Looking for a Story

Peter considered himself a cool kid. Not that he was the top dog at his school, but he was definitely in the cool crowd. He had a good group of friends, his teachers loved him, and he was considered a role model at school. One day he and his group of friends were at the park and they saw Matty. Matty was not in their circle and was kinda an outsider at school, seemingly by choice. Matty was setting up a picnic. "Yo, Madster!" One of Peter's friends called out, while his other friends laughed. "What ya doing?" Matty rolled his eyes at the nickname. "I have a date." And he kept setting up his picnic. Peter's friends oohed and ahhed and snickered at the idea of Matty on a date. "I'm shocked he could find a date." Peter’s friend spoke in a low voice but Matty still heard, yet he said nothing. "Come on guys, we came to play football, so let's go." Peter led his friends away. And they played football, laughing and getting covered in mud. At some point, Peter looked over and saw that Matty's date still hadn't arrived yet. For a moment his heart sank. Had some girl lied to Matty? His friends seemed to notice too and started to make jokes about it. Peter watched in horror as some kids who had been playing ball nearby lost control of the ball and destroyed Matty's picnic. Peter’s friends laughed even louder, and for a moment Petter wondered if Matty might cry. Having had quite enough of his friend’s behaviour, Peter walked over to Matty and helped him clean up. He didn't say anything, just started picking up the plates and other things. Matty didn't speak either; he just let out a sigh and also started picking up what was left of the mess. Soon everything was back in the cooler that Matty had brought, and he gave Peter a smile. Peter's friends had already left, so Peter shrugged and said, "You like Heroes of the Empire? My dad brought me the newest comic and I got the new battle game video game." Matty's eyes got wide. "Yeah I do! I have all the issues and I play their online game!" Peter smiled. "Then come on, let's go." Peter and Matty talked about the comic books, the heroes they liked, the villains, and so much more as they walked to Peter’s house. When Peter walked in the door, a voice called out, "Peter is that you? You’re back already?" "Yeah Mom, the guys ditched me, but I made a new friend." His mom came around the corner. "This is Matty, he's in my class." His mom smiled. "Welcome to our home, Matty." She grinned. "Let me guess, you're here to play Heroes of the Empire?” The boys smiled "Yeah, Matty doesn't find it lame like the guys do,” Peter explained with a shrug. “Is that okay?" “Of course, just don't turn the TV up too loud." The boys played all afternoon. They became friends that day. Matty never told Peter about the failed date and Peter never asked. It didn't seem important. And even though they were friends, things didn't change overnight. On Monday morning, Peter was back with his friends and Matty was sitting by himself, but people left him alone. Nobody bugged him or made fun of him. Matty knew that that was Peter’s doing. Peter and Matty hung out outside of school, trading comic books, playing video games online, or taking turns hosting games night at each other's homes. They even took trips to conventions. Eventually, Peter stopped hanging out with his old friends and started to hang out with Matty. The two boys were each other’s best friend. Peter didn't need to be popular and Matty didn't need to be a loner. A number of years later, Peter helped Matty set another picnic. "Peter, she is going to say yes, right?" Matty looked at him as they spread out the blanket. “Dude, Harly is crazy about you. She going to say yes." Matty was planning to propose to his long-term girlfriend and Pete was going to film it. "Dude, I'm so nervous..." Matty fidgeted with the blanket one more time. "It's gonna be fine. Go get your girl." Peter jokingly shoved his friend. "I'll be here waiting for ya. Go change your life." Peter watched his friend dart off to make the future happen. He smiled over at his own finance who had just pulled up in her car to help him film. She walked over to him. "So why was it so important for you two to set this up?" "Because it's how we met. Only this picnic will have a much happier ending than that one." They shared a smile and waited together.

You are running for your life. A dragon is chasing you. And this is no ordinary dragon, he’s huge! Suddenly, you run into a dead end. You look left and right; the dragon has you trapped. You frantically wave your sword, which does nothing but tire you out. Then, as if someone is looking out for you, you notice a cave in the wall. You quickly dive into the shelter it provides. You think through the options - Fight, Flight or Freeze. Everyone knows that those are the options when you are in danger. But no one ever talks about what happens when your back is against the wall and fleeing isn't an option. When your enemy is snarling at you, claws bared, ready to tear you to shreds, so freezing isn't an option either. You know you have to fight, even though every fiber in your body longs to freeze up or run. But you have nowhere to run. You step outside your little safe haven and get ready to fight the dragon. You look up at the beast and then you feel your heartbeat. Your heart is pounding in your chest; you can hear it in your ears. It's almost deafening. You are light-headed, and the world around you feels like it's spinning out of control. It seems impossible to catch your breath. Yet here you stand, blade in hand, a huge dragon staring you down, ready to kill you. You force yourself to take a breath, slowly inhaling, then exhaling. The dragon roars loudly, You try to scream and you quickly cover your ears, dropping your blade. You hear it hit the ground. You fight to breathe again. You force your breath to slow down, as you listen to the sound of your own inhale and exhale. You feel your heart rate slow, and you bend down and pick up your blade again. You need a plan. Throwing your blade around willy-nilly will get you nowhere fast. You look around, and you see the dragon, of course…but you notice that he isn't as big as you thought he was. The next thing you notice is how green the trees and grass are. You realize that there are actually quite a few trees nearby; there might even be a way to sneak past the dragon through the trees. You notice that the dead end you’re trapped in isn't as narrow as you thought it was before. You actually have room to move around. You relax a bit, feeling less like a board. You see a bird fly by, and it gives you hope; you can do this. Your sword feels lighter than it was before. Your armour seems lighter and less restricting than you remember it being. You take a fighting stance and notice how much easier it is to move now; all the stiffness has left your body. You feel how much easier it is to breathe. The air doesn't burn anymore. You hear the dragon growl and see his feet moving back as he waits for some kind of attack, almost like he's taunting you. You listen to your breath, slow and steady. As you breathe, your head feels less crowded and it is easier to think. A bird sings nearby, interrupting your now clearer thoughts. Its song brings you even more hope. You notice for a moment that your mouth is desperately dry and all you want is water. You look back at the dragon and realize that he is much smaller than you remember. He hardly seems to be a threat now. You close your eyes and prepare to fight. When you open your eyes, there's no dragon, and you're not outdoors. You are inside your own home. You look down and see not a sword but your phone in your hand. Then you remember the call that set you off, a social engagement that you'd forgotten about - your whole evening looks different now. For a moment your heart rate quickens. You breathe, your anxiety won’t win another round. You remind yourself, you will be fine. You have all the tools you need to handle this situation; you just used them. They might not be as sharp as a sword, but they might just be more useful.

