Once in the Moonlight: Chapter XII: So I'm Basically Screwed.

CHAPTER XL1

So the day had finally come. Which day, you may ask, for there are many days to mention in the lives of the four faeries princesses. There were all of Nakajima’s traditional Japanese holidays, all the ridiculous American holidays, not to mention the countless celebrations of Musicana, and then of course Birthdays, and the ever few yet treasured Teacher Planning Days, and then just plain old days that we were bored and made into something special. Those were usually called unbirthdays. 2

But tonight was the premier of Rei and Topleaka’s first film together. Of course, somewhere unbeknownst to common man, they made some sorts of commercials and short films, but I never saw much of those, and they werren’t a big deal. But this-this movie was being advertised all over Mihama. I still saw some posters with Rei and Topleaka’s faces on them. 3

It seemed funny to see Topleaka’s face everywhere. I was used to that in person, of course. But on brightly coloured tree killing posters? Certainly not. I was happy for the girl, especially since she was working with her dream man. She had begun to fly. Yet still, here I was watching her. Perhaps one day my wings would rise up and fly as well. 4

Tonight was the night. I still couldn’t believe it. Who would have thought that small town fan girl Topleaka Pachane would rise to act with the Rei Kaedo? I was proud of that girl. That girl was my friend, and she was doing what she wanted to. She was dressed in pearls and pink, like a flower truly blossomed. It was hard to believe she was younger than me.5

“Ooh! There he is, in his shining limo!” Topleaka pointed through the glass. Aspen and I had offered (and by offered, I mean having been threatened by a stick with sharp and pointy objects that wer not naturally there) to help her prepare. Her face scrunched against the window pane, marking it with a distinct pattern of skin grease. 6

“Good luck, Topeaka!” I shooed her out the door. “We’ll meet you there!” Topleaka waved as she ran to the limo something indiscernible as I closed the giant door, heading to the kitchen for my purse. In the background, Aspen muttered, “Why didn’t we get the limo too?”7

~8

The movie theatre was crowded. No, not normal “crowded”. Normal “crowded” meant that every seat was full with a few people standing around. This crowded was that there wasn’t even enough room in the vast main lobby of popcorn for people to scrunch in. People even waited outside. In the winter cold. At midnight. People flooded the cinema room, only leaving the discreetly reserved seats for Topleaka and Rei. That left Aspen and I to find our own seats in the masses of Mihamaians. 9

It was a good thing, a most fortunate thing that we had come early. For if we had come on time, there would have simply been no room for us at all. But as it worked out now, there were exactly three seats left in the very middle. Just to make sure I wasn’t hallusinating, I counted on my fingers. One, two. We were good. 10

Racing towards the vacant seats, irony struck once more as I ran into none other than Hanazaki Akiriho. He haunted my thoughts, so it didn’t seem too surprising to run into him all the time. Aspen however, noticed my joy in seeing him, nudging me in the side. Taking that as Aspen’s way of saying, “SAY SOMETHING YOU IDIOT,” I said, “Ano, Akihiro-kun, isn’t your music in this one?” 11

“?” he turned to me, “Oh, Haruka chan!” he grinned. “Yah, they found a way to stuff my music in this movie…”12

“Oh you’re just bursting with joy, aren’t you Hanazaki?” Aspen took her seat next to me in the dimming light. 13

A sarcastic chuckle. “Yea for more fangirls,” But we fell silent (except I, who was already silent) as the lights fell into darkness, the giant screen in front lighting up. 14

Have I ever shared about how droll Rei’s movies were? It wasn’t his fault, nor Topleaka’s. Each minute was more sappy, romantic, dramatic and apparently intense than the last. Doing as I was in the habit of doing, I rocked softly to sleep. 15

Words blended together in my thoughts until there was nothing. Which lasted perhaps seven seconds. That was because Akihiro was there, softly shaking my shoulder. Not expecting to feel that, my upper body quickly bolted up, me trying to figure out my surroundings. But there sat Akihiro, typical Akihiro, who whispered, “I can’t blame you, but REi and Topleaka are nearby,” Looking over to where he motioned, I noticed only for the first time that Rei and Topleaka were only a row in front of us, Topleaka turning back and waving. Embarrasement flooded my posture, making me sit straight up all of a sudden, waving back to the actress rather mechanically. No one else noticed. But Akihiro knew. 16

