The days blurred together like an eternal nightmare, trapping me in a cocoon. The weeks turned into months. I became so depressed that I couldn’t eat, sleep, or talk. Piper couldn’t drag me out of bed most days.
Then, one day, it changed.
I was sitting outside on the balcony, as I was feeling slightly more adventurous than usual. Someone who I had never seen before in my life walked out onto the balcony below me, the balcony connected to Flynn’s room. Flynn’s roommate had moved to the other side of the country right before I left for England, so I wondered who it could possibly be.
He looked up and waved, then flashed a dashing smile.
I had always been the “model child”, always perfect and complacent. But right then, I felt free. Wild, independent, and fearless.
“Hello.” I called down to the guy who stood, looking at the same sunrise that had been blurred by my tears only seconds before.
“Hi.” With his sandy blonde hair and what looked like blue eyes, he was easily one of the most stunning people I had ever seen. “I’m James.”
I smiled. “I’m Gwen.”
He nodded, then turned around and walked back into Flynn’s room. I gradually got better, even better than I was before my parents disappeared. I was more loose, carefree, and overall… happy.
It was almost Christmas, and therefore, almost time for the annual winter formal. This was my first time going, because I had gone home for the holidays for the past three years. Piper was super excited because she thought that Flynn was going to ask her. Two weeks before the formal, we still hadn’t bought our dresses.
When we finally got around to it, we found the perfect dresses. We took Eboni Beaux, the last member of our tightly knit trio, with us. Piper’s was light pink and had lace accents. Mine was red with white jewels running in diagonal lines across the bodice. Eboni’s was a simple mint green dress that went straight to the floor. We had the rest of the day off, so we went to Viral Cafe. It has amazing food and the building is awesome. Barb was on cashier duty. She has shoulder length, brown, curly hair that is always dyed a different color at the tips. She always wears black and purple, and owns a tiny boutique in downtown Seattle. She’s best friends with the family that owns the cafe, and sometimes she’ll volunteer when something happens to a staff member. She probably knows us better than our Headmistress, Cathleen Gatrelle.
“The usual?” Barb asked.
“Yeah.” Piper and I said simultaneously.
“Kay, get them three lunch bowls of soup and three hot chocolates.” Barb shouted to Kay, the cook on duty.
We got our orders and heard the jingling bell on the door, signifying someone entering the building.
“Hi Flynn!” Barb said enthusiastically. “I heard that you have a new student at Harrows. You seem to get a lot of new students though.”
“Yeah, his name is James. He’s pretty cool, but I don’t think Gwen will like him very much.” Flynn responded.
I looked at Piper and Eboni raising one eyebrow.
He ordered and then walked over to the booth we were sitting at. He slid into the seat by Piper.
“Why would I not like James?” I asked Flynn.
“He might just beat you for Valedictorian.” Flynn smiled. “Oh, and Piper, I was wondering… maybe you could go to the formal with me?”
“Okay.” I could tell she was trying not to squeal.
We ate then left for Westfield Southcenter. It is our favorite mall in Seattle.
We browsed for a few hours then picked out a salon to do our hair for the Winter Formal. When we finally went back to our dorms there were only 2 hours until dinner. We went down to the game room and played pool for half an hour then went to the library and did research for a group project that was due the day after the break ended. Dinner was pretty normal, except Piper was beaming more than usual.
The next day, we went shopping in the morning. We were talking about who would ask Eboni to the formal next, as she had already turned down three guys. I placed a bet on a junior named Lucas, but Piper wouldn’t challenge me.
We got back to the campus and we were just walking around when Piper squealed.
“Gwen, Eb! Look!” Piper exclaimed.
“What?” I asked.
“There’s Liam!” Piper said dragging me to him.
“Hi Liam.” I said.
“Uh… hi?” He looked confused. We didn’t really ever talk to him.
“So…” Piper thought for a minute and grinned slowly. “Do you want to have a pool tournament after dinner? We asked a few other people, and we thought you might like to come.”
“Okay?” He still looked confused.
We walked back to Eboni.
“What was that about?” I asked.
“I was setting him up so that he can get to know you and maybe ask you to the formal.” she said, as if it was obvious.
“Okay… But we still need a date for Eboni.”
“Hm… maybe if she would stop refusing guys, she would already have one.”
Eboni rolled her eyes. “Maybe if you would stop trying to play matchmaker it would all work itself out.”
I checked my phone. “It’s almost time for dinner. We should get back to the dorm.”