Penny woke up at 4:00 am again. At least this time it wasn't from a nightmare, she mused to herself. She crawled out of her bed and sat in the armchair she kept by the window. Watching the stars and moons reminded her of her rooftop back in Arcadia. She wrapped herself in the quilt she had bought from a lady at the town market. After four months of waking up at 4:00 am every day, Penny figured her body was just used to it now. Four months... Has it really been that long already? She had found herself referring to this place as home. It wasn’t that she didn't want to go back to her family and her boyfriend, but her heart was growing tired of hoping that they would find a way out. She and Andrew both had started getting involved in the farm and the community in Twin Crescent, and that was probably her fault. After about a month and a half of being there and only spending time with a small group of people, she'd had a breakdown. She could still remember the look on Andrew's face when he walked in the door that day. "Hey, Pen! I'm home! Man, that kid that Henry had me practise with for the upcoming show is straight fire!" He walked in from their small entryway. "Whoa... Pen, you've made enough baked goods to feed a small army...." "Well, it was my first solo day off since we got here, and once I wasn't busy my mind started going places it really shouldn't, so I figured I would bake some treats for Alice and the other artist at the studio, and well, I guess I kind of let things get out of hand... Oh, Andrew! It's 5:30 and I haven't even started supper yet! I'm so sorry, I was so busy baking..." Her eyes flooded with tears. "Hey now." Andrew quickly came over and gave her a hug. "Breath for me." She inhaled, then felt her shoulders drop as she breathed out. The oven timer dinged, so she left Andrew's hug and pulled her last tray of goodies out of the oven. "Look, today's Friday, the night's still young,” Andrew said. “Go wash up and put on something nice, and I'll take you out for dinner. Then tomorrow we can figure out what to do with all the goodies." He smiled softly. She smiled back., "That sounds really nice, Andrew. Can we try dinner in the little hotel? Alice said it was her favourite spot in the village centre and I've only eaten at the bar when you’re playing." She hung up her apron. "As for the goodies, I was thinking we could take some to the staff families here? We haven't met them yet, and I want to." Andrew had agreed with her so, after their first night out, they packaged up goodie trays to take to all the families. And just like that, they were a part of the bigger family. They helped babysit, which helped them battle some of the homesick feelings, and they were invited over for dinner. Now, there wasn't a weekend that went by where they weren't babysitting or having dinner with families. It was also thanks to the families that Penny and Andrew started taking a weekly dance class along with a parkour class to keep their fighting skills sharp, just in case. It had become the break they often needed, and it was something that felt familiar to them, like a touch of Arcadia. A woman named Jennifer had taken Penny under her wing. She was the wife of the farm farrier. The women bonded over a love of cooking and baking. Jennifer had been the one to suggest to Penny that if her nightmares were waking her up, she might as well just get up and start her day. After that Penny planned on being out of the house in time to greet the workers as they did their early morning chores. Sometimes she'd go and help hand out tea and coffee, other times she visited the stable workers. Once she had done her rounds, she'd go have morning tea with Jennifer on her front porch until her husband came in for breakfast. Then Penny would return to her home and make breakfast for her and Andrew. Sometimes Andrew joined her but not often; his club and theatre gigs required later nights, so often ate later while she was at work. Penny’s alarm went off, pulling her from her thoughts. She smiled and turned it off. Stepping into her bathroom, she washed her face and braided her hair in a way that still hid the bruise on her ear. Then she slipped into her farm clothes. She was grateful for the wool cape Alice had given her as a welcome gift, as it had cooled off a lot since she and Andrew had arrived. Betty had also helped her find a pair of lace-up boots to wear around the farm. She wondered if the cooler weather there would bring snow. Does it snow here? Penny would have to ask someone about that. She quietly left the house and watched the sun rise the rest of the way. Today would be a good day. *** The day was good. Alice had explained the seasons of Twin Crescent, and turned out they had the same seasons as earth; only some of the names were different and the whole planet was on one weather system. They also didn’t get much snow; however, for about two weeks every winter they got a hefty snowfall just in time for the sun and the two moons to all line up for their Christmas-like holiday. This conversation inspired Penny; she spent that afternoon brainstorming in the studio. The Harvest season was coming up, so she was looking at the colours that reminded her of Fall back in Arcadia. She had an idea for a new set of photos to catch the changing of the season; in Arcadia, she had done more photography with people, but here in Twin Crescent she had so much fun with the colours of the sky and nature and catching the beauty of this new world. But as she made more friends, she found herself getting back into photos that told stories. She looked at the clock; it was almost dinner time. Using her wristband, she sent Andrew a message. It took some getting used to, but she liked the simple form of texting. Hey Andy! Rather than going home before dance class would you like to have a picnic in the park? I can grab food from the Market…I'm basically done at the studio. Penny, I don't have my dance clothes! Otherwise, I'd be so down! You know how I packed your lunch today? I placed your dance clothes in the box of your bike. :) Pen! You sneaky girl you! You had this plan all day! Alright, meet you at the park by the pond? In 35? Love it, see you soon! She hopped on her electric bike, zipped through the crowds of people and found her way to the Market. She loved this place, and she would be interested to have a booth for her baking every now and then, but she and Andrew were trying to keep a balance between being involved and uninvolved. She found her way to her favourite food vendor, then selected a meal choice and some of the vendor's famous lemonade. With her goodies in hand, she hopped on her bike and headed to their favourite spot at the park. She set up a picnic blanket and made herself comfortable. While she waited for Andrew she pulled out her camera. Just like before, she again had two cameras - one bigger and one smaller. She pointed her lens at some berries hanging on a dying branch; it was an amazing contrast of colours. She had been so in the zone looking at the photos she’d just taken, that she hadn't heard Andrew walk up. Suddenly, he placed his hands over her eyes and whispered, "Guess who?" Penny jumped. "Andrew!" She turned and hit his arm. "You scared me!" He toppled over laughing. "Sorry, Pen! But you make it too easy." He sat next to her and stole her camera, looking through the photos. "Ohh, what's this?" She pointed to the dying berry bush. "With the season changing, I thought the colour contrast might be nice for a new set of photos. I got inspired at the studio today, and then while I was waiting for you I saw that bush and just had to take a few test shots.” "So that you can get a better idea for a fall colour palette." Andrew smiled at her. "Yes! Exact... Hey! You have been listening to me! You really do listen when I ramble on about picture stuff!" She looked at him, impressed. Andrew chuckled and handed her back her camera. "Of course, Pen! I love watching your passion grow!" Penny giggled and shut off her camera, then pulled out the supper she’d bought. Andrew's eyes lit up. Penny glanced at the bruise on his wrist. "Hey Andrew, do you know how long it's been?" "We've got to be at…what, three months now?" He happily unwrapped his sandwich. "Four months today." She didn't look up. "Oh... Wow, time sure is flying, eh?" He put down his sandwich. "Yeah... Andrew, do you ever get tired of waiting? Do you ever wish we could just fully commit to life here?" She glanced up at him; she knew she was asking a lot. He would know what she was implying. She nibbled on her sandwich, waiting. He fidgeted, not looking at her. His voice was soft, and she almost couldn't hear him. "Am I a bad person if I say yes?" "Only if I am too." She set her sandwich down. "I know that we would both go back to Arcadia in a heartbeat if we could. And I miss Trevor like crazy, I miss my parents, I want to see Sophie... But… I like it here. And I want to take part in it." She tried to keep her voice soft. "Oh Pen, I thought it was just me." He gave her a side hug. A tear ran down her cheek. "What about Trevor and Sophie?" She wiped the tears away. "Well, I guess we have to believe that their timeline is running like ours." He took a swig of his juice. She paused for a moment and sighed. "Think with Sophie’s help Trevor could get out of his mother's control?" "Oh man, I hope so. Seeing Sophie lose it on that woman would be hilarious!" Andrew laughed out loud and Penny joined in. They ate in peaceful silence for a while, then she looked over at Andrew. "Hey, Andrew?" He looked over at her. "I know this is going to sound mean, but I'm glad that it's you here with me." "Don't you wish it was Trevor?" He cocked his head. "Well at first I did, but Trevor is reckless. It's why he has the Element Water - he acts on impulse, without the worry of the damage it does. His water and ice do the least amount of damage out of all the elements. He, like the water, can just go with the flow because his team keeps him in check." She sighed "Even when he's not in his mask, Trevor acts without thinking and follows blindly." She giggled. "But I do love him." "What about Sophie?" Andrew knew how close the two girls were. Penny giggled. "She holds the Element Wind; she is quick, thinks on her feet, but also acts on impulse, and is also stubborn. She fights for everyone but doesn't always think about her actions, and she sometimes, like the wind pushes, too hard and ends up hurting those she doesn’t mean to." Andrew chuckled. "Yeah… okay, you’re right." "Don't get me wrong, they are great teammates and even better partners, but..." She picked at her cookie, feeling a little bad. "There is a reason they aren't the team leaders. But I'm not a leader either, Pen." She stared at him. "You’re kidding, right....?" He looked at her with an eyebrow raised. "Andrew…so, you might not be in charge like me, but you are the team's protector; you keep us safe, and you stay calm, cool and collected in battle. You and I have the Elements we have because we can keep a level head no matter how messed up things get.” She smiled. “So, I am glad that we are here together even if it means lots of grief.” "You think too highly of me, Pen." Andrew smiled and shook his head, then started to help clean up. "But I'm glad that you're here with me too." She smiled brightly at him, and he stood and offered her his arm. "To dance class?" Penny smiled and nodded. "To dance class." She took his arm, and as they walked through the park back to their bikes, she thought to herself, Today has been good.

