Part One
I step through the front glass door of Brew’s into a refreshing warm café. The bells on the door chime a welcoming as I make my way up to the line. I catch the eye of a familiar friend. She gleams at me. I step in line behind her.
“Any thoughts?” I ask.
“See, I was debating on something new, or something untried, but as usual I’m going with my normal.” Hazel responds with some thought. I chuckle, she does this every time we come here.
“I see. Then I, too, shall go with my normal.” I say.
“What a grand idea.” The person ahead of us moves up as another costumer finishes ordering. It takes a few moments until it’s my turn and I order a Pumpkin Spice Latte. It’s my normal for Fall. They have it a little bit early since it’s only a few days before September. I take my drink when it’s ready and then head to where Hazel is sitting. This is where my stomach gets uneasy. I know why she asked me to meet her, but just encase there is any possibility it could be something else,
I ask, “So, why’d you ask to meet me here today?”
She pauses from taking a sip and grins, “Well, the keys arrived yesterday evening.”
“The keys?” I ask, shoving down the thought of my bulging pocket.
“Did you not receive one?”
I don’t answer her right away. I know if I tell her I did get one then she will most likely be excited and demand that I go. I mean shouldn’t I be excited that I got into her once-thought-imaginary school? She hasn’t really explained what the school is for, but I know it’s something huge. I should be excited, but I can’t leave my sister. Sera looks up to me, we’re very close, and if I accept, I can never see her again. Not to mention that I’d never see my mom again or that I’d be leaving my sister with my mom…alone. How can someone make this decision?
She looks at me expectantly and I know I cannot lie. It’s not in my nature. I pull out the small brass skeleton key. It shines in the dim lighting as I dangle it from a light blue string. She snatches it out of my hand and admires it as I sip my drink.
“It looks just like mine, except mine is silver and has a slightly different design.” I raise an eyebrow at her.
“Yes, but I don’t know if I’m going.” I say. She looks back at me with a shocked expression.
“Not going?” She asks in an over-dramatic manor.
“Sera, mom, and what if Lucille didn’t get in. How can we leave her?” She hands me back the key.
“They will be all right; they will accept you going. They have to understand how much of an opportunity this is!”
“You would just leave your mom like that?” I slide the key back into my pocket.
“She wants me to go.” Hazel says messing with the goggles that are sliding down her head. Those are her secondary pair; her first ones must be getting cleaned. She hates this pair.
“Why would she want you to go?” I ask even though I know for a fact her mom is more psyched than her. Every time we go to Hazel’s house, her mom doesn’t stop talking about the school.
“Because it’s an opportunity to become something greater than we are!”
“I don’t want to be something greater.”
She sighs, “Look, just think about it okay. We have at least a week.”
“But I-” She cuts me off.
“Just think about it.” With that she stands, takes her drink, and leaves the café. I sit there alone processing the words she’s demanded to me. I just have to think about it, but I already know I don’t want to leave my family or the people of this town. Especially my mom, I couldn’t leave her. Plus, I love everyone here. It’s a small town we all know each other, and the elders barely remember the people that have left before. I don’t want to become a ghost of my hometown. I don’t want this town to just become a memory never to be revisited. I finish my drink and leave the café.
I stride slowly down the street, heading back to my house. Her thoughts swarm my head. I wave to neighbors and cousins. The sound of rushing water flows quietly to my ears from every direction. The blue sky is heightened above me, showing the shadows of stars to come that night. I pet Charles, the town dog. He barks happily as I walk away. We don’t really know what kind of dog he is, he’s just big, black, and hairy. I stop by Mrs. Carter’s and grab a free loaf of bread. The lantern flickers beside her small brown shop. Lanterns like this are ever where, they’re so old timey. I’m really going to miss those if I leave. She passes me a loaf and I’m on my way. I keep strolling, passing the loved water fountain, the butterfly garden with very few butterflies, Uncle Lori’s butter shop that everyone hates. I touch my hand to the ground and feel the vibration of the falling water from the edges. I bet the school won’t have this feeling. When I arrive home, a two-story light blue house with auburn windows and the smell of cinnamon, I set the bread on the counter. Sera scurries into the kitchen.
“Hey, Ai.” She grins.
“Hey, Sera.” I smile back.
“So, where were you off to?” She asks with an eyebrow raise.