I changed into a scarlet lace dress, then Piper left for dinner with Flynn, leaving me and Eboni to walk together.
“Are you even good at pool?” Eboni asked.
“Well, I don’t know. I always beat Piper.” I grinned.
“I don’t think I’m very good.”
“You’ll be fine.”
During dinner, we asked 13 people to be in the pool tournament and all of them said yes. After dinner, we went down to the game room. About halfway through the third game Eboni went to get a drink of water and Liam came over to me and Piper.
“Hey, Gwen, can I ask you a question?” He looked at Piper. “Alone?”
“Sure.” I said.
Piper giggled and walked over to Flynn.
“Does Eboni have a date to the formal?” he asked awkwardly.
I started laughing. “No, but I think you should ask her. But wait until after the pool competition. Since she’s winning, I have a feeling she’s in her competitive mood.”
“Okay. Thanks.” he smiled at me.
He left and Piper came back over to me.
“How did it go?” she giggled..
I was silent for a few moments, then I shouted, “Surprise!” Everyone turned and stared, but I didn’t care. “He asked me if Eb had a date yet, and he’s going to ask her after the tournament is over.”
“Oh.” She looked thoroughly surprised.
“Yeah. But we still need to find a date for me.” I pointed out.
“Okay, maybe Lucas? Never mind. Sam? No. James? Yes!” She said, scanning the room, her eyes finally resting on him.
“Um… How about no?” I smiled at her.
“Come on!” she dragged me to him.
He was talking to Flynn, so Piper walked to him and laced her fingers through Flynn’s.
I glared at her and turned away, walking towards the refreshment table.
Piper excused herself from the conversation and stormed to me. James glanced over at us, his smirk replaced with a small smile when his eyes landed on me.
“Why didn’t you talk to him?” Piper asked.
“Unlike you, I can’t just start up a conversation randomly!” I exclaimed.
“Fine. Be that way.” she dragged me to the table where Eboni was eating chocolate covered strawberries.
“Let’s play truth or dare.” Piper said.
About three minutes into the game Liam walked to our table.
“Liam, truth or dare?” Piper asked.
“Uh… Truth?” he replied.
“Is it true that you’re going to ask Eboni to the formal?” I finished, knowing exactly what Piper was going to say.
“Yes.” he smiled at Eboni uneasily.
“Well Eb? Are you going to go with him?” Piper nudged her.
Eboni giggled. “Sure.”
“Great!” Piper beamed. “Now we have to find Gwen a date!”
The next day, I was watching the sunrise on the balcony. Flynn’s balcony was right below ours, and I didn’t notice when James emerged from the balcony below ours, his hair disheveled and wearing a bathrobe.
“What are you doing?” James was looking up.
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m watching the sunrise.” I rolled my eyes and tried to mimic his trademark smirk, but epically failed. I gave up after a few awkward moments.
“Weren’t you out here crying last month?”
The wild feeling came back, giving me a rush of adrenaline. “Why?”
“Just wondering.” He said, his cheeks turning pink.
“Well, if you tell me why you really want to know, I’ll tell you why I was crying.”
He stayed silent, and I smiled triumphantly down at him. “I thought so.”
I walked into the room and accidentally woke Piper up.
The phone rang. I answered it.
“Is this the academic residence of Gwendolyn Sounde?” a voice asked.
“This is she.” I replied.
Piper walked into the bathroom to get ready.
“We will read the last will and testament of Rebbekah and Xavier Sounde at the King County Courthouse at 5 pm the 29th of December.” the voice said.
“My parents?” my knees felt shaky.
“Yes.” the voice replied.
“I’ll be there.” I said weakly.
I hung up. Piper walked out of the bathroom, hair still in a matted craze.
“Who was that?” Piper asked.
“Wrong number.” I smiled at her.
“Gwen. I’ve known you long enough to know when you’re lying.” Piper raised one eyebrow.
“My parents had a will. They’re going to read it on the 29th.” I said faintly, already crumpling to the floor.
“Oh…” Piper came and sat beside me. “Do you want me to come to the reading with you?”
“Yeah. Thanks Piper.” I replied.
“What are friends for?” Piper said.
“Do you think Eb will go with me too?” I asked.
“Is the sky blue?” Piper said certainly.
“Actually,” I started, peering out the window at the rising sun. “Right now it’s a shade of red-orange.”
She smiled slightly. “You know what I mean. We’ll both be there, Gwen.”