For as long as James could remember, every time you went to Papa's house he took your height and marked it on his wall. Papa liked seeing how his kids and grandkids grew. James loved looking at that wall, dotted with little lines followed by names and ages. He also loved that when one of the in-laws became family, their height got added to the wall. Because there was only one rule: this wall was for family only. James had seen just a few of his closest friends get added as a show of belonging. His girlfriend Becky was just about learn all about this tradition. James brought her to meet his Papa during their second summer together on a family trip. "Papa, meet Becky, my girlfriend," James introduced them, and Becky offered her hand. Papa ignored the handshake and gave her a hug. “Finally! I get to meet ya. This boy can't stop talking about you!" James blushed, only slightly embarrassed. Becky giggled and kissed his cheek. "All good things, I hope." Becky smiled as she pulled back to look at Papa. “Only the best,” he said with a wink. "Now come, let me give you a tour of my home." Papa walked them through the house, telling them stories of his kids, taking a few moments to embarrass James. Then he reached the family room, and Becky instantly noticed the marks on the wall. "What's all this?" She pointed. "Ah, my favourite tradition," Papa said fondly. James stood against the wall, and Papa marked his unchanging height. “Every visit." James smiled. "So wait, all of these marks are from one of your kids?" Becky asked. "Kids, grandkids, adopted family…the ones who married in," he teased with a wink. Both kids blushed and quickly left the room. Later on a walk together, Becky went on and on about how cute and sweet the tradition was. "I think it's his way of keeping everyone close. We all live far away, so I think it helps him out." James smiled, taking Becky's hand. "I think that's great. I'm glad I got to come this summer and meet all your family." Becky swung her arm back and forth. "I am too." James smiled happily. The two made it through college as a couple; both of them got their degrees and then started the job hunt. James found work first and then it was Betty's goal to find a place and job near him. But until that happened, they agreed they would settle for trips on long weekends. James' work schedule wouldn't allow him to go on the traditional family trip that year. So he and Becky decided to go see Papa on one of their weekend visits together. The three went fishing, had campfires and went thrift shopping. Papa enjoyed the company, and James and Betty enjoyed the freedom from their grown-up world. After an early morning fishing trip, Betty took a nap and James and Papa sat to play a game of crib. "So my boy, tell me, what ya waiting on?" Papa said with a smile as he dealt the cards. "Waiting on?" Jame asked, feigning innocence. "Don't play dumb with me, boy. " Papa gave him a look. James sighed. "I can't find the right ring - everything is too flashy or too plain. She needs something just right." Papa set his cards down and walked into his bedroom. James wasn't sure if he should follow or not. But just as he set his cards down, Papa walked back into the room and sat down. He slid a red velvet box across the table. James knew this box. His grandma took it on every trip and it always sat on her nightstand. "Papa..." James was shocked. "Are you sure?" "She always told me she wanted one of you kids to propose with it. And you seem like you need it." He gestured for James to open the box. James slowly lifted the lid, smiling as he remembered his grandmother. She would have loved Becky. He looked at the simple yet stunning ring his papa had asked his grandmother with all those years ago. "She'll love it Papa, thank you." "You'll want to get it sized and maybe polished. Gives you time to plan your romantic gesture.” Papa winked as he picked up his cards. In the next couple of weeks, James got the ring sized and polished, and then he thought about his proposal. Becky needed something perfect... And one day, the perfect idea hit him. A few weeks later, he found a way to take a couple of days off and convinced Becky to join him for one last summer trip to visit Papa. They arrived late in the afternoon. "So Becky,” James glanced at her as he parked in the drive. “I lied." She gave him a look. "This trip wasn't my idea, it was Papa’s. He has a surprise for ya." "Oh! Well, that's lovely." She smiled. "Cover your eyes, no peeking. We'll unpack later." James led her through the house, not saying a word. Becky wasn't sure if that was a good or bad sign. But she played along. James stopped walking and turned her around. "Wait here." She heard the two men whispering along with other sounds that she couldn't identify. "Alright Becky, open your eyes.” Papa's voice greeted her. When she did, she saw she was standing in front of the wall of heights. She took a step back, confused. Then she saw it; while her eyes had been closed, Papa had added her height to the wall. "Papa, you must be mistaken - James hasn't asked me to marry him yet." Papa smiled softly. "Oh no, I know, dear girl. But I count you as family." He stepped aside to reveal James down on one knee. “James!" Becky gasped and immediately tackled him before he could even speak. Did you like what you read? Do you want to get notified when I post a new story before my Facebook or Instagram followers do? If you do, click the Login/Sign Up button at the top of the blog post and you will become a site member and get notified when I post a new story every Friday! Or you can follow me on Facebook or Instagram and get updates later on in the day!