“Hazel wanted to have a meeting with me.” I stop there, not wanting to tell my sister about my acceptance yet. I’ve tried to keep Hazel’s “crazy school hallucinations” to our friend group, but no we’ve been proven that’s not that easy. I don’t even know how to explain the key to Sera. I mean it’s a brass key that came with a note that said the day and time. Nothing mentioned the school or how we’re going to get there. So, if I told her I’d been accepted for this grand school she’d probably think I’m crazy. Or would she accept it? Do twelve-year-old’s believe everything or anything? I stare at her questioningly.
“Well, I guess that’s fun,” She scrunches up her nose, “Where’s Lucille?”
“At home, probably. Or stalking people.” I shrug.
“Typical Lucille.”
Mom walks into the room carrying a basket of laundry. She spots me and sets the basket down on the table. I slowly let out the breath I’d been holding.
“Hey, mom.” I say.
“Hi, honey. Where have you been?” She asks. So far, so good.
“Just at the café with…um…a friend.” I struggle. She doesn’t really like Hazel. She says that Hazel is a bad influence on me. I don’t really blame her, but Hazel is contagious. Not to mention that Lucille adores her, and I adore Lucille.
“Oh, which friend?”
“Doesn’t really matter,” I say quickly, “do you need help with laundry?”
“That would be lovely.” I head over to mom and start to help her fold. Sera lets out a loud sigh then comes over to help us. I really wish Sera would decide to head to her room, but she stays and helps. I cautiously glance at mom every few minutes, but she seems happy.
After a while, there’s a knock at the door. I make my way and open the wooden door. Lucille stands there in all her glory. Her black high heels make her nearly as tall as me and she’s shorter than Hazel. I’m six foot, Hazel is five, seven though she pretends to be taller. Lucille is the shortest of us by three inches. Well, now she would make Hazel the shortest. Her long blonde hair is down in wavy curls, bouncing on her shoulders. Her dark grey eyes are lit up with mischief. Her body is tucked into a tight black dress that shows every single curve.
“Why so dressed up?” I ask.
“I’m going to St. Claries for lunch and was wondering if you’d like to accompany me?” Lucille responds with her silky voice.
“Who’s at the door?” Mom asks. I turn my head and glimpse my mother.
“Just Lucille.” I say.
“Oh, hello Lucille!” Mom exclaims.
“Hello Ai’s mum.” Lucille calls back. Sera pops up beside me.
“Back to the point. Do you mean the very expensive restaurant at the top of High Point Hill?” Sera asks. Lucille looks down at my sister and grins.
“Yes.”
“Yeah, Ai can’t afford that.” Sera snorts.
“It’s on me.” Lucille responds smoothly. Sera frowns out of jealousy. I chuckle at her.
“Sure, let’s go.” I say. She leads me to her carriage. Yes, cars are a thing, this is year 4035. However, on our Skyland, Azure, cars would be too…destructive. Ever since England split its country and somehow created it to fly, cars have been a bit out of the picture while they’re still thinking of a way to get our little town up to speed. So, carriages are what they gave us for now. Every Skyland is different though, I’m sure there’s one out there with a car. There’s only a few Skylands around the world. I know North America has about three, South America has one, Russia and Germany together have three and there’s one in Australia. That makes twelve nine Skylands so far.
I scurry into her carriage and she sits beside me. She tells the driver directions and we’re off to a very out of my range restaurant. I admire the view from the window. The familiar toy store passes by. It’s a fond memory of mine. When father was alive, he would take me there once a month and buy me a new toy. As much fun as new toys are, I didn’t really care for it. I was just happy he could take a work break and spend time with me. Mother didn’t much agree, but he convinced her it was okay every time. Lucille pokes at my pants, averting my attention.
“Why must you insist looking like a Steampunk? I mean you’re not even full Steampunk.” She questions.
“Well, it is sort of the Steampunk era of Skyland.” I point out.
“Oh, but why? Can’t we be like the Britain Ground era?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because we’re not on the ground. We’ve had this conversation so many times.”
“I know,” Lucille groans, “but it still doesn’t change the fact that this Skyland is not stylish.” She sighs. I pat her arm.
“One day it will be, don’t worry. I mean you could always move to a different Skyland. I heard that the one is Australia is Medieval.””
“Don’t be posh. Plus, we might not even be here.” With this she pulls out a small ruby key. I inhale a quick spout of breath. It matches her so greatly it’s kind of ironic. So, therefore she wanted me to eat an expensive lunch with her. I can’t help, but to think Hazel put her up to this.
