We work for a solid hour and half before my Dad walks through the door and sees us sitting on the couch. Neither of us notice him until he clears his throat and when he does we both jump up from the lounge. “Hello, Dad,” I say, getting worried that he won’t like this. “This is Colton. He’s my partner on my galactic communications assignment.” “Hello, sir,” Colton says offering his hand for my father to shake. “Hello, Colt...

I wake up and am laying on a bed in the nurse’s room. When I open my eyes, the lights in the room are so bright that they burn my eyes, and I have to quickly shut them again. After a few seconds, I open my eyes again slowly making sure not to look at the lights on the roof. I hear someone moving around the room, and I carefully move my head and see the school nurse moving around the room. I carefully sit up on the bed, an...

Chapter OneI look up at the sky and see a group of business people flying overhead on their jet packs. “Lavender, come on. We are going to be late,” My best friend, Hera, calls back to me from near the school gates. I race to catch up with her and we make it inside the school gates just as the bell rings. I give a sigh of relief, happy to have made it to school on time and avoid getting grounded for a month. I race off to...

Chapter ThreeOpening the door and seeing who is on the other side has me in shock. I see my high school sewing teacher Mrs. Donovan and her husband. Stepping forward, Mr. Donovan takes my hand, bowing and kisses it. “Princess Lascher, what a pleasure to meet you,” He tells me stepping aside for Mrs. Donovan to greet me. “Princess Lascher,” she says with a curtsy. “I ask that you don’t call me Princess tonight, please call...

Chapter Eighteen- Nick When I get home from the hospital, I head upstairs to my room and get changed for work. I quickly race out of the house only pausing long enough to make sure that the door is locked and grab my bag to do some homework on my break. On the drive, I get a phone call but ignore it believing it to be one of my parents calling to check that I’m on my way to work. When I arrive at the restaurant, I race in...

Chapter Seventeen - NickI wake up and feel like I’m going to be sick. The room is dark and the only light is from the hallway. I look around and see a shape sitting on the chair with their head on the bed. It takes me a minute to see who it is in the bare light of the room.“Nick,” I say, my voice barely audible and croaky from disuse. I reach out and touch his hair.Nick sits up quickly and looks startled for a minute befo...

Chapter Sixteen - NickI sit in the chair next to Oasis’s bed, I hold her small hand between my hands and rub it trying to warm it up. I can feel tears welling up in my eyes and quickly wipe them away.“Please, Oasis, wake up,” I say to her hoping she can hear me. “The doctor told us that you can hear us and that talking to you should help.”Just then the curtain opens and one of the nurses comes in to check Oasis’s vital si...

Chapter Fifteen - Minerva I run out of the café and race to the truck. I climb in and start crying, horrible, gut-wrenching sobs. I hear the door open and jump before I look over and see that it is Nick. He sits quietly next to me while I sob. “She’s a strong girl,” Nick says when I finally settle down and stop crying. “She’ll make it.” “I know she’s strong but I can’t help worrying.” I tell him looking at him. “I am scar...

Chapter Fourteen - Nick “I’ll do it,” Minerva says quietly. “I don’t want you anywhere near him,” Eliot says protectively. “If he did shoot Oasis that means he’s already hurt one of daughters I don’t want him to have the chance to hurt another one.” “I have to do this dad. I have to help the police catch him. For my sister,” Minerva says in a calm voice. “I’ll go with her if you want,” I say without hesitation knowing tha...

Chapter Thirteen - Minerva I sit in the seat waiting for the doctors to come out and give us some news, any news. I sit there hoping and praying that my sister will be okay. I can feel the tears silently falling down my face. It’s been three hours since the nurse told us that they had to operate to remove the bullet and we still haven’t been told what has happened yet. I am looking at the clock on the wall for the thousan...

Chapter Twelve - Nick I find Oasis’ family in the stands and take my seat next to Olivia. She passes me a copy of the program and I see that Oasis is coming up after two other people. “I just seen Oasis and she was a bit nervous,” I say to Olivia politely. “She’ll been fine, Nick. She’s always nervous before she competes but once she gets in the arena is fine,” Olivia tells me with a smile. “She was so happy that you can...

Chapter Eleven - Oasis Juliet helps me unload Marina from her horse trailer so that I can groom her before I have to get changed into my dressage competition attire. I quickly and carefully start braiding her mane into button braids. When I’ve finished braiding her mane, I check that her tail is properly pulled and trimmed. Once her hair is all properly groomed, I make sure that her coat is properly brushed and shiny and...

Chapter Ten - Nick I sit at my desk working on my maths homework when my I hear my phone’s text tone go off. I check it and see that it is from Oasis. I need to talk to you, can we video chat later? I quickly reply and tell her I’ll be on at seven before setting my phone aside and getting back to my homework. I sit there looking at the questions on compound interest trying to figure them out but I can’t seem to concentrat...

Chapter Nine - Oasis I grab the saddle clothes off the railing, put them in place on Marina’s back before proceeding to put the saddle on her. Once I have everything put on her properly and have checked that everything is secure, I put her bridle, reins and the bit on her. Once I have her fixed up, I lead her through the stables and up to the riding pavilion. When she is next to the blocks, I throw the reins over her head...

Chapter Eight - Nick I feel a slow happy warm glow build up in me and when I pull back, I see that same happy glow shining from her eyes. She slowly leans back in and gives me a lingering peck on the lips, before pulling back and biting her lower lip. I slowly reach up, push a strand of hair out of her eye, before reaching down and grabbing her hand. “I hope this is a good movie,” I say to Oasis as the cinema starts to fi...