  NOAH WARREN

  

      Age: 19

  

      ----------------------------------------------

  

      For a place this huge, it was really cramped. Hoards of people hurried around in a blur, boarding flights, meeting up with their loved ones and chasing after excited kids. A business man tapped his foot impatiently against the smooth, epoxy flooring as he barked orders into his phone, while a throng of screaming teenagers vied for the attention of a TikTok star who was trying his hardest to speed walk through the crowd. With all the rare attractions that Crysauralia had to offer, it was a booming tourist hotspot. The Christmas season had ended just a few days ago, so a lot of persons were going back home now. It was one of the busiest times of the year, which explained the near deafening noise that engulfed the chilly airport. The periodic, monotonous drone of the female voice on the PA 

  MICAH

  

      Age: 14

  

      -------------------------------------------------

  

      At school, Melissa and Callie talked non-stop about the upcoming pool party. I put in a few 'sures' and 'that sounds good', but other than that I was silent. It's not that I didn't want to participate in their conversation. Planning parties just wasn't my thing. However, my best friends couldn't accept that and dragged me into every conversation.

  

      By the time the bell rang for lunch, I was out of the classroom in record time. Finally, I was free! I risked a glance behind me as Callie yelled my name and tried her best to catch up. I grinned as I maneuvered around the crowd to the cafeteria. I plopped down in my seat at our usual table just as Callie and Melissa collapsed into their seats panting for breath. I guess Melissa had joined the chase too.

  

      "Seriously?" Melissa p

  FRANCIS DONALDSON (Elizabeth's father)

  

      Age: 48

  

      QUINN DONALDSON (Elizabeth's mother)

  

      Age: 47

  

      ------------------------------------------------

  

      I woke up the next morning to the sun shining its brilliant, golden beams of light into my room. I rolled over and snuggled closer to my pillows.

  

      Wait! I opened one eye and looked over my surroundings. I was in my bed. I furrowed my brows trying to remember when I’d gotten into bed. The last memory I had was of me falling ssleep in Trey’s car.

  

      I shook my head and glanced at the clock, which read 9:32 a.m. I lazily slid out of the luxurious comfort of my bed and strolled into the bathroom, while trying in vain to shake the mystifying events of the previous night out of my head.

  

      But I just couldn’t. What did Ashton mean when he told me to stay away from Kevin? And the way he was acting over my bracelet… Something seemed eerie about the entire situation.

  

      I stepped under the cool spray of the shower and closed my eyes, trying to relax and just maybe wash the worry away.

  

      I wrapped a fluffy white towel around my body and stepped out of the bathroom and into my room. I quickly chose an above knee white dress and a black jacket with black flats.

  

      I spent the next thirty minutes straightening my hair, which had been curled for the party. I just wanted everything to go back to normal, including my hair. After that I went downstairs.

  

      “Morning, mom,” I said, walking into the kitchen where she was making breakfast. The delicious smell of chocolate chip pancakes and scrambled eggs with sausages and bacon wafted to my nostrils. Mmm!

  

      I began to help with the orange juice and tea. My dad came down minutes later and gave me a kiss on the forehead and my mom a peck on the lips, then he sat down at the island kitchen with a copy of today’s paper.

  

      He seemed engrossed in his reading and I managed to catch a glimpse of the headlines.

  

      ‘When Will The Crown Prince Return?’

  

      “What’s that about?” I asked, sitting down beside him. “The people want to know what’s become of the crown prince,” he sighed. “They’re getting impatient.”

  

      “The government’s doing a good job though,” I said as I reached for a slice of toast and smeared it with Nutella.

  

      “It’s the monarchy who controls the government in this kingdom. They appear to rule from the shadows, but they actually wield the ultimate power.”

  

      “Doesn’t the government want to get rid of the monarchy then?”

  

      “They did try once upon a time. Let me see...” he tapped his chin thoughtfully. Oh no. I felt a History lecture coming on. My dad was a History Lecturer at one of the local universities. I should have known that asking about something political would get him in teacher mode.

  

      “It was fall of 1857 and the government had just passed the-”

  

      “Now, honey,” mom laughed. “Save the lectures for after breakfast.”

  

      I nodded frantically and he chuckled and folded the paper. “Okay, but for the record, it would have answered your question.”

  

      “Thanks to you, I know the history of Crysauralia like the back of my hand,” I held up my hand for emphasis and he laughed.

  

      “That’s my girl.”

  

      ------------------------------------------

  

      After breakfast I put the dishes in the dishwasher, then skipped up to my room to find something to do.

  

      I decided to give Among Us a go. After getting accused of being the imposter for the millionth time, I was starting to get irritated. It was just a coincidence that I managed to find the body three times in a row. Red falsely accused me of venting and everyone immediately believed them.

  

      I gave up and decided to call Melissa or Callie. Before I could even try, my phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, I was surprised to see that it was Callie.

  

      “Hey Cals, I was just gonna call.”

  

      “Hey bae, are you feeling better? I’m passing by your house. Wanna go to Creamy Dreams?” she asked excitedly. “Mel’s meeting us there.”

  

      I agreed and smiled, remembering the first time I went to Creamy Dreams with Callie. We hadn’t met Melissa or Kevin yet so it was just us. We’d both ordered pineapple sundaes and were going to a booth when this guy bumped into Callie, making her spill her ice cream.