At long last, there was no more suffering in stuffy theatre chairs, watching sappy films involving my friends. That was the one thing that drew me in; those people on the silvery screen were my friends. Rei and Topleaka-living on film for all others to see-soaring above the way of normality. Topleaka’s dream had come true. Perhaps one day, I would find myself also in front of the whole world. Maybe. 17

“So….” Topleaka lingered behind me, and I knew what she wanted. Praise. The girl craved it so much, needing love like any normal person would. But this was Topelaka’s forte, and she wouldn’t take any joking insults. There were only so many of those that she could handle. Now, she needed to be lavished upon with joyful compliments. 18

“You were-great, Topleaka!,” I grinned. It wasn’t as though I was lying; the girl did a stupendous job acting. Five stars. It was just too bad I had fallen asleep after the first few minutes. 19

“Honto ni?” Topelaka milked this out as much as she could. 20

“Don’t go too far,” Aspen came up from behind, her sky blue locks tussling behind her head. “There are only so many compliments we’ll admit to,” 21

That was enough for Topleaka to be content. Smile widely with satisfaction, she hastened to meet up with an already departing Rei. “We’re going to the premier party afterwards,” she had explained with her cat-like smile earlier. “You can come too!” she added quickly. But for some reason, partying at two in the morning did not appeal to me. I was perhaps boring like that. So thus, I risked my life and had Roxy drive me back home. Somehow, walking home at two in the morning did not seem terribly appealing either. 22

CHAPTER XLI23

THE ENEMY IS AMONGST US24

“Why haven’t you just killed them?” the one who thrived in bloodlust, _____ asked. 25

“I have…my plans for them,” the Queen replied deviously, tapping her long ice fingernails on her throne of coral. Hard. Dead. Just as she was. 26

He snickered, leaning against a nearby wall. “It would be much easier if they were just dead,”27

“But-“ the Queen’s eyes flashed with a passion for pain, “Death is not the most painful of suffering; it ends so quickly. Oh-but to toy with the heart…is far more agonizing…if it dies within the heart of the youth who cherish it, they are as good as dead, yet in a limbo of pain and misery…” she chuckled. 28

“Why does it matter though?”29

“Why does it matter.” The Queen wondered for a moment if he was jesting. “Of course it matters, fool! You, being a knight of Atlantis, should very bloody well know why it is of the most importance!” she fumed, rising from her throne. “The world of Musicana…especially its central kingdom Eden, has betrayed us.” She paced around the floor of ice. Cold. Unshatterable. Also as she was. “In our quest to regain our lands on Earth, we have been deserted. No one deserts Atlantis!” her voice was shrill yet dark and commanding, even bringin a shiver down the back of the strong Atlantean knight. “For that, they will pay! And those four faerie girls…” she smirked at the memory of their first encounter. “So pathetically weak…and so easy to toy with…they are the last hope for the crumbling Eden…” her long delicate fingers played with the end of the coral. “Now is our chance to bring them eternal pain-“ she laughed again, the sound of darkness eating away at even her lighthearted-ness. “And all we must to is provoke them and watch them crumble on their own!”30

“But if Eden falls, there is hardly a way for us to return to Earth,” another knight appeared named ______. His hair was akin to gold, handsomely brushed across the right side of his face. “You must think rationally, my Queen,” 31

She turned her head to face this newcomer. Her well trimmed eyebrow lifted delicately, scrutinizing him. “You think you must tell me to act rationally?” she asked calmly. 32

“We must consider about what will happen if Eden is gone-“33

“I am very capable of reasoning and planning,” she walked over to him, brushing a finger across his chin. “Remember who your queen is,” she whispered before he was lost. 34

The Queen’s abilities specialized in the area of the mind, being able to toy with consciousness, dreams and nightmares, and on that note, being able to bring others to alternate realities. In that instant swipe of a finger, the reality to the unnamed knight was brushed away from this palace, making his blond head fall limply to the floor. 35