Everyone loves the idea of time travel, and Toby was no different. He devoted his life to making it happen. And eventually, he did - he built himself a time machine. However, on the day he tested it, something happened that he had not counted on. He triggered something he could only describe as a time loop. And he was perpetually stuck. At some point, he discovered a pattern: he would go into the time machine and travel somewhere new; and when he stepped out of the machine, and back into his workshop, he wouldn’t fully remember everything he knew before. And the more times he went through the time machine, the less and less he remembered about his life outside the workshop. When he went into the past or the future, he could experience his life in the outside world, but his memories of those experiences faded quickly when he returned to the present. Whenever he travelled to a time where someone should know him he seemed unrecognizable to them. On top of that, he was stuck in his workshop, unable to walk out and interact with the outside world in real-time. At some point, some version of him realised what was happening and started a diary. He left it in his workshop and recorded memories from each trip before they faded, hoping each time he left that the diary would be there when he stepped out of the time machine again. Entry #1 Hello Toby, I can only hope this works. It’s you from the past. It seems that our time machine has entered a time loop. I know you might not believe me, but let me tell you a fact I am sure you will remember. When we were in elementary school and we told the kids in our class that we wanted to build a time machine, the only one who believed us was Jenny Jankins. She kissed us in the corner of the classroom and everyone made fun of us for years. Do you believe me now? Good. We must do something, we can’t stay in the time loop forever - please do something. Please record what you have learned and where you have been, so we can go home. I am going to the earliest centuries to learn what they first thought of time travel. Please trust me. Toby Entry #2 We are in a time loop? Meaning we can do whatever we want? Since it’s not real life? This is amazing! There are no risks, and no worries - we will always be okay! I don’t know what this last version of us was so worried about. This sounds amazing! I’m going to visit ancient Greece and see all the amazing battles and war zones. No worries! Toby Entry #3 I have decided that some versions of the time loop don't include this book. I just checked out the Renaissance era. Are we really in a time loop? What's happening outside the workshop then? Do we know? Should I try the door? ... No, I’ll leave that for one of you to try. I like time travelling. It's so cool! I'm going to go to the time they put a man on the moon! Toby Entry#6 Okay... So the novelty might be wearing off... Looking at this book, has no one noticed that we never tried to escape? Or to stop the loop? Shouldn't we? The first guy tried to explain and we didn’t listen… Why do I feel like we’re forgetting about someone or something? I've also noticed we always go to the past. I'm gonna go to the future. Maybe I'll learn something to help us... Toby Entry #7 WE HAVE A WIFE AND DAUGHTER! And no, I didn't marry someone during this time travel loop. I mean that, before we built the time machine we were married, and we had a daughter… I met her today, she is getting married. And WOW, does she ever look like our mom. She speaks highly of us. They think we died… We have to fix this. We need to change this. We need to be there for her. We have to get out of here. I'm just going to try to leave through the workshop door… Toby Entry #10 Whatever you do, please stop trying to leave through the door. It seems to make the loop worse. Look, I get it, we're desperate to get out and we never really know how many loops have passed between each entry. But repeating past mistakes will not help this! Don't lose your head. I know reading this and realising what is happening brings up emotions. But we need to keep our heads about us so we can get out of here. I am going to try going back to our childhood and see if we can change something. Toby Entry #11 So meeting us as a child didn't do anything, it seems. Is this our doomed fate? Can we stop this? Also, did meeting us as a child only encourage us to look into time travel more? Did I make it worse or has this always been? Can we ever truly be free? There must be something!! Toby Entry #12 Soo... I'm not sure what the last guy tried but clearly it didn't work... So here is an idea - what if we don't exist? Like, what if we stop Mom and Dad from meeting? Then none of this can happen... I don't see how we have another choice - it's clear nothing else has worked. So I am going back to our parents’ high school years to see if I can stop all this… Toby Entry # 13 HOW DID THAT NOT WORK? It's like fate is against us. No matter what I did, it wasn't enough. I tried to stop their date, or mess up big events or milestones… It didn't work. They always pulled through. Like their love is a constant truth, that cannot be avoided. I want to see the life I’ve forgotten. I want to know what we've missed, I need to know! Toby Entry #14 She's amazing... She's kind and loving. She believed in our ideas when the rest of the world didn't. She never quit on us. She was pregnant with our daughter. She hadn't told us yet… She'd found out the morning we went into the workshop to try this invention. She was planning on telling us tonight with a cute little surprise. And we never get to see it. Why did we never think of the risk of time loops? Why did we have to prove everyone wrong? We could have just lived a life without any kind of worries. But no, we had to be something, had to accomplish some feat! Wait.... what if I just destroy the machine? Then we never try time travel, then maybe just maybe we can leave this room. Ok, I destroyed the machine, and I'm going to walk back out that door and if it works, we will never try this again. There is no need, because while the past is interesting and the future is intriguing… The present is a gift I will never waste again. Toby In case this fails, To my loving wife, please know that I tried. I did all I could to get back to you. I can only hope you find this book. Did you like what you read? Do you want to get notified when I post a new story before my Facebook or Instagram followers do? If you do, click the Login/Sign Up button at the top of the blog post and you will become a site member and get notified when I post a new story every Friday! Or you can follow me on Facebook or Instagram and get updates later on in the day!

Andrew was grateful for the extra few hours Penny had given him. She had woken him up, and then he showered and got himself ready for the day. Once they were both ready they wandered back toward the foyer where they had been greeted the night before. Thankfully Jonathan found them before they got too lost. "Ah! You're awake, wonderful! I was just coming up to find you. Betty is just putting the finishing touches on breakfast." "Do the families eat with you?" Penny followed him into the rather large kitchen. "About once a month, Deary,” Betty called from the stove. “Those who are gifted in the kitchen come in and we make a big breakfast for all the staff and their families." "Oh, that's neat! Otherwise, the families fend for themselves?" Andrew thought that was nice - the idea of everyone gathering for a meal together. "Some of them eat together; it's kind of up to them and depends on what chores they have." Jonathan smiled. "We can show you around the farm and give you more details later, I'm sure you have other questions." "Jonathan, can you tell us how this place is different than ours?” Andrew's curiosity had been eating him. “I'm sure we can figure out the similarities." "Well, we actually don’t know how different we are; we only know what the earthers tell us of their world, and every time things are different.” Jonathan handed them each a small box. “We got you each a wristband that can be used to send messages to each other and anyone else you add. Betty and I already added our numbers so you can reach us." “Oh, thank you.” Penny and Andrew took them and looked at them, intrigued. “When we take you into town, you’ll notice that most people get around by either pedal or electronic bike, some use horses,” Betty spoke from the stove; it was funny for Andrew to watch Penny stay seated and not get up and help her. “We also have the solar train if we have to travel to one of the other districts.” Andrew and Penny shared a look; this world was so different than the one they knew. It sounded amazing, surely it couldn’t be this perfect? "The earthers who have come in the past have helped us make changes to our world, so we can use some of the things from your world, like some of the technology and modern conveniences you’d be used to," Betty continued. "Oh, I forgot one of the biggest changes!” Jonathan chimed in. “Our planet only has one landmass on it. It's also very small. You can travel the whole thing in about three days by solar train. Less if you’re only going to one place and back. We could arrange for Alice and Henry to take you on a tour. They're a lovely couple who I'm sure will be great friends for you