Fireworks

"Fourth of July only comes once a year mom!" Tara yelled to her mother as she pulled her sandals on.

"You’re birthday only comes once a year as well!" Her mother called back, coming into the kitchen.

Tara finished putting her sandals on and frowned at her mother. Yes, her birthday was the fourth of July, but she didn’t see why it meant she had to spend her sixteenth birthday away from her friends. And him.

"But James is leaving next month! I need to spend as much time with him as possible." Tara said indignantly, standing up.

"Tara, you have a month to spend with him. He’s taking you to your driving test. You’re going to spend a week at the beach with him and your friends. You’ll be spending another week with him and his family up north as well."

"But he’ll be gone after that!"

"But James will visit."

"Mother! He’ll be in university! Do you remember university? How many chances did you get to come home to visit all your friends and family?"

"Tara, don’t argue with me. You’re not going to the firework show, you’re staying home for a night in with the family. I’m inviting your grandmothers over and your uncle and his family."

"Mother, how many people get fireworks on their birthday?"

"People born on the fourth of July."

"But how many people don’t even live in the country celebrating the fourth of July and still get fireworks?"

"People born on the fourth of July that live in a town bordering the United States."

"And how rare is that? I have to go."

"Tara."

A car horn honked from outside, and Tara pulled some money out of her wallet and jammed it in her back pocket, throwing her wallet onto the kitchen table. She kissed her mom on the cheek.

"I’ll have a little family party tomorrow. I promise."

With that, she bolted out the door before her mother could say another word.

She ran out into her driveway, where James was waiting with his car full of friends waiting to celebrate her birthday with her. She smiled as she noticed four people crammed in the back while the front seat remained empty. She climbed in the car.

"Step on it, before she comes out of the house." Tara said quickly as she pulled her seat belt on.

Everyone in the car laughed as James pulled out of the driveway, all of them knowing Tara’s mother’s love to family values and quality time on holidays.

The evening moved quickly to dark, as they ate supper at James’ house, and exchanged gifts. Everyone was sitting back relaxing, eating fresh strawberries, when the time, eight fifty-seven, was pointed out.

"The fireworks don’t start until ten though." Mattie, one of Tara’s closest friends said.

"But if we don’t want to be walking for an hour from our parking space, we need to leave now." James said, ushering everyone out of the house, then back into his car.

They arrived at the park having the firework show and were able to secure a good parking space. They all got out and headed closer to where the display was going to be.

Everyone agreed on the fountain as a meeting place, as everyone in the group knew where it was, then everyone headed off their separate ways, meeting up with others, or finding a good place to view the fireworks. Tara and James stayed together at the fountain.

"How’s this for a birthday, you get fireworks!" James said, looking at her smiling.

Tara just laughed a shrugged.

"You’re use to it then?" he asked.

"Yeah." She said sighing. "When I was a kid, my parents use to bring me down here to see them. My birthday and New Years were the only two nights of the year I was allowed to stay up late. I looked forward to it."

"And you don’t anymore?"

"Well, this year I did."

"How come?"

Tara shrugged and avoided his eyes. She looked out into the park where others were sitting waiting for the fireworks to start.

She was glad for James’ friendship, and she loved having him around, except these days, she loved having him around more then usual.

"I don’t want to have to leave for university." James said suddenly.

"But why?" Tara said, finally meeting his eyes, shocked. "You’ve been excepted to the best in the area, and this is a great opportunity for you! Are you insane?"

James shrugged. "Maybe. But now we’ve both got our secrets."

She looked at him a little surprised, then nodded.

A cool breeze blew past the two as the fireworks started. Tara moved a bit closer James, who in turn put his arms around her to keep her warm. They watched the display in silence.

As the fireworks began to slow, James dared himself to look down at Tara. She looked up at him and smiled, and he leaned in and kissed her.

As the fireworks around the slowed to an end, the fireworks inside their hearts were only beginning

Hope

I remember the day she told us like it was yesterday. There was a group of us standing around, Mattie, Karlee, Abby and I, before school, just talking.

