New People

Ovia Afternoon Encarnacion:

I smile as I look up and see thousands of beautiful stars in the night sky. The stars and the moon are shining so brightly, it's like they're lighting up the whole night, but even if they aren't, Nemo and I are still surrounded by candles.

I smile even more as I cuddle closer to Nemo. A cold wind runs by and it sends a shiver down my body. Hugging myself, I feel myself getting hot when Nemo hugs me. I can't help but blush. A lump forming in my throat, I swallow it before talking.

"Thanks," I reply. Nemo hugs me for a while before pulling back. A little sad when he does, I laugh a little when I see why he pulled back.

"I'm sorry," Nemo says, reaching into his many jacket pockets. It's a long search but finally, Nemo pulls out a sketchbook and some pencils and begins drawing. I watch Nemo as he draws every line and every curve. It takes him only a few minutes, less time than it took to find everything.

"Give me your hand," Nemo says. I don't waste a second and give Nemo my hand.

Nemo places in my open palm a small drawing. I happily cry when I see the drawing.

"This--This is us," I cry, covering my mouth. The drawing Nemo gave me is a drawing of us, cuddling together with the stars and moon above us and candles surrounding us. "It's beautiful."

Still crying, I wipe the tears from my face before cuddling with Nemo again and looking up at the stars. However, as we look up at the stars, I begin to hear something.

"Beep," the sound goes. "Beep. Beep. Beep! Beep! Beep!"

"What is that sound," I ask, looking around. "Ahh! Do you hear that?"

For some reason, Nemo doesn't answer me. A little curious, I turn to Nemo and see him with his mouth opening and closing. Every time it opens, I hear the beeping sound.

"Nemo," I shout, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him. "Nemo! What's wrong? What are you making that sound! Nemo!"

Nemo doesn't, or can't answer me. Every time he opens his mouth, all we hear is beep! He wraps his hands around his throat and looks at me.

"Beep," Nemo says. "Beep! Beep!"

Emica Kana:

I awaken when I hear Noon screaming.

"Noon," I say, appearing beside her. With my hands up and ready for a fight, I prepare for a quick switch. Looking around but seeing no one in Noon's room, I look around. Seeing Noon tossing and turning in bed, I lower my invisible arms.

"No," she cries, swinging her hands wildly. "No. Nemo."

I look to the side and see Noon's alarm going off. It's beeping and shaking and Noon, who is still asleep, seems to be trying to hit it. Her arms are swinging all around her desk but she keeps missing.

"Noon told me about this before. She told me not to hit it but to 'swipe' it."

I tap my head and try to think back to where Noon did.

"What exactly is a swipe again?"

Since Noon is sleeping, I can take temporary control of her body. I take a deep breath and slowly take control of Noon's left arm. I do my best not to disturb Noon as she is sleeping. With one quick 'swipe', I throw Noon's alarm to the floor. It not only cracks and breaks but it also wakes up Noon. She screams and shoots up to look around. When she sees her broken alarm, she turns to me.

"Uhh. I swiped it like you showed me."

"Emica," Noon cries as she throws her blanket off and turns to face me. "That wasn't a swipe. That was a throw! I never show you throwing my phone. Aww man. Now I have to go back to the phone repair store."

With a sigh and a shake of her head, Noon gets out of bed. She grabs her broken alarm and puts it back on the desk beside her bed before disappearing behind a set of doors. A few seconds later, I hear running water.

"I'm sorry about breaking your alarm," I say, leaning against the doors. "Again."

"I'm fine," Noon says over the running water. "I can ask Nyssa if she wants to come with me to the phone repair store. There's a smoothie place next door we can go to afterward."

I let out a sigh of relief knowing Noon isn't mad.

"One day," I tell myself, "One day. I will learn how to turn that alarm off properly. Without destroying it."

As I talk with myself, I hear the door to Noon's room open. Looking toward the door, I see a woman walk in. The woman, with black hair and a little bit of red, is tall and thin. She's wearing what I've been told is a grey business suit with a white shirt underneath. As she enters the room, she adjusts her glasses.

"Ms. Ovia," the woman says. "Hello? Ms. Ovia? Are you in here?"

"Oh no," I think. "An intruder!"

I remember what Noon told me but this is an emergency. I jump and fly through the doors.

Cara Dex:

As I look around for Ms. Ovia, I hear a scream coming from Ms. Ovia's private restroom. I drop my tablet and run to the double doors. Reaching the doors, I try opening them but can't.

"Ms. Ovia," I yell, banging against the door. "Ms. Ovia! Are you there? Are you okay? Please, answer me!"

A few seconds later, the doors slide open and I see a young girl with wet hair and a wrinkled shirt and pants standing in a steamy mist.

