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1 Ficon Wring and Short Stories By: Sheena Arzola

2 Reecon Once upon a time, a 10-year-old me, who shared a bed with her 5-year-old little sister, would whisper fairy tales into the night. Some stories I would tell were ones I was taught and repeated. Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, were all stories I would tell into the night. Some stories were completely new. These new stories were usually based on some adventure we’d had earlier that day. As I grew, the stories never stopped. I often spent my time daydreaming, lost in these lands of stories. My mom often worried that I’d never get my head out of the clouds. With so many stories that spent time in my head, I’ve utilized this chance in Fiction Writing Class to some of these tales onto paper, and to give breath to the characters who’ve been waiting to live. The Gumiho’s Love, Love’s Gate, and Flower Boy are my main short stories in this portfolio. These are stories that have had my head in the clouds since my recent trip to South Korea. The country of Korea and the culture were so beautiful that I could not help but write out the characters and stories inspired by them. I hope that this portfolio and this class is just the beginning. That I can use everything I’ve learned from this class and maybe one day, I too will write a story that inspires other little girls who also whisper their stories at night.

3 Table of Contents Reecon 2 Major Stories Pages The Gumiho’s Love 4 Love’s Gate 7 Flower Boy 11 Short Stories Pages We Met Cutely 14 Beauty and the Beast 16 The Dinner 18 Bus Stop Gossip 21

4 The Gumiho’s Love Yoon-Ah sat under the plum blossom tree, on her favorite hill towards the bottom of the mountain. It was a peaceful hill secluded enough in the forests of the mountain. A piece of heaven left behind by the Gods. The trees flourished here, surrounding an open little meadow of wildflowers that grew with abandon in the clearing atop this hill. Seo Yoon-Ah sat with a perfect view of the little village below, the river that curved beside it, and the path that led down into it. The blossoms in the plum tree bloomed brightly in pink, white, and red against the clear blue sky. The rays of sunlight through the forest branches lit up the rainbow of different colored tulips and wildflowers that filled the meadow. A warm breeze blew in around her, enveloping her with the scents of cedar and amber. A soft deep voice tickled her ear. She knew it was the voice of Hong Dae-Sung, the God of the Mountain. The smell of cedar and amber that surrounded him reminded Yoon-Ah of the ancient trees, the wizened mountains he ruled, the depth of the ancestors buried beneath the mountains. “Yoon-Ah, my love. How did I know I would find you here? Do you not tire of pining after the humans?” Hong Dae-Sung played with the soft sable end of her braid, caressing the shining strands of her hair with his fingers. Yoon-Ah didn’t even glance his way. She knew he would be watching her, his eyes a sparkling night sky under long ebony lashes. She didn’t have to look at him to know, his hair rippled like waves in the wind, just above his shoulders. Or that his lips were plush and pink, like cherry blossom petals. He was perfection. He was a god. “I pine after the humans in the same way you pine after me.” she said as she gave him a small playful smirk. “I admire humans. They love, they work, they live with such passion. They live with a ferocity in knowing that their lives are fleeting. A romantic sentiment that everything they have is held dear because it all has an end. We, on the other hand, are selfish. We do not understand sickness. Nor do we understand death. We do not understand that kind of love, or the loss of it.” Yoon-Ah could feel his anger. His grip on her hair tightened slightly, though his voice remained soft and teasing. “Do you not believe in my love for you, Yoon-Ah? Why would a God love a Gumiho if he were not truly besotted by you?” Yoon-Ah finally looked away from the village below and stared deep into his eyes for a moment, trying to really read him. The air felt tight the longer she stared at him. He just looked back at her. Doing his best not to let his anger rise to the surface. Her eyelashes fluttered and the tension eased a bit. “Indeed.” It was her only answer as she turned back to the village.

