VICTOR

Victor sat in the window seat of his new room, staring at the little boys playing what seemed like a game of tag. Not far away there were also little girls playing hopscotch, giggling. Victor then directed his eyes to a tree that had a family of little squirrels wrestling. One of the squirrels ran up to a branch that was near the top and from there jumped onto the power line and balanced across the street to the pole near his house. Then, it scurried down the pole and ran across Victor's neighbor's yard. Victor heard a knock at his bedroom door and turned around to find his mom standing there.

"Mon chéri, how was your school day yesterday?" His mother asked. Mon chéri was french for my honey.

His mom often spoke french since they had left France, it didn't bother him considering he did the same thing. Amélie was his mother's name. She had long black hair that looked like it was flying when she walked. Amélie usually wore a long white dress, like what a bride would, but simpler. Victor's dad had said she was the finest and most beautiful girl that ever lived and he was right. She looked like she was some kind of royal or whatever, her beauty belonged in a family of the rich not the poor.

"Oh, um, it was good," He responded, giving a little smile.

"That's good, Mon chéri. What was that one girl's name that goes to your school? You know the one that showed you around?" Amélie asked, coming into his room and sitting at the stool at his desk, looking at him with her beautiful chocolate brown eyes.

"Oh, her name was Angelina. Why do you ask?" He wondered, looking out the window nervously.

"No reason, Victor. Have you done your homework?"

"Yes."

His mom walked to the door and then walked out, closing the door lightly. He was very suspicious of his mom. Why would she ask that? It started eating at him, making him want to know. The more he thought about it the more he came up with conspiracies.

Seriously, why would she ask that... I hope she didn't make her chocolate chip cookies to thank her or whatever girls do... He thought, considering every possible outcome he came up with.

When his mom asked him for dinner, he raced down their creaky stairs. He was starving! When Vic walked into the kitchen his mom was at the counter preparing Victor's plate of food. He smelled duck cassoulet, a french dish they use to have all of the time in France. He loved duck cassoulet, it was his literal favorite. They sat down to dinner and ate quietly like they always did of course. His mother took a small bite of her duck cassoulet and then looked up at Victor. She smiled at him for a solid minute.

"What?" He said, breaking the silence, her staring becoming awkward.

"You look like your father..." She pouted, shaking her head, still smiling.

An immediate surge of sadness hit him, "I-I do? I've never noticed."

He had noticed. Every time he looked in the mirror he was reminded of his dead father. He'd stare into the mirror for minutes, most of the time crying. Victor still remembered the night he died. His father's name was Adhemar Angelose and was twenty-five when he died in a car crash. Adhemar and Victor were driving on the night of February 13, 2012, on their way back home from a day together. The day before Valentine's Day. Victor was only six at the time yet he remembered the night clearly. Every single tiny detail. They had passed Raphael's, a french cafe on Rue de Berri street in Paris, France. Then it happened in the blink of an eye, they hit a car. They knew they couldn't change their outcome for it happened so quickly yet it was like it was all in slow-mo. He remembered feeling the car jerk back when it happened as did he remember hearing his father crying out in pain when the car had rolled a couple of times and then had settled down on the wet pavement, the cool rain drizzling on top of the crucially damaged car. Victor was wailing in the backseat but then he had said something, but, he couldn't hear him, at least not the first few times. His father was saying, "I-I-I love y-you, Victor. T-t-tell y-your mother I-I love h-her too," in French. Those were his last words. Victor sat there crying not thinking he would get out of this car and that help would never come. The windshield was broken and Victor's seat belt was nearly cut in half from a piece of glass from the window near him. He hadn't thought seatbelts could tear so easily. The car door on his left was jerked open by a woman. She was very tall and was in a black firefighter suit with reflective strips on it. She saw Victor crying in the back seat staring at his now, probably dead, father. The woman motioned for someone, a male firefighter, they couldn't reach him from the other on the left. They started breaking the door that Victor was near, trying to get him out as quickly as they could. Victor spotted a small fire start at the hood of the car. His eyes became huge. His door broke clean off the car, the woman cradled him in their arms and then put him on a stretcher. As he was being rushed to the awaiting ambulance he heard one of the EMTs that was aiding his father say something to another EMT, "le père du garçon est mort." He knew what that meant. The boy's father is dead. He remembered balling his eyes out, his injuries stinging with pain. He didn't even care about them, there were the least of his problems. His father was his best friend. He had called him père, french for father, definitely considering that he didn't know how to speak English yet. Unfortunately, the nurses couldn't calm him. He was screaming for his father the whole ride to the hospital, aware he had lost him forever. Luckily, Victor had survived with only a large cut to his arm and quite a few bruises. Also a few small cuts on his left leg. He had scars from all the cuts to this day.

