Rise From the Ashes

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Celebration and Mourning

(NARRATED BY CAMERON SETLER)

The following afternoon, celebration ensued. Everyone seemed to be in high spirits, including those who had to gather the dead. I was walking down the hallway outside my hotel room with Travis by my side when Sarah—who had just gotten out of the infirmary camp—stepped out of the elevator with her suitcase. Despite appearing utterly exhausted, that girl seemed pretty happy to see her "friend."

Dropping her suitcase, she started towards him. Travis himself looked like he was just going for a hug, but Sarah had a different idea. She suddenly broke into a sprint, tackling him to the floor, whereupon she assaulted him passionately with a series of kisses and tears streaming down her face. I couldn't help but smile at this. I had always known they were close like that. However, I swore never to shed a single tear over such matters (knowing that I was definitely above that).

"I guess I'll see you love birds later," I said, awkwardly making my way to the elevator.

While people congratulated one another and told stories about their experiences in the battle, I just wandered around town aimlessly. Some of the people stopped to talk to me. And since many of them knew I was Naridan, I was offered bottles of beer twice and a plastic cup of victory champagne once. However, I politely declined, reminding them that this was Aridia, and that it was illegal to drink at age sixteen there.

Yeah, I was a first-class stick-in-the-mud, but I wore that label with pride.

Eventually, a bunch of people provided us with lunch, telling us we could sit anywhere we wanted. The "Prophecy Clique" (which included my sister) chose to sit down on the grass in the park. We sat in a circle next to the river while we ate and chatted. Travis and I were telling our story when I noticed that we were actually very close to the spot where I had found him, though I chose not to mention it.

Once Travis and I were finished speaking, Sarah whispered something in his ear, eliciting a nod from him. The blonde-haired girl got up with her "friend" and stared at us timidly before finally giving an announcement that didn't surprise me: "Since we figured there was no point in hiding it from you guys... as of yesterday, Travis and I are now... together."

Lola cocked her head to the side, gazing at Sarah with shining eyes. "You mean, like... boyfriend and girlfriend?"

Sarah was hesitant to answer, so she looked to me for guidance. "What happens if I say 'yes?'"

"Oh, I knew it!" Lola squealed. She took their hands, bouncing up and down excitedly. "I was right from the very beginning!" She hugged them both at once.

Naturally, Travis and Sarah both looked very uncomfortable.

"You guys are going to be absolutely perfect together!" my sister went on. "Where's your first date going be? When you met, what did you think about each other? Who asked whom? When do you plan to get married? What will the wedding be like? How many children do you plan to have? What're you going to name them? Once I get a boyfriend, can we go on double dates with you two? Will you—"

"Lola, Lola, Lola," I said, stepping in to save the day, "please stop. You're scaring them."

Levi smiled sincerely at Travis. "You finally stopped fighting. I'm proud of you."

"And I am happy for you," posited Lamerio. "May your future children grow up to be even greater than their parents!"

"They're not engaged," I told him.

"Really? Does it not work that way?" Senti inquired. "Well... why should I not be happy for them all the same? May Lunara forever protect your... union."