“Heh, that’s what I thought,” she snickered, turning to her remaining associate, who now looked at the motionless body on the ground. “You, what are you looking at?” she turned to him in a rush of annoyance. Not taking his chances, he quickly gained composure. “Now, we must return to Earth for a short bit of…research…” she slowly walked over to the commanding doors out of her throne room, unable to resist swaying her hips as she went. “It seems that our four faeries,” she grabbed a potion off of the shelf, “Are very…attached to some of the humans. Perhaps there is a place we can use that…” 36

~37

The shimmering lotus glowed in my palm as the moonlight struck the water. So lovely and mystical, I thought to myself. This world was so peaceful at night .38

The four of us sought solace in the woods at night. The moonlight drew us in, making it impossible to sleep. So instead, we would sneak out here, letting our faerie forms free. It was as though our skin soaked in the rays of moonlight, as though we needed that. In the shadows of the moonlight, we were free. 39

Many a night, we found ourselves here, absorbing the silence, perfectly satisfied. The break from living was needed so much. Along with that, everytime we were in faerie form, that Inner Melody that we searched for haunted us, for at the time, we only had bits and pieces of ours. 40

Coming here, we hoped to find the pieces of that lost melody. And on occasion, we would find some. It was piecing them together that was so challenging, especially since we all had different melodies. We were each on our own.41

We all wondered about the Queen of Atlantis; no one seemed to know anything about her. Would we be able to defeat her? Would it effect us if we couldn’t? We had only seen a flash of her, and we wondered if that was enough to believe if she even existed…42

But time was for us, and we grew in ability with work. We slept in moonlight, refreshed for what the Earth held for us, or this world for that matter. Though none of us spoke, we knew we were all thinking the same thing-about our Inner Melodies, our powers, our enemy. 43

One night fell into this pattern, silence filling the voids between us. But that was the wonderful thing about being friends—we could sit in silence and be satisfied. That is, except for this moment. There was something in the air that was too quiet…as if death was drawing close…44

And that’s when I saw it: a dart of ice speed only inches from my neck. It flew so fast I hardly noticed it, and its whistle so close to silent it took all my energy to hear any of it. Roxy turned her head in the direction of where it stuck into a tree. 45

“What was that?” she asked. 46

“I…I don’t know,” I panted, realizing how close that came to stabbing me in the throat. And in the silence, no one would know…47

Roxy lifted her hand towards the sky, summoning water from under her feet, lashing it in a circle above her finger, violet eyes watching… “That’s not a good sign…” 48

There flew another. 49

Guessing on the moment, Roxy threw the water towards the sound, where it whipped like a ribbon towards the dart. It caught the tail end, pulling the dart to the ground. It made a loud sound as it splintered on the ground, making Topleaka and Sabrina turn their heads over as well. 50

“What’s going on?” Topleaka asked. 51

“There are eyes watching…” 52

Instantly, a flurry of darts came from all directions, raining down as if giant sticks of hail. On instinct, I reached towards the ground, pulling up a great oak tree root to wrap loosly around me. Sabrina called the stars to shine brighter, hoping to unveil our targets. 53

Yet their speed was unmatchable. 54

As quickly as it started, the darts ceased to fall, leaving a ground punctured with ice. The wind gently wrestled with the branches, and we could see no shadows left. They were gone. Our eyes instantly turned to the lake, afraid of their leave, but the waters remained still and silent. 55

“Who….” Topleaka began. 56

Roxy answered, a burning passion in her eyes. “Atlantis.”57

~58

“So they are doing their duties…” the Queen was clearly amused. Turning to her assistant, she frowned, “You shouldn’t have shot at them like that,”59

“Their deaths would be most convenient,” he muttered, not looking up.60

Catching those words, she only laughed. “Men…whether of Earth or Musicana, wish for one thing: a task to be done as simply and quickly as possible. But—I wish for something much stronger, much more painful: to lengthen the task, to find their weaknesses and pick at them until they crumble. Then they can be done away with.” Another lighthearted laugh escaped her. “It is much more fun that way, anyhow.”61