"How's your food, Vic? Is it bien?" His mother asked, jerking him out of the painful memory.

"Oh, it's delicious. I haven't had it in so long. Thanks, mère." He answered while setting his fork down onto his half-full plate. "Are you ok? You look pale." She asked, giving him a worried look.

"I'm fine."

His mom looked at him suspiciously and then continued eating, "Bien, mon chéri."

He remembered what he had wanted to ask her after a while, "Hey, mom? Why did you ask about Angelina Barrings? The girl in my school?"

"Oh, yes. I forgot to mention it, didn't I? Well, her parents were nice enough to invite us over to their Super Bowl party that they are having. Isn't that so nice? I know you like football."

"Oh, um. The Super Bowl? Really? I was planning to watch it alone in my room, but okay."

"I'm glad you want to go. You scared me for a minute."

"May I be excused, mom?"

"Of course! Wash your plate in the sink, please."

"Okay."

After he washed off his plate he raced upstairs to his bedroom, which was at the end of the hall. He opened then shut his door. He flicked on his light and then got ready for bed. Then he just sat on his bed, thinking. He knew he shouldn't think but he did anyway, what was he just supposed to not think ever again...? He wished. As he thought more he began to cry. This happened every time, he was used to it by now. He changed the topic to something... less depressing. He thought about the Super Bowl party they were going to but he failed. No matter how much he tried to think about something else his mind went back to his father. He played back all the memories he had with his father in his mind, over and over again, at least the ones he still remembered to this day. Next thing he knew, his cheeks started getting warm and his eyes grew blurry from the tears that weld up in them. Then, a tear dripped down his face slowly. One by one more tears found their way out of his eyes grasp. A warm tear fell and splashed onto his bare arm. He cried, and he cried. Victor couldn't hold it in. It was too hard. More tears covered his arm. He gently pushed himself onto his back and he looked up at his ceiling. A tear made its way to his ear and made its way in. Victor didn't care even as it tickled his eardrum. All he cared about was his father. His, père. The tears were like parts of his life, one tear came out, another memory remembered. He closed his eyes gently. Not trying to sleep but to calm himself down. It worked in a way, but he started to doze off. Cheeks wet from crying. Eyes red from rubbing them. Lashes drenched in tears. He slipped away, away, away, and away. Till he was sucked into a deeper slumber of some kind.

He was in a dream. He identified a castle. Victor was sitting on a bench in a garden. Beautiful assortments of flowers surrounded him, the sweet smell of pollen filling the air. He looked up, looking at the Cherry Blossom tree branch that was above him, blocking the hot sun. Victor then identified a village about a mile away, or at least it looked like it. Women were working in fields that were separating the castle and the village. This wasn't like the dreams he usually had. It was more realistic. He began to rise from the bench, standing up. He noticed what he was wearing, a loose, untucked white blouse, black pants, and black shoes that were shinier than any of his real shoes. He snorted.

Why would anyone wear this? He thought.

Where am I? He began to think.

He decided to go over to one of the women and ask even though it seemed silly. It's just a dream. When he approached a young lady who looked much younger than the others she just looked at him.

"Hi, where am I?" He asked politely.