It was a bright June day, and there were only a few days left of school, so everyone was happy. That morning, for once we weren’t bitching about our school uniforms, but were happy to have them, since it was going to be a pain to have to go out and buy all new clothes to wear in the summer, even though we loved shopping. We just needed something other then exams to complain about, since we had done enough of that in January.

Tabby walked up to us, clutching onto her sweater like a safety blanket even though it had to be at least ninety degrees in the un-air conditioned school.

"Abby?" She managed to stammer out.

Abby immediately went to her friend’s side, and the two walked away, whispering to each other.

The rest of us that had been left behind looked at each other confused, but passed it off, and continued talking about our summer plans, and since Tabby wasn’t there, what we were getting her for her fifteenth birthday. We were laughed and giggling at the gift ideas, when Abby returned with an arm around Tabby, almost sheltering her like a mother bird would of her young.

"Guys, we need to talk." She said softly, and the five of us went outside in silence, since it was the only place that we could be together and alone and no one would bother us.

Once outside, Tabby pulled me into a hug and started crying.

"I’m sorry Jodi, I’m so sorry. I really am."

I hugged her back, starting to get distressed, because I didn’t understand what was going on. All of us but Tabby who was still in my arms looked at Abby for an explanation.

Abby ran a hand through her hair, then spoke. "She’s pregnant."

Everyone gasped, and I hugged Tabby tighter, not wanting to let go of my poor friend. Though it was an obvious and stupid question, I still had to ask.

"But how?"

Tabby pulled back a bit and looked at me with sad and sorry eyes.

"It just did. I’m sorry Jodi. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry to all of you. I really am."

"No Tabby, you don’t need to apologize to us, you didn’t do anything wrong to us."

"But I know you guys will stay by me through this, and it’s going to be a pain in the ass, and I’m sorry."

Karlee pulled Tabby away from me and hugged her.

"No Tabby, you aren’t a pain in the ass. We’re here for you because we’re your friends, now calm down, or people will ask questions."

Tabby nodded, and wiped her eyes. Everyone gave her a big hug and we headed back inside, so Tabby to re-do her make-up.

While we were in the bathroom, we were silent. As Tabby ran a brush through her hair, she smiled.

"Well, since I can’t decide, all four of you are going to be the godmother when I get the baby baptized. Now, help me think of names."

We all looked at her surprised. This light-hearted attitude was coming from a girl who had just had an emotion breakdown. She stopped brushing her hair and glared at us.

"Oh stop looking at me dumb-founded. I’m still human. I just thought you guys would be mad at me, and since you aren’t, I feel a bit better about things. Now, help me think of baby names!"

Mattie was still dumbfounded.

"Shouldn’t your boyfriend help you think of baby names?"

"What? Ram? No. I still have to gear him up for the news, so he doesn’t know yet. Once he does though, and if he decides to stay with me,"

"Which he will."

"If he wants to Jodi. Anyways, I want to have a good edge on him when it comes to the baby's name. Help please?"

We laughed at the look she gave us when she asked us for help, and we started throwing around names.

That’s what we did all summer to. We did things that any group of fifteen-year-old friends would also. We cried and made a big fuss when Abby moved to California. She promised to write, and made Tabby promise to tell her when the baby was due so she could be back in town for the delivery.

We had to be careful where we went when we did stuff though, because Tabby was hit with serious morning sickness about a month into the pregnancy, and it didn’t end until almost October. And she didn’t just get sick in the morning either. She was sick at all times of the day.

Somehow though, that even though once we were back at school, and she was throwing up almost everyday, she was still able to hide her pregnancy from the student body. She was lucky to, because there was barely a bulge in her stomach at all, so there was no way anyone could possibly know by looking at her. She had started to grow pale though, with all the throwing up she was doing, and wasn’t getting enough nutrients into her system.

To make matter worse, though it had been four months in October, she still hadn’t said anything to Ram. We all wanted to tell him, Tabby wanted to tell him, but she said there was no way he could handle the news. She said she was trying, but she just couldn’t figure out someway she could let him know without getting the reaction that she didn’t want.

