*Flash Forward Another Twelve Years*
The bell rang for the last time that year on the sunny day in Thaera. Students were excitedly rushing out of the school, meeting up with their friends and squealing about it being the last day of school...everyone except Calysta.
Growing up, Calysta didn't have very many friends at school or in her neighborhood. Her only friends this year were Louis and Natasha, who were very fond of each other and didn't pay her much attention. Since she didn't come from a richer urb, she didn't own the clothes that the "cool kids" wore and didn't try to seek out attention like most of the girls. Instead of having sleepovers like normal girls her age, she painted. Artists weren't noticed often in Thaera.
She pushed her way past the overwhelmed kids crowding the hallways, and found both Louis and Natasha in the courtyard just outside the front of the school. They sat together, enveloped in each other's arms. "They are so cute together," Calysta thought to herself. She knew they'd only be able to stay together if they were each other's mates.
Louis' power to mind read picked up her thoughts right as she sat down beside the couple. He smiled at her, thanking her with his eyes.
"So, the last day of school, huh? What are you guys doing to get ready for the big ceremony tonight?"
Natasha looked up into his eyes from her seated position in his lap. "Well, I think I'm just going to fix my hair in a bun, and just wear the silver dress I wore for the athletic banquet a couple months ago. What about you, Cal?"
Unlike Calysta, both Nat and Shawn lived in richer urbs. They would be able to fix themselves up quite nicely, using the finest clothing and the best styles for their hair. Calysta was lucky if she looked decent while going to their graduating ceremony.
"Well, my mother and I found a decent pale dress at a thrift store, so I think I'll just wear that and maybe just keep my hair like this. I think it'll be fine."
Nat shook her head in disapproval. "You can definitely come over to my house tonight, and I'll help you find a dress; I have tons! And I can curl your hair if you'd like, I think it'd look gorgeous."
Calysta smiled and nodded at the generosity of her friend. "I'd like that a lot, thanks! How about you, Lou? Getting ready with the boys?"
"Well they promised me they'd grab some food before the ceremony, so I figured I'd go." Nat slapped his arm, smiling at his silliness.
After a few more minutes of useless chitchat, Nat and Calysta headed off toward her house, waving goodbye to Louis. Calysta could not wait to get ready with Nat, since she'd definitely have a gorgeous dress waiting for her. As they walked into her urb, all she could see were big, fancy houses with giant front lawns and sleek cars in the driveways. Sighing, she wished she could've been born into the easy life.
Natasha finally lead Calysta to her front door, and opened it with a shiny gold key. Everything Calysta had ever wanted in her home was unraveled before her just by standing at her door. Marble tiles lined the floor and crème colored wall paper was plastered onto the wall. The furniture was modern and sleek, filling the room neatly. Everything was spotless and picturesque.
Natasha lead Calysta up the long, spiral staircase and finally they reached her room. Her room was like one of those fantasy bedrooms that you find in pictures in magazines. Everything was neat and organized to perfection and had a polka-dot theme.
Natasha hurried across the room to open up her closet, while Calysta stood looking around the room in awe. After Nat disappeared into her giant closet, she found Calysta sitting uncomfortably on her large queen-sized bed. She had several dresses in her hands, most of them gray but some colorful. Today was the only day for the graduating class that they were allowed to wear whatever they wanted, in whatever color they wanted.
