed in the afternoon.

8:30 AM to 9:15 AM: Breakfast

You’re assigned to a table that you’ll sit at  at  every meal.

9:15 AM to 3:00 PM: School

You will have a tutor who will give you supplies. You will have two fifteen minute breaks, one at 11:00 AM and one at 2:00 PM. There will be a lunch break at 12:30 PM.

3:00 PM to 4:00 PM: Homework

Your tutor will assign work to do after school. Before you begin your work, you can get a snack. Your work will never take you more than an hour.

5:00 PM to 6:30 PM: Free Time

6:30 PM to 7:15 PM: Dinner

7:15 PM to 7:45 PM: Shower and Bed Preperations

7:45 PM to 8:30 PM: Group Chat

We’ll all meet in the Grand Hall to talk.

8:30 PM: Bedtime

Seems like I”ll have a pretty good time here.  I walked to the mess hall for breakfast.

Dear Reader,

This is not a fluffy story, such as those so-called “guilty pleasure stories”.  Nor is it a fiction story.  This is a story about a girl.  And that girl is me and I have a gift.

I first realized my gift (and hunger) when I was in kindergarten.  According to my mother and my memory, I was like a sponge, soaking up knowledge. But the type of knowledge I liked to be taught the most was things involving language, such as phonics.  One of my favorite activities was something we did in class called “journal”.  Every week, they would give us a sheet of paper with a topic such as  “The Big Blizzard” and there would be a few lines where we could write. We would have to write a sentence about what we did, how we feel, or describing that topic. Then, we would draw a picture under our sentence. But, unlike most girls in my class, I didn’t like the drawing part better than the writing part. If they didn’t give us only a few lines, I probably could have wrote a good paragraph on a topic. Then came first grade. In first grade, we started writing compositions of two to three sentences. Yet,
I would write five or six sentences.  One time, I wrote three or four pages on one Curious George book!  From first grade and up until now, fifth grade, I always loved writing. I had the gift of being a good writer.  I also had, well have a hunger.  I’m ever reading, thinking, and writing.  Thanks for listening.

-Bella

I sat next to Crystal in our usual spot at lunch. I talked to Crystal like there was no tomorrow. Without Andie there at school, I really didn’t know how to spend the time I used to spend with Andie. I told myself, that I was going to become Mrs.Asher. Not Sistine. I didn’t care what Joshua’s crystal ball said, I was being Andie’s wife not Jack’s. I wasn’t going to become Gabriella Wellington. I didn’t care if Jack was a prince, he was a jerk but isn’t that why I like about him? “No, he’s a jerk. You’re not supposed to like a jerk but when Jack is the jerk then it’s different…” I thought to myself ignoring what Crystal was rambling to me.

“Hey, cupcake.” A familiar voice sweetly, softly said.

It was Jack. He sat beside me. His dirty blond hair shined in the sunlight while his ocean blue eyes looked deep into mine. His smile made every girl melt, every girl included me.

“Jack, go away!” Crystal shouted over to him while he got closer to me until there was nothing separating us.

“So, Gabriella…what are we doing today. You name it, we do it.” He smoothly says with his usual trademark smile.

“We?” I asked him, “I am not going anywhere with you.”

“How many times do you make that statement a lie?” He asks playfully.

“Well, you make me!” I argue.

“No, I can’t make you do anything. You choose to. Not my fault you can’t resist me.” He says as he wraps his arm around my waist.

“I think you spend too much time in your perfect little world where money never runs out. In reality Jack,  you are a-”

“Jerk.” He finishes my sentence, “I know. Tell me once, when you’ve forgotten to tell me I was a jerk.”

“I won’t forget that day. Not ever!” I say as I unwrap his hand from my waist.

“Ah, you do have a good memory.” He says.

“Jack, I’m going to be with Drake, okay?” Trever a.k.a. Zoey whispered to him.

Trever left and Jack didn’t seem to care. I can tell if I didn’t leave, nothing for Jack didn’t matter. He seems like he’s madly in love with me. His desire to love me and be my boyfriend again is strong and most importantly…genuine.  He would do anything and I mean anything to be my boyfriend again. He just doesn’t give up. Everyday he asks me out and I always reject him but nothing seems to stop him. He just strives to be with me again and nothing will stand in his way. Not Andie.

“Will you be my girlfriend?” He says hopefully.

“I keep telling you, Andie is my boyfriend!” I sound like a tape recorder saying the same thing over and over again.

“What do you see in him?” Jack asks. You can see he’s controlling his anger in face.

“I see a lot of nice traits in him that you don’t have.” I snapped.

“No, you don’t. He takes you for granted and when you leave him he is hopelessly pathetic and he persuades you to be with him again. And you give into him because something about him makes you go crazy about him. I don’t know what it is but I’m finding that out and incorporating it into me.” He explains, “He’s just a guy who isn’t sweet to you at all and doesn’t treat you well.”

“He is sweet! He just doesn’t show it in public. And he does treat…me-”

Jack gives a brief laugh of satisfaction. “How does he treat you again, Gabriella?”

I roll my eyes and stand up to leave but Jack gets a grip on my hand. His grasp is firm and his hands are soft. I tug on my arm for him to let go but my effort of squirming didn’t do me any good.

“Let–go–of–me!” I shout.

“We haven’t finished talking yet.” He says.

“Crystal-”

“Crystal is long gone. I guess she got jealous when my attention was all on you. I know I’m very perfect but there’s only one of me.”Jack conceitedly announces.

……………………………………………………………………………

“Hey, Hannah!” Gabriella exclaims happily.

Hannah makes a disgusted face like she just smelled something rotten. Hannah never liked Gabriella and Gabriella didn’t care about Hannah. Though, Hannah has power over both of her twin siblings. Gabriella and Cody.  They only respect her in fear. Hannah doesn’t care. Hannah never cares. Her personality and appearance resembled her best friend, Andie. They could easily pass off as cousins. Her dark brown hair almost mirrored Andie’s black hair. They just look like the other version of themselves.

I reach out for Gabriella’s hand and grab it. At first she didn’t seem to notice but then she scowled at me. I tried to hold her hand as long as I could but it just didn’t feel right. I knew it was partially my fault for why she hated me so much. I know she’s afraid to get hurt again. I swore to myself that I’d never hurt her again. I’ll never cheat on her again. It’s funny how it was a good idea back then and there but now, it seems like the worst thing I ever did. Thank god, she’s mine in the end. I need her love. I need her. I don’t want no super model or movie star. I want her.

“So…Mrs.Wellington.” Hannah teased.

“I’m not Mrs.Wellington!” Gabriella shouts in anger.

If she only knew…how I feel about her. I just can’t stop thinking about her. In every class, it’s Gabriella 24/7. I can say I do adore her laugh and live for her smile. I enjoy when she’s happy, especially when it’s with me or because of me.

I just can’t live with this guilt! Not anymore! I don’t know how to get rid of it! I don’t know how to make it up to her because that sorry didn’t cut it! I’m going to die if she doesn’t just put it aside! Whenever she calls me a jerk it reminds of me when I dissed her for someone else when I had her. I regret it so much. I can’t live with myself anymore! I might explode!

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!” I blurt out, “I-I can’t live with this anymore! What I did to you-I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Just-I want you to forgive me!”

Gabriella stood in amazement. She looked loss for words. She looked innocent.  I couldn’t help it but I let some tears. I broke for the first time in a very long, I cried.

“You’re crying.” Gabriella’s voice trembled. She wiped a tear from her eye.

“I-I can’t be alive if you can’t let go what happened. I know what I did was  wrong. Believe me, I know what a worst day feels like. It’s everyday. Ever since you broke up with me. The worst days, months of my life. I-I regret it so much.” I cry out.

“Jack,” Gabriella say softly.

“Well, she’s still with Andie so give up on the act.” Hannah growls.

“It’s not an act, Hannah.” Gabriella says.

“You want to know why I hate him, Gabriella?” I ask her as tears roll down my cheeks, “I hate him because he has you. Not only that but you like him a lot. He makes you happy and he seems like the perfect boyfriend when you are with him. I know I’m probably not a perfect boyfriend but I feel like I am when I with you and having a great time. I probably just hate him because…I-I’m……jealous.”

“Jack, I’m sorry. You’re not a jerk. You’re not a bad person either. I do like Andie a lot but I guess you grew on me. I look at the good times we had not the bad times.” Gabriella says, “You are perfect. Perfect for another girl.”

“That’s just it. You’re that girl! You’re the one I want. You. I like you. I used to think I liked you out of guilt but now I know I just really did.” I say and wipe my last tears.

“I’m getting out of here.” Hannah grunts and leaves the room.

Gabriella hugs me, tight. I wrap my arms around her and she lays her head on my chest and I lay my head on hers. My blond hair mixes with her dark brown curly hair. I hug her even tighter. We both let go of each other and she reaches in to kiss me but I headed another direction and kissed her cheek. I would have usually went for her mouth, like always but I didn’t this time. I smile at her and she stretches to kiss my mouth but misses and kisses my cheek. After finally giving up she returns the smile.

Gabriella took a seat on her couch swing in her backyard hoping she’d hear or see Andie outside. She walked over to the wooden fence and took a peek over. The pool water was still and everything in his backyard was peaceful. She went back to her couch swing and familiarized herself with the seat again. She pushed her curly dark brown hair away from her green eyes. She carefully took out her flavored green apple lip gloss and softly put it over her lips.

Hannah saw her  twin sister in the backyard doing her “Lip Procedure” as Hannah thought of it. Hannah was way different than Gabriella. “For one, Gabriella was such a girly girl.” Hannah thought. Hannah  doesn’t mind to get down and dirty like Gabriella did. Hannah’s hair was a straight dark brown not dark brown and curly and she had brown eyes not green. She was much different than her sister. Though she doesn’t see why her best friend, Andie, sees in her.

Andie took a step outside and closed the sliding door. The thought of doing his homework disgusted him. He didn’t care whether he choose to do it. He loved getting F’s so it didn’t bother him as much. He took a seat in one of the beach chairs beside the pool and let out an exasperated sigh. He moved a strand of black hair from his face and cleared his throat. He took a relaxingly moment of his time and got up. If he wanted to impress his soccer coach and his big brother Eli than he better do it now. He got to the ground and started doing push-ups.

Gabriella thought she heard something in her neighbors backyard so she quickly ran to the fence and tipped-toed over to see. Andie was in the backyard doing push-ups as usual. She opened her mouth to say hi but he already spotted her and stopped.  He got up and walked over to the fence.

Hannah saw her sister and Andie talking to each other and laughing. She just couldn’t imagine having a crush on him again. It was just impossible. Opening sound in the fridge startled Hannah. Cody her other twin, grabbed the s0da litter. He smiled an awkward way of smiling but that was Cody, the awkward one.

Andie smiled as Gabriella laughed. Her laugh was the best thing he has ever heard. He was though, very ashamed of himself. He’s not supposed to be all  lovable and especially sweet. He is not that kind of person but now since he was committed to Gabriella, he was not the same. He never felt so lost when she wasn’t there with him. His brother would be so disappointed if he knew that he holds hands with his girlfriend and say romantic junk like, “your so pretty that beautiful won’t even compare to how beyond the finest and prettiest of a girl that you are.”

Gabriella loved the way Andie’s eyes sparkled and the way he was always there for her or at least was. She wished their love would last forever but since the break up she didn’t know if it might be possible for them. She liked Jack and his irrestable accent but she still had feelings for Andie and knew those feelings were there forever.