5 Dae-Sung followed her gaze to the village and finally realized what she been watching this whole time. The governor’s son, Myung In-Su. In-Su was intently watching the crane’s splash in the water as he sat near the river under a blooming willow tree. He overlooked the water with a thoughtful expression before taking up his brush and sweeping it across the paper with dancer-like motions. When Dae-Sung looked away from In-Su and back to Yoon-Ah, he almost choked on the jealous rage that flared up within him. He hated the softened look in her earthy brown eyes and the longing they spoke of. He stood up brusquely, tearing himself away from her, burning with resentment. This human must be the reason Yoon-Ah has refused him repeatedly. He could feel himself shaking. The birds in the trees chirped nervously around him, and the mountain groaned beneath him. Suddenly, a thought came to him. He would show her what these humans thought of creatures like her. She would regret loving them, and he would make sure of that. “Yoon-Ah, my little fox,” Dae-Sung said. His voice seemed deceptively calm and overly sweet. “I seemed to have remembered a way that a Gumiho can become a human.” Dae-Sung smiled as Yoon-Ah turned and looked at him. Hope shone in her eyes mingled with suspicion. “If there is a chance for me to become human, why would you choose to tell me?” She tried to discern whether he was telling the truth or a lie. He smiled at her again, his dark, midnight eyes glowing. In one quick movement, he leaned into her and held her face in his warm hand. “How else can I prove my love to you?” His voice was low, almost a purr. She searched his eyes a moment more. “Tell me,” She said. He noticed her strawberry pink lips where her words held such finality. “You’ll have to eat the livers of 100 humans to become human.” And when her lips parted in shock at his words, he gave her a quick rueful grin before vanishing, leaving her to decide her fate. Myung In-Su strolled up the path three days later under the full moon’s light. A cool breeze blew through the night, and he breathed in the scent of cherry blossoms, and something that smelled a bit metallic. He had dreamed of this night for weeks. The moment when he would meet Yoon-Ah under the plum tree on the night of the full moon. He could not wait to embrace her. To feel her in his arms and feel the softness of her plush pink lips against his. He was going to tell her tonight that he loved her, while looking deep into her sweet caramel eyes. This time, he would convince her to be his wife. He slowed when he smelled a distinct metallic smell. The scent grew thicker the further up the path he went. He cautiously looked at the trees in the darkness. A strange shape appeared at the bottom of the hill where the smell hung thickest in the air. He hurried towards it. As he got closer, he could make out a figure, a body lying face down on the ground. It was surrounded by a dark liquid that sank into the earth, staining the earth like ink. Pieces of the body were torn from

6 him. His clothing was ripped and shredded. In-Su stood in horror when he heard a noise, a soft sniffling. Yoon-Ah! What if she was hurt? Did she see what happened? Did they attack her too? He had to get to her! He ran up the hill looking for her. Passing three more bodies, torn and gruesome lying scattered among the forest path. In-Su's panic grew as he searched for Yoon-Ah, running to the plum blossom tree. “Yoon-Ah!” The wildflowers were trampled painted with dark splatters of blood. He looked around frantically for her. He dragged in his breath when he finally saw her. Yoon-Ah sat next to a body of an older woman. The eyes open, unblinking. Her mouth frozen in a forever inaudible scream. Yoon-Ah was covered in blood. In-Su could smell the metallic tang mixed with the sharp perfume of the plum blossoms. Yoon-Ah watched him from her spot under the tree. Her dark, unbound hair fell down her back in soft waves. Her arms were wrapped around her knees tightly. Tears streaked down her cheeks amidst the dirt and the spatters of blood that freckled across her cheeks and her nose. In-Su stared at the body and then looked back at Yoon-Ah, confused. “Yoon-Ah, what...? …. Are you hurt? What happened?” As In-Su moved forward, he began to take in Yoon-Ah's blood soaked hanbok, the wary way she watched him move toward her, and the guilt that hung in her eyes. He froze when he saw that look. And then he noticed her tails, all nine of them curled around her. “Gumiho” he whispered, and his body went cold. He felt sick. “Did you do this?” He felt disgust and anger rising within him. “Did you kill these people?!” Confusion and shock coming in waves. They combined with his feelings of anger and disgust. He stood up and glared down at her. “You aren’t my Yoon-Ah. You were a Gumiho the whole time. A monster.” At the sound of the word “Monster,” Yoon-Ah's eyes snapped up to look at him. He looked at her with disgust. The face that once looked at her full of love stared back at her in anger. “Monster?!” She stood and bared her teeth. “I did this because I love you!” The guilt at her deeds, the anger she felt at herself, and the betrayal she felt from In-Su all boiled within her. “I did this so I could become human!” She took a step towards him, her fists clenched at her side. “I did this so we could be together!” She took another step towards him, her eyes glowing with anger. “And now I’m just a Monster.” She lunged at him.

7 Love’s Gate Si-Eun walked out into the moonlight, shutting the door softly behind her. She looked around, making sure the road to the gate was clear before she stepped off the steps. Her feet padded softly on the dirt road as she walked hurriedly to the gate trying to keep to the shadows making sure no one saw her. The gate doors were large and foreboding, but she slipped through them quickly and closed them as quietly as she could. Safe on the other side of the walls, she leaned her back on the gate’s doors, taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly as she looked up at the great forest looming in front of her. A cool breeze danced through the trees and played with her hair as it blew by. The fading scent of cherry blossoms wafted through the air as the wind died down. The ending of spring. With a deep breath and a small smile, she tossed her braid back over her shoulder and rearranged her bag in her arms. She ran towards the nightfall of the forest, embracing it. The path she took was a familiar one. Every step away from the city felt lighter and lighter. Si-Eun and her love had taken this way through the forest many times before. Their feet trekked through these trees so often a faint worn down path appeared where they had stepped on their way to see each other. Their monthly chance encounters soon turned into weekly visits, then a full-blown love affair, finding the time to meet whenever they could. She finally reached the end of the path where a grove of willow trees sat. She reached her hand up and pushed the branches aside to reveal a clearing overflowing with soft grass and flowers. Min-Young stood there, amongst the trees, gleaming from the soft glow of the moonlight. He turned when he heard her enter the clearing, his eyes meeting hers, and she felt the universe slow to a stop. “Si-Eun,” he said her name so softly it almost sounded like a whisper. He crossed the clearing in a few long strides, pulling her against his chest. “I was so worried. You’re not hurt, are you? No one saw you leave?” He pulled back and brushed her loose hair behind her shoulder, searching her face worriedly. Si-Eun gave him a soft smile and shook her head. “I’m not hurt. I made sure to wait long enough for everyone to be asleep. The roads were quiet and clear when I left. I could even hear Soo-Jin snoring soundly from the window to her room.” Si-Eun gave him an impish grin. Min-Young smiled back, giving her such a loving look, she felt her heart begin to beat a bit faster. He was still worried despite his heartfelt smile. He glanced about the clearing and the dark forest beyond with narrowed eyes, pausing to listen to the sounds around them. Tensed for any unexpected visitors. After a few moments of silence, he looked back down at Si-Eun.