both." Jonathan smiled. "Three days? That's it!" Penny looked at him, dumbstruck. "A tour would be great!” Andrew added. “So…if it's one landmass, does that mean it’s all one country?" He was shocked - it seemed almost like a little pocket planet. "Pretty much. It feels more like one community - there is the village centre that has all the amenities, and from there the train will take you to the beachfront community, the mountain range, or the farming district." Betty finally brought the food and joined the group at the table. Once everyone was dished up and eating, an audible sigh was from Andrew and Penny - Betty was an amazing cook. Andrew watched Pen while they ate. She seemed to be doing much better after their talk this morning, and now he felt uneasy. Well, uneasy might be the wrong word, but this place seemed to be too good to be true. And Arcadia needed him; he was a hero and that came first, so he couldn’t get too comfortable. He would fight as long as Pen did; after all, she was his team leader. "Oh, Pen and I were wondering…we told you last night, we haven’t graduated yet - will that be a problem?” Andrew was sitting next to Jonathan at the table, with Penny across from him. "Well, not really. You could take a work assessment test if you’d like, but we don't tend to expect the earthers to go to our school system… We usually just help them find work - if they would like, that is." Jonathan smiled at them. "We both are keen to take some time off, but we also both like to be busy. I’ve been working as a Photographer on the side for a while, and Andy is an amazing pianist; he also composes music!" Pen beamed with pride at him. "Andrew was quite a big deal to have at a party. If you like piano music, that is." "Ah! Well, in that case, we can help you find gigs to keep you busy if you’d like! Vikki’s been doing a jazz night at the club - you might be able to get on rotation there. Or some of the bands might need a piano player. Alice runs a gallery for local artists, so you could get a slot in there. Oh! And Henry needs a new composer/pianist at the theatre." Jonathan's eyes lit up, his mind full of ideas. After a moment of silence, Betty spoke. "There is another big difference that we need to talk about with you two." "Okay…?" Andrew couldn’t help but be curious now. “In your world, the idea of soulmates exists only in stories, yes?” Betty asked, and both of them nodded. “Well here, it’s a real thing…kinda.” “What do you mean?” Penny asked. “Each person has a name that only their true partner will be able to unlock. And when you find your partner and they discover your name, you will be able to communicate telepathically.” Jonathan smiled at Betty like they were sharing a secret. “You two have unlocked this name, haven’t you?” Penny giggled slightly. “We have.” Betty smiled softly at Jonathan. “We call them soul names.” “How did it happen?” Andrew asked. He and Penny had so many nicknames for each other - what if they had soul names? Could they unlock them while being in love with someone else? “I grew up on the farm and Betty lived in the mountain range. I would bring our trade goods to the market, and she would be buying goods for her family. We would see each other often and we became friends over time… I took her to a few balls and a banquet or two. Then we started dating, taking the risk that we wouldn’t be the ones to unlock each other’s names,” Jonathan explained. “However, my family wasn’t pleased with my choice of “a farmboy” as they called him. But I loved him, and he was determined to impress my family…so one day he came riding up to my house on a perfect white horse, declaring his love for me, and I ran out to him, telling him he was My Knight.” “And I called her My Lady, and just like that we were bonded. Her parents, knowing we were each other's true partners, eventually accepted me.” Jonathan ended the story with a smile, taking Betty’s hand. "Whoa, how romantic." Pen sighed. “Why didn’t they like you? Was it really because you come from the farm?” Betty laughed. “No, not really, they just believed I should only be with my true partner, but Jonny and I weren’t worried about that. Some people never find their true partner.” “And some find it between friends, and they just choose to stay friends and learn to control how they use this skill of communicating,” Jonathan explained, “It’s like a muscle - the more you use the telepathy, the stronger it gets the less you use it, well, the weaker it becomes.” “Could we have sole names?” Andrew couldn’t think of a world where Sophie wasn’t his true partner or a world where Penny and Trevor weren’t together. "Not all earthers have soul names, but it has happened before." Jonathan looked at them closely. “I know you have partners, but in your world, even if you find that you have soul names, it doesn’t mean you have to fall in love.” Both Penny and Andrew let out a sigh; neither of them were ready to think of what it really meant to never leave here. Would they lose their love for Sophie and Trevor? What would happen to them? Those were thoughts for another day. "Now that that’s taken care of..." Betty stood and started cleaning up. "You two need a place of your own. I assume you want to stay together?" They nodded. "Well we have a cute little townhouse, it has two bedrooms and a basement that would do well for both of you to set up spaces for your hobbies. Jonathan can give you a tour of the homestead. Then you two can see the townhouse and give us a list of new things you want. We will get them for you while you go on a tour of the island. How does that sound?" "As long as the first stop on the tour is a boutique - we need clothes that are ours, not taken from your guest room." Andrew laughed. "Ah yes, we will take you in today and help you find clothes. But first, a tour of your new home!" Jonathan smiled at them both. Andrew looked over at Pen and offered her a hand. They could do this, together. Did you like what you read? Do you want to get notified when I post a new story before my Facebook or Instagram followers do? 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"Where is that girl!" Andrea sighed. "She was with us at the hotel, right? We never should have let her take her own vehicle!" The other girls nodded in agreement. Each of them had tried texting and calling her, and they took turns calming her mother down. Promising she hadn’t run away. Little did they know that Rose was in a bit of a bind. - 40 minutes earlier - "Don't worry girls, I'll be right behind you," Rose assured them. She watched as the girls left her alone. She looked at herself in the mirror - she was getting married today! Her dress was perfect, her makeup spotless and, other than her veil, her hair was finished and flawless. She was almost ready to leave when her phone rang. "No!" she sighed as she picked up the video call. "David, why are you calling me from the cave instead of the venue? You’re supposed to be with Nathaniel." She stared at her nerdy best friend, her techy sidekick. "I know! I know! And I was, but Super Nova is at it again... And the city is desperate.” He pulled up videos on the screen, and Rose saw both the fire and police departments struggling. "What did you tell Nathaniel? Does he know?" She pulled out her watch, put it back on and tapped the button; instantly her costume covered her dress, and her hair and helmet hid her face. Their communication switched to her headset and she left his video on the screen in her helmet. She quickly packed up the last few things while he talked. "Told him I forgot the rings," David explained. Rose shot him a look. “I panicked, okay? I can control 80% of the tech from the phone. So as long as I keep calm we should be able to keep him in the dark unless they start live-streaming the fight…" He sighed. “I should just text him…” Rose muttered - not to David, but thinking out loud. “No time! I'll tell him if we need to. Super Nova on main, I'll take a cab to your hotel and get your car and other stuff. Good luck, Techno.” He hung up for now and she took a breath. Time to be a hero… Techno jumped out the window and flew toward the main street. As Rose, she’d been struck by lightning as a tween and it gave her the ability to manipulate electricity. She had trained and become a hero. And David found out about her when she contacted him, needing a better tech. She trusted him and he had not failed her. He even helped her find a place for a hideout. David introduced her to Nathaniel, who had found out about her ability when Techno rescued him; the fact that Rose met him where Techno dropped him off clued him in. No one else knew - Andrea might suspect it but Rose really didn't know for sure. She landed just outside Super Nova's view. "Guro, are you at a point to give me a status update?" “She's trying to kidnap the mayor's son again." Guro’s voice echoed in her helmet. "You know, with how easily that boy gets taken, I swear he's in love with her." She shook her head. "Hmm, might be worth a discussion one day. But for now…the weak point is near the bookshop. You should be able to get a shot before she knows you are there.” Techno looked and then leapt to the spot Guro pointed out. And she took the shot. Textbook-perfect shot. Super Nova turned sharply. "You!" …and loaded a fireball to shoot at Techno, who tucked behind the