Hannah saw the frown on her sister’s face as she carefully put on her lip gloss. Hannah watched her carefully walk with her head down and pass by Cody without her saying her usual, “hi”. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong and she just had to find out. She already assumed it was Jack. Jack was the only person who was smart enough to catch up her and break her into pieces. He was half the reason, why she and her boyfriend, Drake broke up. Drake, she liked thinking about him but she couldn’t really. He was long gone from her heart. She didn’t realize she was insane without him. He was the piece she needed to live a normal life.

Andie lay on his bed thinking. Thinking about Gabriella, no! Sistine was his girlfriend now. He couldn’t be constantly thinking about Gabriella. She dumped him. He should not even have one percent of care for her but he just couldn’t help it. Mad at himself, he frustratingly threw his soccer ball, thinking about Jack. The whole reason why she dumped him. He finally felt on top of the world and then he came and swept her off her feet and fell right back to the bottom again.

Gabriella threw herself on the bottom of the bunk bed that her and Hannah shared.

I wriggled away from the agent’s grasp.  I ran up to a large, lonely, and dark building.  The sign that was written in big, bold, and angry letters on the building read: “Ms. Robinson’s  Rainbow:  A Loving Place for Orphans”.  Tears pricked up in my eyes. In a trembling voice, I managed to speak. “Is this th-the p-p-place?”  “Yes, Shannon.  It may look depressing on the outside, but I heard Ms. Robinson is very kind.  And if God is kind, you will get adopted by a loving family.”,  Melissa, the agent replied.  “Y-Yes, Melissa.”, I replied. “Now you know that I’m your CPS agent and I never lie to you.  After all, after I knew your mother died and that your father died before her, I was the one who did what?’,  Melissa asked, obviously looking  for me to reply.  Like an obedient puppy, I replied, ” Set up a living arrangement with my aunt.”  We had gone over this a million times, as well as Melissa’s speech about having faith in God, yet I still replied everytime.  Just because Melissa was very convincing and could get angry if you don’t agree with her, as I’d learnt after knowing her for a few years.  Hence, my constant automatic replies.  Suddenly, Melissa’s voice shattered my thoughts. “And after your aunt had a stroke, what did I do?”  “Find an orphanage for me.”  “Exactly. That’s why you should trust me.” ,  Melissa said crisply.  Melissa is a very crisp person. She has a crisp voice, her clothes, which are usually pantsuits, are always perfectly laundered and crisp, and she even walks crisply, so that the sound of her high-heels on the floor would fit right in with the noises of the Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks display.

Myself a Summer Package Chapter 4

I had gotten a call from Mary, Summer was in the bathroom at the time and Claire was sprawled out on my couch.

I answered the phone.

“Hello?” I asked.

“Oh, hi.” Mary answered.

“What do you want?” I asked, my voice sharp and fearless.

“GOSH, addittude much?” She taunted back. “I just wanted to tell you that Summer talked about you. She told Jenny that you smoked. That was the reason why I took off her disgusting wig, i was only trying to help, jeeze.”

SUCH

A

LIAR!

“Marry, i KNOW that isnt true. Summer would NEVER do that!” I yelled.

Immediately, Claire jumped from the couch and listened close to the phone.

“Summer is mean! I’m telling you! She told Jenny things about you,”

“Oh yea, i’m pretty sure Summer is a jerk, a liar and would do that,” Claire started in, being sarcastic.

Summer walked out of the bathroom.

Claire ushered her to come close to the phone, I put it on speaker.

“She told Jenny you smoked and that you hate me!”

Summer gasped.

“I did not.” She said loudly.

“I know,” Claire and me whispered at the same time.

“Oh great, the disease girl is there too?” Mary groaned. “I have to go, dont belive her Jade! She is such a-” I hung up on her.

“I wouldnt do anything to you guys,”

“We know, Mary just wants us back on her side again.” Claire sighed.
“I cant belive- okay, yea, i kinda CAN belive she would do this.” I said.

Claire got a text from Jenny.

“Whatever Mary says, dont belive her!” The text had said.

Suddenly, my mom came into the room.

“Summer, oh I am so sorry but your mom is here to pick you up.”

“What? Why?” Summer asked.

“She says you need to go for the lukehmi-”

“Oh, got it, okay bye.” Summer fled out before my mom even finished.

“Lukehmi?” I asked Claire once Summer had left and my mom was in the kitchen once again.

“No, Lukehmia, a…desise…” Claire answered.

“Is that why she’s bald?” I asked.

“Yea. It’s a desise that could possibly kill you.”

I sucked in a tight cube of air.

Will Summer die?

I started to take my personal stuff out from my boxes and placed them where I liked. The new home felt different and the new town seemed that way too. It was far from where I used to live, just like I knew it was gonna be. Even though I was still in the process of unpacking tomorrow was the first day of 7th grade and the new school. Every time I thought about it, my stomach had a knot. My hands started to sweat from being scared a little and nervous. I hope I will have at least made one friend. At least one.

I searched for a outfit to wear. I went through my whole closet to find nothing. I sat hopelessly on the floor. I needed to get something new.

I walked down the hall way to the kitchen where my mom was unpacking some utensils. She smiled when she me.

“Mom, can I get some new clothes?” I asked.

“Why? What’s wrong with the ones you have?” Mom asks as an answer.

“Well, since this is a new school year, I should get a new wardrobe.” I say as I walk closer to her.

“Okay, Cistine but…after you’re helping me unpack the kitchen stuff.” She makes a deal.

“Alright!” I groan.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

I walk right out the store with a bag. My mom points out Rainbow Shine.

“Mom, I’m not 7. I don’t like little kid stuff like that.” I reply.

“But you use to love Princess Ponies!” She exclaims.

“Yeah, when I was 7.” I say.

We keep walking. A shiny store catches my eye. 47 Hearts was the name of the store. I ran into the store. My mom ran after me. I awed at the clothes. I was in love with everything I laid eyes on. All the clothes were perfect. I walked up to a rack with different shirts and blouses. I picked several. I also picked some pants and ran up to my mom was checking out some jewelry. She grabbed the clothes from me and took it to the counter.

“Mom, I’m gonna check that store out, okay?” I say to her.

“Okay but stay there.” She warns.

“Sure.” I say carelessly and walk out.

I walk to the store. I reach inside and I here a ring. No one was here but me and the creepy lady at the register.  As she eyed me I walked into an aisle.  I walked around for a moment and went back to the aisle in the corner. Several other rings came from the door. A person covered in black clothing runs in the same aisle and shoves a necklace to me.

“Don’t let no one take your innocence. The world is in your hands now, take care of it.” A sturdy, firm voice comes from the person and he runs out the door with others chasing him.

I look at the necklace. A black key with blue diamonds. It was not a normal size key, just a little bigger than usual. The  key’s bow was shaped in a heart. I touched the key some more and wrapped the black chain around my neck and admire the key in the mirror. It looked like a good necklace. Not only that it was free! Yeah, and they said nothing in life that was free was good. This is free and better than good. It’s weird though. Why would that guy give it to me? Wait! Why did a guy have it? It looks like girl jewelry.

I walk fast out of this store because the lady’s eye started to twitch and it wasn’t cool. I bumped into my mom on the way out.

“I think we should go home now.” I said quickly looking back at the creepy lady who was in desperate need of shaving her upper lip.

“Okay! What’s the rush?” Mom asks me as I drag her out of the mall.

She starts the car. I stare out the window. Maybe that guy stole the necklace? Yeah, seemed reasonable. He stole the necklace. What about the guys that were chasing him? Maybe it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that creepy lady. She had serious staring issues. Maybe it’s a disorder. Maybe she should shave.

“Hey, let’s see your new school on our way home.” Mom says.

Why did she keep saying new in front of school. It bothered me. She turns the car around and makes a left at a corner of Chocolate Cat. The little Cafe did a good job in hiding the school across from it.The school was big, looking in from the side. We turned right and the front side showed. The front was amazing. A flag stood high and the words Rose Arch Junior High was on the main building. My stomach twisted. I was a little intimidated.  The small town was nothing compared to my city life I used to live but the school was a looker. Though it seemed nice how everyone new each other here. Here in Black Mist Meadows.

I sat by myself against a tree in the Paradise Gardens.  Every time I inhaled I smelled the fragrance of flowers. I read a book as sunlight crept through the tree. This part of town was bright, positive, good-spirited, and colorful. I enjoy it here. I have such a good vibe here too.

“AISLINN! AISLINN ! Where are you?”

I lifted my head from reading. My mother was standing in the distance waving for me to come. I got up and held on to my book. I walked over the greenest grass. I stood in front of my mother. She looked happy.

“Aislinn, I have good news.” My mother said.

“Good news? What is it?” I asked excited. It must be something good.

“Well, your father and I found a-”

“A job for Bentley!” I exclaimed, “That’s great! Now, I don’t have to see his face as much around the house!”

“No, sweetie. We found a really nice school for you. It’s one of the best schools-”

“School? I have one already. I don’t need another…” My voice trailed off.

“Well, you have one but it’s not as great compared to this one.” mom explained.

“So?” I asked, “What about my friends?”

“You can visit them on weekends if we have time.” she said, “Your new school will be great. You get a fresh start on 7th grade. I packed most of your stuff, you just need to throw away the old stuff you don’t need anymore.”

“I don’t want a new school or a new home. I perfectly fine here. Old is good.” I argue.

“Aislinn, don’t make this hard. There is no use in arguing. This is your father’s and mine decision.” She says with a sigh.

She leaves the garden. I stand there almost frozen. I was too shocked to notice how long I’ve been standing there staring into nothing.  I felt a feeling in my throat. It hurt a lot and tears built up in my eyes. I didn’t want to go to a new school. I was good here. I have my life long friends and memories here and it’s not fair that I have to just throw it all away. I wiped a tear from my cheek.

I sat right back where I was. Under the tree and laid my head in my arms. I secretly cried for a short period. I heard the sound of footsteps coming closer. I wiped the tears with my sleeve from my sweater. I tried to stop thinking about it. If I stopped thinking about it, then I wouldn’t have a reason to cry. I dared to look who it was. It was Bentley.

“You don’t look so hot…were you crying? I bet you were!” He teased, ” You act like your gonna get killed. Drama queen!”

“Shut up!” I said, “Bentley, don’t you have something better to do?”

“Yeah, my girlfriend!” He exclaimed and laughed hysterically.

I rolled my eyes. He was so childish for 17. I mean I’m 12 3/4 and I’m more mature.

“You know, you’re gonna have to say bye to her.” I say.

“No, that’s were it doesn’t benefit you but me.” He explains, “I can drive and you can’t.”

“Then when you can’t afford gas anymore and dad and mom won’t lend you anymore cash-money, how does it benefit you then?” I ask in a monotone.

“Well… I-uh…I-”

“Yeah, you got nothing. It doesn’t really benefit you.” I say.

“How do you know where we’re moving is far?” He asks.

“I don’t know but there’s a good chance that it will be far.” I say.

“Well, what if it isn’t?”

“Well, what if it is?”

“Well, what if it isn’t?”

Well, what if it is?”

Well-”

“Well, nothing!”

“Aislinn, you’re only mad because you can’t see your little boyfriend-what’s his name?”

“Shut up, Bentley! He isn’t my boyfriend!”

“You wish he was though but he doesn’t like you! Who would, honestly?”

“Look Bentley-”

“Oh, wow! I’m scared!”

“Maybe he does..”

“Maybe he doesn’t.”