8 “Did you remember to bring your pendant?” he spoke in a lower voice. She pulled on the leather cord tucked into the collar of the jacket of her hanbok where she kept the lotus pendant close to her heart. “Did you remember to bring yours?” she used the same quiet tone he did. He pulled on the leather cord that hung around his own neck revealing the glow of the green jade of his lotus pendant, the mate to her own. The pendants were gifts from the old monk that lived in the forest. Believing in the pendants' abilities to protect fated lovers he gave them to Si-Eun and Min-Young telling them grand stories of its power. A charm of truth, love, and balance. Si-Eun adored the old man, his stories a light to her hopeless romantic heart. When he offered the lovers the pendants, she took it gratefully. She was delighted to have something that connected her Min-Young. Though she believed in its powers Min-Young was firm in his belief of the jade pendants and made sure Si-Eun always wore it. “I cannot always be here to protect you,” he said as he tied the pendant gently around her neck. “Please keep the pendant on, I'll feel better knowing the god’s have a piece of their magic close to you, protecting you when I cannot.” The look of pleading in his eyes had softened her heart. She reached up and caressed his cheek. “Of course, I will wear it.” She had told him. “It’s like keeping a piece of you with me.” She gave him a shy smile. “And you should keep a piece of me with you too.” She stepped on the tips of her toes, her lilac embroidered slippers digging into the dirt as she stretched up to reach his height and gave Min-Young a quick soft kiss on his cheek. His eyes had grown wide in shock at her kiss, a smile slowly growing on his face. Si-Eun smiled softly at the memory. A snap heard behind them in the forest pulled Si-Eun back to the present. In an instant, Min-Young was in front of Si-Eun, tucking her safely behind him, his bow and arrow drawn towards the sound. The old monk appeared from behind the willow tree a moment later, limping slightly and looking rushed and unkempt. Seeing them, he waved his arms at them, looking like a frightened bird. “Go! You must hurry! You’ve been found out! They are coming!” Si-Eun gasped, and Min-Young wasted no time grabbing his sack and hers before leading them further into the forest, up into the mountains. After a while Si-Eun looked back down the hill towards the old monk. He stood there stubborn and unyielding as a line of torches came for him, illuminating the men on horses that held them. Their swords, swinging in the torchlight sent sparks of light through the trees, blinding the shadows throughout the forest. Min-Young held Si-Eun’s hand tightly, and she clung to his hand just as tightly back. She felt the Earth shake beneath their feet as they ran. Her father and his men were pounding the ground on horseback, bearing down on her, like she was just another prey in another one of their hunts. With this thought, she knew running was useless. “Min-Young…” she panted, almost breathless. “Don’t give up. Please!” he answered, not letting her finish.

9 She continued to run with him through the forest for a moment before she tried again. “Min-Young…” she said through shallow breaths. Min-Young slowed, not looking at her but at the dead end they had reached before them. They stood at the top of a cliff. Min-Young peered over the edge and saw nothing at the bottom but rocks leading into vast empty darkness. He looked around frantically. He looked at the daunting rocks below them, and at the forest of trees from where they had just come from. From a distance they could hear the shouts, the stomping of hoofs beating ever closer and closer. The once dark forest glowed red from the ominous glow of torchlight carried by the soldiers. The light burned brighter and brighter as they grew ever closer. Si-Eun reached up and touched Min-Young’s face gingerly, drawing his gaze down to hers. “Min-Young, I love you. Please, run. Get away from here. They won’t hurt me, but my father...” she hesitated. “I don’t know what he’ll do to you.” He looked at her, his gaze growing stubborn. “I won’t leave you. I love you. We’re fated. Meant to grow old together and love one another until the day we die. I WILL NOT LEAVE.” As he said this, soldiers broke through the trees blocking their last chance of escape. General Kim Yong, the leader of her father’s army, strode to the front of the line of soldiers and glared at them from his formidable horse, stopping only a few feet from them. Min-Young had already moved in front of Si-Eun, his body shielding hers, bow and arrow in hand ready to protect her with his life, if it came to that. Out of the darkness from behind the General strode another man on a giant black steed, son to the General and Si-Eun’s betrothed, Kim U-Jin. He stared down at them bored and haughty, first at Min-Young then at Si-Eun. As Si-Eun watched Kim U-Jin emerge from the shadows and turn his turbulent dark eyes upon her she gasped. “What are you doing here?” she whispered and backed up a few steps in shock. She froze as she felt her foot hit a small rock and the echoes of it skittering behind her, off the cliff’s edge and into the darkness below. Ping ping... Ping. Ping. Its echoes grew softer the further it fell. She dared a small glance behind her and saw that she was only steps away from the blackness below. “Si-Eun, my love.” came the deceptively calm, deep voice from atop the dark horse. Si-Eun’s eyes snapped back to the scene in front of her. Min-Young growled at U-Jin and swung his bow and arrow up, aiming its point straight at the man’s haughty glare. “Si-Eun is NOT your love.” Kim U-Jin turned and fixed Min-Young with a stoney glower.