"Ms. Ovia," I say. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Ms. Ovia answers while drying off her hair. "I just wasn't expecting anyone to barge in while I was taking a shower."

"Apolgozie about that," I say, bowing my head.

"It's not you I'm talking about."

Ms. Ovia then looks to her side and growls.

"Wait a minute," Ms. Ovia yells after growling. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"Oh please excuse me, Ms. Ovia. My name is Cara Dex. I am your mother, Mrs. Encarnacion, new assistant. She asked me to come and get you. She told me you would be done with your morning routine by now. Again, my apologies for startling you."

"No apologies needed," Ms. Ovia says with a wave, "But what would mom send her new assistant to come and get me? Where is she?"

"Your mother, is in the dining room," I answer. "She's currently entertaining some guests and is hoping you can join them."

I then look at her still-dripping hair and wrinkled clothes.

"I'll tell her you'll be a few minutes."

"Thank you," Ms. Ovia says, going back into her restroom.

Thomas Freddy Benjamin:

"You two will see," Ms. Encarnacion says. "My daughter will be more than right for your son. She is smart. She is beautiful, and she is-"

"Late," my father says, cutting Ms. Encarnacion off. Pulling out his pocket watch, my father checks the time. "Your daughter is late. Unlike us, who have the decency to show up on time."

"Do not insult my daughter," Ms. Encarnacion growls. "My daughter is an Encarnacion, and we Encarnacion all have a strong sense of 'decency'."

This goes on and on for a bit longer, the whole time, I'm playing thumb war with myself. The two stop threatening each other when we hear footsteps. We all turn toward the grand dining's massive archway and see a young girl standing there. The girl is wearing a short-sleeved shirt and long pants. Despite her long brown hair being slightly wet, she is still very stunning.

"Ahh, here she is," Ms. Encarnacion boasts, "My lovely daughter. Thee brilliant, the beautiful, Ms. Ovia Afternoon Encarnacion."

The way Ovia's mother is boasting about her, it's like I can hear trumpets in the room with us. Stepping through the doorway, Ovai waves at us.

"Hello," she says, bowing her head. "My name is Ovia Afternoon Encarnacion, but please, just call me Noon."

Noon then rushes to take her seat, directly across from me. Seeing her sitting across from me, I swear I can feel my heartbeat spike slightly.

"Nonsense," Ms. Encarnacion says. "My daughter is named Ovia Afternoon Encarnacion, and you shall refer to her as Ovia Afternoon Encarnacion. Or at the very least, Ova."

"Hello, Ms. Ovia," my father says, nodding. As he nods, the sunlight from the tall stained window in the back of the room bounces off his white hair and suit and blinds me. "My name is Thomas Benjamin. This is my son, Thomas Benjamin II."

"But you can just call me by my middle name," I say, raising my hand. "Freddy."

I nod my head, smile, and wave at Noon. Noon smiles and waves back at me. Feeling something form in my throat, I have to clear my throat.

"Enough Thomas Benjamin II," my father says. Turning my head so my father can't see, I roll my eyes. "You should be proud to have such a name. The Benjamin name carries much weight with it."

"I agree," Ms. Encarnacion says. "Ad does the Encarnacion name."

For some reason, Noon starts laughing. She raises her hands and tries to cover her mouth but I can still hear her laughing. Hearing her laughing, something happens and I think I die for a few seconds.

Shaking myself alive, I hear Ms. Encarnacion claps her hands. As she does, maids come marching out from the kitchen. They all line up precisely behind us and put down trays with food. Before they disappear back into the kitchen, I make sure to thank every single one of them. So does Noon.

Fixing a small plate of cookies and a cup of tea, Noon takes a sip while Ms. Encarnacions talks with my father.

"Your daughter," my father starts, "Despite her sense of timing, is truly beyond excellent. She will fit the role just right."

"As I told you," Ms. Encarnacions says. "As for your son, he is quite well-mannered. A gentleman if you will. I approve of him."

I know Ms. Encarnacions is complimenting me, but the way she said it sends a shiver down my spine. I'm sitting in direct sunlight but still feel cold.

"I should have brought a jacket," I think, looking down at my blue and grey sweater vest.

"Well then. Shall we sign the contract?"

My father nods and pulls from thin air a yellow folder. Pulling out the contract, he places it in front of Ms. Encarnacions. Ms. Encarnacions reads over it before nodding and signing the contract.

"Congratulations," Ms. Encarnacions, turning to her daughter. "Ovia Afternoon Encarnacion. I just got you a boyfriend."

Noon, who is still sipping her cup of tea, hears this. The second she hears it, Noon splits out all the tea. The only thing I can do is close my eyes as it rains all over me.