Easthallow

Chapter 2

"Hi, Zaria!" Samantha's enthusiastic voice called out. "Hello, Flora." spotting Zaria's mum.

"Have fun girls!" Flora waved. "I'll pick you up at 11:00 tomorrow, okay Zaria?"

"Yep, sure, fine."

Zaria tried to hide the devastation she felt, holding back tears. She'd never forget how much that letter that she practically threw on the table would affect her.

After hours of fun, games, and a delicious dinner, Samantha and Zaria lay down in sleeping bags, on Samantha's soft rug of the living room.

"Hey umm... can I tell you something?" Zaria mumbled, struggling to get the words out. She just wanted to pretend that what was happening, wasn't true.

"Yeah?"

"It's Easthallow."

"Easthallow, the prestigious city? The 'everything's possible' city?"

Zaria nodded her head, trembling. "Yeah. They want me."

"Oh my god! That's amazing! You have to tell me everything about it! There are flying cars, and levitating schools, and don't get me started on the artificial beaches there. I've heard they have the softest sand, which is crazy because it's artificial, and I've been to the beach recently and I thought the sand was soft, but you can't compare it to the beaches in Easthallow. And the ocean is always warm, and I hate it when the water is cold, don't you remember when we had an excursion at the beach last year and I was sick for almost a week! I missed so much school. Oh yeah and the schools, I've heard-"

"Samantha. You don't get it."

"What do you mean? Of course, I get Easthallow. Everyone knows everything about it, even though it is renowned as being the most 'mysterious' city in the world."

"No, it's just that, I don't want to go. I like normal life."

"You can't turn down an offer like that!"

Zaria stared up, unable to know what to think. She thought Samantha would understand, but maybe not. She needed to find a trustworthy, understanding person to get how she felt. But, Zaria didn't know anyone like that. She spent the whole night, staring at the roof, letting her anxieties and worries swarm through her, and overtake her mind. Samantha's steady, deep breaths helped to reassure, but not much. If she couldn't trust her best friend, who else could she?