bookstore chimney. Thankfully, Super Nova's shot missed. Techno came out from behind the chimney. "Super Nova! That's enough! You know how this ends. And I don't have time for this." Super Nova threw her head back and laughed. "Did you really think that would work?" Techo shrugged. “I'd hoped. But, it distracted you!" She glanced to where the mayor's son was being carried away from Supers Nova's trap. Thanks to Guro’s robot. “How dare you! I trapped him fair and square!" Super Nova raged. Then she smirked. "Not like you to fight dirty, Techy." "It's Techno!" She said sharply. "And I said I didn't have time for this today!" "Oh don't worry, Techy, I won't keep you." Super Nova smirked and shot the base of the chimney out, trapping Techno under the debris. Super Nova then grabbed the mayor's son back, just after the robot had set him down near the police. "And since you don't have time today, I'll just take my prize and deal with the mayor, and the cops can deal with my demands." And she flew off with the mayor’s son in tow. Techno couldn't follow after her, because she was trapped and her suit was damaged. She looked to the chief of police and shook her head. "Go, I need to repair my suit. Will you be alright without me?” The chief nodded. "We'll manage. Will you be okay?" She laughed. "Guro will help me and repair my suit. It will take a few hours, but you can call us when you need to." The police quickly left, and Guro's robot started moving the bricks away from her. "You okay? Do I need to call the doctor before we get ya to your wedding?" Guro asked, as his robot worked. "No, I’m not hurt; the suit used the last of its energy to protect me. So if you can get me close to the church we should be good." Guro's robot produced handles on itself for her to hold onto, and they flew together through the city, successfully dodging the media. Guru's robot dropped Techno in the gardens near the church. She tapped her watch and was once again the bride. Seeing that David had left her car nearby, she ran to it, hopped in, and headed to the church. She parked quickly and raced inside. "Girl! Where were you?" Andrea hurried toward her. "Everyone is so worried about you!" "Sorry, there was a fight and I got stuck in traffic," Rose explained. “Only you could be late to your own wedding girl!" All the girls laughed, then helped to straighten her veil and touch up her makeup. "Well girl, ya ready?" Rose smiled. "Yes, I can't wait." Soon all her friends and family were watching her walk down the aisle to Nathaniel. When she got to the front, he took her hands and smiled. "You're late." She giggled and whispered, “Better late than never.” Did you like what you read? Do you want to get notified when I post a new story before my Facebook or Instagram followers do? If you do, click the Login/Sign Up button at the top of the blog post and you will become a site member and get notified when I post a new story every Friday! Or you can follow me on Facebook or Instagram and get updates later on in the day!

What a stupid idea,.you think to yourself as you walk the snow-filled path. Or at least, you think it's the path. It was a path when you started, but the deeper you have gone into the woods, the deeper the snow has gotten. Now that you think about it, that makes sense. It's the week after Christmas - nobody has been out to clear the trails. But, you're stubborn. So you keep walking. This path is supposed to lead to a gorgeous view of Lake Vallor. And after the mess of a holiday season that you’ve had, you just want to get away from all of it for a bit. It had been a nice enough winter day when you’d started out, so an hour ago you didn't mind the snow or even the cold. But now your feet are wet, your coat hood is frosty, the scarf you wore has ice on it, and your soaked gloves feel useless. And you are hopelessly lost. You didn't want to admit it, but you are. Your phone shut down from being too cold. So you are on your own. You are half tempted to climb a tree and see if you can spot the highway or the lake. But you’re not sure you could get high enough to get see anything. So you lean against a tree, trying to remember any of the survival things you’ve learned over the years. You know you've already failed the first rule, as you've wandered too far away. And you didn't come prepared. You only have your winter clothes - no backpack with supplies, just whatever was in your pockets. You've clicked your key fob and you can't hear the car horn. Which means you are too far away from your car to be in range. Then while leaning against the tree, you smell smoke. But it doesn't smell like out-of-control smoke, more like campfire smoke. Seeing it as your best chance of getting out of here, you try to follow the smell. The tree line starts to thin and you find a clearing. You walk into the clearing and see a cabin. A cabin out here? How odd... You pause. Is knocking on this random door a good idea? What if the person inside is creepy…or a murderer? Then the wind picks up and it feels like it cuts right through you. So, not caring who answers that door, you walk up to it and knock. After a moment, the door opens. You feel the warmth of the house rush out. You try not to melt at the warmth. "My heavens! You look chilled to the bone. Come in! Come in!" A woman pulls you in the door. "Thank you.” You feel the warmth, then realize how stiff your body is. As you start to warm up, you feel like your body is on fire. "Did you get lost?" the woman asks. "Here, take off those soaked clothes, we can have them dry by my fire." You remove as many sopping clothes as you feel comfortable with. Then the woman hands you a blanket and ushers you close to the fire. You take a few moments to welcome the feeling back to your body. You breathe easier and are grateful for the warmth. Then you remember she asked a question. "Yes, the path to Lake Vallor was buried under snow, so I lost track of where I was and my phone wouldn't turn on. So I got lost..." "My! You are lost then. You managed to get to the other side of the woods.” She looks at you with sympathy. "Oh really? I didn't realize I got that far off the path." You look around the little cabin. "How far of a walk is it back to my trailhead? My car is parked there." “It's a good hour-long walk.” You try to hide your grimace at the idea of walking an hour in the cold again. “But we'll let your clothes dry, so no rush." She smiles like she didn’t notice your grimace, then hands you a hot drink, which you aren't sure when she made. "Oh, thank you!” The drink continues to thaw you. You sigh, finally feeling the burning sensation die down. "So tell me, why are you out walking so close to the holidays? Don't ya have family around?" You look down at your mug. "I do." You take a deep breath. "I Just needed to get away from them all." The woman smiles at you. "Ah, I see, is your family dysfunctional?” You shake your head. “Not really, they're just a lot and the holidays are a lot... " You watch the fire. "We are all so busy, with all the running, parties, and events…it all just gets to be a bit much." The woman smiles at you and rests a hand on your shoulder. “Then enjoy the peace my little cabin brings." She leaves you in front of the fire and seems to disappear. But you don't notice. Instead, you sit and listen to the fire crackle, watching it dance. You feel your body relax and the tension lessens. You breathe a bit easier. You smile - not the forced smile you've put on for pictures over the last few days, but a real smile. The holiday craziness wasn’t to be helped though… Your mother had just been trying to make the holiday perfect for everyone. The last few years had been rough for most of the family, and she just wanted to give everyone some childlike wonder. Which was sweet, but it meant a jam-packed holiday. None of you kids had had the heart to tell her that all you really wanted was a quiet holiday together. Some good food, some classic games, and a gift exchange. But she had arranged shows, light tours, a girl's and boy's night for the sibling groups, and too many big meals. You couldn’t help but feel like your need for peace and quiet had been overlooked. Maybe your family felt the same way…. But like you, they maybe didn’t feel like they could speak up, for fear of hurting your mom’s feelings. Mom was just trying to be Grandma; Grandma made every holiday special, and last year without her…nobody had wanted to celebrate…so you didn’t. But this year your mom was determined to not have a repeat…. But had it been worth it? Had your mom enjoyed this holiday? You should ask her, maybe she is as tired as you are…. Had she noticed her children's exhaustion? You sigh and feel your smile fall. You could have talked to your mom over the holiday - and not just about the plan for the day, but about how she was really doing. You sit up straight. Alright, when you get home, you’ll make a warm drink, sit down with your mom and just talk. You smile again. Yeah, that would be good. You're not sure how much time has passed when… "You look more relaxed," the woman observes as she comes back into the room. "I am, thank you." You hand her the mug that you somehow emptied while lost in your thoughts. “So do you want to talk about how you ended up out in the woods just after the holidays?” She sits on what looks like her favourite