Around the middle of October, my family and I always go to Florida for two weeks, and this year was no different. Because of Tabby’s new pale complexion, they suggested that I ask her to come along, to try to get the healthy tan glow that she usually had back.

She as more then happy to come, and her parents, who also still hadn’t caught on to the pregnancy, let her go. They were worried about how sick she was, but Tabby kept reassuring them it was just a bad flu and that she was getting better. She reminded her parents that she had always had a weak immune system, and with that, she had been able to avoid any trips to the doctors with them. She always went on her own time, or with one of us.

We were in Florida no more then three days before the strong, healthy and happy Tabby returned. She was all smiles, at any time of the day or night, and though she was still slightly pale, she had a healthy rosy glow to her face again. Another good thing was her morning sickness had stopped.

Every night though, instead of partying on the beach like everyone else did, she would sit up in the hotel room and do her schoolwork and then some. She was working hard, making sure that all her grades were high and stayed high, and made sure she was getting bonus marks.

When I asked her why, she told me that she had a baby who needed to be taken care of. She wanted to keep the baby, or keep the child in close contact, so that she could see or be near it whenever she wanted. I thought she was completely insane. She told me if it went any other way, she would be crushed.

Then, one afternoon, three days before we were to leave for home, she started getting really bad abdomen and stomach pains. Me and her found our way to the nearest hospital, and they took her right into the delivery ward, saying she was going into a stress-induced labour. I asked the attendants what it meant as we were running down the corridors to a delivery room, and they explained that Tabby was under a lot of stress, and it was causing harm to the baby, so her body was getting rid of the baby before it hurt the baby too much.

Stress was causing it? I couldn’t understand it. Tabby was on vacation in Florida. She was in the sun and sand, her favourite place on earth to be, yet she was stressed out? Then I remembered. Every night she spent locked up in her hotel room. Her studying was stressing her and her baby out too much.

They took her into the delivery room, and I sat in the hall. I felt the blood in my veins run cold as I harsh thought crossed my mind. There was no way that Tabby was in the third trimester yet. She was still in the first, maybe the second. There was no way the baby would survive if born now. There was just no way. I felt tears spring to my eyes as I though of my little godchild.

After thirty painful minutes, they wheeled Tabby out of the delivery room, and into one of the regular rooms. I followed.

Once the attendants left, I sat on the foot of the bed. We didn’t say anything to each other. I doctor came into the room, and looked at the two of us, then came over to the bed.

"Miss Tabitha Mathis, am I right?"

"Yes."

"You already know the news I presume."

Tabby didn’t say anything, but I saw a silent tear stream down her cheek as she nodded her head.

"Well, you asked us to do a check, to find out the gender. We believe the baby was to be a girl. I hope that helps you. You should be fine a few hours, unless you would like to leave now."

"I want to stay for a bit."

Tabby said softly, wiping the tear away, and looking out the window. The doctor nodded, then left the room. Once the doctor was gone, neither of us said anything. We were trapped by the silence until Tabby spoke.

"Anna Maria Hope."

"Huh?"

"Anna Marie Hope. That’s what her name is."

"Oh. Right."

Tabby sat back and sighed. "Yep. Ana Marie Hope. That’s it, that’s all."

"No last name?"

"Nope. Just Hope at the end. There’s always hope."

"That there is."

"Well, October 19^{th will be remembered as a good day then. A day full of hope."}

"Yes, a day of hope."

She looked at me and smiled, and I smiled back. She was taking things well, and I was surprised. She had wanted the baby so bad, yet had lost it in the worst possible way.

There was a knock on the door, and a counselor came into the room.

"Tabitha Mathis?"

"Yes."

"Hello. I’m Doctor Johansson. I’m a post-natal counselor. Is there anything you want to talk about?"

"No."

"Are you sure Tabitha? You just went through a pretty nasty ordeal."

"But it’s better this way. She's better that way. There wasn’t really a life here for her."