CHAPTER XLII62

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS LUCK, ONLY PLANNED BLESSING. IF IT’S A LIE, THEN I’M TOTALLY SCREWED. 63

Tender snow flakes fell on my head. Why did they keep a field trip in the snow? What was this fieldtrip about again, anyway? Really-why was it snowing? It was middle fall, and the weatherman said nothing about snow. I would have brought my jacket had I known…But it was lovely, I must say. And here-I could walk alone, enjoying the cool scenery before me. Thoughts rushed through my head-nothing about Musicana, or school-I could think about whatever! It was a nice feeling. 64

But suddenly, I could feel someone catching up from behind me. It was Akihiro! What-was he doing here? My heart suddenly raced a mile a minute, and my cheeks grew to an even redder hew. 65

“A..Akihiro?” I asked66

“Hey, Haruka,” He looked at me, and noticing that I had no jacket, asked, “Aren’t you cold?”67

Yes, I thought, but picking the common polite reply, I said, “No-I’m fine,”68

Before my mind could think, I felt a big coat fall over my shoulders. I looked up at Akihiro, and he smiled, saying, “Take it-I’m fine,”69

I quickly took it, bright red in surprise, and handed it to him, “I couldn’t!”70

But he put it right back over me.71

This happened a couple more times, until he noted, his eyes smiling, “You know that I’ll keep on giving it to you until you actually keep it,”72

I smiled to myself, giving in. “Arigato,” I said quietly, still in disbelief that that just happened. Silence fell for a while-but what was I to do about that? I expected him to keep on walking ahead, but he stayed right next to me. Why’s he talking to me? I had to muse. He hardly even knows who I am…73

“It seems odd…that we’d actually have a Field Trip in the snow…” Akihiro mused, and grinned, “I mean, we could be out of school instead, like everyone who didn’t go on this pointless trip,”74

I caught myself giggling. He did have a point. “Well, its not all pointless,”75

“Like?” his curiosity pirked.76

“Well…” I began, not really sure where I was going with this, “Oh! Here’s that kind of leaf we need for Biology,” I plucked one off a tree, which reminded me why we were here again. Biology. Stupid Biology. 77

In the winter, in the cold, we would study the life that ceased to be on Nakajima. Somehow (since I’m not good with geography), I think that Nakajima was more northern than the Ryukyu or Hawaii, giving it some very unpredictable weather. Not to obsurd impossible ways, such as tsunamis in December, or sporadic hurricanes, but enough to make people actually watch the ridiculously boring JimaGo News that came on in the unholy hour of five a.m. 78

“Oh yah,” Akihiro plucked one for himself. “That’s why we’re here, right?” I nodded shyly. As we walked, I noticed just how silent the snow was…and how it strengthened the power of awkward silence. 79

It felt so warm in this jacket. Akihiro’s jacket. I wanted to be held in it all day…But of course, such wonderful moments were never allowed to last, which is why we were interrupted by Miranda, Aelin and…Erika? 80

“You know today is Friday the 13th,” Miranda muttered, still looking ahead.81

“Yea!” Aelin apparently thought it was a wonderful holiday.82

“So?” I asked, looking through the corner of my eye to Akihiro for his response. “I mean-there’s no such things as luck,”83

“You blasphemer!” Miranda burst out accusingly. “Of course there is such a thing as luck! And bad luck at that,” She said. I think that was one of the longest sentences I had ever heard her speak. And she wasn’t even finished. “Today’s of course, Friday the 13th, which makes it even more dangerous…” 84

“Haruka chan,” Akihiro shook his head, “You should be more careful—bad luck is a strong force,” I looked at him in disbelief, shocked that he would betray me in such a way, but when I noticed the pull of a smirk on his lips, I was relieved to know there was someone else who was remotely sane.85

“I’ve heard that in America…” Eurika! That’s her name! “It is bad luck to w-walk under ladders…” And lo and behold, before us stood a ladder!86

It all started with a ladder-a ladder propped against a wall, reaching towards a cracking window of the unnamed building. The repair-man was on a lunch break (there was a sign), but swore he was coming back.The sign said 10:00. It had been three hours. Most students ahead decided to disregard the shining chrome ladder, walking under its shining rails. All except for the hardcore Japanese traditionalists who wouldn’t let any sort of “bad luck” come close to them, and Miranda. 87