chair - it has a basket of knitting next to it. You pause. She’s a total stranger…but something about her feels familiar, safe even…. So you decided to talk. “My mom just went overkill on the holiday, and I just needed a break.” You look up, expecting a rebuke. “Ah, that can happen.” She picks up some knitting. “Do you know why she did that? Or is this a yearly affair?” “New to this year, she was trying to…” You take a breath “...do what Grandma would have done.” “Ah, those first few holidays are hard without the family backbones.” She smiles softly, and you don’t feel like such a failure. “I imagine she feels like she has to fill a role that was huge to fill.” You nod. She’s right…and it only validates the idea that you need to talk to your mom. You happen to look out the window and notice the sun is setting. "Oh, I should get a move on! It's getting dark." The woman puts a hand on your shoulder. "I'll drive you back to your car. No point in you walking. My old truck will get us there." She picks up a set of keys by the door. "I'll get it started." She slips outside. You stand and start to gather up all your clothes. As you put on your jacket, you remember your phone in your pocket. You turn it on to find a few messages from your family and a phone call or two from friends. You chuckle to yourself. At least you know they care. You call your parents, letting them know you’re okay, that you'll be home soon, and that you'll explain when you get there. You send a photo and a brief explanation of your afternoon to a few group chats. Then the woman comes back in. "Truck’s ready when you are." As you follow her out to the truck, you can't help but notice the sunset’s beautiful colours painting the sky. You quietly wonder if you will come and visit this woman again…only next time it will be on purpose. Did you like what you read? Do you want to get notified when I post a new story before my Facebook or Instagram followers do? If you do, click the Login/Sign Up button at the top of the blog post and you will become a site member and get notified when I post a new story every Friday! Or you can follow me on Facebook or Instagram and get updates later on in the day!

Penny woke up to the sound of a door softly closing. A moment later, light peaked around the door frame of the bathroom. She rolled over and looked at the clock|; 4:30 am. She should go back to sleep; she was definitely still tired enough for it. But her eyes burned, and her head kind of hurt. That's what you get for crying yourself to sleep, she reminded herself. Feeling suddenly restless, she got up and walked to the window. Pulling open the curtain, she gazed at the two moons hanging high in the sky. Their light almost felt soothing to her eyes. She let out a deep breath and wrapped her arms around her chest, her mind racing with all the things she and Andrew would have to deal with. She was so lost in her thoughts that she jumped when Andrew's arms wrapped around her and he placed a cup and a small pill in front of her on the window sill. "I figured your head might hurt as much as mine. And they have everything in that bathroom." He chuckled lightly. "Want to go back to bed?" "I don't think I can…. Do you think we can sit and make a plan?" She leaned against the cool window before taking the pill and draining the glass of water. "I was hoping you'd say that." He took a step back, giving her room to turn and look at him. "Floor or bed?" he asked. "Lean against the bed? Beds are for resting, not serious conversations." She grabbed a pillow and sat on the floor. "Ah, so you're the one who gave Sophie that idea." He laughed. "I should have known." "It was one Trevor gave me, actually." She let out a sad sigh and waited for Andrew to get comfortable on the floor. However, he didn't sit right away. First, he went and grabbed the tray of snacks brought to them before. "We haven't eaten since we got here, and I'm guessing breakfast isn't for a while around here." Her stomach rumbled, so they both grabbed something to munch on. "Well, I’ll start by saying this: I would like to have our own space rather than staying in a house full of people, regardless of how long we are here." Penny spoke slowly. "Well, I think the idea of living together makes me feel safer." She paused. "I think whatever plan we make, it has to work for both for the short term and set us up for the long term." "Yeah, I think that makes sense.” Andrew sighed. “As much as I don't want to admit it, it does seem unlikely we will get to go back…but I want to have hope." He gave her a sad smile. "Hope is such a cruel gift." She sighed heavily. "Always waiting for something that may never come, but unable to let go of the idea." Andrew moved closer to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "I know Pen, but we will get through this together." He leaned back again, his hand moving to his lap and fidgeting with a wrapper from the snack tray. "Okay, so we find somewhere that we can stay together…I assume you’re going to want to be able to cook, and I really don't want someone else to clean for me." "I'm glad you agree." She smiled. "I don't think I could spend six months doing nothing. Maybe take some time off to rest and get to know the area better, but then find some kind of work." "I've been working the freelance grind, so doing nothing isn't really in my wheelhouse. We are still high school students though; maybe we’ll need to do some kinda school….” He looked over to the window - not that he wanted to go back to school. "Think we can find jobs with our passions here?" Penny hated how weak her voice sounded, but she had to admit this was a lot. "I know the architecture is old school, but looking around even this room, it seems they have the modern amenities we are used to, so I'm sure we can, Ros...Pen." He sighed. "Sorry, I bet we don't want to use superhero nicknames right now." "It's hard not to, eh? We've been using Rose and Spark both in and out of the suits for the past few years." She smiled as she thought for a moment of their friendship over the years. "We could pick new ones? You know, to replace those?" Andrew played with a loose thread on the pillow. "Maybe we could save that for six months? Just avoid using them for now?" Penny paused, making sure they were on the same page, he nodded, "So, we find out if we can work with our passions and get a space that is our own. Anything else we need to plan?" Penny looked over at the clock and found that it was 5:30. The sun was starting to rise in the sky, and the colours were lovely. She quickly rose and ran to the window. “Andrew, look!" He followed her, and they stood together watching; the room seemed to be facing the homestead, and Andrew pointed down to what they both could see. "I would guess that these are the people who work for us?" They both took note of the style of clothes, a modern Victorian style - something that Sophie would have loved to sew. Trevor would have been inspired by all kinds of stories to tell. "Early morning farm chores." Penny smiled softly. "It doesn't look like they have gas power farm tools - look at the size of the stable." She slowly opened the window, and the smell of the farm hit them both, along with the sounds of horses. As city kids, this seemed almost exciting. They watched the movement for a bit longer until people seemed to be settled at their jobs for the morning. "Think if we got ready for the day, Betty would let me help make breakfast?" "I'm guessing not, but maybe if Jonathan is around we can get more information about this place?" Andrew laughed. "Let's see what we can find for us to wear because I think our street clothes might just stick out a bit." He chuckled. "I'm sure we can find clothes that feel like us but match the style.” She smiled. Sophie had helped her learn a lot about fashion and how to dress in the way that made you feel your best. "I like that idea. It could be fun to reinvent ourselves like characters from one of Trevor’s stories." They both went and rummaged through the drawers, quickly finding clothes that seemed like a good fit. "Mind if I shower first?" When Andrew nodded, Penny slipped into the bathroom. She looked in the mirror; her eyes were bloodshot and her hair frazzled, and she had clear tear lines on her face. She shook her head; only Andy would not care to mention to her how unkempt she looked. Snooping around the bathroom, she found a hair tie hidden in a drawer and pulled her hair into a ponytail. Then she finally got to look at where her ear cuff used to sit. It looked like Andy’s mark had, black with an almost silver tint. She lightly touched the bruise and inhaled sharply. Yep, they burned. She now understood Andrew's reaction to her touching his bruise. After staring at herself for a moment, she stepped into the shower and let the hot water wash away her stress. She slipped on her new outfit and fell in love with how soft the fabric was. "Oh! This is lovely." She spun around, enjoying the silhouette it gave her. Why had she not worn more skirts in Arcadia? She wandered out of the bathroom and saw Andrew lying back on the bed, quietly napping. She looked at the clock; she'd let the boy sleep. After all, he'd been her hero last night - she could give him a few more hours of rest. Penny curled up on the sofa and watched the sun continue to rise.

