Preparations for OACs
The next week was a bustle of activity of the 12th Grade students of Stamford High. Everyone was getting ready for the upcoming OAC (Ontario Academic Course). Aly, who was just adjusting her daily activities, was also studying very hard. The girls hold back their band practice to only three days a week. Lizzie, Alex and Keira who were taking more subjects (they took the business orientation elective) than Violet and Aly was pushing their studies to the limit so hard that sometimes Aly could see the bags under their eyes or the sound of Lizzie’s mp3 player well past over midnight indicating she’s studying.
She herself had 8 subjects to study for; English, French, Mathematics, Chemistry, Canadian History, Canadian Geography, Physical Education and Social Studies. Who wouldn’t have butterflies in their stomach when they were a week away from the examination that could determine your future?
Everyday, the teachers drilled them and gave them exercises a mountain high. Most notes ranging from the 9th grade till 12th was read every night, memorised and carved into their minds. Aly was sometimes so busy that she forgot all together about Harry and his drawings. Except when she saw him in classes. Or when she sees his drawing on the wall of her many pictures taped in the middle of everything. Violet, Alex and Lizzie had already known about him by now, thanks to Keira.
Aly herself couldn’t understand her own feelings. She was sometimes shy to talk to him. Sometimes, she’s not and enjoyed a conversation with him. Though she was sure it wasn’t a crush. Was she? She herself doesn’t know. Maybe it was. Maybe it’s not. After all, exams were coming up and she still hasn’t gotten over last week. How could she be crushing on someone now? Anyway, every time she looked at the drawing, she would smile. For the drawing reflected her. Her sadness. Her evanescence from the world.
Though not all of her time revolves around studies, eating, sleep, friends, books and daydreams. She was currently writing her uncompleted novel to pass the boredom of reading too many of her revision books. The manuscript was called Light Of The Larel and it was about a girl named Tenna who lived in a magical realm in a small village in the mountains. She was neither experienced in magical abilities nor any kind of swordsmanship. All she could was read, which is a rare ability and one that could be more respected if more people could do it. Instead the younger generation often jeered at her when she was reading under her favourite tree or writing and practising her runes. One miraculous day, she saved their lives.
Goblins, wraiths, and all other kinds of evil entered the village with intentions of pillaging it and killing every occupant of the village. Just as the goblins (the ones in charge of the evil) started to raise their swords over their heads, Tenna spoke a word she had just read in her book, which was entitled ‘The Ways Of The Larel; An Extinct Race’, the word which is one of the most powerful spells in the book. All the invaders dropped dead. As she would find out later in the book, was that she is actually a Larel, the last occupant of the nearly extinct race. Larels are relatives to the elves and was often sent to the Oracle in the city of Osilon for training because they are usually the guardians of the magical realm (named Iline). Now the queen’s younger brother, Prince or now, King Raet, usurped the realm a few years ago. He thrown his sister into the dungeons and Aly was hoping to write the journey from the village where Tenna would leave to find Oracle and the Rebels to oppose Raet and hopefully return Iline to its former glory. Aly was hoping that she could make a whole series out of Tenna. She was already thinking of what might happen in the next book. These are some of the ideas she made in her little notebook of ideas.
First Book - The Light Of The Larel
-A girl named Tenna embarks from her mountain village to save one of the most oldest and powerful magic realms in the galaxy, Iline. On the way, she met the Oracle and his apprentice, Gareth (an elf with the gift to see the future) and the three of them tries to bring back peace to the realm. After months of journeying and fighting, they finally defeat King Raet from his throne and free the rightful heir to the throne, Queen Eladriel. It turns out that Tenna is the daughter of Eladriel and she finally helps her mother to run Iline. She marries Gareth and gives birth to Iminirilie (who follows his father the most and is an elf) with Sabine and Damien, a pair of twins. Sabine follows her grandmother blood who is a half-siren and a witch. Damien is a powerful alchemist as he grows up. Iminirilie grows up to follow in his father's footsteps and is a proud swordsman and archer.
Second Book – Iline’s Sunrise
-Sabine and Damien grow up in the capital of Iline, Lafel. Very bright and well nurtured in the life of monarchy, they started to help Eladriel and Tenna in the politics and matters of Iline. Suddenly Raet (Eladriel's brother) escapes in the middle of the night from the dungeons and takes Damien with him to the Outerlands. He taught the young boy (16 years old) in the ways of necromancy and darkness. Soon after, he made a full-scale war with Iline but in the midst of it all, Sabine manages to bring her brother to the light but not completely. On their mother's orders, they escaped to another new realm with most of the villagers that they can find which Sabine and Tenna with Ora and Iminirilie only created a few months ago.
