Chapter One
I poured a cup of hot coffee into my Game of Thrones mug while I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, peering around the dark apartment, the morning rays of light breaking up the void here and there. Soft sounds of rain sounded from outside, the water trickling off and down the windows in a muted roar, thunder striking somewhere in the distance.
Mornings like this are why I got up so early, Autumn rains were--by far--the most breathtakingly beautiful sights I had ever seen, and the best weather for writing to boot. I topped off my mug and set the coffee pot back in the coffee maker, turning it off with a simple flick of a button as I leaned against the counter, sipping slowly at my vanilla-enticed beverage. “Beautiful.” I said to myself quietly, looking out the tear-struck window at the Crimson, fiery, golden beauty of the trees that lined the walkway to our apartment complex. They were stunning, and I often spent the first parts of my morning gazing at them for both inspiration and motivation.
But, of course, there were other things I got that from as well.
“Good morning,” A groggy voice murmured almost inaudibly from Ellowyn’s doorway. I kept my eyes on the trees as I took another sip, bemused.
“You know, that was almost English, I think.” I felt a slight push on my shoulder from the other side of the counter, behind me. I let out a small chuckle. “Good morning, pumpkin.”
“Since it’s almost Halloween, maybe you should change my name to Jack-o-lantern.”
“Meh,” I said with a small smirk, “Doesn’t roll off the tongue as well.”
“I suppose.” Ellowyn’s voice was beginning to clear, sleep receding. “No school today?”
“Nope,” I opened my phone, pulling up the email that her high school had sent me, saying it was closed from the storms. I slid the phone behind me with the email open. “Early snow day.”
She made a relieved sigh, sliding the phone back. “Good news for me.”
I finally turned from the window and took her appearance in. Ellowyn was a young woman now--her fifteenth birthday came and gone--and everything was beginning to match that. She had her snow-white hair in a high ponytail that kept it off her neck but left her bangs down to frame her face in long strands. Her icy-blue eyes were gentle, but they could be piercing if needed. Her skin was fair, and her cheeks dotted with a natural red blush that had developed over the three years I had ‘known’ her. She was getting tall, too, an impressive five-foot-five. The average for a woman at merely fifteen. Light use of mascara brought out the lines of her eyes and lashes, subtle but effective use of makeup. She wore a long-sleeve white shirt, and plaid pajama pants that I was ninety percent sure was my own. I met her eyes with mine, tilting my head. “You didn’t study for your math exam, did you?” Ellowyn grabbed the pot of coffee and drained the rest in her own cup, a once-upon-a-time white mug that she had painted with all her favorite animes. She didn’t answer me, but she didn’t need to. “Well, that’s a yes.”
“Listen, pops, I got this. It’s just basic math anyhow.”
I scoffed in amusement. “A.P. Trigonometry is most certainly not ‘basic math’ as you put it, but sure, sure.”
She rolled her intelligent eyes. “You worry too much, seriously, I’ve got this.”
“I don’t know Elles…” I set my mug down, a bit of worry popping up over me.
She leaned across the counter, her face close to mine. “Yo,” She said with a small smile.
“Yo.”
“Have I,” She began.
“Have you,” I responded.
“Ever failed,”
I continued. “Ever failed,”
“A single exam--let alone a class--before?”
I sighed, shaking my head. “No, you have not.”
She backed off the counter and raised her arms up, holding a victorious pose. “Alas,” she said snootily, “I am yet again the victor, holder of the correct.”
I gave her a flat look before taking a long gulp of my coffee, muttering under my breath. “Teenagers.”
“--Are the best,” She prompted, bouncing around the counter and leaning beside me, staring out the window as I had.
“Hardly.”
She bumped her shoulder into mine. “Oh come on, we’re not that bad.”
“You are sometimes an exception to my statement. Note the emphasis.”
“Speaking of,” She derailed, setting her mug down and adding enough sugar to make her liver quake. “Have you turned in your opener to Ken-Ken yet?”