"Why is everyone asking that! I'm seriously tired of it! A girl asked me not too long ago, maybe a day ago. I've had many girls and many boys ask me that since I began working here! You're in Elysia for Pete's sake! Only one girl was nice to me! One!"

He didn't know how to answer that. Victor just stood there. He sort of understood why the girl was so grumpy.

"I know this is a personal question to ask but, what's your name?"

"I'm Blythe. You? I'm guessing your name is something like John or Adam," She answered.

"Victor. Nice to meet you."

She looked surprised at his name, "You're not like the others. Well, your name at least."

"Okay, well, how are you?" He asked nicely, trying to lighten her mood.

"I'm well, you?"

"I'm ok,"

"Why's that, Victor?"

"It's weird. This dream feels so real. I can say anything. It doesn't seem planned."

Blythe looked at him strangely, "This isn't a dream, this is a real place."

Victor pinched himself. He let out a silent 'ow.' She gave him another odd look.

"Are... Are you okay Victor?" She asked.

Suddenly, his eyesight grew black. He was waking up. Blythe, the women, the village, the castle, and its garden, disappeared. It all disappeared. He was lying in his bed now wide awake. He looked around. The sun looked down into the window, the light blinding Victor. A bird chirped in the tree in front of his house. Then it flew forward going right for Victor's window. It smacked into it with a thunk. Victor got up quickly to make sure it was alright. He began to get dizzy but he quickly shook it off. The little bluebird was lying on the ground.

I hope it's not dead, A voice in his head said.

Victor jumped, startled, "What?"

I hope it's not dead, It repeated.

"I know what you said. What, how, and who?"

Oh, Victor.

"How do you know my name?"

Reasons.

"That isn't creepy at all."

I know.

"What or who are you," He asked, sitting on his stool.

I'm a guardian and my name is Annie.

"Nice to meet you, Annaya."

It's Annie. You pronounce it On-ya, She roared.

"Okay, okay. Take a chill pill will you."

The voice went silent for a minute, What is a 'chill' pill?

Victor sighed deeply, "It's an idiom. It doesn't actually mean to take a chill pill. It means to calm down."

Annie went silent for even longer before speaking again, Aren't you wondering why I'm here? Or how?

"Kind of."

I'm from a kingdom named Elysia. Now you might need to sit down for this next part. Oh, nevermind you already are. Long story short, when you had that awakening you were in Elysia. I believe you met someone named Blythe. Well, that part isn't important. Anyways, when you were in the castle gardens you were given a guardian to protect, help, and guide you. So that's why I'm here! Anyways, you are very special and lucky, blah blah blah. It's rare to have an Elysian guardian. Only royalty has guardians like me. I'm afraid you're not royalty. Blah blah blah. Special. Valuable. That's all.

"That sounded scripted," He stated.

It is. All guardians have to say it. It's the law.

"What is an awakening?"

It is the process of traveling to Elysia. Most commonly done in your sleep, She answered proudly.

"O-okay," Victor said. "So I traveled in my sleep? Cool!"

I suppose so. I should probably tell you something, Victor, Annie sighed.

Victor immediately felt nervous, "What?"

Sometimes I come when you're in need, Sometimes I won't come at all. Call my name and I will usually answer. After you call me for your need, you must wait an hour till you can again. Most guardians forget to tell their individual, She sighed and then went silent.

"Oh, okay then. Thanks!" He smiled, not even questioning what just happened. "Annie?"

No answer.

He pulled on some jeans and a baggy baseball tee, then combed his hair, brushed his teeth, and used the toilet. Victor made his way downstairs to the kitchen. As he entered the room the faint fragrance of brownies erupted into his face. He couldn't help but think they smelled delicious. His mother was at the kitchen table reading her book. A plate of brownies was sitting in the middle of the table. Amélie looked up when Victor entered the room, smiling.

"Brownie?" She asked him gesturing towards the plate.

"Sure. Where did they come from? Did you make them?" He asked, taking a brownie.