Sabine escaped with Iminirilie, and Damien with promises that they WILL come back for Eladriel and Tenna. Gareth died in battle.
Third Book - Sunset of the Siblings
-Sabine (Kyra), Damien and Iminirilie brought up Frion with the help of Ora. They divided the land into 3 pieces for each of their own. Damien continued to learn the ways of darkness without the knowledge of his sister but the condition of his country told much enough. After a few years of peace, Sabine marries and have 7 children of her own; Raella, Aidella, Ainella, Rubye, Ayrilne, and Natilyne. But a year before the arrival of Raella, Ora had a vision of the destruction of Alegardia' (Sabine's realm) so he told Sabine/Kyra bout' this and told her that the safest way is that she choose her group of Larels soon. One of the gifted warriors in Fenroh (Alegardia’s capital), Tarx who is a friend of Kin and Craiyla, betrayed them to Damien. Her daughters were hidden away to Earth when Raella was only 6 and Alegardia' was under attack by Damien. They were the new Larels.
Fourth Book - Dim Light
-After Damien overthrown his sister, his nieces were sent to Earth with the help of Kyra's agents from The Circle (Kin, Craiyla, Mayril, Aine and Ora). They again repeat history of the Larels and marches to Fenroh and Bemor to save Alegardia and their mother.
Night and day Aly has been working on her novel whenever she has the free time. Harry very much complied when Aly asked him to draw certain scenes in her story filled her manuscript in her Apple laptop alongside the thousands of words.
Finally it was Friday, the last day of school that week and a relief to most of the 12th graders. The girls entered Vi’s, Lizzie’s and Aly’s apartment and flopped on the various chairs there at 4.00 pm.
“Can you guys believe it’s finally Friday? I felt like a whole year has passed,” exclaimed Keira.
“I wished a whole year did pass, then I don’t have to worry about this stupid test. Who invented tests in the world anyway? If he’s not dead, I’m going to kill him,” Alex said.
Aly, Lizzie, Violet and Keira laughed.
“What? You don’t believe me?”
Aly moved to the kitchen, “Well, before you kill him, whoever he is, I wanna eat something. I’m starving!”
“You’re always starving,” Vi said, “For the last two nights you were up, you ransacked the fridge till it was empty. Thank god I remembered to do the groceries,”
“Yes, thank you, oh mighty Violet!” Lizzie said in a sarcastic voice, “ Through your thoughtfulness and kindness, we would be able to eat today,” she laughed. Later, she was pinned on the floor after running from Violet, being tickled to madness.
“What do you say?”
“Ok! Ok! I’m sorry!”
Violet released her to fits of laughter.
Aly who was making the table only laughed at her friends, “Instead of fooling around, why don’t you guys help me?”
Lizzie started to open her mouth to say something but closed it when she saw Violet. Everyone laughed. She went to the table with Violet and helped Aly to prepare for tea.
Sunday, the last day of freedom for four days came. The girls panicked the moment they woke up and it wasn’t even Monday. Aly got out of bed and made it up. She decided to dedicate the whole to studying so she didn’t want a messy bed to get in her way. Especially when ‘Mom’ or Violet come and demand for the bed to be made. She chuckled at the thought. She guessed Violet couldn’t help not being a ‘mom’ since she has two other orphans in her home.
“Morning, darlings! What’s up?” Violet chorused.
“Nothing. I’m just going to turn in and study for tomorrow,” Aly said, eating her toast.
“Me too,” Lizzie said.
Violet flipped the pan. She was making some pancakes.
“Okay then. I’ll be at the library today,”
Lizzie looked up, “Hey, I’ll follow!”
Vi nodded and turned to Aly, as if asking if she wanted to follow.
“I don’t think I’ll go. I need noise,” she said, laughing. But it’s actually very true. Unlike most people who prefer peace and quiet when they’re studying, Aly prefers the opposite. She often turns on her radio or Mp3 player and sang loudly when she hits the books. She said that it keeps out the noise of the outside world. Violet said it could also make you deaf.
Aly finished her pancakes and went into the fresher’ for a bath. Inside she could hear the distinct shout from Violet saying, “Aly! We’re going!” 15 minutes later when she got out of the bathroom, she had the apartment all to herself. She turned on her radio to its maximum volume and took out her Canadian History book.
She was bored out of herself. Flipping through every page, the words skimmed through her eyes. She had already memorized everything, every word, and every page for the upcoming OAC’s. So she decided to get some fresh air and continue studying at her favourite place in Niagara Falls, the Baskin Robbins ice-cream shop. She took her blue sling bag and put in her Mp3 player, her book, which has ‘Tenna’ (her story) in it, and her French and Canadian History books. Taking her keys, she locked the door and went of towards the parking lot for her car.
