𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐤||𝐀 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲𝐟𝐢𝐜

𝟎𝟏

Annalisa Giordano

Annalisa Giordano had been anxiously awaiting the mail daily, ever since she had sent in her application form for Empress Selene's exchange program. Alonzo Russo, the boy who delivered their mail, rode an old red bicycle. Its tires were worn, its body was beat up and rusty, and he always rang his bell just before cresting the hill into the driveway.

Today though, the trusty noise was nearly two hours late, and Lisa was starting to worry. She was pacing back and forth across the front porch, chewing her nails and tugging on strands of her hair. The form had said that the acceptance letter would arrive on or before July 31st, 146 T.E. Today was July 30th, and she desperately wanted that letter to arrive. I mean, what girl who dreamed of traveling wouldn't want her first destination to be the moon?

Suddenly, she heard a quiet hum, similar to those of the hovercrafts that filled the streets of the city.

It couldn't be...

The hum got louder and closer, until over the hill came none other than Alonzo, riding a brand new, shiny, white hover bike.

"You got it?!" She exclaimed as she ran towards him, stopping mere inches away from the bike's shiny exterior. Alonzo had been saving for a hover bike since they were 12, and he first got his job carrying mail.

"I did!" He hopped off of the seat. "I placed the last deposit in my bank account on Thursday, and I went out and bought it this morning. With cash, too! No loans or anything." The look of pride on his sun tanned face was too adorable, and Lisa couldn't help but wrap her arms around him and hug him.

"Congratulations, I'm so proud of you," she said, laughing and holding back tears for her best friend's accomplishments.

"Thanks Lisa," he said, hugging her back. "Also. I have something that I think you've been waiting for."

Her heart skipped a beat as he dug around in his bag, pulled out a thick, cream colored envelope, and held it out to her. Breathlessly, she looked up into his brown eyes, before taking the letter between her shaking fingers. In beautiful red print, her name and street address. She flipped it, and it was sealed with wax like in the second era net dramas. The seal of the Earthen Union was pressed into the red wax, and she hated to break it. So she carefully worked around it, pressing the edges of the paper down and gently lifting the seal until it finally came loose. Inside was three pieces of paper. And the first one was the official statement from the Earthen Union.

Dear Miss Annalisa Giordano,

Hello! Thank you for applying for the Lunar/Earthen exchange. Your application brings us great joy. We reviewed millions of applications from eager young men and women from the European Federation, and yours caught our eye. Which is why we say, we are so glad to accept you into the program! Enclosed is the packet with all of the information you need to know about the program, and a handwritten note from the Empress herself. See you in September!

Signed,

Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Izara of the African Union, President Jamison of the American Republic, Prime Minister Clement of the European Federation, Governor-General Bancroft of Australia, Prime Minister Armani of Luna, and Emperor and Empress Kaito and Selene of the Eastern Commonwealth

"So?" Alonzo asked.

"I'm in," Lisa breathed. "I'm in! Lonzo, I'm really in! I made it!" She threw herself into her friend's arms for the second time in the last few minutes, and she couldn't stop a few happy tears from finding their way down her cheeks. Alonzo laughed and turned the both of them in a circle, before setting her back on her feet. When Lisa finally pulled away, he was smiling down at her. But there was something behind his eyes, something sad.