"The Barrings gave them to us. Did you know they live across the street? The cream-colored one?" She answered looking out the window at the Barrings house.

"They do? Why haven't I noticed." He said slipping into the chair closest to her.

"Yep. Aren't the brownies good? Cindy is an amazing baker." Amélie said gleefully.

Victor nodded, shoving a brownie into his mouth. His mother stared at him then shook her head, disapprovingly of his eating. Victor went to go grab another one but his mom noticed and shook her head no. The boy went back up to his room, not even thinking about eating breakfast, he was in need of something to do. He went to his bay window and stared out at Angelina's house. He noticed Angelina in her backyard reading a book in her hammock.

Stalker much, Annie stated.

"What? I wasn't meaning to."

Liar, Annie said and then went quiet again.

Victor sighed. He then saw two little girls playing in her front yard. He was guessing they were Angelina's siblings. He tried to resist looking into her yard but continued. Angelina sat up from the hammock to check her phone. She was on the phone with someone. Then she hung up a minute later. Victor decided to start reading, it was probably better than staring at Angie. Definitely less stalkerish.

After about thirty minutes a vehicle pulled up to Angelina's house and a boy exited the car. He waved at the driver. It was Sabastian, of course. Who else would it possibly be? He knocked on the door then someone answered and let him in. A minute later he was in the backyard by Angie. Sabastian gave a little wave to her and then said something that made Angelina laugh. Victor looked away. He put his book, The Peasant and The Prince, down then walked to the other side of his room. He fell onto his bed then sighed again, forcing him to not think about Angelina Barrings and Sabastian Tailor. Tomorrow was Angie's Super Bowl party. Did he have to go? He will just cancel. The doorbell rang forcing Victor to stop thinking about the party. He heard his mother talking to someone.

"Victor, mon chéri! Vous avez des visiteurs!" His mother called. 'Victor, honey! You have visitors.'

"À venir!" Victor said in french. 'Coming.'

He raced down the stairs to the door, seeing two silhouettes, a boy and a girl. It was Sabastian and Angie. Victor stopped at the door. Why were they here?

"Hi," Victor said.

"Hey, Victor!" Angelina answered.

"Hey, Dude," Sabastian said.

"What are you guys doing here?" Victor asked.

"We wanted to know if you wanted to hang out." Sabastian answered.

"Oh, um, let me ask my mère." Victor answered.

They looked confused, "Mère is mother in french."

They both said oh as their friend stepped into the kitchen and asked his mother if he could go.

"I don't see why not. You need to start getting out of the house anyway." She answered, clearly delighted he had friends.

"Thanks, mère. See you later!"

He walked back to the door, "She said I could."

"Awesome!" Sabastian and Angelina cried in unison.

Angelina and Sabastian looked at each other and then blushed. Victor suggested that they should go get ice cream. The others agreed. They started to bike to the beach pier where the ice cream shack was located. Sabastian, Victor, and Angelina then decided to have a bike race there instead. They all decided that the last one there buys them all ice cream. Victor pedaled faster than he had ever pedaled, he only had five dollars in his front pocket. He did not want to lose. Mainly he wanted to impress Angie. The race was very challenging. First, Angie was in the lead. Then, it was Victor. Next, it was Sabastian. When the pier was in sight Victor was in the lead. Angie looked over at him and gave him a huge smile. Victor slowed down on accident. Sabastian was coming nearer and nearer, almost passing both Angie and Victor, but failed. Angie passed Victor. The French boy sped up, his calves on fire. Victor and Sabastian passed Angelina. They reached the pier with Victor in the lead and Angelina last place. They slowed down their bikes and got off. Victor took a deep breath then wiped some sweat off his forehead.

"Nice job, Victor! You did great!" Sabastian complemented.

"You didn't do too bad yourself." Victor smiled, trying the breath normally again.

"Wow, Victor, you're hard to keep up with. I'm surprised, Mr. Frenchie." Angelina teased, giving him a small smirk.

