Behind The Lies

Farewell

They all stepped inside and into the living room, where the atmosphere was filled with a sense of reverence. As they entered, Sam felt the weight of the moment and approached the queen. With a graceful gesture, she bowed her head, paying her respects sincerely. The queen acknowledged this gesture with a subtle nod, signaling that she had graciously received Sam's homage.

Next, it was Lance's turn. He moved forward with a similar demeanor, bowing in respect to the queen. Once again, the queen responded with a gentle nod, embodying the elegance and poise that defined her presence.

Sam and Lance stepped aside near Carlos, and as the moment reached its peak, Bella and Zack stepped forward, their hearts racing with anticipation. In unison, they bowed deeply to the queen, a gesture of respect that echoed the reverence felt in the room. The queen, draped in her regal attire, looked upon them with a gracious smile.

"Your respects are received," she said warmly, her voice carrying an air of kindness that eased the tension. In that instant, Bella and Zack felt a wave of warmth wash over them, knowing their homage had been acknowledged. The bond of tradition seemed to envelop them all, as the queen's presence further amplified the significance of the gathering.

Bella and Zack looked at where their parents were. As Bella glanced over, her mother approached her and said that it was time to go home. The same went for Zack's parents, who were signaling him to come over. 

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As the afternoon sun began to set, the Joneses and Vernayas stood together, preparing to bid farewell to the queen and to the prince, as well to Sam, and prince Lance. The atmosphere was filled with a mix of admiration and respect as they approached her.

"Thank you for hosting us today, Your Majesty," Mr. Jones said, bowing slightly, a gesture echoed by Mr. Vernaya at his side. "It was a great afternoon."

The queen smiled graciously; her demeanor warm. "It was my pleasure, truly. You are always welcome in my court. Safe travels, and I look forward to seeing you all again soon."

With respectful nods, the Joneses and Vernayas exchanged final smiles with the queen before turning to leave. The moment felt significant, infused with a gentle reverence as they stepped away.

Meanwhile, Sam spotted Bella, she approached her with a friendly wave. "Hey Bella," she said, her voice light. "Just wanted to say goodbye for now. Have a safe travel!"

Bella turned, her expression brightening at the sight of Sam. "Thanks, Sam. It was nice to hang out with you again."

"It was fun hanging out with you again, yeah. I'll see you at school!" Sam replied, offering her a cheerful wave as she turned to join Carlos, who was lingering nearby.

Carlos said goodbye to Bella and the rest of the family. Lance, who was beside Carlos, also bid farewell to them.

As Zack stood a short distance away, lost in thought, he barely registered the conversation. Carlos noticed this and glanced at his friend. "Hey, Zack, you good?" he asked, stepping closer.

Zack blinked, pulling himself from his reverie and focusing on Carlos. "Yeah, just... thinking," he replied, his voice trailing off. "It was nice to meet you again."

"Right, I'll see you around," Carlos encouraged, giving Zack a friendly pat on the shoulder that brought him back to the moment. "I hope we can start things over this time. We might have stepped on the wrong foot these past few days."

"Yeah, I'll see you around," Zack replied, a tentative smile breaking through as he met Carlos's gaze. It was a small gesture, but it carried a weight of gratitude for the concern that Carlos had shown. In that moment, Zack felt a flicker of warmth; Carlos had pulled him from the depths of his swirling thoughts, reminding him that he wasn't alone. He has a friend by his side, only this time was Carlos himself, not the Hanes he was before.