“Oh please, its just because some people walked under ladders and things fell on them! Just look where you’re going, that’s all.” I tried to remember the last time I actually stated my opinion so boldly. Akihiro looked slightly surprised, making my timid blush return once more. Wow…people honestly believe this? It was kind of saddening to see people submit to a bunch of traditions that were so ridiculous…and actually think it would do something. Of course, its one thing to, in jest, freak about a black cat running in front of one, or to note that its Friday the 13th. And maybe, if I wasn’t beginning to realize how much God was in control, perhaps I would have done the same. But when I started to actually look around and think about it, what I had been told in my life made sense. 88

I had heard, “God’s in control”, but I had never seen it. My life was utter chaos. But there was a day that I noticed something as simple as a bird, flying around my head. From deep within me, I heard a voice say, “As I clothe them, I shall protect you,". After a while, I began noticing the small things-the plants, the bugs, the animals, and how they all somehow managed to survive every day, and how they all seemed to have a place given them. The bug eats the grass, the animal eats the bug, the plant takes the animal’s breath for more oxygen. That couldn’t be all from pure luck, could it?89

But it wasn’t like I had the courage to say that. It was the area I lacked Mad Skills. Mad Christian Skills. Go and preach the good news… That was something the saved were supposed to do-tell others. Encourage them to not follow the path of temptation. That was just something I needed to grow in… 90

While I rambled in the thoughts of lacking Christian Mad Skills, I didn’t notice that we had passed safely by the ladder, into the small excuse for a building. Where had we gone for this field trip again? I had gotten so lost in Akihiro-love-land, I had nearly forgotten: we were at the Gekkou Teien nature park. Ironically, I realized that this was where the lake that held the Gate of Moonlight was. The idea made me slightly nervous, eyeing the distant lake, praying that nothing from Eden would magically surface, awakening the attention of unsuspecting teens.91

But to my relief, there was a distraction! For underneath the ladder, there rested a Preying Mantis! Now, what was so special about a Preying mantis, one may ask? No, they do not magically carry good luck, even in folklore. However, Miranda seemed to have an odd attachement to them. 92

“There’s a preying mantis,” she pointed a thin white finger. WE nodded, wondering why this was of any notice. “93

“Ooh! Moving grass! Moving grass!” Aelin squealed, unable to distinguish grass and preying Mantises. 94

Was that a smile on Miranda’s emotionless face? No, not quite. Almost. “I shall bring him home and name him Herbert.”95

“Herbert? What kind of name is-“96

“HIS NAME SHALL BE HERBERT.” She said firmly, walking underneath the ladder. But clearly, she did not notice that she was 1) walking under the forbidden ladder 2) that one of Britteni’s cohorts, Maemi, was examining a zit in her mirror 3) the path was being covered in salt in fear of icing over 4) the man working on the ladder had returned. In fury, Maemi threw down the mirror to the ground, later explaining “It said I had a zit!” Indeed, the mirror wasn’t lying (for how can a mirror lie?), considering she had a giant zit on her nose. Somehow, there burst forth the unholy collision of goth, prep, salt, snow, pain and repair man. Akihiro, Eurika and I winced at the sight, sure that Miranda’s superstition would upgrade. Yet miraculously, she walked away from the horrific sight of man and snow, carrying on her black embellished fingers a withering Preying mantis. Afraid to say anything, we watched as she continued on, unperturbed, only muttering so poetically under her breath at the last minute, “Perhaps beauty can blossom from unfortunate luck,”97

CHAPTER XLIII98

THERE’S ALWAYS HOPE FOR CHANGE99

With the "Yea we're back in school!" salutations over, everyone began planning the next big thing: homecoming. Of course, I didn't care really, perhaps becuase I didn't care about much of anything that went on in our school. But still, I was growing paranoid and claustrophobic by the sudden attack of posters on the walls. 100

"The posters haunt us again!" I cried weakly to Topleaka, who was already captivated by the bright colours. 101