"I see. Well, make sure if you’re having any problems, to see a counselor, alright Tabitha?"

"Tabby."

"Alright, Tabby, make sure you talk to someone if you need to, alright?"

"I will. Thanks Doc."

"Hmm."

Doctor Johansson left, and Tabby laughed.

"Oh yeah, I really need help. I’m not going to think about what just happened and have the best two days of my life while I’m still here. Sheesh. I can’t believe that woman’s paid."

"Tabby!"

"What? It’s true. It’s better that way. I don’t need someone to come tell me, oh, it’s normal for these things to happen, you’re not a bad person because of what happened, God still loves you, blah, blah, blah! Like, come on, I don’t even believe in God! Let’s get out of here Jodi, before she comes back, and your parents start to wonder where we were."

I left the room so Jodi could change into her bathing suit that she had in a shoulder bag with her, and then once she was done, I did the same. Tabby signed out at the front desk, and we headed for the beach.

"Are you sure you’re gonna be alright Tabby?"

"Perfectly ok."

And she was right. She had the best two days of her life on the beaches those last two days we were there. She partied through to the early morning both nights, and slept the whole flight back home. Once at home she slept some more. I didn’t know that one person could sleep so many hours in a row without doing anything but. Once she was up and moving again, she claimed that she had jet lag.

We didn’t get back together with Mattie and Karlee until we had been home for three days. We all went to the mall together.

Without realizing, since it hadn’t been talk about, Karlee patted Tabby’s stomach.

"Lucky girl. Still nothing!"

I saw a look of despair go over Tabby’s face, but it quickly disappeared. Tabby looked at me.

"You tell them. I’m going to the food court for a pop."

She walked away, leaving a confused Mattie and Karlee behind. They both looked at me expectantly. I sighed, not wanting to tell them. I finally did, and they tried to rush off to find Tabby, but I grabbed them.

"Don’t! Tabby’s taking thing so well. Let’s not wreck them now. When we see her, give her a hug, but that’s it. Nothing more, nothing less. We don’t need her getting depressed now."

They nodded, and we headed to the food court. We found her sitting alone at a table, drinking a Coke. She smiled at us, and the other two gave her a hug. She accepted the hugs with a smile.

"Don’t worry about me. I’m alright, so don’t even ask."

"Are you going to tell Ram?"

"Tell Ram? Are you crazy Mattie? He’d be heart-broken, I know he would. And well, it’d break my heart to tell him."

They nodded, and we dropped the discussion, quickly turning it to who was wearing what on out of uniform days, and who was failing what classes, the normal gossip.

But now, here I stand, with Tabby, and Mattie and Karlee as well. It’s a year later, October 19th to be exact. We’re standing in front of a small rose bush, only a year old. Tabby bought it from a garden nursery the day after the day at the mall. It’s planted in the field, behind Tabby’s house, in a small clearing she made as soon as the weather was nice. Underneath it is a stone.

Chrysalis stretched out her arms and felt the snow fall softly on her face. She did a small spin, and heard a small chuckle from behind her. She looked, and saw Caelum.

Chrysalis stopped and looked at her pixie friend as he came closer as she pulled her cloak around her a little tighter.

"Caelum." She said softly, looking him in the eye.

He smiled at her and outstretched his hands. "Contra."

"Chrysalis."

"As long as you are a pixie," he said, smiling slyly. "You’ll always be Contra."

"But my father,"

"Is a fool. Now come."

"Where?"

"Just take my hands. Can’t you trust me?"

"I don’t know."

"We’ve known each other our whole lives. Take my hands."

Chrysalis cautiously placed her hands in his and he pulled her close to him.

"Now see, that wasn’t very far to go." He said with a grin, as he put his arms around her waist.

Chrysalis rolled her eyes as she put her arms around him as well, and laid her head on his chest.

"It’s such a pretty night." She said with a sigh. "I couldn’t help but come outside."

"It’s dreadfully cold though."

"But pretty." She said, looking up at him smiling.