“Since when did we call her Ken-Ken?”
She gave me a flashy eyebrow raise. “Since me and her became B-F-F’s, obviously.”
They had been spending more time together, which I thought was great. Mckenna took to her like a fish to water when I introduced them. Although it took a lot of explaining--Mckenna was not one of the people who were given faux memories of Ellowyn’s existence--I managed to persuade my way through, and they hit it off instantly. I thought it was nice, all-in-all, for Ellowyn to have a woman to talk to about, you know, girl stuff.
Because boy, I am not good at girl stuff.
“Anyways,” I said with a tinge of amusement, “Yeah, I did. She accepted it--”
“--as I said she would--”
“--On the condition I fix the beginning, which, in case you don’t remember, was your idea, hotshot.”
Ellowyn sighed, letting out a long stream of air. “Win and a loss, guess I’ll take it.”
“We can’t win them all.”
“But we can damn sure try.”
“Hey,” I gave her a semi-stern look. “Dang,” I corrected.
She rolled her eyes in response. “I’m fifteen Huxy, I think a curse word isn’t going to kill me, you know?”
“Still, remember your manners.”
Ellowyn shrugged, but otherwise nodded. “Alright, alright.”
As I finished off my coffee, I got to work on making some actual food. I donned my apron--which I shamelessly bought from an anime store, it featured many of my favorite characters from ‘food wars’ on it--and got to work. “Eggs or bacon?”
“How about both?” Ellowyn called from the couch in the other room, the TV flicking on with the news or some other nonsense I often didn’t pay attention to.
“That’s my girl,” I said to myself proudly, removing the carton of eggs and package of bacon that I had beside them. I went through the motions, making a decent breakfast for two. When the meat was almost done I threw in a few slices of bread into the toaster and called Ellowyn to the table.
We ate slowly, talking about school and some of the popular boys the girls were into as of late. She showed me some of her latest artwork--which still blew me away every time I saw it--and then we brought the meal to a finish with planning out our day.
“Well,” I said taking a hearty bite of my bacon, “Since you don’t have school, what did you wanna do? Just hang out?” I leaned an arm over the back of my chair and tilted back, finding a comfortable, if not strange, position.
Ellowyn shook her head, snowy locks swishing back and forth with the motion. “Nope, I already made plans with Emma and Aiya-chan.”
I frowned at the last name. “Aiya-chan? I haven’t heard about her before. New friend?”
Ellowyn nodded. “She’s a transfer student from Japan, and she’s in my art class. She’s really cool, and coming to see a cheesy romance movie with us tonight.”
I felt my heart warm for her. I had originally been really worried about Ellowyn fitting into high school, but she went in like a champion and carved her own way through. She made friends, studied in classes above her age range, and was always on her best behavior. There wasn’t anything more I could ask of her. “Alright, make sure you’re home by Midnight, otherwise I will ground you.”
She rolled her eyes, polishing off her last slice of toast. “You always say that, and yet…”
“Just because you haven’t given me a reason to yet, doesn’t mean I am not afraid to start. Midnight.” I pointed at both of my eyes before pointing at her own. “Not a minute over.” I picked up my plate, keeping a serious look with her.
“Ok, ok, ok.” She raised her hands in surrender. “Not a minute later, I promise.”
I set my plate in the sink before heading towards my room but pivoted as I remembered something. I peered around the wall and back into the dining area. “And if something happens--”
“--can you A.S.A.P.”
“Sooner,” I gave her a wink and threw her an air kiss. She returned it and I went into my room, ready to get some writing done for the day.
I closed my bedroom door behind me, leaving it unlocked in case she needed anything. I noticed the area was a bit messy, so I spent ten minutes cleaning up, making my bed, and simply making the space more comfortable. Once I was finished I sat at my desk and opened my laptop.
Almost like divine intervention, my phone buzzed the moment I pulled up my word processor, ready to type.
I flipped my phone over, smiling to myself as I saw a familiar name.