"What a waste of trees..." Sabrina lamented. 102

"What a waste of good wall space," Roxy cringed in disgust at seeing a few posters which read "Corinth Athena for Class President," Since you probably do not remember who Athena is, I will re-enlighten you, though you will probably regret it. 103

Athena Corinth was the stereotypical teacher's pet. Her life was school, and her GPA was inconceivable. Really. It was like a 5 or something. How one could even get a GPA of 5 was beyond me, but I didn't really care that much, so I just left the matter alone. She never knew such a thing as creativity, always wearing her short scraggly blonde hair with a white headband, never needing a touch of make up, nor friends. 104

So we stood there, blankly staring at the poster. "She needs to die," Aspen surprised us by coming up from behind our backs. 105

"Aspen! Even one as homicidal as you can't really mean that!" I cried softly, always taking everything so literally. 106

"Its a figure of speech, baka. Figurative homicide." Aspen glared, Roxy slapping her forehead continuously. Anything could be made figurative these days, couldn’t it? "Honestly, who does she think she's kidding? No one's gonna vote for her,”107

"Have no clue. It’s not like she even has any friends," Roxy's eyes were glued to the poster. Just then, as though the living image of a ghost, there was Athena Corinth. 108

“To properly inform you, I do have…’friends’.” Short Athena gave tall Roxy a smart glare.109

“Yah, like your TX-81 and your pen-“ Roxy snickered. 110

Athena pouted. “Well, seeing as I’m the only candidate, please vote for me,” she stuck little printed stickie notes on our ties that read, “Vote of Corinth,” and walked away. 111

“…There’s only one candidate?” Sabrina asked me curiously. 112

“No one else is ever interested in running,” I replied. 113

“Well-what if I ran?”114

We all gave Sabrina a look of utter horror and shock. She could have said, “I’m having a baby!” and we wouldn’t have been able to look more shocked than right now. 115

“You—run for president??” Topleaka gasped. 116

“That’s like shooting yourself in the leg, Sabrina,” Aspen remarked.117

“Social suicide,” Roxy added, disinterested. 118

“I think you’d do a great job!” I encouraged. Of course, everyone looked at me oddly. 119

“It sounds like fun, really! And who knows-I might be able to change something for the better…” Sabrina mused. 120

“Go for it! You can totally win!” I continued.121

“…Its better than Athena,” Roxy noted, tearing down a conveniently placed poster of Athena’s head.122

“Teh…its something to do,” Aspen shrugged. Wow, weren’t we the most supportive friends? 123

Grinning a smile of true satisfaction, delight and excitement, Sabrina rose, speaking in a voice that no longer could hold back the anticipation, “I can’t wait!”124

~125

So we got started on Sabrina’s campaign. Aspen and I took careful time to design good posters that caught people’s eyes. Topleaka, of course, was our guinea pig. She also helped us post them everywhere. We found every blank inch of wall, and covered them up. Soon, the school was covered with a thumbs up Sabrina, with bold red letters that read:126

Vesston Pwns!127

Of course, the obvious slogan is “Vesston’s best”, or “Vote for Vesston!” but once I suggested that, everyone said it sounded too nerdy. Its like how some of Athena’s posters read:128

Athena’s the Queen129

(Not just of Olympus)130

She chuckled to herself at the mythological allusion, which eleven out of ten ignorant high schoolers didn’t understand. As one teen boy passed by, I heard him ask, “Olympus-is that a drug?”131

So, we thought we’d try a totally different approach-one that made absolutely no sense, yet drew in the crowds. The complimentary colours of her emerald hair with the red letters were one tactic. Another was to hand out free sharpies that read on the side “Vote for Vesston” in bold letters. Hey, who couldn’t resist a sharpie, I asked?132

And I was right. It became clear that the sophomore class was encouraging Sabrina’s reign as class president. While walking through the hallways, basking in the glory of Sabrina’s victory, I spotted a dejected Athena. Unlike Aspen or Roxy, I couldn’t enjoy the victory of crushing someone. Perhaps that’s why I never liked chess. 133