"Thanks! I thought I was going to lose to you, sweetie. By the way that isn't my last name." Victor said with a wink.

"Seriously, Victor. Sweetie again?! You know I hate that!" She growled while rolling her eyes.

"I'm clearly in the dark about what is going on right now," Sabastian stated.

"Long story," Angie and Victor said at the same time.

Sabastian laughed, "Let us go get ice cream! It's hot!"

Victor and Angie laughed then they all went over to the ice cream shack. A boy about eighteen stood at the window on his phone while a girl about seventeen leaned over the serving counter whistling. When they approached she sprang up with glee.

"Hey, Sav! Can we get some ice cream?" Sabastian asked her.

"Of course! Anything for my little bro! What kind can I get y'all?" She asked them.

"Is that his sister?" Victor whispered to Angie.

She nodded, "Can I get the lemon ice cream with whip cream?"

"Sure can! Nice to see you by the way!"

"Can I get the root beer float ice cream with extra cream?" Sabastian asked.

"Yep! Will do, bro! What can I get you?" Sav asked Victor.

"I'll have the tutti frutti ice cream with the tutti frutti candies on it, please." Victor asked politely.

"Different. I like it! Are you a new friend of Sabastian's?" She asked him.

"Yep!" Victor answered.

"Savannah, this is Victor. Victor this is Savannah." Sabastian said as he introduced us.

"Sav for short," She corrected with a wink. "You're that kid that moved here from Paris aren't you? The accent gives everything away! Why did you leave such a romantic and pretty place for... this place?"

"Nice to meet you." Victor smiled. "We needed a change of scenery and I guess that place had nothing more to offer us..."

"Oh, cool. Here's your ice cream, kids. Do me a favor and stay out of trouble. By the way that will be $8.94."

Angelina paid then they walked with their bikes to the Ferris wheel that was at the pier. They wanted to go on it so Victor volunteered to pay for them, using the last of his money.

Thank gosh it was a three for four dollars deal today, He sighed in relief.

After they paid they went into a booth altogether. When it started it jerked forward, scaring them a bit. But, when they got to the top it was worth it.

"Thanks, Vic. It is a beautiful sight up here!" Angie thanked.

"Ya! Thanks, Victor." Sabastian added.

"No problem guys! Wait... Vic?" He answered.

"Ya, that's the nickname I'm giving you!" Angie stated.

"Oh, ok. Then I will call you Angie."

Sabastian had grown quiet.

"Hey, Sabastian? What are you thinking about?" Victor asked.

"Oh, um, nothing important. Why?" Sabastian answered suspiciously.

"No reasons."

"Guys, look you can see Lion Bank Middle School from here!" Angie cried.

WOW! That is SO cool, dude! Annie screamed in his mind.

"Ow!" Vic cried.

"What, Victor?" Sabastian asked.

"Oh, nothing! I just... hit my elbow on the seat."

Angie looked at him suspiciously. Victor gave her a quick smile. She backed off a little.

Be quieter, Annie! I could've been caught, He thought.

Sorry not sorry, am I right, Annie laughed.

Finally, after a minute the Ferris wheel ride ended and they were getting off. They boarded their bikes and rode to Angie's house slowly. Sabastian was a little ahead of Victor and Angie. Victor heard Angie mumble something to herself. It sounded like she said, what do you mean. Victor glanced at her.

"What, Angie?" Victor asked.

"Oh, I was singing to myself. You know that one song. What do you mean? What the heck do you mean." She lied.

Victor gave her a suspicious look, "Ok, whatever you say. That isn't how the song goes too."

She's lying, Vic, Annie said proudly.

I know.

Ask her if she is. Trust me. Wink wink, Annie demanded.

Why? He thought.

Just do it! Annie yelled.

"Hey, Angie? Are you sure? Were you lying?" He asked.

"No I'm totally not lying, why would you ask that? That is cray cray." Angie answered nervously.

"The only cray cray thing here is you, sweetie." Victor pointed out.

"Hey!" She laughed, offended.