He smiled back and leaned in and kissed her. The two pulled back almost instantly, both shy of the situation. Chrysalis laid her head back on Caelum’s chest, smiling to her self.

"Your father’s going to kill me." he said flatly.

"And you mother as well. But not if they don’t find out."

"Like Romeo and Juliet."

"Two star crossed lovers, bounded by their fates. But as always with a true passion, it ends in tragedy." Chrysalis said softly.

Caelum nodded and kissed the top of her head, then looked into the clear sky.

"Look, there’s only one star in the sky." Caelum said, as Chrysalis raised her head. "Make a wish."

Chrysalis closed her eyes, and made a wish, then looked at Caelum.

"Did you make a wish?"

"Of course. What did you wish for?"

"I can’t tell you. It won’t come true if I do."

"Fair enough I guess."

Caelum leaned in and kissed Chrysalis again, but this time the kiss didn’t happen.

Chrysalis’ eyes flew open, and she was once again sitting in her defense class. She had just been dreaming of a memory, of a night that seemed so far away from reality now that it was slowly crushing her.

"Chrysalis," the teacher said angrily, glaring at her. "That’s the third time this week you’ve fallen asleep in class. I suggest you either take an anti-sleep potion, or you start going to bed earlier. I won’t tolerate this behavior anymore, and the next time it happens, I’m taking you to the headmaster."

"Yes miss."

Chrysalis looked at her two friends, Queenie and Mirage who were sitting beside her, looking at her worriedly.

"Hey, I’m good. Just tired. Not sleeping well." She said with a smile.

Chrysalis let her eyes wander around the room, and they rested on Caelum. He was paying attention to the teacher, and didn’t glance at her once. She sighed, and waited for the end of class.

At the end of class, she grabbed her books as quickly as she could, so she could talk to Caelum, but he was already heading out the door. She rushed to the door to follow him.

"Caelum! Wait!" she called once out the door, but he didn’t stop.

Instead, he jetted into the air, and flew off quickly. She watched him fly off down the hall, and felt tears prick her eyes.

"One night I wished upon a star," she started softly, "But I must have done it wrong."

Instead of crying, she turned and headed the other way.

Across the school, Caelum was saying the same words.

"Because I’m still alone, and you’re still gone."

Chrysalis sat in her defense class. She was nodding off to sleep again, but she quickly snapped herself away. Her professor would have her wings removed if she fell asleep again.

Her eyes scanned the room, looking for something interesting to keep her awake, and she her eyes lingered on Caelum, the only other pixie in the class. She wished that he would look up from his writing and see her, but he didn’t.

She looked away from him, and sat back, closing her eyes.

"You’re not sleeping again Chrysalis, are you?" she heard her professor say.

Chrysalis opened her eye quickly, and looked at her teacher.

"As a matter of fact I’m not. I’m trying to remember the answer to the next question without looking in my book."

"Glad to see your doing your work. Now, since we’re currently studying pixie’s, could you get up and fly, and just try your powers out on a few people?"

"Can’t Caelum? He’s a pixie to you know."

"But he’s male. His strength levels are different in different areas then yours. Besides, it’s usually a female pixie seen in battle."

"No it’s not."

"Chrysalis, you are an Unstoppable. Please, give us a demonstration."

Chrysalis sighed and looked at Mirage and Queenie.

"They’re Unstoppables to." she muttered as she dragged herself to her feet.

Her body felt heavier then usual though, and she could barely stand. She tried to fly, but her wings felt like cement.

"I’m sorry. I guess I can’t do it." Chrysalis said, sitting down confused.

"What are you talking about?" Her professor asked, flustered.

"My wings, I’m to tired, they feel like cement blocks. I can’t move them. I’m sorry. It happens."

The professor nodded.

"Alright class, return to your work then." The professor said, before turning and going to sit back at her desk.

"Are you alright Chrys?" Queenie whispered to her.

"Yeah Chrys, that’s never happened to you before." Mirage said, looked at her friend worried.

"Yeah, I’m good. Just really tired."