“Are you-ok?” I asked hesitantly. 134

"Everybody loves Sabrina san," Athena muttered as she glared. 135

I stood, surprised. It had never occured to me. Sabrina may not have been the most popular girl at Waterstone Academy, but she had no enemies, and just about everyone said nice things about her. “You’re-right----“ I shook my head. “So?”136

Athena’s head drooped a little bit. “No one likes me-“137

I frowned. She does have a point…I mused. “Well-if people don’t like you, that’s something you can totally change,”138

Though Athena made no reply back, her light grey eyes suddenly flashed wide. That’s something you can change…she thought. Change…Had Athena ever embraced change? Was it even possible to change now? So caught up in her own world of knowledge and myths, reality was only at her fingertips. Do…I even want to change? Athena felt pulled between two worlds, wondering which would be more painful-to admit her past selfishness, or to be alone for the rest of her time…Shadows fell over her forehead. There is hope for change. 139

~140

Well, as the weeks passed on ahead, and I felt older every second, the day for elections came. Sabrina was rather nervous, considering she was speaking in front of…fifty students. “Its just the sophomore class. A small one at that.” I tried to comfort her, but she wouldn’t have it .141

“My old class had ten students,” she blinked. 142

“That’s worse because you would know everyone-“ I began to hear Sabrina moan. 143

“HELP ME HARUKA!” She grabbed my shoulders and shook harder than I thought was Sabrina-ly possible. I supposed that Sabrina was just one of those people who would hide all of her stress until it would spontaneously combust and explode from being held in too long. 144

“Breathe, Sabrina, breathe!” I gasped between shakes. “AT LEAST LET ME BREATHE!” I cried out desperately. 145

And the candidate stopped. “Sorry,” she added hastily as we walked off to the pathetic excuse for an auditorium. 146

“Good luck” I added before she slipped behind the stage. She gave me a weak smile, taking her place next to Athena. 147

The younger smirked. “You have no chance,” Why bother with change?148

“Well-“ Sabrina began weakly, but the principal was already announcing the two candidates. She took a great gulp, waiting for Athena to take the stage. 149

The arrogant brainiac took the stage, clearing her throat as she began, “My fellow students-there is much for our grade that needs to change…” And yet, I look for no change. 150

Clearly, no one at the assembly cared, considering I noticed many closed eyes and drooling mouths. But the speech ended and now was Sabrina’s moment-her chance. Why this mattered so much to her, even she didn’t know, but she wanted to be class president rather badly. 151

As she stepped onto the podium, it was obvious that everyone favoured her. Roxy, Topleaka and I even had our own cheering section with an upside down sign that was supposed to read, “GO SABRINA!  “ She smiled over to us calmly, beginning her speech. 152

Of course, I couldn’t remember much of her speech. All I could say was that it was the perfect balance of intelligence and relating to us. The only thing I do remember was something she added in at the end-153

“I want to be clear that I’m not trying to blame our school. I love our school! But everyone can grow, and everything can always be improved and changed. I myself need to change in many ways, but God’s helping me with that. But as president, I hope to encourage all of us to change for the better, and to not be afraid to take second chances, to give ourselves over to grow. As president, I would be the first to give myself and all that I am for improvement.”154

Her scarlet eyes were closed in fear of watching the audience’s response. But to her surprise, those before her broke out into a loud applause. Maybe its because of her words, I wondered, Or because of her kind personality. But the fact that she admitted her own weakness…I think that’s what we all like the most. 155

Well, perhaps it goes without saying, but the new Sophomore class president (who stayed president for the rest of our time at Waterstone Academy), was Sabrina Vesston. It was such an overwhelming majority that Athena Corinth was quickly left behind. Roxy and Aspen hardly noticed (or, on occasions, laughed at her misery), but I found no heart to do the same. Something about “Love your neighbor” made doing nothing seem like not enough. 156

But as I grabbed the courage to try to greet Athena, she walked away. That left me in the empty hallway, watching her leave in disbelief. Truly, did she prefer to be alone, miserable, and bitter? Just because Sabrina won? A frown of disappointment (not defeat!) rippled over my lips as I noted, Some people don’t want second chances…157