"I didn't mean it that way. You're just acting... weird."

VICTOR! VICTOR! Annie yelled.

What? Stop yelling! Victor thought.

I know why she is lying!

Why? Victor asked.

Well, there are four possibilities. One is she is mentally insane. Two, she is lonely. Three, she likes you. Four is the craziest one of all and the highly likely one. She also has a guardian and was speaking to him or her, Annie suggested.

Victor was silent a moment, deep in thought. He looked at Angie for a few seconds, taking in possibilities. Number four was crazy. Number three was not true. Number two is sort of possible. Number one was highly doubted.

What if-----, Victor started but was interrupted by Annie.

Maybe. Ask her, She suggested. Risk it for the biscuit. Either she doesn't and will think you are insane or she does and you become besties for life.

How do you know other people are experiencing the same thing as I? Maybe I'm the only one... Victor wondered.

"Hey, Angie? I have a weird, random question." He confessed.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Do... Do you by any chance, um, hear a voice in your head that claims they are your guardian and you had a dream where you were in a kingdom named Elysia?" He said very fast.

She stood still for a moment. Frozen. Not knowing what to say. She finally answered.

"Um..."

"Angie?" He asked.

"I do...and I did... Wait do you?" She asked in shock.

Victor noticed that Sabastian had turned his head to look at us. He yelled to us that his mom needed him home. Then, he waved with a big smile on his face. Victor and Angie waved back.

"Yep," Vic answered.

"Let's go to my house." Angelina demanded.

They were silent the whole way there. He assumed she was talking to her guardian. Victor's guardian had become quiet and would not speak. When they finally reached her house they set their bikes on her lawn and then went through the front gate that led to her backyard. She sat down in the grass next to the hammock and then gestured for him to do the same.

"So..." Victor started.

"What is your guardian's name, Victor?" She asked.

"It's Annie. What is your's?"

"Juniper."

"How long have you known your guardian?" Victor asked Angie.

"Two days maybe, maybe one. You?"

"Today. It was this morning."

Angelina looked surprised, "Wow, really?"

He nodded, "This is awkward."

"Yep," Angelina stated while ripping the green, earthy soil out of the ground.

Tell her I said hi! Oh and tell her to say hi to Juniper for me. We used to be good friends, Annie requested.

"Of course, Annie." Vic said out loud this time.

"What did she say?" Angie asked curiously.

"She told me to tell you she says hi to you. Also, she wants you to tell Juniper hi. She said they used to be good friends." Victor answered.

"I will! Hi, Annie!" Angie cried.

Angie and Victor went silent. Suddenly, Victor's phone rang, breaking the silence. It was a text from his mom. Angelina looked at him curiously.

"My mom texted me. She wants me home. Bye, Angie. Bye, Juniper." Victor answered.

"Bye guys!"

Victor walked out to Angie's front yard, grabbed his bike, and walked it across the street to his house. When he walked in he could smell something cooking. He slipped off his sneakers and then walked into the kitchen. His mother stood at the stove stirring something in a pot.

"Hey, Mom! What are you cooking?" Victor asked leaning on the island.

"I'm cooking clam chowder, is that fine for lunch?" She asked turning around to look at him.

"Of course! You know I love clam chowder. Plus, it would be too late to change it. Wait why clam chowder for lunch?" Victor answered.

"We have no bread for sandwiches and that's all we ever have for lunch. Hey, can you grab the crackers from the cupboard?" She asked, pointing to the cupboard.

Victor nodded. He walked to the cupboard and opened the doors. The cracker box wasn't in sight but after some digging, he found them behind a bunch of cereal bags. His mother turned off the stove and opened another cupboard and took out some bowls. She poured some clam chowder in each bowl then sat them on the counter. Victor opened the box of crackers and then took out a package of crackers. He opened it then set it on the table. He grabbed his bowl, the bowl warming up his hands. There was steam that rose from the soup. He set the bowl down and walked to the utensil drawer to grab two spoons; one for him and one for his mère.