10 “I suggest BOY, that you move aside and let me speak to my wife.” Si-Eun’s voice quavered as she looked at U-Jin. “I am NOT your wife. I refuse to marry you.” Min-Young pressed back against Si-Eun, trying his best to hide her with his body and divert U-Jin’s attention to him instead. “Si-Eun is NOT your wife. You two are not married, you were only betrothed, she has refused you repeatedly. Leave her be. She is not yours. She will NEVER be yours!” U-Jin’s mask of boredom finally broke, his eyes churning with fury. “I have had enough of your meddling in my affairs!” U-Jin reached down and pulled his sword from its sheath in one quick motion. He charged at Min-Young, his horse bucking in the air and screaming before obeying its master’s command to surge forward. Si-Eun, desperate to pull Min-Young out of the way, yanked him back forgetting the few inches of space left between the two lovers and the void beneath them. At the same time, Min-Young twisted and enveloped Si-Eun in his arms attempting to cover her body with his so she could avoid the blow. In the chaos, the couple toppled over the cliff and into the chasm below. As they fell, Si-Eun slipped from Min-Young’s arms. Though he could no longer see her, he could see the faint glow of the pendant she wore around her neck. “Min-Young!” she screamed as she fell through the darkness. “Min-Yooooouuunng!” He tried desperately to reach toward the glow of the pendant. Was that her light glowing beneath him? Or was it his own? Si-Eun flailed frantically in the faint glow of the dark. Reaching for him, hoping her hands would find his once more. A faint reply of her name echoed in the darkness one last time. Then everything went black.

11 Flower Boy Moon Haneul was standing in front of the subway doors. He was barely listening to his best friend since Kindergarten Kim Min-Su telling him all about the girl of his dreams the fortune teller told him the night before at the Cherry Blossom Festival. Haneul was in a quiet mood. He thought about last night, watching the couples stroll along the Han River holding hands, laughing together, enjoying each other’s company. The falling pink blossoms and the glittering string lights hung in the trees made the scene look magical. Staring at his reflection in the glass of the subway train as he waited for his stop, made him feel almost empty. “You’re not even listening to me!” Min-Su whined at him, snapping Haneul out of his thoughts. “Oh. Sorry.” Mumbled Haneul. Min-Su studied him for a moment. “I know that look. You weren’t thinking about Seong Garam, were you? I thought you were over her. You two have been broken up for over a year now. I thought we were past this.” Haneul scowled at his friend. “I wasn’t thinking about Garam.” He huffed. “I was thinking about the festival last night.” Min-Su’s handsomely boyish face turned even more handsome as he smiled brightly at his friend. “Yes! You should really focus on what the fortune teller told you! Follow the advice of your flowers, they will lead to the path of your beloved. The path of innocence, sweetness, and truth. So romantic! So mysterious!” Haneul gave Min-Su an incredulous look. “Did Cupid hit you with an arrow? What is with you today?” Min-Su smiled brightly at Haneul. “I don’t know. I just have such a good feeling today. Like what the fortune told me about my Dream Girl is going to come true and she’ll come into my life any moment now.” The song announcing the subway trains arrival played over the speakers. The monitor above the door showed flashed “Gangnam,” in Korean, then English, Chinese, and Japanese. Finally, the train began to slide to a stop. Haneul braced himself on the handlebar in front of him before he lost his balance. The train pulled in and the doors in front of Haneul and Min-Su opened. Revealing people on the other side waiting to get on as they got off. As they stepped off the train and entered the doors to Gangnam’s Underground Shopping Center, they had to maneuver around the bustle of people already browsing the shops that lined the underground subway station. Min-Su stopped in front of the Flower Shop and turned to Haneul.