“Maybe he does.”

“Maybe he doesn’t.”

“Maybe he does.”

“Maybe he doesn’t.”

“Maybe he do-”

There he was. Leo Roberts. The hottest most cutest boy in school! I just melt whenever he talks to me. Maybe not a real conversation but he asks me stuff about school. He walked by the garden with my best friend. Of course. May was dating him but she doesn’t even deserve him. Okay this is a little weird because she’s my best friend but she is the most popular person here. I’m kinda second but no one pays attention to 2nd only first I guess. I’ll get him to talk to me about real stuff someday.

“Jealous much?” Bentley asks.

“No. I-”
“You what?”

Mason watched the sun disappear in the clouds from his bedroom window. The sunshine hitting his face was fading away behind the hills and replacing the sun glow with dark shades. He had one more math problem left and then he go outside and explore the woods as he planned. He wrote the number 27 but he knew that it might not be the right answer.

He grabbed his sweater and threw it on himself and raced out the door. He stepped on the wet grass with his dirty torn sneakers. It was raining hard and he told himself to go in the woods another time when the sun was out but he felt an urge to go.

He carefully walked into the forest with his guard up. He couldn’t risk another accident like the last time. It was the whole reason he moved out here. He only heard his footsteps crunching the drenched leaves. Every rustle in the bushes made him nervous. Only to find out it was a bird or a squirrel.

He saw something odd and crouched down in the bushes to get a good look. A girl with black long hair wearing a dress. She was quietly humming a soft and sweet tune to herself. He got up to leave and stepped on a twig that let out a loud crack sound. She moved her head slowly. Black blood dripped from her eyes like tears. He saw her in horror as she let out a cry of pain.She came closer to Mason at full speed but Mason already had a head start. He ran as fast as he could, trying to look back but it was too dark to see and tripped over a fallen branch. His head hit the ground very hard and everything went black.

Mason awoke in his bed, warm as a fresh baked cookie in the oven. He touched his forehead carefully. It ached with pain. He walked down the hallway into the bathroom. There was a red bump on his forehead. He bit his lip, “Now they had something else to laugh about me,” Mason thought while looking and touching his bump.

Mason thought about school. His first week of school has been very hard for him. Especially to make new friends. Since he was new, he didn’t know anyone and nobody knew him. Everybody stared at him wondering who he might be or what he might be like. Lots of people eyed and glared at him. Mason pretended he didn’t even notice.

Mason usually chose to sit in the back so he wouldn’t get any attention. He just payed attention to the teacher and hoped his teacher wouldn’t call on him. He knew everybody’s name but more than half didn’t know his. He wished everyday of school would go away.

Mason’s cat disturbed his thoughts. His cat, Cookies, brushed against his leg. Hearing Cookie’s purring, he petted Cookie’s back and head.

“Mason!” A voice called from the kitchen, “Mason.” Mason’s mom budged in the restroom without a knock.

“Mom!” Mason complained, “You didn’t even knock. I could have been using the restroom!”

“Well, aren’t we lucky that you weren’t?” Mom stated and grabbed something from the mirror cabinet, “What were you thinking, Mason Thomas Merson!”

Mason looked quite confused even though he knew exactly what his mother was talking about but he felt like a need for his mother to say it.

“You were out in the forest and bumped your head on a rock and fell unconscious.” Mom explained, “Luckily, the neighbor found you and brought you back here.”

“What?! No.” Mason disagreed, “I saw a girl and-and she…..was all creepy looking and no one was out there and-”

“You mean you saw the neighbor.” Mom tried to correct him.

“No! It was a girl and I’ve never seen her before-”

“Then you should get to know her better. She’s a great neighbor-”

“No, not the neighbor! You’re not listening to me! I know that good neighbors don’t chase after you with bloody eyes and creepy looking black dresses!” Mason argued.

Mom shook her head and opened her mouth to say something but she just walked away.

Mason clenched his fists in anger. Nobody would listen to Mason. They would think he’s crazy. His story was as about as believable as the Easter bunny’s. More people would believe in Santa than his story. Maybe he was dreaming this but he couldn’t. The bruise was too real.

It was dark. the sun no where to be seen. and Caroline heard a thumping on the door. Caroline had short dark brown hair and blue eyes. She was 5 foot 3.

Caroline got on her slippers and slowly flowed her way to the door. there , standing in front of her, was Eddie. Eddie was 24 years old, with brown hair and brown eyes, and always wore a suit.Eddie was a detective for Sunvalley,North Carolina.  ” Hello Caroline” Eddie said.”There has been a disturbance at the O’Connley house and we need your help, It is urgent” Eddie finished.         “But Eddie it’s 3 in the morning! Can’t it wait till 6… or maybe 10 ??” Caroline replied. She was 22 years old and she too worked at the DSNC(detectives of Sunvalley, North Carolina) and her and Eddie were partners in all of there cases. Caroline believes Eddie works to much but Eddie believes Caroline works to little. Eddie being the best detective in all of Sunvalley cant stop working because he wants a medal .” It cant wait !  There back of there house was ruined by something!  I want to check it out! I want to solve this case ! I want to get a MEDAL!!” Eddie said,looking tense and raged. “Why is he such a workaholic? it was probably just a harmless bear! !” Caroline thought.

Soon,Caroline found out that they didnt  see a bear.

“What do we do now???” Mrs.O’Connley said,worriedly outside of her big blue house.”What did you see Mrs.O’Connley ?” Eddie said. “Well we came home after our big pitches for work and we saw tracks in the back yard. And our back of our house was ruined by something.”Mrs.O’Connley said, tears running down her face.” Just try and calm down Mrs.O’Connley. Your kids Adam and Charrolette are safe and your husband  is too. We will find the pack of black bears that (suppositly)did this .”Caroline replied.  Back home Eddie was researching the black bear inncodents in Sunnvalley an found nothing. Hmm. We have no bears in Sunvalley ? Than what did this? Eddie thought.

Caroline went to school on Monday and started to actually care about this case. Because it happened two times down in Pantooner, the city next to Sunvalley. Pantooner is a very dark city with only three neighborhoods. It rains almost everynight and there are no children in the town. While Caroline was working on the computer, she found something very interesting,the inncodents at Pantooner, weren’t by bears, they were… how is this possibly true ? They were robberies!

“Eddie! Eddie! Eddie wait i found something!” Caroline shouted.”What Caroline you know im really busy right now! On the verge of solving this bear case !” Eddie replied. “Don’t you mean robbery!?!”   ” What are you talking about Caroline.Nobody in Sunvalley would rob ! We are all friends here !”           ” I know but i think it was someone in Pantooner.” ” And why do you think that ?” “Well,I researched Pantooner and there have been Two robberies there, in the BACK of there house, and they are our neighbors, RIGHT next to us. Theirs weren’t by bears and we all know there are many bears here,plus when we have bears all they do is steal food and maybe dig up some of the ground.”                “That may be true but do you have any evidence of the robbery? I mean fingerprints of things..VALUABLE things missing from the house?”Eddie replied. “I’ll go check it out.” Caroline said not wanting to keep working while he sits around doing bear stuff even though it was a robbery! Caroline got to the O’Connley house and saw them trying to clean up there back yard and part of there house.”Um, Mrs.O’Connley?Mr.O’Connley? May i speak with you for a moment?”Caroline asked.”Oh yes of coarse Caroline” Mrs.O’Connley said. “Mrs.O’Connley, did you happen to see anything or anyone in your backyard?” “No i didnt but we know it was a bear.My husband said so.I just feel so terrified for the children and what they are going through!” Starting to sob.” It’s okay Cynthia, just try and calm down, your children are safe. I can assure you that i will find what (or who)did this. Now can you tell me if any of your valuables were stol i mean taken?” “No why would a bear take valuables? But if you want me to i can go check.”  “That would be great Cynthia, thank you!”         A few minutes later Cynthia comes back screaming and with tears pouring down her face  “My jewlery box is missing !!!!!!!! I have all my diamonds and pearls in there!!!”        Now this is a real mystery. Caroline thought.

“Eddie we have a problem. Do you think that a bear would steal a jewlery box? Well i think not. Cynthia’s jewlery has been stolen and we need to find out who did this. And it’s not a bear !So forget all about that silly stuff!” Caroline said. “Ok so what did Cynthia say? Wait ! Before you say anything i have to tell you something. Mr. Druney is coming down to help us with our case and this time you need to be respectful!” Eddie said. Mr.Druney is a short man with blonde hair, blue eyes and glasses. He is an intern at DLSC( Detectives of Louisville , South Carolina). Cynthia hated him because he never agreed with her and picked his nose! The inncodent ..well Caroline pushed him down a hill because he was being obnoxious and she broke his arm . Now , Mr. Druney is getting his revenge . “Oh common ! Why is he choosing to help us ! I might get the urge to push him again ! And this time it might not be a hill !”  ” He is an expert on bears and how they act . “ Ed.die said ”But i told you it isnt a bear ! It is a person !Can he please not come? Please please please!! I need to have some relax time this weekend. You can deal with him on your own.” Caroline walked away taking deep breaths. At home Caroline couldn’t resist, she went on to Mr.Druney’s website to see if he wsan’t an intern anymore, he wasn’t! He had his own agency? How is he that popular? It says here that he has solved all of his own cases. That’s wierd, he was always the worst detective. Well i guess the fall helped him! Yeah me! Now I need some of my own research. Let’s see here. What all did the burgulars steal at Pantooner? Hmmm. They took watches and paintings and hey ! Jewlery! That fits with Cynthia! I have to find who did this.yawn.I’m kind of tired. I’m going to go to sleep.Caroline thought. In the morning she went to go see if Mr.Druney was here. He was talking to Eddie .How could Eddie lookk so interested? Mr.Druney is so boring! I bet there talking about the case without me! Ugh! “Hello Mark.” Caroline said. “Caroline.Please don’t push me off a hill again. I just recovered from the first fall.Did you know i have my OWN agency now? It doesn’y look like you do yet. ” Mark replied. ” We should get started on the case you guys. How are we going to figure out which bear it is? I mean we have more than one bear.Right?”Eddie said. “Well of coarse you do! Bears live with thier family. They steal anything you can think of. Watches,paintings, even jewlery.” Mark said. “Wow , that is just fasinating Mark. Would you like to come to the crime scene with us?” Eddie said. “Fine, i’ll drive” Caroline said. When they got to the O’Connley house they were gone. ”That is wierd, they are usually home?” “Well can we go in ? I want to check out the tracks” Mark said. “We should come back later. They wouldn’t want us to go in.” Caroline said. They all went back to the Sunvalley Agency. It was a small building with one floor and 13 rooms.  Eddie introduced Mark to the reast of the detectives, which was only 7. “So this is Angie, Paula, Christopher, Robert,Mary, Antonio, and Liz .Our boss is taking the day off today, his name is Shawn.” Eddie said. “Wow, over at my agency we have about 20 detectives and 3 interns.” Mark gloated.”Where is the food?” “Down the hallway to your right.” Eddie said. “Well since we are here, i’m going to get some of my other work done.” Caroline went down the hallway to her office. All of the offices were cubicles except for hers,Eddie’s, and Shawn’s because they were the best detectives. Caroline’s office was her favorite color, blue, it had blue walls,blue furniture,bluepens,blue papers, blue everything! Caroline had paperwork to fill out for Angie because Angie had solved her first case ( Angie just started working ther). Oh my gosh! Angie gets $300! Plus her paycheck for the month ! Than an email popped up on her computer.