"So, what did you and your friends do?" She asked him.

"We had a bike race to the ice cream shack on the pier. Then, we rode on the Ferris wheel. Sabastian had to leave though on the ride home." Victor answered.

"I'm glad you had fun." She said as she got up from her seat to go get a cup of herbal tea from the tea kettle. "Want some herbal tea, Victor?"

"Sure, why not."

Herbal tea? Gross! That drink is considered evil in Elysia! Annie cried.

The more I know about Elysia, the less I want to go there. He thought. Is that because it is healthy?

No! It's because of an evil witch who poisoned Queen Diani in 1513, Annie stated. By the way, Diani is pronounced De-on-ee. I don't want you to disrespect any more names.

Okay... Hey! I have never disrespected anyone's name. Ya, that's a lie, Victor answered.

"Here is your herbal tea." His mom said placing the tea in front of him.

"Thanks." He answered, taking a sip of tea.

After he finished his tea and his lunch he went upstairs to his bedroom. He opened his door then closed it gently behind him. He picked up his book from off his bed and then sat in his bay window. He read about a page of his book when he heard a knock at his door. A few minutes later Angelina came into his room.

"Angie? Why are you here?" Victor stated.

"Look. We need to talk."

"What about?"

"Ya, so... About this guardian thing. It's very strange how it works... Juniper won't tell me any good details about what is going on though, and I'm still in the dark about all of this. Did yours tell you anything important or anything?" She asked nervously.

"Annie told me how it happened, but not too much about it. She added a few important details. Annie told me what an awakening is and how it works. Quite interesting if you think about it. An awakening is the process of traveling to Elysia. Most commonly done in your sleep. You see, your spirit floats from your body and then travels to Elysia, bringing you there." He explained.

Angie was silent, "You sound smart. Plus, you're lucky to have Annie. She told you something that would be greatly useful. It is interesting though. Also a little, how do I put this... alarming. Technically your spirit is roaming free, and then goes to a strange land, like it's a very normal thing."

Annie spoke this time, Because it is.

"Annie just said because it is." Victor informed her.

"Weird." Angie stated in deep concentration.

"Their world is very different from ours." Victor stated.

"I'm completely with you on that one," Angelina confirmed.

"Why do you think this is happening?"

"I have no idea but it is pretty cool. Have you got any conspiracies?"

"Not really except for maybe it's meant to let you get away from your life on Earth."

"Wow, you might be right. That would make sense."

"If so, it worked."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Just that I stopped thinking and worrying about my problems I guess."

"Same. It's like I was... dare I say... refreshed almost."

"Yeah."

"So, Victor, why did you move here?"

"Change of scenery."

"That sounds like a lie."

"More like a white lie."

"What's the real reason?"

"I guess too many bad memories."

"Oh... Do you mind if I ask what?"

"Um... I... I don't want to talk about it."

"That's okay, Victor. I understand. I should probably go I guess. I don't want to be a menace to you."

"You're not a menace, Angelina."

"Agree to disagree."

At this moment he realized that Angelina Barrings wasn't as perfect as she thought she was. He could tell that she was insecure. He hated that.

"You're a good friend, you know that?"

She laughed sarcastically, "I don't think so."

"No, seriously! Also, I'm sorry for being just a crappy person when you tried to show me around. I thought I was better than everyone else and I guess I just wasn't in the mood."

"Don't be sorry. I understand it now." She smiled warmly. "Are you... sad you moved here?"

"Thanks, Angelina." He sighed. "A little bit I guess. I miss my friends."

"I'm sorry. Maybe you can go back someday and see them again."

"I guess..."

"Well, I want you to know I'm always here for you."

Victor looked up at Angelina, meeting her blue and green eyes. To be honest, Victor probably would've kissed her if they weren't so far from each other, maybe it was best he didn't anyway, they were only in sixth grade. Victor reddened more the longer they stared at each other.

"Thank you, Angelina Barrings."

"Anytime, Victor Angelose."