A New Generation

Chapter 3- Friends

"That was really pretty, Lunah."

I wiped away a tear. "Thanks. We should probably go help Thalissa now."

He put his hand on my shoulder. "Only if you're ready to go."

I gave him a hug, then sighed. "Yeah, I'm ready now."

"Hey, Artemis." Rebeckah walked in and sat on my bed. I turned around and gave her a hug.

"Hey, how are you?"

"I'm alright, how about you? Did you cry?"

I shrugged. "A bit. Just thinking about Artemis, my cousin."

She nodded. "I feel bad. I could have helped her at least get rid of... "

"Your dad?"

She sighed. "Honestly, I think her plan was good, I just wish I could see my dad again."

"Do you think what he did as president was right?"

She shook her head. "No, he became corrupt. The first few years, he was a great president, but over time, he changed; he wasn't himself. The power corrupted him."

"Well, if what you said yesterday is true, you'll see him again."

She frowned. "What did I say?"

"You said that your dad is immune to paramontilic bombs. Artemis used a paramontilic timed bomb."

"Oh no, that's bad."

"Maybe it's good," Bryan cut in. "Maybe you can change him."

She smiled, but it quickly deflated. "No, he's gone. I can try, but he's gone to me. My mom knows it too."

I hugged her. "Even if your father's gone, we're still here." Bryan joined in the hug.

She sighed. "Thanks guys. You're the best friends I could have asked for."

We broke apart from the hug. "Ready to go? We're a bit late getting to work."

Bryan laughed. "We're always late."

I nudged him. "That doesn't mean we shouldn't try to get going. Come on, let's go to the laundry room."

I started walking away with Rebekah, while Bryan groaned and dragged behind us.

"Do we have to do ironing again?"

Rebekah rolled her eyes. "Yes, unless you want wrinkled and stinky clothes. 'Corse, you already stink."

We laughed.

"True." Bryan said. "I'm not even going to pretend I smell okay. Well, actually... " He sniffed his armpit. "... they're not that bad."

I laughed. "Well, good for you. I guess we won't have to throw you down the laundry chute!"

We cracked up. After a lot of laughter and a bit of slow walking, we reached the laundry room. It smelled much better than most laundry rooms. Instead of smelling like dirty clothes and mildew, it smelled like freshly cleaned clothes and warm steam.

I took a deep breath in and sighed. "Doesn't it smell great in here?"

Rebeckah raised her eyebrow. "Yeah, kinda. If you like the smell of nothing."

"What do you mean nothing? It smells clean and... warm."

Bryan and Rebeckah laughed in unison. "Warm? How can you smell warmth Lunah? Is that a super power or something?" Bryan asked, while trying to cover his laugh.