To: Caroline McGregger From : Shawn Busch

Caroline, there has been another bear attack at the Poter house. Report there emediately.

“Eddie! Come with me to the Porter house! There has been another ro i mean bear attack !”Caroline yelled. “I’ll be there in a sec.Hahahaha!”Eddie replied ,half talking, half laughing.”Eddie? What’s going on?” Caroline asked. She went into the kitchen and found Eddie and  all of the detectives surrounding Mark and laughing at his jokes. “Alright everybody ,get busy on your cases!” Caroline yelled. “What are you guys doing? We have a big case Shawn expects us to solve and you guys are fooling around?”Carline said. “Alright, alright, you and Liz go to the scene and i’ll stay with Mark and…..do stuff.”Eddie said. “Well it’s better than you coming with me!” Caroline replied.”Come on Liz, let’s go catch this criminal, than Shawn will love you so much, he’ll make YOU my new partner!” “Yeah ! Let’s go !” Liz said. She had long,dark brown hair and deep blue eyes.

When Liz and Caroline got to the Porter house, it was horrible! The backyard was all torn up and there T.V. set was taken. Also the husband’s watch was missing too!”Mrs.Porter did you guys see anything from the incedent? ” Liz said.”No, we got home from the baseball game and saw all of this distruction!How are we supposed to fix all of this ???” Mrs.Porter said. “It’ll all be ok Mrs.Porter. We will leave the police with you, but,would it be ok if we took a look around for prints?”Caroline said.”Ah,Of coarse i guess that is fine, but can you make it quick?, we have to lock up the house and stay with my sister soon.”Mrs.Porter said. “We will be super quick Mrs.Porter.”Liz said. Liz and Caroline took a long look around the house but there were no fingerprints or evidence of a bear being in thier house.”Liz? Do you think that it is a bear ?” Caroline asked. “No, if it was a bear, the destruction would be clawed and the walls would be ripped. This was definetly a person.” Liz replied.”Yeah ! i’m not the only one!!!”Caroline said.”Eddie still believes that it is the bear because Mark is here.”Caroline said.”Mark seems like he is out to get you. Like he will solve this case and be amazing. Did you know ALL of his cases were break -ins and he solved ALL of them in less than three days? He just kept finding evidence wherever he went.” Liz said.”I guess when he left he just got good?”Caroline replied. They went back to the office with nothing.”Well that was a waste of time.Mark? Is a BEAR capable of leaving NO evidence at the crime scene?”Caroline said.”Uhh.Caroline?Bears just steal,they dont know if they should cover up evidence, I dont even think they know what evidence is.”Mark replied.Caroline went home that night and took a nice long warm bath and thought about the case.The bubbles overflowing the bath tub. I wonder? How did Mark learn to know so much about bears? I’ll ask him tomorrow.He wont mind.Besides it is for the case! It’s not like i want to be better than him in something i have no interest in. Right? When Caroline fell asleep, another inncodent was occuring.

“OH MY GOODNESS!!!” Caroline yelled when she saw her text in  the morning saying to be at the Rouke house at 9:00 a.m. She grabbed a breakfast bar and ran out the door into her SUV parked in the driveway. Her hair was in a messy bun and she had jeans and a blouse on.At the Rouke house there yard was torn in shreads and Mrs. Rouke’s jewlery was stollen. “Did you happen to see anything in your backyard Mr.Rouke?”Eddie said. “No we were at confrences for our daughter Hailey.”he replied.”Mind if we take a look around?”Liz said. She had still ben able to be Caroline’s partner since Mark and Eddie were becoming such good friends. Once again they found nothing and headed back to the office.After a few hours Liz said “Caroline? I think i may have found something.” “Well what ? What did you find?” Caroline replied. “First, have you noticed that all of the robberies occured when the family was gone,as if the “bear” knew that they were gone.Also, all of the houses that were robbed all had butloads of money, as if the “bear” knew what it was going to take. Isn’t that wierd?Plus the Pantooner theory,which i think is true. Do you think that somene in Pantooner is doing this ?” Liz said.”Of coarse! Liz you are a genious! Thank you ! Let’s go tell Eddie!”Caroline said. They explained Liz’s thinking but Mark still thought it was a bear and sure enough, Eddie thought the same thing.Caroline called the Pantooner police.”Um,hello?Mr.Carterson?I was wondering if you policemen ever found  he burglar of those two houses in Pantooner?” “No we haven’t.I heard you had a few robberies yourself? Anyway we could help?”Mr.Carterson said.”Well,the only way you could help is if we knew the burglar,and we dont,so.”Caroline replied.”Sorry Caroline.Bye” “Bye”. Well that was of no help.How are we supposed to figure this out if we have no evidence? “Liz? Can you come with me to the houses? I think we should check just one more time.” Carline said.” Of coarse! Let’s hit the road!”. When the got to the O’Connley house they were gone. So were the Porter’s. So were the Rouke’s? Why was everybody gone?On there way back they saw a shaadow of a short man in the window of the Rover house! “Hey Liz?Did you see that ? I saw someone in the Rover house ?I thought they said they were going to be in Tennessee for the weekend?Caroline asked.”I guess they decided not to go?”Liz replied.They got back to the office and saw that Mark wasn’t there? Wierd? “Eddie where is Mark?” Caroline said. ” He went to go get some doughnuts. Said our food was horrible. Hey I did find out something from the news. Another bear attack happened at the Rover house. All of the jewlery was gone. And the kids electronics. But the Rover’s are still in Tennesse so somebody is watching the house for them.” Eddie replied. “Wow. So no one is home? That’s interesting.” Caroline said. She gave Liz the look that said not yet. We shouldnt tell him yet. Let’s figure this one out on our own okay?

BRIIIIIIIING! BRIIIIIING!!! BRIIIIIIING!!! ” Caroline! Mrs.O’Connley on line six!” Angie yelled. Angie had just recently become Caroline’s assistant. Right after they found out that she couldn’t be a detective at all. But she was all for filing papers. “Hello?” Caroline asked. “Caroline! Something is terribly wrong! My husband left me!!” Sobbing Mrs. O’Connley explained thatright after all of there possesions were robbed he just had to leave and drove away frantically. He brought bags but didnt let Mrs.O’Coinnley see inside. The next day he mailed her divorce papers. “But these were special papers Caroline.” “These papers said he could keep everything that he had with him. And I can have my kids. Plus, I have almost no money to raise my kids with!!. Because he took some money from our vault. There was about 200 in there and 150 was left. How could he get by with 50 dollars is my question.” Mrs.O’Connley said. “Hmm. I’ll call you back soon. Okay?”

“I just feel terrible Liz. But i think that Mr.O’Connley is the robber. He robbed his own house, and the others, to get enough to leave. I just don’t want to have to tell Mrs.O’Connley” Caroline said. “Well don’t think I’m doing it. Because I am not. Besides you know Tanya way better than anyone else in this town. She will understand. And, do you even know if that is true?” Liz replied. “Well, no. But that is probably the case. Dont you think? What else would it be?

I watch him disappear. I feel like to cry. I walk a little farther and shout out his name but no responses. He’s gone. Just like that. I probably never see him again. The only person who made me feel like it didn’t matter if I failed. The only person who made everything okay. He made me feel so…safe. I need him right now more than ever and he just leaves. Why would he leave? Why would he leave me to make me lost just once again when he could’ve stayed here? With me. I drop to the ground and just stare at the dark shadows which he disappeared into. I hope he’s happy! If this is what he wanted… if he wanted me to suffer, I am. Already, I miss him. All along I took advantage of the time with him and now that he’s gone. I realize what he’s worth. To me. Why do I feel like this! I’m not supposed to miss him! I’m not supposed to care if leaves! I don’t like him! Right? I don’t! I can’t! Not ever! For this, I can’t forgive him. Ever!

Tears roll my down my cheeks. I don’t know what to do now. I feel so….lost. Calix pats me on my back for comfort. At least I have him. The person who’ll never leave me. I’m glad to have a friend like him. He’s the best.

Calix holds out his hand. I slip my hand into his and he helps me get up. His hand holds my hand firm. He seems like he doesn’t want to let go. I just give up. We walk together with Echo and Cloris following. It’s all silence. Pure golden silence.

We reach a gate inside the cave. Two buffed out guards are in front holding sharpened spears. I feel a little intimidation but we need to cross the gate to get to the end of the cave. We walk in front of them. They give us exhausted and frustrated looks.

Echo walks but bumps into them and they let out a groan. They growl.

“Watch where you’re going pip squeak.” One says with a sturdy voice.

“Huh? Oh, if you would just step aside my friends and I just need to pass through here so-”

“Not happening, shrimp.” the same one sneers.

“You know, I can easily make fun of your height as well.” Echo says.

They grab him by his shirt.

“B-but I won’t.” Echo quickly says.

“Good! Now scat! All of yous!” the other says in an accent. A type of accent Dysis says reminds her of New York. Whatever that is.

“Now, why can’t we have a friendly chat?”Echo asks them, pushing their buttons.

They growl once again.

“They’re not that friendly.” Calix whispers to me.

“Small talk, anyone?” Echo asks them.

“Get out of here!” they both bark.

“What? I’m being nice. You know, trying to carry a conversation and you’re trying to throw us out. How rude. What kind of childern did your mother raised?” Echo asks.

“Don’t talk about my mama!” the one with a sturdy voice says.

“Why not? She ugly? I bet she is if you’re so embarrassed to talk about her.” Echo responds.

“Get out! Now!” He says.

“What’s the problem? We just got here.” Echo says.

“You’re the problem.” They both say.

“I wanna see you big boys fix it!” Echo yells.

“Okay, no problem.” the one with the accent simply says cracking his knuckles.

“Maybe you’re definition of fixing it was different than mines.” Echo says almost trembling.

“Violence solves everything.” sturdy voice said.

“What world?” Echo asks.

“Ours.” They both say.

“Well, you’re both wrong!” Echo screams and kicks one in the shin and pushes one on the floor, “Come on people!”

We run after him in the gate. A whole civilization was built down here. We stop as we join a crowd. They looked dirty and over worked. Tired and hungry possibly struggling to feed themselves. I awed at everything. Maybe I did have it good. I look at Calix he stares at everyone and everything. He wipes his hands on his shirt and leaves two hand prints of dirt.

“Oh, they dress like you.” Cloris says to me.

“I have better sense in style than that.” I say.

“Oh, I don’t see it.” She says and looks away.

I roll my eyes and forget about it. We keep walking and enter a packed outside market. Dysis says this is like a thing called ‘swap meet’. I wish I knew what she talks about. She says people on Earth basically live life by religion. We don’t. Live life by a king and just freedom wise. No rules, well not major ones.

“How do we get out of here?” I ask Echo.

“Why are you asking me? I brought us in here. Someone has got to get us out.” Echo responds, “And that’s not me.”

“Calix?” I ask.

“Not a clue, Amethyst.” He tells me.

“We go that away.” Cloris points straight ahead.

“How do we know where we stop and where we keep on going? Maybe-”

“Just follow me!” She huffs and goes in front of everyone of us.

We follow her like we’re baby ducks and she’s our mother. We push and scurry through the crowd. We finally make it out, alive. A big stadium stands in front of us, couple of yards away.

“Now what?” I ask.

“You ask too many questions! We go around the stadium!” She demands.