12 “I have a few errands to run before my shift, I’ll be back in 2 hours to help you finish making the bouquets.” He readjusted the backpack on his shoulder and started walking backwards waving cheerfully. Haneul just nodded and waved a goodbye as he opened the shop door and started setting out the flowers. The flow of work passed the time as he prepped flowers, set out paper and ribbons. He was just starting to separate bundles of baby’s breath when something made him look up through the shop glass. Three girls were walking past the shop. The three of them looked foreign with bigger eyes, all lighter shades of brown. He thought he could hear them speaking English amongst the drone of different conversations and noises coming from the shops. He watched as the taller girls kept walking past, but the shorter girl slowed her pace, seemingly enchanted by the flowers. She looked at all the different flowers on display in front of the window. Stopping in front of some of them, her lips moving in a whisper. Was she talking to the flowers? The two other girls finally noticed her absence and stopped a couple shops down and waited for her. Watching her look at the flowers but looking mildly impatient like they didn’t have the patience to wait. Finally, the girl stood in front of a bunch of flowers and cocked her head to the side. She knelt in front of them looking closer at the soft pink petals. She smiled at the blooms and looked over at the tallest girl and said something to her. Haneul watched the taller girl answer her with a shake of her head. Haneul looked back at the baby’s breath in his hands as the girl stood up and began separating them again. “Uhm… Jogiyo? Excuse me please.” The shorter girl was standing in front of the shop door looking at him, a nervous smile on her face. She motioned outside towards the flowers. He followed her out the door to a bucket full of brightly colored fuchsia pink blossoms. He looked at her before looking down at the flowers she was pointing at. Her eyes were a light brown, hints of green sparkled throughout. They were lined with long thick lashes, dark and making her eyes stand out even more. She still smiled a small nervous smile while she looked back at him. Her lips soft and slightly plump, shimmering a light pink color. “Uhm… ireum... kkot?” she asked in hesitant Korean, still pointing at the flowers. He looked at the flowers. Oh. She wants to know the name of the flowers. Haneul thought. “Freesias” he said looking back at her. “Ah. Freesias.” She said, admiring the flowers again. Haneul waited and watched her for a moment. She glanced at him and smiled again. “Yeppeuda. They’re beautiful.” she nodded towards them. “Yes, they are.” He gave her a small smile back. “Let me know if you need anything”. He said to her in Korean. She gave him a small bow. “Gamsahabnida. Thank you so much.” She said, giving him a bright smile. Her smile was so cheery, it reminded him of Min-Su. He couldn’t help but stare at her a moment before he smiled and gave a small bow in return. The girl gazed at the flowers longingly before slowly turning to catch up with her friends. Through the glass he could see her turn and look at the flowers, then at him once more. Haneul turned his attention back to his worktable. He reached for the scissors on the shelf next to him, bumping into the pile of books on the table. Putting the scissors down, bent over to pick up the books and froze. The book lay open to a picture of freesias. Underneath it lay the

13 flower’s meaning. Freesias: Innocence, sweetness, and truth. Was she the one the fortune teller spoke about? Before he gave it another thought he stood up and grabbed a freesia from one of bouquets. He quickly wrote his phone number on a piece of paper and tied it to the flower with a ribbon. He bolted out of the flower shop and ran in the direction he last saw the girls heading. Towards the subway. Pushing his way through the doors to the subway he could hear song announcing the arrival of the next train. As the train slid to a stop and the doors opened to let passengers on and off, he spotted her with her friends getting onboard the second car of the subway train. He ran as the little song chimed again, signaling the closing doors. She looked up, and right at him as the doors began to close. “Freesia” he said, tossing the flower towards her just as the doors slammed close. The subway began to pull away, through the windows of the door he could see her pick up the flower at her feet and look back at him. Her hand rested on the glass, reaching out towards him as the train drove away. Haneul pressed a hand to his chest a little out of breath and he watched until the end of the train drove by and then he turned back towards the Shopping Center doors. As he headed back to the flower shop, he heard his phone chirp in his pocket. His heart leapt, as he opened his messages. “Kkot sonyeon? Flower Boy?” He knew immediately who this unknown number was. Smiling, he typed back quickly. “Freesia.” He stared at his phone, waiting impatiently for the reply. “Ireumi mwoyeyo, Flower Boy? What is your name, Flower Boy?” Came the reply as he reached the flower shop. He glanced up to see Min-Su leaning against the door to the shop. He was grinning at Haneul, a knowing smile so infectious that Haneul couldn’t help but smile back at him. He knew Min-Su had seen the whole thing.

14 We Met Cutely Serena slipped her shoes off and rearranged herself in her seat. The ten-hour flight from Korea back to the US was going to be long and she had hoped to get some sleep. The couple from Canada seated next to her were already cuddled together and had been asleep as soon as the lights were out. Sighing to herself she tried repositioning herself in her seat once more and snuggled her face into her BTS pillow hoping sleep would soon find her as she lay there. Movement caught her attention, and she watched as the boy seated in front of her also tossed and turned in his seat. Wesley, she thought to herself. That’s what she had heard the older women, she assumed his mother, next to him had called him. She remembered him helping his mother get settled in the seat in front of her before the plane took off. His lovely dark hair falling into eyes as he towered over the smaller woman, asking her if she needed anything before he sat down. She recalled thinking how handsome he was and if girls often got lost in those dark eyes of his. He sat still for a moment and then sat up. Serena watched through the space between the seats, and he pulled out his laptop and turned it on. He must have given up on sleep. She thought. Still snuggled into her pillow she watched as Wesley connected his headphones and pulled up the first episode of the newest Korean drama. Serena sat up a bit and peered the tiniest bit closer to get a better look at his screen. The opening scene came into view and English subtitles scrolled across the screen. I’ve been meaning to watch this! Serena thought to herself and wiggled into a comfortable enough position where she could watch the show from between the seats. Serena lost herself in the episode and in the camaraderie of watching it with Wesley, though she knew he didn’t realize he had a date of sorts while she watched it with him in secret. As they watched the character stumble a bit on screen Wesley chuckled and Serena couldn’t hold back the giggle that escaped from her lips.