  

      I only realized I was zoning out of the conversation when I heard Callie yell my name.

  

      “Hmm... oh yes Callie, I’m here,” I said snapping back to reality.

  

      “LOL, I’ve been talking to you and you weren’t even listening,” Callie said while I glared at the phone.

  

      I hated it when people said ‘LOL’ outside of text!

  

      “So what were you thinking about that was so important you spaced out on me?”

  

      I smiled. “A funny memory, Cals. Remember the first time we went to Creamy Dreams and that guy bumped into you?”

  

      “The one I told to-”

  

      “Don’t repeat it!” I yelled. “But yes him, and then he started flirting with you and you guys started going out.”

  

      “Why is that such a good memory?” she asked bitterly. “Don’t you remember what he did?”

  

      I face palmed myself for bringing up the sensitive subject of ‘Daniel’, Callie’s ex. Because of Demetri, for a moment I forgot that she still wasn’t over Daniel.

  

      “Sorry, Cals,” I whispered, still upset with myself.

  

      She chuckled, but I could tell it was forced.

  

      “By the way, I’m parked outside, you ready?”

  

      “Yeah,” I jumped off my bed and bounded down the stairs.

  

      “I’m going to Creamy Dreams with Callie!” I yelled.

  

      “Okay, be safe!” my mom called back.

  

      I got in the car and Callie drove off.

  

      ----------------------------------------

  

      We got to Creamy Dreams quickly because it wasn’t that far away. When we walked in, the sweet aroma of ice creams and cakes enveloped me.

  

      Melissa was already sitting at a booth waiting for us. I ordered an ice cream sandwich and a packet of gummy bears and Callie ordered a vanilla cone with sprinkles and a slice of chocolate cake.

  

      Surprisingly, all Melissa had was a bottle of water, which left me and Callie wondering if we ordered too much.

  

      “Hey girls,” Melissa greeted, taking a sip of her water.

  

      “Hey,” I replied. Then there was silence. We looked over to Callie. Not meaning to be offensive, but for Callie silence was a rare thing.

  

      I followed her gaze which was stuck on a couple on the far side of the room. They were about our age. The guy was feeding the girl with an ice cream and he playfully rubbed a bit of it on her nose. The girl squealed and crossed her eyes, trying to see the cream. The guy leaned over and kissed her before wiping her nose with a napkin.

  

      She blushed and teasingly punched his arm.

  

      Callie sighed and stared sadly at her cake.

  

      “What’s wrong with her?” Melissa whispered, motioning to Callie.

  

      “I think it’s because I brought up ‘him’ earlier...”

  

      “Him whose name shall never be spoken?” she gasped, eyes widening.

  

      I nodded slowly, wishing I had remembered how sensitive Callie got at the mention of Daniel.

  

      “It’s okay, Liz, I’m sure you didn’t mean to bring him up.”

  

      Melissa slid to the edge of her seat, grabbed Callie by her shoulders and gave her a shake.

  

      “Snap out of it, Cals!” she shouted. Callie hastily brushed a hand over her eyes and then looked up at us.

  

      “Callie, you have Demetri now,” I reminded her, trying to make her feel better.

  

      “I know,” she sighed, looking down at her lap. “I just miss him so much,” she whispered clutching her heart. “It’s been almost four years Cals. You’ve got to let him go,” I reasoned.

  

      “Yeah,” Melissa said, toying with her water. “He chose to do what he did and I can only imagine how it must hurt you-”

  

      “Yes! You can only imagine Mel...” Callie cut her off with a sob. It pained my heart to see her like this. Just when she was beginning to forget...

  

      I shot Melissa a ‘do something glance’ while I rubbed Callie’s back. I hoped Daniel knew the pain he was putting my friend through. “Girls!” Melissa clapped suddenly smiling from ear to ear. “I know what I’m gonna do.”

  

      Me and Callie looked at her as she bubbled with excitement.

  

      “So?” Callie asked with a sniff. “What’s your grand idea?”

  

      “Okay, let’s throw a... wait for it... pool party!”

  

      "A party?"

  

      "Yeah. Why not? It's our final year. Let's do something memorable. It'll be fun."

  

      Perfect! I thought. As opposed as I as to parties, we could have some fun, relax and Callie could spend time with Demetri. Yes! My face lit up like the sun as I ate my ice cream.

  

      "We’ll meet on Tuesday to plan.”

  

      Callie and I agreed and then we left to finish our Saturday.

NOAH WARREN
  
      Age: 19
  
      ----------------------------------------------
  
      For a place this huge, it was really cramped. Hoards of people hurried around in a blur, boarding flights, meeting up with their loved ones and chasing after excited kids. A business man tapped his foot impatiently against the smooth, epoxy flooring as he barked orders into his phone, while a throng of screaming teenagers vied for the attention of a TikTok star who was trying his hardest to speed walk through the crowd. With all the rare attractions that Crysauralia had to offer, it was a booming tourist hotspot. The Christmas season had ended just a few days ago, so a lot of persons were going back home now. It was one of the busiest times of the year, which explained the near deafening noise that engulfed the chilly airport. The periodic, monotonous drone of the female voice on the PA announcing the arrivals and departures mingled with the smell of cheap coffee, junk food and jet

Chapter 7