Hey, I wanted to meet about your newest novel, mind if we have a sit-down?
I quickly stamped out a response to Mckenna Swan, my publishing agent, and close friend.
Yeah, how’s Wednesday?
Ding.
Can’t, I’m booked. Thursday?
I had already made day plans with Ellowyn, couldn’t break those for a sit-down.
No dice, days full. How about we settle on Friday afternoon?
Ding.
You read my mind.
I smirked.
I am an author after all.
I set my phone down and turned my attention back to my laptop, my brain working overtime and my fingers itching to write. As soon as my fingertips grazed against the keyboard, I heard Ellowyn call me from somewhere else in the house.
“Huxley~”
I sighed, leaving my desk and following the sound of her voice, eventually finding her sprawled on the couch, gesturing at the TV. Gentleman--our black-haired Persian cat, with a majestic white mustache--curled in her lap gracefully. She had a PlayStation controller in her hand and a frown on her face. She looked between me and the TV, where it looked like she was stuck on a level. She stuck out her bottom lip and gave me a faux pouty face, dancing puppy dog eyes until I rolled my own and grabbed the controller. “Let me show you how it’s done.”
And so another hour was burned as I slogged through one of the hardest levels in God of Warp, beating it in my first try and handing the controller back with a wink. “Thank you Huxy,” She gave me a quick half-hug before her attention returned to the game. I kissed the top of her head and scruffed her hair, returning to my bedroom.
I sat down with a huff, waking my laptop up and pulling my manuscript up once again. “Alright,” I said, cracking my fingers, “Now we can begin--”
My phone began to ring and I threw my hands up. “Fine!” I looked up towards the ceiling. “You win! I won’t write!” I snatched my phone and answered the call. “This is Huxley.”
“Hello Mr. Scarlett, this is Al Herrings.”
I honestly had no idea who that was. “Oh, uh… Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Herrings, what can I do for you this morning?”
“Well, I work for Channel 17, and we had quite a fond time reading your newest novel, and the fans did too. Apparently, you have a lot of readers who happen to watch us, and I was wondering if you would be interested in a live interview with Channel 17 News. For the fans, of course.”
I didn’t hesitate, nor did I need to think. “No thank you, though I appreciate the kind offer.”
“Are you sure?” The voice wavered, his ‘good-guy’ nature beginning to slip. “We only offer this a few times a year, you wouldn’t get another chance.”
Al Herring’s words did nothing but strengthen my decision. “I decline once again, though I appreciate it nonetheless. Have a good day.” I hung up before he got out his next words, sighing loudly at my phone screen as it darkened again. I set it down a bit rougher than I intended.
Ellowyn’s voice sounded from my doorway. “Another book read?’
I shook my head, brushing the hair out of my face. “Interview.”
“Channel 5?”
“Channel 17 this time.”
She walked over to me, setting a hand on my back and rubbing gently. “Why do you always decline? Maybe if you do one, they’ll leave you alone.”
I let out a strained chuckle but shook my head. “Once you dive into that kind of fame and popularity, it doesn’t stop. I have no interest in being famous.”
“But your writing goes to thousands. Maybe even millions… is that not fame?” Ellowyn argued.
“It is,” I agreed, “But it’s fame for my words, not for my face or personality. I don’t want the association of popularity to be paired with my appearance.”
Ellowyn sat at the edge of my bed, her face puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“People change when your name begins to hold weight. They aren’t… real with you anymore.”
She bit her lip, looking a bit sad. “I see.”
“Besides,” I said with a newfound smile, “I only care about you and my imagination, that’s all that I have to show up for.”
“Even if it means you wouldn’t have another book on your shelf?”
I turned my attention to the small bookshelf that rested near the corner of my room. It now held six books, all that I had written and published, and all of which were now on shelves everywhere--or maybe nowhere at all, but they were out there nonetheless. I remembered that before Ellowyn had come into my life, I only had one. I was lucky to have more now, but I was luckier to have Ellowyn. “Even if it meant I could never write again.”