15 She knew immediately she was caught when Wesley straightened and turned around. Before she could react Wesley was looking right at her through the same space she had been watching him and the show. At first, he looked surprised to see her staring right back at him. Then he raised his eyebrows at her. Serena held her breath and attempted a small smile, not sure what to say to him. Realization seemed to click in his beautiful eyes, as he looked at his laptop and then back at her in amusement. Turning back around in his seat, he fixed his headphones back on his ears and settled into his seat again. He had curled up closer to the armrest, his laptop screen in clear view through that space where she could now see the screen even clearer than before. Wesley glanced back and gave Serena a quick smirk before looking back to the screen and pressing play again. Serena had fallen asleep as she awoke to the plane preparing for landing. She looked around and saw people setting up their tray tables and packing their bags. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and began to slip on her shoes. Bright light streamed from the opened windows as the plane slowed to a stop on the runway. The Airline Pilot’s voice rang through the speakers giving the passengers permission to disembark. In front of her Wesley reached out his hand and helped his mom to her feet. He sensed her watching him and looked over at her with a smile and a wink before grabbing his and his mother’s bags and heading down the aisle towards the exit. Serena stared after him for a moment and then grabbed her own bag following the rest of the passengers down the aisle. She could still see his dark hair through the tunnel ahead of her. Walking behind the Canadian couple in front of her she hoped she could get around them and see him one more time. When she finally came into the airport lobby she looked desperately around. Hoping to see a glimpse of dark eyes and dark beautiful hair falling into Wesley’s face. She walked in a bit further searching each face, but to no avail. She had lost him. Serena rearranged her backpack straps on her shoulder and squeezed her pillow to her chest. Feeling defeated she started to walk towards the nearest cafe when she heard a voice behind her. “Were you looking for me?” Serena turned around and found herself face to face with Wesley. Amusement lit his handsome face. His dark eyes sparkled at her, and she felt herself begin to get lost in them as she answered softly. “Yes.”

16 Beauty and the Beast The smell of yeast and baking bread drifted through the small country streets on the warm summer breeze. The hum of villagers conversing and bustling throughout their morning goes on in the background as Belle’s shoes patter across the cobblestones leading from the town towards her father’s house. She hears none of this as she cradles her new book between her fingers, captivated by the promise of romance and adventure emanating from it. So enthralled in her book, she barely notices the loud thud of boots that landed in front of her. Where there was once a clear path to her house, a bulking figure now blocks her. “Hello Belle” says a low, suave voice. His tone slightly grating in its over confidence. Belle passably acknowledged him, with a small nod in his direction as she continued on her way. “Hello Gaston” Not one to be ignored and chosen over, especially by a book, Gaston gives his head a small shake in disbelief as he watches her start to walk around him. In one quick, fierce movement he snatches the book out of her hand and smiles when he hears her gasp. He turns to look at her, a smirk setting off the mischievous dimple in his left cheek. He bent down toward her; the book pressed behind his back. As he looks into her hazel eyes, he is greeted with a vicious glare from Belle. “Gaston” Belle said through her teeth. “May I have my book please?” Gaston’s grin grew from Belle’s obvious annoyance. He glanced at her once more before pulling the book out from behind his back. He shook the book open and flipped through the pages. Words. Letters. That’s all that was in this book. Nonsense. What was worse, he could barely make out some of the bigger words. “How can you even read this? There’s no pictures!” He couldn’t help sounding annoyed. Belle crossed her arms and watched him as he shook the book and squinted at it. He almost reminded her of a child… or perhaps a primate? She held back a laugh. “Well, some people use their imaginations” she answered, trying to hide her amusement. With a snort he slammed the book shut between his hands with a loud THWACK. He gave Belle a look that he would give a disobedient child and took a step towards her as he shook the book in her face. Belle shrank back a bit unsure of his intentions.

