"The tragedy of life is not death ... but what we let die inside of us while we still live."
Adalynn Stanton is accepted into one of the highest competitive schools in her state, the Greenhouse Academy. At first, all she thinks she will have to do...
"Right now, I'm in a state of mind I wanna be in like all the time Ain't got no tears left to cry So I'm pickin' it up, pickin' it up I'm lovin', I'm livin', I'm pickin' it up I'm pickin' it up, pickin' it up I'm lovin', I'm livin', I'm pickin' it up."
~ No Tears Left to Cry by Ariana Grande
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"Attention please! Everyone, gather around!"
A microphone crackled to life, carrying Leo's voice around the room.
The Ravens slowly made their way over to the makeshift stage that had been set up in a corner of the room.
Leo nodded at all of them as he proceeded, "So, I'm pleased to announce that we have four new candidates for the Ravens this semester. Let's give them a hand, shall we?"
As the round of applause issued, Leo nodded at Adalynn and Max, motioning for them to come up on stage.
"Uh oh. Why do I get a bad feeling about this?" Adalynn muttered under her breath as she trudged, annoyed, towards the stage; Max at her heels.
"Let me introduce Max Miller, Adalynn Stanton, Emma Geller and Aspen Fairchild," Leo said, holding out a hand to welcome the foursome onto the stage.
Max and Emma fell back in line, allowing Adalynn and Aspen to be the first ones to advance forward.
As they reached Leo, Aspen suddenly sprang forward and whipped the microphone from his grasp. Clutching his arm and leaning in close to him, she laughed loudly and spoke, "Aw thank you so much, Lee Lee, this is - indeed - a great pleasure, the greatest pleasure!"
Leo cringed away, his face flushing with heat and embarrassment, but Aspen didn't stop. "I - I hope you don't mind, Lee Lee," she said, reaching up to pinch his cheek. "But I want to give something back to each and every one of you that have made my stay here feel so warm and welcoming."
"Aspen!" Adalynn hissed. "W-what are you doing?"
Aspen held out a hand to silence her as she continued, "I'd like to sing you all a song."
Adalynn inwardly groaned.
"Uh - actually ..." Leo started to say.
Aspen raised her eyebrows questioningly and shoved the microphone back in his face. "Yes, Lee Lee?"
"C-can you please stop calling me that? I'm not two and - er - I was going to ask that each of you new students do an item for us," Leo finished with a sigh. "You know, just for fun ..."
"Looks like I was way ahead of you there!" Aspen giggled hysterically. Tossing her heavily curled hair over one shoulder, she proclaimed in a lilting tone, "Tonight, I'll be performing 'I'll Always Love You' by Whitney Houston. It's an oldie, but a goodie." She motioned for the DJ to begin the music.