We try to go around the stadium but there’s no way to so we will have to check the other side. We march to the left side but same thing. We couldn’t pass. The only option is to go through or go home. Too late for that. We walk all the way to the front of the stadium and  Calix pushes the front wooden door open.  Some people stood and talked. We walked inside and some people stared at us. I felt like I didn’t belong with these people and creatures so strange creatures. One with a horn coming out of its head with a horse mouth and like an owl stretch its head around. Body of a human but scales of a fish. I was too scared to stare at it. We took 15 minutes just to almost cross the field.

Almost at the end, there was a boy and what seemed like his father. The boy’s face looked down and the father looked furious. He held a note pad and a pencil stuck into the rings that hold the papers together. The dad yelled at him and pushed him on the ground. He sat there motionless like he was already dead. His breath was hard and his teeth clenched. His father yells at him more but can’t help but stare and feel sympathy for him. His white T-shirt wasn’t so white with the grayish blackish stains of dirt on it. His pants were black and some parts were torn to look like a fashion. About to get on his feet his father kicks him off his feet and back on the floor again.

Almost exiting out the door, I try to pretend I did something but I knew I couldn’t interfere. Maybe he deserved it? No, he doesn’t deserve that kind of treatment. Calix tries to tug on my arm but I stay and watch. His father yells at him that makes the boy go mad. He gets up and starts to run towards the door. I push through door, trying to get out of his way. He runs out the door and into a small field.  He sits and his head in his legs. I look at the last glimpse inside and his father goes the opposite direction.

“Amethyst are you alright?” Calix asks me, “Amethyst?”

“Huh? What?” I blurt out.

“Are you okay?” He says.

“What?” I repeat.

“ARE YOU OKAY?” He says louder and slower.

“Yeah.” I say as I stare at the boy he motionless sat.

“Doesn’t seem like it.” He says to me.

I don’t pay attention after that and start to walk away.

“Huh? Amethyst? Hey! Come back1 where ya going?” Calix calls after me.

I step into the field and I wait. He doesn’t budge. His black hair shines in lights from old wooden cottages that are off the in the distance.  He picks his head up as he hears my foot crunch a leave. I stop to wait again. He looks back. An innocent face it what I see first. His gray eyes compliments his black silky hair the drops over one eye. His gray beanie covers most of his hair. He just stares and I stare back.

“I just wanted to know if you were okay.” I say softy.

He stares at me. ‘Not okay’.

“Oh, you don’t talk?” I ask.

He stares at me again. ‘I choose not to.’

“Oh, well I think I should be going. Hope you’ll be okay with you’re father. I hope my father is loving and my mother too.” I say.

‘Don’t you know what your mother and father are like?’

“No, I’m looking for them.” I say.

‘Are you an orphan?’

“Well, yeah but not for long.”

‘How do you know they want you to be their daughter again?’

I never really thought of that. What if they don’t. What if they tell me they didn’t want me? What happens then? I’d go home saying my parents never wanted me?

“I don’t. I just assumed that they will.” I say.

‘Sorry.‘

“This is creepy. How do you put your thoughts into my head?” I ask him.

‘I’m trying to think it’s a gift but then again, it’s a curse.’

“Why a curse?” I ask him.

‘I don’t talk. I suffer consequences. I pay the price.’

“What price? If you can communicate through peoples’ minds then it isn’t a problem right?” I keep up with the questions.

‘Yeah, that’s what I thought but if you live here. You sing to live or entertain but the queen prefers to sing rather than anything else. If she likes it then you live and have necessitates.‘

“Huh, this is way different than where I live. What’s this village called?” I puzzle.

‘It’s called Teletron.’

“Cool, though I should be going.” I say and wave.

I look back and he stands up and looks over to me. His hair covers apart of face and he moves it to the side.

‘I just have to go with you. I can’t stay here and waste away too. Not like this.‘

I just realized I don’t know his name. “You! You can come!” I call out.

“Who are you talking to?” Calix asks me as he tries to look in the same direction as I am.

“She’s officially gone crazier!” Cloris announces.

“Crazier?” I ask looking at Cloris.

He walks closer and stops besides me.

“Cloris, Calix, E- Where’s Echo?” I ask.

“Right here.” Echo says standing up .

“Why where you on the ground? Never mind. Cloris, Calix, Echo this is?” I said leaving the rest to him.

‘Achilles.’

“This is Achilles.” I say.

“Oh, hey! I’m Echo!” Echo exclaims, “I like eating, breathing, and long walks on the beach!”

“Echo, this isn’t a dating service.” I explain.

“Doesn’t mean I can’t make new friends.” He whimpers.

“We should be going anyways.” I declare.

I walk with everyone. We pass by some fields that shined gold and swayed in the underground wind. The wind blew my hair and caressed my face as the breezes started to fade. Dirt and leaves danced together in the wind. It swirled on the road we walked. The whole time Echo was quiet which was good. That boy talks too much.

“Amethyst, how are we gonna pass the door?” Echo asks, I spoke too soon.

“What door?” I ask him.

“The one over the hill.” He responds.

We reach the top of the hill and I spot a door that has a wall connected to its side.

“Uh, we’ll deal with that when we get there, Echo.” I say.

I walk carefully down the hill with Calix and Achilles while Echo runs down the hill and Cloris poofs herself down the hill already. I step side ways, slowly and steadily. I watch the gravel skip down. My foot glides and I loose my balance. I try to get a grip and haul myself when I notice Calix holding at his hand in front of me. I reach for it and clasp his hand. Smooth, soft, but firm. He pulled me up with his strength and I stood up. We walk down the hill together and he lets go of my hand once we reach the bottom.

I dust my pants off and a dust cloud fades into the air. I fix my eyes on everyone and they have their minds on something else but not Calix. He stands there with his usual devilish smile. I can’t help but smile too.

“We’re almost near the door!” Echo screams and runs.

Everyone seemed alert after he screamed. I let out a giggle. He was so weird. Well, he is weird.

“Do you think you can poof us to my parents?” I ask Cloris.

“Do you think you can dress better than a fashion freak?” she asks me.

“No…I don’t think so but what does that have to do with any-”

“Then that’s your answer. No. Hope I’ve helped!” She says sweetly.

I open my mouth to say something but close it. I don’t think she helped.

“Amethyst, can I ask you a question?” Calix asks.

“You-”

“Already asked a question.” He finishes my sentence, “I know. Another one?”

“Yeah…go ahead.” I smile.

“Well, what if-”

“Hey! Hey guys!” Echo calls out.

“What?” Cloris asked, like it bothered her.

“I got the door to open!” He screeches.

“Cool!” I yell to him.

We all run to him and the wooden door was opened. I don’t know how he does it but he does! We walk into the door and Echo shuts the door behind us and the light from the other side slowly faded and all was dark again. Really dark. Maybe enough for myself to temporarily be blind because you could not see your own hand in front of yourself.

“Amethyst? Uh…I knew you liked me but this is not the time for-”

“I don’t like you, Calix! Well, not like that!” I say.

“Then who is trying to hug me!” He screams, “It doesn’t even feel like a hug anymore!”

Achilles lights a match and puts it towards Calix’s direction. Calix tries to stand and does but looks tired. He was covered in blood. He wiped his bloody hands on his sky blue collared, buttoned down shirt. If he had blood on his pants, you couldn’t see because his pants were black and lack of bright light.

I watch her run away and fade into dark shadows that seem to swallow her. What have I done this time. She’s probably bawling her eyes out. I feel so bad.

Calix thinks of running to check on her but thinks I should. Cloris thinks she needs a new look. Echo randomly thinks that he should have brought peanut butter with him. Amethyst probably hates me.

I look at Calix and he stares at me with a look that screams ‘Go to her!’.

I start to walk to her. I look back and it’s me who fades into darkness this time. I look for her and I sense she’s near. Getting closer. There she is. She lays with her face on the pillow. She’s awake. She’s…crying. Knew it. She feels vulnerable like in her trance. I hate myself for this.

I walk over to her and lean down to where she lays. I sit and she does know I’m here.

Amethyst thinks why I’m here. I should just be here to comfort and apologize but isn’t that what Calix wants to do. Comfort her? Why is he letting me do it? Is he lazy? No, maybe just being sincere. He doesn’t trust me either but enough to let me protect her. Though, I envy her for being an orphan, she envies me for having parents. I don’t want parents. I don’t need anyone telling me what to do. I’m fine by myself and better off alone. I can’t tell her I ran away. She’ll think less of me. Well, she already did. I can’t help it but read her mind again.

She thinks I should leave but her feelings are so mixed up, I don’t know what she’s feeling but it’s fury mixed with love mixed in with sadness. It hurts.

“Sorry.” I blurt out, “I had no intention of  making you feel like this. I just couldn’t help the feeling of being ordered around by you. I was just went mad when I felt like I had to live up to you’re expectations and do what I thought might please you. I was terrified you might be like my parents all over again.”

“Why? What’s with your parents?” Amethyst mutters.

“Well, I still have them but I couldn’t handle them. They were suffocating me with orders and expectations. I couldn’t be what they wanted me to be. I knew I couldn’t make them proud if I didn’t live up to their wishes. I was too afraid to make them mad and displeased so I simply ran away.” I say.

“I guess I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean to make you feel like that. I felt too overwhelmed when you started to talk to me a little more personal.” Amethyst apologizes, ” I tried to impress you a little.”

I smile. She thinks my smile is seductive but I keep smiling. She smiles back and hugs me. A little overwhelmed I slowly wrap my arms around her. I feel her warmth and embrace. She doesn’t ever want to let go but I do. She looks behind me, noticing Calix, Cloris, and Echo. She catches my gaze at the waters. She looks behind and nods. The others run into the water splashing their clothes. Amethyst stands there intimidated. Like a little girl, she steps back. I go ahead of her and look back. She stands there and nods her hand ‘no’. I keep up with the stare. She gives in before she hesitates.

She runs across and I walk nonchalantly across. Not caring what the consequences are. I just walk. My pants soak up the water and moist enters and my skin shivers with the touch of water the sticks to my skin. Goosebumps pop up on my legs and some upon my arms. I can’t help but I have a sudden tremble that feels like a spasm. Everyone just stares, one in amazement and some in amusement. Can you guess who is whom?

I reach across and I can tell the water is cursed because  everyone’s feeling is the same. Love and wanting. It always disgusts me but this time it doesn’t. It doesn’t come out of mature but out of something deep inside. I try to break the silence but nothing comes out of my mouth but air. I grab my dagger and cut my pants on the part where it got wet. If it’s stained, I won’t be wearing it. I throw it in the water and the water fizzes. Everyone seems dumbfounded. They didn’t think of it.

“I don’t feel anything.” Amethyst says, “I feel my emotions are numb.”

“Cut off the parts that are wet. First stage is numb then it gets serious.” I advise.

“Here use my dagger to cut of the bottom of you’re pants.” I order.

She does as she’s been told. Calix looks at her carefully and realizes he can do the same but his shirt is moist so he takes it off and throws it in the water and it doesn’t fizz. It explodes. Cloris just changes her clothes in a poof. Echo is all wet. Though, he thinks of taking it all off but I hope he doesn’t.

“Please, don’t take it all off.” I say disgusted.

“Oh, then what am I supposed to do?’ He asks.

“I don’t know. Just suffer.” I say, “It’s all you can do.”

“There has to be another way.” Amethyst says sympathetically.

“Well, unless you think it that’s all I can say for now.” I say.

We start to walk and Amethyst thinks of diving in the water so she can join him. She’s too easy.

“No. You’re not doing that.” I demand.

“Why? That’s not fair he has to do it alone.” Amethyst fights.