Jennavieve had always loved theatre; since her mother had taken her to a kid's concert, she had been hooked. Not only did she watch plays, but she acted in them too. She loved being on stage. She did school plays and community theatre, and she also went to drama camps. That was why this year - her senior year of high school - she was looking forward to having a decent role in the school play. She didn't need to be the lead role, but she was hopeful that she wouldn't be in the ensemble. So, on the Monday morning after auditions, Jennavieve raced to the bulletin board by the drama room. Quickly scanning the posted list, she saw that she was... in the ensemble. Her heart dropped. She refused to cry though. She was going to do her best, even though it was not the role she had hoped for. This was the last show before college and she wasn't going to waste it. She worked hard, learning the dances and all the melodies, and her hard work was rewarded in small ways. She was put near the front and given a part in the play's group of main characters. Even though it wasn't what Jennavieve wanted her last high school play to be, she was still having enough fun not to drop out. But that all changed at a dance workshop weekend when she took a rough fall. She hadn't hurt herself too badly, but the dance teacher was livid. She lectured Jennavieve about not knowing the dance. Jennavieve wanted to point out that this dance was chaotic -she had fallen because someone else was in the wrong spot. But rather than mentioning that fact, Jennavieve simply asked to go get an ice pack and ran off the stage. She found ice backstage and sat down to compose herself. "Jenny?" She looked up and saw Tomas. They were friends…or at least theatre friends. They had actually acted as each other's love interest in a play once before. Tomas' dad ran the community theatre, so Tomas was always involved in shows. He was a good actor; she was surprised he was also in the ensemble. "I'm fine, Tommy, just needed a second." She wiped her eyes on her sleeve. Tomas smiled and sat down next to her. "She shouldn't have yelled at you. The director called her on it. And we took a break and are going to redo that dance number to something a little less...uh, extra?" he finished with a laugh. "Good." She laughed too. "I agree the song is better suited for a bit less." “I brought your water bottle."' He handed it to her; she smiled and took it. "So, in the new dance,” he continued, “She wants everyone to pair up, and I was thinking because we've danced together in the past we could pair up…and maybe, because we know how to act subtly we could create our own story in the story? We are both in the main actors' crews so…could be fun?" Jennavieve smiled. "As long as we don't get in trouble it sounds fun!" So that's what the two did. They gave their no-name characters a backstory. It was easy enough to do as their crews were always on stage together. Jennavieve would wave at Tomas the first time they saw each other on stage. He would wink. Tomas would sneak her a note in the next scene -and he'd actually write her a note every practice. She had to admit he was smooth. Whenever the leads were talking and their crews had to do background acting, Jennavieve and Tomas would find a way to help each other. Then later in the play when the groups were at a bonfire, Tomas would find a way to sit next to her and put his arm around her. During one practice, Jennavieve forgot her sweater and got cold during the scene, and Tomas gave her his sweater without thinking. The directors loved it because it showed how close the two groups were becoming, and they told the two of them to keep it up. Later in the play when the main characters fought, Jennavieve gave Tomas his sweater back and he watched as she left with the rest of the girl's group. Then just before the big dance scene, the two made a point of awkwardly avoiding each other until they saw the main characters dance together. Then they intentionally found each other and danced together. The directors complimented them on their subtle story. Jennavieve was grateful for Tomas' idea; it made the show more fun. She knew to be wary of feelings formed during a stage play, but she was really going to miss spending time with him when the play was done. Then two days before their first show, the two leads got sick - like, super sick. It seemed they had caught it from each other. Both lost their voices and couldn't perform. At practice, the director looked at Tomas and Jennavieve and stated, "You two will have to take their roles, you are the only two who can.” Tomas and Jennavieve shared a panicked expression. Then Tomas took her hand and said, "We'll do it." The costumes had to be tailored, and last-minute changes were made to the dances. Thankfully, they didn't really have to work to learn the lines, because they were so familiar from practice. But there was one thing….their positions on stage. “Tommy, what are we going to do? We haven't been watching their blocking! What if we mess up during the show!?" Jennavieve exclaimed as they walked backstage to change after a rushed dress rehearsal. "We don't need to know their blocking. We can make these characters our own. The directors liked our subtle story. We can use elements of it in our new roles. We can do this!" he squeezed her hand before slipping behind the curtain that was one of two makeshift change rooms backstage. "You're right! We can do this." Jennavieve slipped behind the other curtain. They had six shows over three days. The first show was rough, but thankfully it was for the elementary school kids, who didn’t seem to notice. By the last show, no one would have believed that the two hadn't always been the planned leads. Jennavieve still waved to start their interactions, and Tomas still winked. He found a way to slip her his note. During the duet at the bone fire, he gave her his sweater, and during their fight, she gave it back to him. When she turned to leave, he grabbed her hand and begged her not to leave. She pulled her hand away, brought it close to her heart, and then left without saying a word. Their rehearsed awkwardness worked great for the big dance. Once they did finally speak, Jennavieve made a point of taking his hand. And when the time came for the big kiss, they skipped it; instead, Tomas dipped her to end the dance. The crowd loved it every time. When the curtain dropped on closing night, the two shared a smile. "Thank you, Tomas." Jennavieve smiled. "I didn’t do anything," Tomas said with a shrug. "But you did." She gave him a hug and he returned it with a laugh. "If you say so." After she let go, he caught her hand. "Say, now that the play is done…wanna go out for dinner next weekend?" She blushed. "I would love to." Did you like what you read? Do you want to get notified when I post a new story before my Facebook or Instagram followers do? If you do, click the Login/Sign Up button at the top of the blog post and you will become a site member and get notified when I post a new story every Friday! Or you can follow me on Facebook or Instagram and get updates later on in the day!