She laid her head back down the desk, and wish dearly to be taken into a dream world, but she was too worried about what was wrong with her wings. She didn’t know what had happened.

As soon as class ended, she headed to her room and fell asleep.

Chrysalis woke up screaming. She had dreamed that she had watched Caelum die.

She shook her head, trying to shake away the dream, but it refused to leave her. She went to her window, and sat in the windowsill.

Her window faced the east, and she noticed a faint light in the dark sky.

‘I can’t believe I slept that long.’ She thought to herself. ‘I almost wish I didn’t wake up’

Her first class was defense, and of course, Caelum would be there. She looked back over to her bed, and thought she knew she shouldn’t, she wished that he was sleeping in it at the moment.

By the time breakfast was over, and classes were ready to begin, her head was finally clear, and Caelum was the last thing on her mind. She smiled as she headed for class.

The halls were jammed, and she realized that if she didn’t get through soon, she would be late.

She tried to fly again, but once again, her wings refused to cooperate, and she tired herself out with the effort.

Chrysalis made it to class late and exhausted. She quickly apologized to her professor, and told her how her wings still weren’t up to speed, and sat down quickly. She looked around the room to see if anyone else was still missing because of the unusual crowding in the hall, and she couldn’t help but noticed that quite a few people were still missing. Including Caelum.

Chrysalis knew that the professor wouldn’t start the class with so many people missing, so she laid her head down on the desk in hopes of catching a few more minutes of sleep.

She was soon dreaming once again.

Chrysalis woke up to a tug on her wings.

"I told you Chrysalis, no more falling asleep. I’ve done everything to try to get you to stop. This time, I’m taking drastic measures. Up, and come with me."

The professor yanked Chrysalis to her feet by her wings, and pulled her out of the room.

The last Chrysalis saw of the room was Caelum’s still empty seat.

The professor took her to the hospital wing, and told her to wait there. Chrysalis did as she was told, and went and sat on one of the beds. She looked to the bed beside her, and saw a face she didn’t want to see.

Caelum.

He was lying in the hospital wing, unconscious. She looked at his face, and noticed it was bruised and cut. She wondered what had happened to him.

The sound of the nurse’s voice broke her out of her thoughts.

"You pixies are a weird breed. His subconscious did this to him."

"What are you talking about?"

"His subconscious beat him up. Must have been his wings that did this to him."

"But why? Why was he so mad at himself?"

"I don’t know if he was really mad at himself, but I did do a search of his mind, and the only thoughts I found were love."

She placed a potion on the nightstand beside him.

"I’ll be back in a minute to deal with you though missy." With that, the nurse disappeared.

Chrysalis sat back on the bed, and looked at Caelum. She began to sing a slow sad song in Latin, hoping that some of the familiar words would reach his unconscious ears.

The nurse came back as she finished the song, and handed her a potion.

"Take this. It’ll knock you unconscious. Then you won’t feel anything."

"Why? What are you going to do to me?"

"I have a permit to remove your wings temporarily. It’s to keep you from flying around, as flying drains too much of your energy. Only for a few weeks though dear, just so you can get your energy levels back up."

"Never. I won’t do it."

"Just do it." a faint voice said.

Chrysalis looked over at Caelum, and one of his eyes were open, looking at her.

"Contra, just let her. It’s not that bad." With that, he shut his eye, and fell back asleep.

Chrysalis took a breath and drained the potion.

When Chrysalis woke up, it was nighttime. She looked beside her, and Caelum was no longer in that bed. She felt tears prick her eyes, as she sat up.

"Why do I have to be a pixie that feels? Why can’t I just be a dark pixie and care about nothing?" she asked herself in agony. "I just wish all these feelings would go away." She said softly, before standing up. She tried to fly, so she could go out the window and out into the night sky, but remember that she had her wings clipped.

Chrysalis threw herself onto the bed and started sobbing. Her wings were the only things she really had left in her life that could bring her a bit of joy, and now even those were gone. She now felt weak, powerless and useless.

Eventually, she cried herself to sleep.