“Well, I’m not letting you.” I say, “You can’t!”

“Yeah, for once Calypso is right.” Calix says, “You can’t do that! That’s too risky.”

“Amethyst, please. Don’t. He’ll be fine. You worry too much.” I say.

“I have too. He can’t suffer alone.” Amethyst whimpers.

“Well, that’s the price he has to pay for fooling in the water than be careful.” I say firmly.

“You have no heart, Calypso. Would you have done that to me? Leave me to suffer?” She asks.

“Well, what can I do? Tell me, Amethyst. What do you want me to do?” I ask, angrily.

“I…”

“You don’t know. I don’t know either. Stop depending on me because when I’m not here what will you be? If all you do is depend on me. I’m trying to figure out what we should do so can you please just calm down too.” I demand.

“Calypso, don’t get carried away. It was a request. Chill, man.” Calix says.

I have one last look at them and flee. I step into the shadows and disappear.

We reach water. It’s beautiful! The sight! The cave glows a blue. I can’t let go of a thought of leaving. I just wanna love something.

‘Beware of  Lovebound waters. Makes you love drugged.” Dysis words spin in my head.

Oh no! I might be love struck.

‘Not just anyone. Someone you do love.’ Dysis words splutter at me.

Oh, great! Maybe with-no! Never! But we need to pass through. It stains after we get out and wares of about two days later.

“Really? Oh, fudge. I might…kiss you. Disgusting.” He says being replused.

“It’s called doing you a favor.” I say.

“How do you know, it’s you guys that’ll be paired up.” Calix says.

“Why, Calix? Jealous.” Calypso says.

“Why would I?” Calix asks, “You need all the love you can get.”

“Calix, stop being such an idiot. I’ll make it easier for all of us.” Calypso starts to spill the love cycle, “Cloris likes Calix. Calix likes Amethyst and Cloris. Amethyst likes me but has little feelings for Calix.”

“And you like Amethyst so much it hurts me!” A voice blurts out.

“Echo, show yourself!” Calypso yells.

“I can sense you’re feelings. I see the future.” Echo comes out and his brown hair moves in all different directions.

“Edenine. Knew it.” Calypso says.

“Echo, why would they name him Echo?” I whisper.

“Because, he repeats things he shouldn’t.” Calypso responds.

“Give it up, Calypso. You love her as much as she loves you. You’re welcome Amethyst.” Echo says.

“Look, we didn’t ask for a stupid kid to show us who loves whom.” Calix growls, “Scat!”

“Calix, be quiet. I can ruin you’re life.” Echo says.

“Echo please. Just leave us alone.” I say.

“And that was my ‘I don’t care’ act.” Echo says happily, “Was it convincing?”

“You’re horrible!” Cloris cries out.

“Really, I thought I did good.” Echo says.

“It was an act? I fell for it?” Calypso asks.

“Well, at least I know you’re not annoying. That’s good.” Calix says.

“Calix, come.” I ask him.

He steps where I am and I bring him away from the crowd. I see Calypso eying us.

“Calix, this is not what I asked for.” I say, “I wanted for us only to find my parents together. Not a social group party!”

“It’s gonna be okay. This makes it funner to find your parents.” He whispers.

“Yeah but it was supposed to be you and me only. Now, I can’t talk to you normally. I’m stuck trying to knock Calypso off his feet.” I whimper.

“Amethyst, you’re gonna live! I can talk to you all the time when we get back. Chill, girl. I’m here if you need me. Like a brother.” He comforts me.

“You always know what to say.” I smile and hug him.

He hugs back. We walk back to where everyone is.

“Have fun?” Calypso asks me.

“Plenty.” I growl.

“Good, we wouldn’t want to spoil it for you.” He teases.

“Calypso, just leave me alone. What ever happened to ‘we can stop if you’re tired’ or ‘Let’s stop here. I know you’re tired’? Tell me when that ever comes back.” I say and leave running to the end, where the shore of the water comes riding up.

I bury my face into my pillow and start to cry a little. Tears of salt water roll down my cheeks when I feel sad. Why? I don’t know. I feel so stupid! I can’t talk with anyone.

I open my eyes and everyone’s asleep except for Calypso. He isn’t here but his stuff is. I stand up and hear water. I walk toward the sound and Calypso stands there skipping stones across the water. He doesn’t seem to give me his attention but I know he knows I’m here. I wonder what he’s doing up before anyone was. There’s something……..wrong.

“Nothing’s wrong. I’m just an early bird, that’s all. No need to be suspicious about me. You can trust me.” He says not looking at me.

It’s weird, how he reads minds and feels emotions of other’s. What if I’m thinking something secret wise. I guess his power is beneficial. Maybe he’d blackmail me.

He let’s out a brief laugh and says, “Blackmail you? No! Never but it’s useful, isn’t?”

I can have a full conversation just by thinking. This is so cool but if I think of something embarrassing or personal wouldn’t it be intruding?

“Amethyst, I’m good at keeping secrets and no! Why would I even consider liking or even loving Cloris!” He says.

Well, know I now he doesn’t like her. I thought he might go under the spell she cast upon herself.

“Ew! The love spell? Maybe Calix is under it. That or it didn’t work. She must have liked someone here.” He explains, “It’s Calix. Knew it!”

“I-”

“You’re hungry.” He finishes my sentence.

If he gives that up, it might get annoying.  Hope he knows what he’s in.

“Sorry, I just wanted to remind you that I hate when people repeat the same thing.” he says as we walk back to our stuff.

We kick a stone and as we get there. Our eyes suddenly catch Cloris sneaking a kiss with Calix. He seemed surprised. I look over at Calypso and he is weirded out like I am. He looks at me and he grabs my arm and pulls me away. We move 10 feet away.

“That’s was really weird.” He says looking at me.

“Yeah.” I agree, “Maybe we should accept it.”

“I’d leave it alone. Let it be. For now.” He says, “I thought you’d might be just a bit envious.”

“Envious? Envious of what?” I ask.

“Just jealous because you cared for him.” He replies.

“I don’t like him!” I argue.

“Whoa! Calm down, cupcake!” He insists.

“I don’t.” I mutter.

” I know but you can’t bottle up your feelings, cupcake.” He advises.

“I’m not, cupcake.” I say.

He laughs in satisfaction. He shoots me his satisfied smile. A cute one.Well, just a good one.

“A cute one?” He asks.

I blush and my cheeks fill red. I feel the heat on my cheeks.

“Uhhh…… not that cute!” I protest

“A-ha. Sure, Amethyst but you like when I smile. It fills the emptiness of suspense in your love life. Point is you developed a good liking for me.” He replies.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t have a good liking towards you! Dream on.” I say crossing arms.

“I li-”

“What are you guys talking about?” Calix asks.

“Huh?” I ask.

“We’re on how we might kill you.” Calypso answers.

“What?! Calypso, stop getting on my nerves!” Calix yells.

“Calix, calm down. Cheese!” I say, “Something called a library voice. Maybe you should use it.”

“I don’t have one! You’re just defending Mr. Mysterious over here because yo-”

“Shut up!” I scream at him.

“Everyone, just be quiet!” Cloris hollers at the top of her lungs.

“You’re kissing session wasn’t quiet-”

“Calypso, I didn’t have a kissing session-”

“Yes, you did! We saw!” Calypso says.

“Who’s we? And with whom?” Cloris asks.

“Amethyst and I and with Calix.” He simply replies.

“I object to this matter! I didn’t know I was being kissed!” Calix argues.

“You could’ve stopped her while you noticed, duh!” Calypso says.

The fight continues but I drift off to my thoughts.

Calypso is so good at fighting verbally. He still mystifies me. He’s a mystery and I don’t know if I can trust him. I have a feeling I do. I can’t believe he thought I liked him, though but do I? I can’t let myself. I can’t let myself fall in love with him. I can’t let him break me. He’s probably up to something, though. He seems suspicious.  He definitely up to something.

My eye sight becomes vivid and everything comes back to me in a hit. I see Calypso. He smiles at me. Calix isn’t here and so isn’t Cloris. Just Calypso and I. He comes near me and reaches in for a hug. I feel his arms wrap around me and I start to slowly let me guard down and hug him back too. He sneaks a kiss. His lips let go of mine but the feeling of wanting more makes me vulnerable. He reaches his back pocket for something and before I can realize, he takes a dagger from the pocket. He’s in a stabbing position when I come back to reality.

“Are you okay?” Calix asks.

“Huh?” I ask, trying to figure out what happened.

“You fainted, I think.” Calix responds.

“I did?” I ask, it didn’t feel like I fainted, it felt like I was in a trance.

“In a trance? About what?” Calypso asks.

I try to forget what happened in my trance so he wouldn’t know. I try to think of only just finding my parents. It won’t work! I can’t stop thinking about it! He’s gonna find out and think I really like him but I don’t!

“Has to do with me, isn’t it?” He asks with a sly smile.

“Uhhhh……..no.” I simply say.

“You’re embarrassed. I feel it.” He says.

Oh no! He’s just won’t give up! He’s too stubborn to give up. He might be less help than I thought he might provide but with him, I’m going no where. All I’m doing is feeling emotions that I can’t find. He’s got me mixed up with everything and I just met him. He’s good. Really good. He’s probably hoping to get me to admit that I like him but I can’t admit what I can’t feel. So go ahead, Calypso. Try! I dare you!

“I love your ambition!” Calypso cries out, “I won’t try. I’ll do. I guarantee you.”

“‘I’ll be waiting.” I reply and start walking.

I hear my footsteps that echo between the walls. I feel unstoppable! Finally because I’m on the next page of this…thing with Calypso. I bet he’s-

“Not jealous.” He catches up to me.

“Well, you should be.” I say.

“Not likely.” He says as he walks ahead of me.

I roll my eyes and feel so superior over him.

“Calypso, don’t hide you’re shame.  I think it’s……cute.” I tease.

“Ha-ha. Stop feeling so happy. Sooner or later you’ll be at me knees, begging for forgiveness and my l-”

“Not likely.” I taunt.

He stops speechless. His mouth his open in shock. My job here is done!

“You wish, Amethyst.” He says with eyes that kill.

“Whatever, you know I amaze you. Don’t hide it.” I say.

“You know like me. Don’t hide it!” He growls.

“I don’t. Give me a reason to like you.” I say.

“Because you’re trance was…… very interesting.” He sneers.

I look back and Calix and Cloris are talking and walking behind us.

“What was it about?” I ask him.

“It made you embarrassed and it was about you and me.” He says.

“And?” I ask.

“You’re trance explained you’re feelings towards me.” He explains.

“So tell me everything you know.” I tell him.

“I smiled at you. Good enough to make you melt. I hugged you and kissed you but it was pointless because I killed you in the end.” He says it, “That means you like me but you don’t trust me. Is that it? Where’s my prize?”

“I thought-”

“You thought wrong. You can trust me. I don’t bite.” He says.

“I don’t know.” I say.

Wow! He knew it. He knew it along. I still don’t like him but the ‘not trusting him’ part was true. I don’t. He’s seems too good at everything. Maybe I’m amazed.

“You should be.” He mutters.

I think the constant fighting between us is going to continue. I don’t why but I love it! I love-no. I don’t. At least not yet. I still don’t know what he’s capable of yet. He reads minds and emotions. What’s next? Knows the future? My guard is up. He might try something. He’s afraid to. His black hair shines in spotlight and his green eyes shine as well. His eyes. His eyes are hypnotizing. He doesn’t spend one minute not giving his attention to me. Maybe he-

“No.” He replies.

