Reality is a Fleeting Moment

Chapter Eight

Wynter POV

Willa, Wyatt, and I were walking together in the school hallways, discussing the monumental change the aliens had brought. "There's no way they came across the galaxy just to cheer," Willa pointed out. "Why are they really here?"

The aliens approached our group, almost as if confused. I snarled at them, warning them, as well as threatening them. "Better watch your step..."

"We will watch our step!" A-spen smiled in response, oblivious to my threat. "Thank you for the warning!"

A-li held up a small, oval-ish device up to our eyes. "Smile."

Wyatt looked at the device with interest. "How cool, an alien camera."

I smiled for the 'camera'. "No fleas." A flashing light emitted from the device, causing spots to appear in my vision. "Whoa..." I turned around to face the aliens as they walked away. "What just happened...?"

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(Izzy POV)

I tossed and turned the red stone in my hand as I approached the moonstone that contained my life force. "I need answers..." I held the red stone above the blue moonstone, wondering if that had an effect. It didn't for a while, except for turning that area momentarily red.

However, after a few minutes, my necklace also turned red, resembling a Red Beryl stone. A jolt of pain shot through my head and chest, causing me to wince as I rubbed my temples. After the pain had subsided, I shoved the red moonstone into my coat pocket, a frown plastered on my face. I put my headphones back on as I walked to my treehouse, relishing the silence that had come when I didn't turn on my music.

The forest was quite beautiful after the rain, not gonna lie. It was so peaceful that I...

"Izzy! You will not believe what's happening!" Leila yelled as she ran towards me, dispelling all tiredness from my body.

I slid my headphones off my ears and onto my neck. "What's up? Is something wrong?"

"My ex-boyfriend from France just showed up in my math class!"

"Really?" I stopped walking and faced her. "Are you sure it was him?"
"Yes!" Leila looked furious, the same amount of furious I had been when the aliens arrived. "Mr. Gremlin even made him sit next to me!"

"Mr. Gremlin?" I asked, confused about the nickname she used.

"Actually, his name is Mr. Garcia, but I don't like him." Leila paused for a moment, struggling to think of a way to get our conversation back on track. "Anyway, do you wanna know the first thing my ex said to me after years of not seeing each other?"

"Uhh... sure?" I wasn't sure if that was the proper thing to say, but Leila seemed satisfied with my reply.

"He said," Leila altered her voice to mock her ex-boyfriend. "'Well, well, well. Still as ugly and delusional as ever.'"

I became furious too. "He said what?!" I stood up and prepared to fight somebody. "What did he call you?!"

"Izzy, please calm down." Leila put her hands on my shoulders to calm me down or something. "Don't kill him just yet."

I sighed. "Fine..." I took a few deep breaths and smoothed back my hair. "Can I go to school with you? I'm bored."

Leila shrugged. "Sure..." We started walking out of the forest, towards the school, when Leila turned towards me and gestured to my outfit. "Ya know, you look really hot right now. The turtleneck and trench coat suit you."

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(Willa POV)

The section of the library that I was in was very small compared to the rest of it. It was partially made of glass, which allowed for a stunning view of the forest.

"Addison, you can't help those invaders!" Bucky practically yelled.

I happened to hear the statement, so I intervened. "Back off, Bucky. You may be cheer captain, but Addison is still in charge of the Cheer-Off."

"Thanks, Willa." Addison smiled at me, but I wasn't done.

"But, Bucky is right." I finished.

Bucky seemed confused for a moment. "I'm right?" His confusion dissipated. "Yes, of course I'm right."

A familiar voice emerged from the shelves of the library. "Slightly right. I agree with your opinion, but not your reasons for your opinion."

"Izzy? Why are you here?" Addison asked.

Izzy shrugged. "I'm bored." Izzy took off the trench coat that she was wearing. "Anyway, Addison, many of us don't trust the aliens, myself especially."

I continued Izzy's argument. "Last time outsiders swooped into Seabrook, our moonstone was stolen. And this time, we might lose our shot of getting into Mountain College."

Bucky opened his mouth again, causing Izzy to roll her eyes and scowl. "Which is why we need to protect what's ours. The Seabrook Cup, my legacy." He gestured to his whole body. "Me, in general!" Bucky put his arm on my shoulder. "Right, Willa? Or should I say, 'Wacey'?"

"You should not." Izzy and I growled at him in unison, causing Bucky to yelp in terror.

Addison smiled. Izzy hates Addison's smile. "Don't worry about the aliens.

I'm not afraid of a little competition."

Izzy scowled more. "It's not just about the competition, Addison. It's about the safety of everyone in Seabrook. These... these things," Izzy spat, "Are like nothing we've ever seen before. We can't expect to use the same solutions for every new species that poses a problem."

Addison frowned. "How do you have so little trust? What have these aliens done to us besides peacefully wanting to join the Cheer-Off?"

"Peaceful?" Izzy stared at Addison incredulously. "They blew up half of Seabrook!"

"They didn't mean it!"

"One, yes they did! Two, it still happened, even if they didn't intend it!"

"Izzy, just give the aliens a chance!"

"I already have! And you know what happened?" Addison shook her head, signaling for Izzy to elaborate. "I nearly died!"

"That was 14 and a half years ago!"

"But it still happened! I've been dying for the past 13 years! Also, I'm not 19 yet; I still have a few weeks."

"It's the same thing, Izzy!" Addison raised her voice, so Izzy raised hers louder.

"No, it's not! Stop pretending that you understand, because you don't!" Izzy yelled. I watched their argument unfold, increasing the tension in the room by tenfold with every word. It was intense. "You will never understand! I'm sorry that you have such a god complex, but you need to stop having an 'I never do evil' mindset! You will never understand, so stop thinking that you do. The aliens are guilty monsters, like you." Izzy put her trench coat back on and stormed out of the library, muttering curses under her breath.