17 “Belle, it’s about time you got your head out of those books and paid attention to more important things!” Gaston tossed the book behind him not caring where it landed or where it went but feeling a surge of satisfaction when he heard the splash and knew it landed in puddle of mud. Belle shrieked and lurched forward reaching for it, but he stepped in front of her, grabbing her by the shoulders. “Like me.” he said with a small almost desperate shake. His fingers digging too hard into her arms. Belle pushed him aside and ran to the edge of the cobblestones where the book landed. The hardcover wet, but not yet soaked. The pages splashed here and there with droplets. She searched the book over and over, distressed that more damage had been done. She slipped off the apron she was wearing atop her blue flowered dress and wrapped the book protectively within it. Gaston watched her silently at first, then began to ease towards her slowly, as if approaching a skittish animal. “Belle.” He said softly now. “It’s not right for a woman to read. Soon she starts getting ideas… and she starts thinking…” Belle looked at him now. Her face, a mask. Though he could have sworn he saw a flash of something… anger? Hatred? She tucked the book, still wrapped in her apron, into the worn basket she held in the crook of her arm and flashed Gaston a sardonic smile. “Why, Gaston. You are positively primeval.”

18 The Dinner I watched through the cracked door of the Dining Room as the guests strode into the grand hall of Peacock Mansion. Miss Scarlett was as beautiful as ever, her ginger hair blazing prettily against the shockingly tight-fitting red dress that showed off her every curve. Miss Scarlett had always been gorgeous, even catching the eye of poor Pontius Plum, the Professor. I smothered my hand to my mouth and giggled as I watched Professor Plum swallow hard after taking one look at Miss Scarlett and then quickly pushing his round framed spectacles back up the bridge of his nose. His usually pale complexion turned bright red as Scarlett caught him gawking at her, giving him a wink, and a knowing smile. Scarlett’s father, Reverend Patrick Green came in behind the younger guests looking stoic and sovereign as he handed our Butler, Reginald his overcoat. I didn’t miss the glint in his eye as I watched him take in the rich surroundings of Mrs. Peacock’s Mansion. His eyes caressed the gold and crystal chandelier, glided over the Persian rug lining the entry hallway, and stopped to ogle the antique vases Mrs. Peacock loved showing off in the entryway. “Iris!” Edith, our Cook hissed at me from the other door to the dining room. “Stop gawking at the guests and help me bring out the last of the food. It’s almost time for dinner.” I quickly rushed over to her and took a bowl from her hands, setting it gently on the grandly arranged dining table. “I saw Miss Scarlett and the Reverend come in right after Professor Plum had shown up.” I told her excitedly. “Yes, yes. She is one of Mrs. Peacock’s top picks for the Colonel to marry.” Edith lowered her voice. “I think she hopes a match with the Reverend’s daughter will help the socialites forget the scandals the Colonel’s father had brought upon this house.” Edith heard the footsteps headed towards the door at the same time I did, and we both quickly made for the door that led to the kitchen. Reginald opened the main dining room door and gave us a disgruntled look, noticing our late exit, and then smoothly turned back to the guests. “Dinner is served.” I could hear him announcing as I shut the door softly behind me. Turning from the Dining Room door, I went down the hall to the study. I had to make sure to retrieve the tea dishes quickly before Edith and I were overwhelmed with dinner dishes. Pushing the tea cart slowly to the kitchen I placed the priceless tea set gently on the three tiers of

19 the cart’s shelves. I made sure to travel smoothly with the cart as I did not want to earn one of Mrs. Peacock’s vicious tongue lashings should something happen to her favorite tea set. Hearing whispers down the hall, I slowed to a stop and watched as Professor Plum and Miss Scarlett snuck hand in hand together towards the Conservatory. Miss Scarlett kept glancing up at the Professor and smiling, making him blush at the attention. As soon as the couple were out of sight I rushed to the kitchen, the tea cart all but forgotten to tell Edith what I had seen. “Edith!” I hollered as I burst into the kitchen excitedly, looking around for the cook. The kitchen lay empty. I took in the vacant room. Water dripped from the pans hanging above the sink on the drying rack. I looked over at the back counter and spotted a pack of cigarettes that lay half open. “She must have gone out for her smoke break” I mumbled to myself disappointedly. I sighed and turned back to the door to retrieve the tea cart. I walked out of the kitchen just as Miss Scarlett came rushing past me in a flurry of red. Her fingers were pressed to her mouth, she looked a bit nervous as her other hand made continuous smoothing motions down the length of her dress. I watched her as she stopped at the library door, where the rest of the women usually gathered after dinner. She took a deep breath and fluffed her ginger hair, plastering a smile on her face, she straightened her shoulders and entered the room. I shook my head and smiled to myself. Edith is going to be amazed by all the gossip I’ve managed to collect tonight. I saw a flash of purple out of the corner of my eye. I turned in surprise to see Professor Plum rush into the Billiard Room and shut the door. I shook my head once more before walking over to the cart. The guests sure are acting strange tonight. I bent to make sure the dishes were still safely placed on the cart before moving it again. BOOM! SLAM! I jumped and spun around. I had heard grumbling before the door slammed behind me, making me jump. I looked around the hall trying to calm my racing heart. Hearing no more grumblings and no more noises, I went back to pushing my cart towards the kitchen. I stopped the cart in front of the kitchen door and maneuvered myself around it, careful not to bump the tea set. As I reached for the doorknob, Reverend Green came banging through the door. He collided into me and barely caught his balance as he continued bearing down the hall, a fierce look burned in his eyes. Pain flared down my side, making me lightheaded. I had slammed to the floor, my arm smacking the side of the cart on the way down, causing it to fly into motion straight into the wall. Dishes tumbled off the cart and clattered around on their trays upon impact. I quickly got up, hissing at the pain in my arm and scrambled towards the cart. I pulled it into the kitchen, barely noticing the opened drawers and the cabinet doors left ajar, even the one underneath the sink. I pulled the cart over to the back counter and began inspecting the cart of dishes.