She drove through Cardinal Street out of Forest Glen, passing tourists and classmates here and there who she waved to. She drove past the Niagara Falls, the sight that always made her proud to be a Canadian. Finally after driving past Main Street, she arrived at the shop. She walked towards the counter and ordered some chocolate chip ice cream. Taking the ice cream from one of the workers, she went towards one of the available (the only available) booth and settled in there. What she didn’t notice was that the occupant of the booth in front of her was actually Harry. But he did notice her.
She took out her Mp3 player and played the song, A Long Way To Go by Cassie, one of her many favourites. Eating the ice cream, she took out her book and continued to write about Tenna. Immersed in her story, she was at where the goblins and ghouls were about to attack the village when she felt a tap at her shoulder.
“I’ll pay later,” she said when she thought it was the waitress. A second tap.
“What is it?” she demanded and looked up to stare into the azure eyes of Harry Raite.
“Hi, is this seat free?” he said with that accent of his. Aly took out her headphones and gestured him to seat in front of her.
“Sorry for just now. I was… busy,” she said, eating her chocolate chip ice cream before it melts.
“What are you doing? Is that the story, what’s the name, Light Of The Larel or something? The one you’re working on?” he asked, taking the book from my hands.
“Yea, I’m at the point where she was finding out her powers. When I was interrupted,” she said sarcastically. He laughed.
‘So, how long have you been doing this? Writing, I mean,” Harry asked her.
“Umm…let me think,” she said, “Since I was 10 years old, I think,”
“Hey, me too! But I also had a bit of liking towards drawing so I included both. Here, this is another of my drawings maybe you’ll like it,” he said. He opened his rucksack and took out a stack of papers. He flipped trough them and took one out of its pile. He handed it to her.
It was another drawing but set in the morning, when the sun was still rising in the borders. A girl stood outside of her balcony, gazing at open space. She looked very much like Aly, with the sunlight in her face. Her wavy dirty blonde hair was flying all over the place by the morning breeze. Like every drawing, her green eyes were reflecting her feelings, always sad and alone. She was wearing a necklace also like the one around Aly’s neck. She squinted her eyes at the words.
Evanescence.
She looked shocked. Aly has always worn her ‘Evanescence’ necklace around her neck ever since she was 15 years old. Evanescence was and still is her favourite band of all time so her mother hunted for the necklace for her 15th birthday and she will cherish it for the rest of her life. The girl looked just like her, her clothes, her necklace, her eyes, and her face. She looked at the date when it was drawn. 16th June 2006.
Harry saw that she knew the drawing, “I drew that in Science when we first met,”
“Why are the eyes always… so sad?”
“I draw them the way I see them,” he simply said. She didn’t say anything and he was afraid that she was hurt by his words.
“I’m sorry if it offended you,” he said again.
She paid for her ice cream and took the book back from him.
“Aly,”
She looked back at him.
“Would you like to go on The Maid with me?” he asked. She only walked towards her car where he followed her and he drove them towards The Falls. Parking it alongside Niagara Parkway, they lined at the counter to buy a ticket. They didn’t talk to each other the whole time.
They were at the pier next to The Falls. After they bought their ticket, they boarded the ship together. They both walked towards the starboard where the view of The Falls was magnificent.
Aly still didn’t look at him, “I’m sorry. The drawing is very beautiful,” she suddenly mumbled. What was wrong with her? She barely knew the guy! But she felt so open with him, as if she had known him her whole life.
She knew lately she has been acting selfish, avoiding everyone and wallowing in her own misery. Only now she understand that doing that won’t make Mom come back or Dad change his traits. She must only live on.
“Aly?” Harry’s voice cut through her thoughts.
She looked at him, glassy-eyed. She pressed the drawing at his chest. Harry sub-consciously put his hand behind her back, making her put her head on his chest where she was weeping silently.
“Aly, what happened?” he asked in a caring voice.
“Your drawing made me realize something, that’s all,” she said, “It’s nice,”
Harry pulled her face up, meeting her eyes, brimming with tears, “No, there have to be something else,”
Aly fell silent.
“My mother died a week ago,”
“I’m sorry,”
“Don’t be,”
Silence.
Harry only looked at her. Slowly, he moved his head towards her face and they kissed.
It was nice and sweet. When they meet each other’s eyes again, both of them were smiling slightly.
“It’s okay to cry about it but the past will remain the past. Your mother is proud of you, Aly wherever she is, for having you as a daughter,” he said softly. She leaned on his chest again, hugging him tightly as if he was her last protection on Earth.