He can say whatever he wants but it’s true. If he thinks I like him, he likes me. That’s it. He can play ‘Mr.Mysterious’ but I figured him out. Pretending is over.

We enter the cave and and a sudden smell of wet sneaks into my nose.

“Smells like wet dog.” He sneers at Darius.

“Hey! He didn’t do anything to you. Come here, my poor wolf.” I say.

“He’s not ‘my poor wolf’! He could kill you in seconds!” Calix warns.

“Well, you shouldn’t thought of that when you gave him to me.” I say.

“Can I ask you something?” He says.

“You already did.” I answer back with a giggle.

“No!” He replies, “For real.”

“Ok, what?” I ask.

“Do you ever want to get married?” He asks as we walk the cave.

“I’m not sure. Maybe. Just to say I did.” I answer back.

“I want to. Not because to say ‘I did’ but to know I found my soul mate.” He says.

“You always say something like if you were to impress someone.” I tell him.

“No, I don’t live to impress.” He says to me.

“I mean, I guess you have your moments.” I say to him.

“My moments? What is that supposed to mean?” He asks offended.

“Calix, I mean sometimes you have your moments when you’re being down to earth like 10% of the time. 40% of the time you are, no offense but conceited. 30% fighting with someone and 20% in love.” I finish.

“Wow. Thanks, Amethyst. Now I now my schedule for the day.” He says hurt.

“Come on, Calix! You know it’s true.” I say, “You are meant to be like that anyway.”

“Easy for you to say. You’re perfect.” He mutters.

“I told you not to say that! I’m not perfect.” I grouchly say.

“It’s funny when you’re mad.” Calix laughs.

“No, it’s not. If it were funny, then you wouldn’t be the only one laughing-”

“I’m laughing.” a voice calls out, “Amethyst, I think it’s funny when you get mad.

“Who’s there?’ I ask.

“Who is there? It’s me. Calypso.” the voice booms.

“Calypso?” Calix asks.

“Yes, Calypso. Calix, your sharp. I thought you’d catch up by now.”Calypsot tests as he steps from the shadows.

“Hidden. Makes sense they name him Calypso because he’s most hidden.” I whisper to myself.

“That’s right, Amethyst. I am most hidden but you don’t remind of a stone.” He replies.

“Yeah. We really need to be going. I have to find my parents and it’s a long trip.” I tell him and start to take a step.

“Wait, Amethyst. I want to help you find your parents. I haven’t had much of an adventure for a while.” Calypso begs.

“Not an adventure but your welcome to help me. The more help I get is gonna get somewhere I hope.” I say.

We walk into dark shadows to dim light spots. Calypso is a Cantix. He reads my mind like reading a book. He doesn’t read Calix’s mind because Calix seems to not take a liking to him and not friendly. He can feel my emotions too. He told me he was sorry because he thought I liked Calix. I’m kinda used used to it though. Calypso seemed mysterious at first but he’s a nice guy. He’s cool, I guess.

“You’re cool too, Amethyst.” He says with a smile.

“You’re a Cantix.” I reply.

“Yeah. Thanks for noticing.” He says, “I bet orphan is cool. Just saying. Not to offend you.”

“You say it but then when you live it. It ain’t so cool after that.” I answer.

“You’re right.” He says.

We keep walking into the heartless cave. Strong cold breezes hit us from time to time. I shiver from the cold and my voice trembles when I talk.

“You’re cold.” Calypso says.

“We can see that, genius.” Calix says.

“If you like h-”

“Shut up!” Calix screams.

“I guess you might wanna shut your trap, then.” Calypso says to Calix.

Calix glares at Calypso. I know Calypso feels Calix’s hatered towards himself. I bet Calypso knows that he can be like that sometimes.

“I sense a soul near.” Calypso warns.

“Someone’s hear?” I ask.

“Cloris.” Calypso say aloud.

“Cloris?” I ask.

“Cloris, you don’t need to be scared.” Calypso call out.

“How do I know you won’t hurt me, Cantix.” a female voice calls out.

“I promise I won’t, fairy.” he says.

“Ok, but if you do I’m gonna do something bad to you.” she says and shows herself as she steps from the shadows.

“Greenish? She’s deffinately not greenish.” I think to myself.

“I know, right.” Calypso responds to my thought.

“Wow, I have never lived to meet a fairy in my life.” I say.

“I feel special.” She says.

Her voice is soft and gentle. She is not in her small zone but normal size. Her green eyes complement her golden hair. Her bright glow shines the cave. Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

“What are you’re names?” Cloris asks.

“Calypso. This is Amethyst and that’s-”

“I’m Calix.” Calix introduces himself to upset with Calypso.

“Oh, nice to meet you all. What are you all doing today?” She asks sweetly.

“We’re going to look for my parents. You’re welcome to join if you want.” I friendly say back.

“Ok.” She simply says with a smile, “I have nothing better to do.”

“Great! let’s keep moving.” Calypso says.

We keep on the walk. My eyes start to shut but I try to fight it. Open lazily, and shut tight. It feels good to shut them but we have to move on. I need to reach my parents. I just need to.

“We can stop if you want, Amethyst.” Calypso tells me but I hear it a little vivid.

“No, we have to keep on moving.” I say and hesitate my decision after but it’s what I have to do.

“No, we’ll spend the night here.”He says, “It’s ok.”

“No, we have to keep moving. I can handle it.” I lazily say.

“I know you’re tired. Let’s sleep here.” He argues.

“Okay then.” I give in.

I sit on the floor and look in my pack for the pillow. I grab the pillow out and lay it on the ground. I lay my head on  the soft white pillow. I close my eyes and I drift to sleep and the last thing I see is Calypso’s black hair shining in Cloris’s glow of gold and his suspicious grin he has on him when he’s happy or satisfied.

The sun burns my face as it shines through the trees. I get up lazily to close the raggedy curtains. I go back to lay in bed. The sun still shines through. Even with the blue curtains blocking the majority.  I turn the other way. I stare up at the ceiling and visualize how my parents would look like. There has to be at least one person who knows there exact location. At least one person. That person is someone who I have already met but whom?

I get up and stare at my room. A little small but adequate. A lazy orange color for my walls. A brown wooden desk and a book shelf next to it. A white closet door a few steps from my bed. The window is on the left side of my bed. The window is big and has a window bed that shouts at you.

I spend my time writing in my journal. I grab a lighter pen and write on the digital pages. I do have an original journal with paper pages but I have already used that one up.

I moved my long dark brown hair away from my dark brown eyes and realize that today is the day. I’m searching for my parents today. I can’t stand it any longer of not knowing. I can’t stand feeling alone in Phantasm. I’m gonna have to ditch math practice and search for my parents.

I grab a pack and fill it with necessities. I put in my journal and most of my clothes and some other things. I put on my hoodie and walk down the hall and outside the door. The sun shined today which was good.

I needed to know here my parents are and how to get there. Who do I ask? I ask Dysis. She’ll know for sure since she’s a witch. She’s an old friend of mine taught and taught me a little about Phantasm’s history. It was just a planet with no living souls until something bigger than us got some various souls from a planet called ‘Earth’ and dumped them here. Now, she says that we are far more advanced in technology than ‘Earth’ is. I should take History practice next month so I can know about this ‘Earth’ planet.

I stop by her shack and knock on her door. Dysis answered the door and my presence brings her a smile. She gives a signal to come in. I walk inside and everything looks the same from the last time I visited here. I would visit Dysis everyday after practice but when I met Calix I kind of stopped. Once in a great while I visit her. She likes Calix and he seems to like her too. They get along pretty well so that’s good. I hadn’t thought of him until now.

“Where’s Calix?” Dysis asks as I ponder around the room.

“Oh, him. I…um….I-”

“You two love birds broke up!” Dysis seems more interested in our conversation now. Couldn’t blame her. Everyone pays more attention when Calix is the subject.

“No. I never had a love relationship with Calix ever.” I say.

“Too bad.” She says.

“Why?” I ask her.

“You two are perfect for each other.” Dysis responds as sits on a couch with a cup of tea in her hand.

“Uh, no comment.” I say feeling uncomfortable, ” I need your help.”

“Ah-uh. What is the problem now, Kitty?” She asks.

“He hasn’t called me that lately.” I say , “I need to know where my parents are and how I can get there.”

“Something’s up with that boy. I look into the crystal ball everyday and assuming he’s with you yesterday he wasn’t and today in the morning either. Is something wrong?” She asks, “He’s looking like he’s having a great time without you and next  minute he looks miserable.”

“I don’t know. I guess he flipped when I said that he doesn’t have a reason to love Persephone.  After that, I didn’t bother to talk to him at all.” I said looking at the ground remembering the bad day.

“Well, your parents are alive. They are at Magic Bound’s mountain at the tippy top. As  you know, you have to cross Fraley’s bridge and get through the Forgotten Cave. At last you’ll be at top of Magic Bound. ” Dysis explains.

“Thank you, Dysis. I’ll be own my way.” I say.

“No, Wait!” Dysis warns and says, “You can’t go alone, child.”

“I know. I’m going with Darius.” I say cheerfully.

“Well, You’re bringing Calix with you too. That wolf of yours isn’t enough.” Dysis demands.

“No, I’m not bringing Calix.” I disagree.

“Yes you are, child. He’s sent to look after you from your parents. Almost like a brother. He’s going to protect you and give you a smile when you need it most.” She says.

“He was sent….. from my parents.” I say to myself aloud.

“Yes, he was especially. He has mad axe skills as you know. Take him with you and go to Hades’s shop to pick up some protection. Here is a tempered sword for you. It has a charm on it so when you stab the beast, the beast automatically is injured badly or dies at an instant.” She tells.

“Why didn’t he tell me? He should have told me!” I furiously say.

“Now child, calm down. He has a perfectly good reason. Don’t give him trouble either. Now, you go and do what I just had said.” She orders.

“Okay, Okay.” I say and go out.

I walk over to Calix’s mother’s clothing store hoping he was there and not with Persephone. I walk in a little shy like on the first day I had practice. I spot his mother talking Calix about clothing and other stuff. I didn’t want to talk to him and I didn’t want him coming, not after that. I had too. Dysis insisted that I should so I will honor her command. I take a intake a breath and walk in. Nervously, I walk up to him and he gave me a look. Not a good one though but his mother gave a welcoming smile. At first I was at lost for words because nothing came out of my mouth.

“Amethyst, it’s pleasant to see you.” His mother broke the silence, “I’ll leave you two alone.”

She leaves the room to go outside. Calix stares at me for a while with a dirty look.

“Stop. Stop staring at me. It’s creepy and I didn’t come here to have a staring contest. I just wanted to know something.” I say quickily.

“What is it? Is there more stuff that’s wrong with Persephone? You know everyone is not perfect. If you wanted a perfect friend, then I’m the wrong person you’re hanging with because I’m not perfect. Amethyst, let me save you the time. There’s no such thing as ‘perfect’.” He rages.

“Look, Calix. I didn’t come here for a lecture and I didn’t come here for you to scream in my face either. I don’t want anything to be perfect because I’m not but I do.” I say.

“See, isn’t you’re life fabulous.” he hisses.

“I don’t live a dream, Calix. Not all days are happy ones but I do manage to have a satisfying life even without a family.” I say.

“Satisfying? You have a life people would kill for!” He argues, “You don’t have rules to live by and more importantly, you don’t have to live to reach expectations like I do. You got it all, Amethyst.”

