"I asked if it was Reigh who marked you.""Oh," I blinked, "No.""Then was it Caeson?"This time my response came slower. "No."None of those two.I watched Madeline hesitate to ask for the last triplet. She didn't want to ask if it was Taide, because she knew what the answer would be.Over the year
CHARLOTTENot a sound could be heard, and only tense silence filled the kitchen air."Madeline," I called hurriedly to explain, but she only looked at me with hurt. She turned to glance at Taide, then at me, before slowly backing away."Madeline, I can explain." My voice sounded pained, "Please just
CHARLOTTE We were back at the dorms, sitting on the bed, and facing each other. We needed the privacy. "Alright, Char," Mads said, folding her hands across her chest. "Talk." It wouldn't be easy to say. None of this would, but I needed to do this. I closed my eyes, sighing, and opening them. "W
The girl on the right was taller than the rainbow dressed girl. The taller one pushed the shorter one down, knocking over the food trays. "Ouch, that's gotta hurt." Madeline winced, touching her back, and I had to admit feeling a little hurt for her. We were still looking over at the table, when a
CHARLOTTE "Good day sir," I greeted a customer as I took his payment, while wearing the best professional smile I could muster. I worked as a clerk for one of the hotels’ restaurants in the area. Right then, I handed the receipt over, watching as the customer went back to his seat. It was a Tuesd
Thankfully it was time to head home. "Bye Micah," I waved to a colleague of mine, as I hugged the sweater tighter on my body, heading home. It was quite late, and I had to take a shortcut through the back street. I never worked this late but it was a last minute shift that freed up, so I took it.
CHARLOTTE Madeline sighed, "I’m just glad Caeson showed up when he did, and that nothing bad happened to you." We went silent, and it lasted for a long time. I was deep in my thoughts. I had no idea how Caeson knew I was there, or when to arrive, but I was glad nothing happened. Last night I ha
CHARLOTTE"My gosh Charlotte, you look stunning in that dress." Madeline gushed, as she went round me in circles, and I blushed, staring at myself in the mirror.I was having a date with Vance in a couple minutes, and I couldn't help but want to look my best. I straightened a crease on the side of m
CHARLOTTE I watched as Taide stepped away from Sean, smoothly sidestepping him without another glance. Sean looked after him for a moment, but Taide didn’t seem to care. I caught Madeline’s eyes, and she grinned before doing a subtle little happy dance. Her excitement was almost contagious. Taid
CHARLOTTE The seamstress stepped back, letting out a satisfied hum. I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing my hands over the soft fabric of the dress I was wearing. It fit perfectly, hugging my body in all the right places. The sweetheart neckline and shoulder-less design gave it an elegance
The hell?I blinked, trying to understand. Then it hit.He was talking about yesterday, when I’d abruptly questioned him and then walked away without waiting for an answer.“You wouldn’t have participated anyway,” I said, using his analogy as I crossed my arms.“You don’t know that,” he replied.I
CHARLOTTEThe morning light streamed through the tall windows of the dining room, illuminating the grand breakfast spread that covered the long table.I could hardly believe how much food there was—it seemed like enough to feed ten people, if not more. The table was piled high with plates of fresh f
CHARLOTTEThe palace was something out of a dream.No, more than that—something out of a world I didn’t belong to.The long driveway was lined with perfectly manicured gardens, each bush and flowerbed so precise it looked as though someone had sculpted them by hand. Towering trees stood around, thei
CHARLOTTE We had our things packed and ready for the trip. Madeline’s birthday ball was this Sunday and now it was Friday already, the day of our departure. By the time we returned home it would be about a week before our junior year finals. And then, graduation. Which meant that we would be
I gave her my thanks and followed her instructions, up the stairs and down the calm, clean hallways of the care home. And like every time I came here, I couldn’t help but be struck by the difference between this care house and her old one. I was just about to walk in through the open threshold but
CHARLOTTE The silence didn’t dissipate for a long while after Caeson left. I used those moments of quiet to try to piece together what I had heard from their conversation into something that made sense. Taking a few seconds of thought, I looked up and my eyes darted between Reigh and Taide. Th
CHARLOTTE A loud, booming “No!” echoed through the house, shaking the air and making my heart jump.The sound of Caeson’s voice was unmistakable, filled with anger that could probably make the walls tremble if it got any louder. I glanced at Madeline, who was standing as still as a statue beside