20 Edith came in from her break right then. She looked at the state of the kitchen. The open drawers, the cabinet doors. She looked at the cart and at the dishes, some broken, some chipped. Then she looked at me. I must have looked a mess because her eyes got even larger. “What the hell…” Edith started to shout at me. Before she could finish, we both froze as a scream pierced the air. Edith rushed past me, and out the door. I turned and followed close to her heels. In the hall outside the Billiard Room, Miss Scarlett was laid out on the chaise lounge. She was immobile, her skin, usually pink and vivacious, lay white and pallid against her golden red hair. Mrs. Peacock stood over her with a Chinese fan attempting to revive her. I continued past, following Edith to where the commotion was in the Billiard Room. Edith reached the room first and gasped. Her hand reached up and covered her mouth, as I approached, she turned swiftly attempting to grab me before I could reach the door, but it was too late. My whole body went numb as I took in the scene in front of me. Professor Plum lay atop the billiard in the middle of the room, a lamp glowing above him casting his body in a bright light. His eyes were wide open and staring. His glasses were missing from his face. Above his ear, his skull had been caved in, brutally smashed. Blood caked his raven hair. He lay in a pool of his own blood, some of it dripping off the table and onto the polished wood floor. Edith pulled me from the room. I could hear the sirens now, getting louder and louder as they approached the mansion. I ripped myself from Edith’s arms as my stomach began to heave. I burst out the back doors and emptied the contents of my stomach into the bushes of the gardens that sat next to the windows of the conservatory. I kneeled in the dirt for a moment breathing in the cool night air, trying to calm my churning stomach. As I wiped my watering eyes, I noticed something glinting in the moonlight under the bushes next to me. I knelt to get a better look, pushing some of the shrubs aside. As I took in what lay beside me, I screamed and fell back. In the dirt lay a wrench, covered in blood.

21 Bus Stop Gossip The bus stop was semi-crowded as I walked under its limited coverage. I managed to find a space in the back corner of the see-through shelter, leaning against the plexi-glass with the words “S hearts C” carved into it. The sky rumbled, grumbling as my gaze drew up in time to see the clouds answer with a small crackle of lightning. I looked around, searching for raindrops but my sight snagged seeing a couple of my coworkers, Roxanne and Jamie huddled together on the bench in front of me. Their heads were bowed together, almost touching. Roxanne’s red curls mingling with Jamie’s golden waves. I was debating whether I should say hello to them when I stopped, having noticed their conversation. “I hear she is only 21 and already divorced” Roxanne tossed her head a bit trying to dislodge her curls that were falling into her eyes. Strands of gray peeked out from underneath the red with the movement. I knew she would soon take the day off to get her hair done again. “She must already have a boyfriend. She spends more time on her phone smiling at it than actually working.” “Wait.” Jamie drew back slightly, just enough for her to put her hand on Roxanne’s arm. “I heard from Tracy that her boyfriend is actually her ex-husband.” “Really?” Roxanne’s eyes widened in surprise at the new piece of gossip. “This is the same guy she just divorced a year ago?” “That’s what I’ve heard.” said Jamie, nodding ardently. I stood frozen in my spot. These two women were so nice to me at work. I had never heard them say a negative word about anyone. And now that they were away from listening ears, their words and thoughts were full of venom and contempt of others. “No wonder her work ethic is so awful. Her life choices are just horrible. How can you expect someone like that to be responsible in the workplace?” Jamie swept her long blonde waves off her right shoulder and behind her, dismissively. “I heard her talking to Melody about why the relationship hadn’t worked out the first time with her husband.” Roxanne paused for a moment. “She was a cheater and a drinker.” “What?!”

22 “Yup” “And they let someone like her work with us?” Jamie nodded. Her blonde hair bobbing with the movement. “It’s like they let just anyone work here now” Roxanne scoffed. “I know. It’s starting to get ridiculous.” I pressed my lips together. I hated the way they were talking about Amy. I wasn’t friends with her. She was nice enough and didn’t seem to cause any trouble. Her biggest flaw was her slacking work attendance. To me that wasn’t a good enough reason to talk bad about her behind her back. Part of me thought I should say something. Should I step up and defend her? How would Roxanne and Jamie look at me if I said something to them? I didn’t want them to start talking bad about me. The squeal of brakes and the smell of exhaust snapped me out of my thoughts, and I looked up to see Roxanne and Jamie already climbing up the steps onto the bus. As the doors closed behind the last of the passengers, the sky made another grumbling sound. The rainfall that the clouds had been holding back finally broke through and began soaking the world around me as I watched the bus drive away.

23 Thank You