“A life people would kill for? Not exactly. They have something worth going home for. I don’t. I’m isolated from comfort and love. I don’t have much of those things in life but…. you do. You have it all. The name of yours, your family, and  a lover. Calix, you have it all.” I explain.

“No. You do have comfort. You have love. Not exactly romance kind of love but you can if you wanted it. You do have a family. Not blood related but a good one.” He says as his voice grows softly and smoothly.

“I’m not perfect, Calix. If my life is then it’s people in my life that makes it perfect.” I say sincerely.

“Perfect? I don’t know Amethyst. I’m not perfect.” he says and brings back a smile.

“Who said I was talking about you?” I joke.

“Please, save the love for the audience.” Persephone bitterly remarks and immediately wipes the smile off my face.

“What are you doing here?” Calix asks with a scared face.

“What I can’t stop by and say hi to my own lover?” She asks a rhetorical question.

“I guess. I just thought you were going to be with Evander and all.” Calix sheepishly says and my hatred boils.

“Well, I was but he was too busy talking about a girl. I got way too bored. I didn’t have anything pleasant to say so I just left. She’s not worth it, though. I still don’t know what anyone sees in her.” She says while she sneaks a glare at me.

“Who was he talking about?” Calix asks.

“He was talking about Amethyst.” She growls.

“M-me?” I ask in disbelief.

“Yes, you. He was probably really tired, though. You know with all those royal parties.” She answers.

“Are you sure it was the royal parties?” Calix asks.

“Well, it had to be!” She says.

“Maybe he meant it.” I say.

“Why would he mean it?” She snarles.

“Persephone-”

Cutting Calix off she responds, “Butt out Calix. Look Amethyst, you’re not a princess and you’re not living a fairytale. You’re living a sad, sad life. I’m surprised you even have any friends. Evander should have nothing to do with you.”

“You know what Persephone, you’re no princess either! Evander should have nothing to do with you and I shouldn’t either.” He defends me before I can say a thing.

“So what is this you are saying, Calix?” She asks innocently. Her face seems timid but sweet. Just like the first time I had met her.

“You know what it means. Stop wasting my time and scat. “He demands and she rushes out.

I stand there awkwardly and tap my fingers repeatedly on the glass counter. He looks at me sincerely and I look away. I feel guilty. Very guilty. I came too soon. If I wasn’t there he wouldn’t have broken up with her. I know he liked her but I never realized it. I’m such a bad friend. My smile turns to a frown.

“Sorry-”

“I’s okay. You were right. She wasn’t worth it. I just never realized it.” He says as his voice trembles as if he was going to cry.

“It’s my fault. Not yours.” I say, “I was the one she wanted out, not you. I know you liked her but I just didn’t want to actually believe that you did. I’m sorry.”

“No, not your fault. Mines.” He says not looking at me.

“I just came here to ask you something but if it’s a bad time I’ll-”

“Ask me what?” His voice is a cry.

“Calix, are you okay?” I say.

“You came here to tell me that?” He asks trying to dodge the question.

“No, but are you alright?” I ask in a different phrase.

“Uh, yes. I’m fine. Ask me the question.” He quickly adds.

“I wanted to know if you wanted to look for my parents with me. Are you sure you’re alright?” I ask and swiftly jump in front of him.

He tries to turn away. His face was scared with tears. He buried his face in his arms.

“You’re crying,” I whisper.

“No, I just was reminded how my tiger, Kittens died. Such a tragic story.” he replies.

“One, Kittens wasn’t even your tiger and two, he’s still alive.” I say.

“Well, the soap from the shower. The pain came back and tears came out. I didn’t even know I had tears to begin with-”

“Why can’t you admit that you were crying because you broke up with Persephone-”

“No, I’m crying because I did something bad. Really bad and I thought of what you might do to me if you knew what I did. I’m sorry Amethyst! I didn’t mean to! I was mad and I guess I was being stupid! Please don’t stop being my friend! I-”

“What did you do so bad that even you started to cry?” I ask.

“Well, I was stupid. You see, you know how my temper takes over me. I just- I don’t wanna die!” he cries out.

“What did you do?” I almost scream. I hated how I didn’t know.

“He-he. Well, it’s a funny story you see. I was-”

“Get to the point, Calix.” I reply.

“You swear you won’t be mad?” he asks.

“Yes! Now tell me!” I demand.

“Ha ha! You can’t be mad because you just swore! Okay, so I kinda told Evander a little lie.” He explains, “I-I told him that he couldn’t be your lover because……….. I was.”

“You what?” I ask in disbelief.

“I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS YOUR LOVER! DO YOU UNDER-”

“Yes! Why would you do that!” I scream.

“Well, I told you why. It kind of got the best of me and I didn’t want him to marry you! He doesn’t deserve you.” He replies sheepishly.

“Calix, I guess we’re even.” I reply.

“Even?’ Calix puzzles.

“You know the time when we were 5 and you got glued to your chair and the time when you thought someone stole your invisible pen.” I say.

“Yeah, why?” He asks.

“I was the one who glued you to your chair and the one who stole your pen.” I apologize.

“Really? You told me that-” he says, “Now that I think of it. I didn’t misplace it, when you said you wanted a hug because you loved me. You didn’t want a hug because you loved me, you wanted to hug me so you could steal the pen from my pocket.”

“Yeah, sorry. I guess I didn’t like you back then. I was really mean to you. Sorry, I guess I didn’t realize how awesome you were.” I say, “Come on we have to go.”

I wait for him outside of Hades’s shop. He runs up to me with a backpack. We walk in together. Many selections of weapons. Arrows to wands. We gawk at all of the weapons as we almost bump into Hades himself. He chuckles a happy chuckle. Dysis says he reminds her of Santa. I don’t know who Santa is but if he was a jolly old man who was a bit over chubby then she’s right. It’s weird how he loves peace yet he owns a weapon shop. Weird.

Calix picks an axe with intricately beautiful designs on what’s called the belly of an axe to the grip. The blade cuts through almost anything. I pick a sword belt for my sword Dysis gave me. We wave bye to Hades and he waves back.

We’re ready to look for my parents. We make our way to the entrance and on the way pick up Darius. I hope this works.

I sank my hand into Darrius’s black fur. He stared into the thick blue waters and sniffed the air. I put my hand on his head and scruff it until the fur looks messy. He looks at me with his incredibly red eyes and he gently licks my cheek. His saliva drips down from my cheek and hits the floor. This brings a smile to my face and I giggle like a child. Some might say, I am a child. I say, I am in between.

I watch two butterflies fly together in the streaks of sunlight. They gracefully fly to each other and around each other and together they fly away. I relax fully lay down on the grass. I caress the grass and pull bits of it off. I lazily begin to shut my eyes. They finally close and I fall asleep.

“Hey, Amethyst. Wake up.” A voice whispers in my ear, “Wake up, Amethyst.”

I turn to my other side and resume my sleep.

“Amethyst, it’s Evander. I need to talk to you.” the voice is seductive.

I raise my head thinking it’s Evander and a devilish smile sweeps Calix’s face when I realize it isn’t him.

“I hate you!” I frustratingly spit out.

“Hey! I needed one way to wake you up.” Calix playfully exclaims, “Maybe we’ll give him a visit today.”

“No! You’ll embarrass me.” I cry out.

“Hey, I fought off 10 mini dragons for you while you sleep like a princess in a fairytale.” he replies as he helps me get up.

“If we are going then I don’t want you two to fight again. I hate it when you guys fight.” I say as we begin to walk.

“He always starts it. Just because I most likely to be king of  Phantasm. I mean I can’t help it!” he says.

“Maybe you won’t be king.” I answer just to make him mad.

“What?!” He said surprised, “Me? I?”

“Maybe you won’t. You never know.” I reply and spot Evander hold up his sword he had gotten from his father, the king.

“There’s your prince. How are you gonna embarrass yourself this time?” Calix jokes.

” Shut up, Calix. He doesn’t seem to take interest in me anyways so why does it matter if I mess up or not?” I ask him and makes him shut up.

I walk pass Evander and look at him. He smiles at me and starts to walk to me. I pretend I have somewhere to go.

“Amethyst! Wait up!” Evander yells behind me.

I stop and look back. I smile as he catches up to me.

“Hey, you know the royal ball is coming up.” He says.

“Yes, it’s in all the papers and on every ad.” I say and doubt myself, “You’re going with another princess?”

“No, I kind of been wanting to go with someone else.” He says as he looks deeply into my eyes of dark brown.

“Oh, from practice?” I ask him as notices Calix touching the horses he was just working with.

” Uh, no. I really wanted to go with…… hey! Calix!” He says softly and then screams at the top of his lungs.

“What? Don’t know how to have fun, Evander?” Calix teases.

“Calix just get out of here before I mess up that face of yours!” Evander yells.

Calix laughs and looks at me. I scowl at him and he leaves just around the corner.

“Hate him.” Evander mutters, “I don’t how you live with him.”

“He gets annoying sometimes.” I say softly and sympathetically.

“He shouldn’t even have that name. The meaning doesn’t fit him.” Evander says.

“Very handsome.” I whisper to myself, “His name means very handsome.”

“I have to tend a royal party. I have to sadly leave you with him.” Evander says and leaves, “I’ll see you around.”

“Bye.” I say and he leaves smiling to the palace.

I have butterflies in my stomach. He talked to me! I didn’t even mess up! I walk to where I last saw Calix. He stood sitting down behind a tree.

“So what happened?” He asks as I approach.

“He was telling me who he was going to the royal ball with.” I replied.

“Who is he going with?” he asks.

“I don’t know. He was about to tell me but you didn’t listen to me when I said don’t start a fight.” I answer.

“Sorry.” He looks down.

“Now, we are even.” I say and walk away as he follows me.

“I guess we are.” he says as we walk.

“You know what I want to do?” I ask him.

“What?” he asks.

“I wanna find my parents.” I say and look at him.

“Uhhhh, then go for it?” He kind of asks as a response.

“No, really. I want to. This time it’s for reals. Not like the other times where I say it but don’t do it. ” I answer.

“Are you sure? I mean you don’t even know where to start.” He says.

“Well, maybe we will investigate people and interrogate them to tells us clues on what they might of went.” I say and spot Persephone smelling her roses.

“Not going that way.” I demand and pull Calix towards a different path.

“Why? I like her.” Calix argues.

“But why?” I stop to ask.

“Because she’s….. I just like her, okay!” He mutters.

“You can’t even give me one reason.” I say.

“There’s lots of reasons. You just don’t see the side of her that I do.” He answers.

“Yeah, maybe I don’t.” I kind of whisper to him and go the other way.

I power walk away. I didn’t feel like seeing her and now even him. I don’t know what he see’s in her. She doesn’t have a good side at all. Really! She doesn’t. Really, she’s just….. envious of me because what? I don’t have fancy jewels or fashionable clothes. I’m not close to rich,I’m  an average looking girl or at least that’s what I think. I don’t have a prince for a lover and I don’t have a…… family so how is she envious of me when really, she shouldn’t. I don’t have anything anyone would want from me. If they did, I would have been robbed already. It doesn’t make any sense.

I walk down the path to what so called ‘home’ or the what its really called an orphanage. It starts to sprinkle. Little water droplets hit my head and it pours even harder. I try to run under a tree. The tree blocks some droplets and the hover craft splashes me drench. I walk home because their no hope that it could be worse than this. I trip over a huge crack and fall into mud. I spoke too soon. I get up and drag myself home.