Chapter 23 - Old People

 Erin missed the days where she ran endlessly.
A nice jog fit perfectly into he schedule and it was needed. She  was so stressed out that she wouldn't be surprised if her hair turned grey.

 She ran to the same place she always ran. Watching the light house made her feel relaxed, but it also made her think and worry about her life, and what was happening.

 "I need a break" she sighed as she took one last look at the familiar scene as she left to return home.

"Steve I can feel your eyes burning in the back of my head" Erin laughed as she made breakfast before graduation.
Harrison was going to walk across the stage, and later they would be celebrating Chad and Amy's birthday.
"I'm not giving you any you fat dog!" Erin playfully nudged him away as she sat down with her food.

Harrison was beaming. Finally a young adult, ready to take on the world with his good looks.

 But back at the house things were short lived. After all dogs couldn't live forever.

 Steve's death really tore Chad apart..

 But things had to go on and it was time to blow out the candles. Amy went first.

 "Please don't let this cake catch fire" Chad said, staring down his cake, just hoping it wouldn't catch flames.
"Hurry up I don't have forever.." Amy said. Chad laughed at the irony and prepared himself for old age.

"Yeah we all know who's going to die first now, don't we?" Chad laughed.
"I've been old for two minutes and I already hate it!" Amy started crying.  Chad hurried to his cake now, preparing to blow. No one liked a whiny Amy .

"Thank  you" he whispered to the cake as he cut himself a slice.

He left everyone in the kitchen to their cake after he finished.
Sitting on the couch he realized he was next.
It felt like just yesterday to him that he sat on the same couch talking to his dad...
~~~

Chapter 22 - Memories Reminding

 Arya walked through the doors of her grandmothers old home.
She touched the door frame on her way in. A flash of memories came back as she remembered a fresh summertime when her grandma kept the door wide open to let in a breeze.
This would be the last time she walked through those doors.

She walked up the stairs, ignoring the twins who were in a deep conversation about the evil manicorns which  now secretly ran Ulaysia.

They had been using the house as a base. They, as in the good guys, who were on the run from the police. Injustice led them into running. They only stayed in a house for about  a week, but now the cops had a good sense of their movements. It was time to head out again.

 Arya marched back down the stair in silence. It was time to leave, even though it would be hard. A place that held so many memories was like an old friend.
"We need to leave now" Teddy said. "Arlie is already on her way to the abandoned house. Everything we need is there."
"I know the plan" Arya snapped at him. "I'm not stupid, Ted."
Teddy stared into her eyes. "I know this is hard for you, but you have to realize it's hard for us too."
Breaking his gaze he walked out the door, leaving Arya standing alone in the house.
She sighed and left after him.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 "There you guys are!" Arlie said happily as she walked across the room of the empty house. "It only took you guys forever. Everything is packed and ready to go." She stopped a little ways from Arya, sensing her bad mood.
"Are you strong enough to transport?" Teddy asked Arya. A recent rundown from the cops left her with a bad ankle.
"Yeah I'm fine" She said, looking blankly out the nearest window.
"Right, well you guys just grab onto me because I know exactly where our destination is!" Arlie exclaimed.

Arya and Teddy grabbed on to her arm, all three of them vanished into the air.

 "Oh look the sun must of gone down while we transported!" Arlie said. "Good thing too I brought the fire and our sleeping bags. I'll take first watch if it's fine with you guys."
No one objected to Arlie's suggestion and they set up camp.

 "Ugh she just passes out everywhere." Arya rubbed her eyes with her hand. "I'm so beat. Ted I'm going to sleep, do you mind watching out for tonight? I promise I'll cover for you whenever."
"No problem." Ted said, laughing at his sisters ability to do the exact opposite of what she says.

 "Looks like around four more days until they arrive." Ted announced as he walked out of the tent.
"Do you think these hot dogs will last until then? They are quite delicious." Arlie continued to eat her hot dog.
Arya scowled. "No they're not going to last, Arlie. We'll just make new ones. And have you spoken to Harrison? What's his plan?"
"Right after the wedding we expect that Vlad will try convincing Erin to come with him back here. If she doesn't agree he'll end up taking her by force. I told Harrison about where we are so they will have no problem escaping." Teddy sat down to eat.
Arya looked at him as he grabbed a hot dog. "Who is they?" She asked, worried.
"The whole family." Teddy answered, smiling.
"The more the merrier!" Arlie exclaimed excitedly.
"Right.." Arya took another gloomy bite into her sandwich.

 ___________________________________________________________________________________

 "Dad.. can  I ask you something?" Erin asked Chad as he was about to head back inside.
"I just ran out of cash you'll have to go to the bank..."
"No dad, I wasn't going to ask you for money.. it's like you just assume.."
Erin was cut off. "Well what is it then? I'm about to head to bed Erin, you know I've been working long days."
"I'll make it quick then!" Erin said embarrassed that her dad didn't want to talk. "I have this feeling that something bad's going to happen... I've been having weird dreams of fires and unicorns, and it's all just really weird! I don't know what's going on. You and mom are in the dream, some strange people with hair..weird colors.."
"You're going crazy" Chad said, nervous. He didn't want to tell her anything as he was informed that Arya and Teddy were the ones who needed to inform her.

 "You're hiding something from me." She said, her anger filling her mind as she stared down her father. "Don't make that stupid face! That just proves it!"

 "Well..." he began. He told Erin about his mother being the princess of Ulaysia when they had first got married. He told her about how when her mother died she became Queen, taking on the war that was going on there.
"That's why I never met grandma.."
"But that's not all.." He explained to Erin how she was next in line for throne and how Mandie was supposed to marry Harrison's father because he had  good manicorn blood in him, a strong bloodline.

 "You're telling me, that I have special powers with fires, that the one in the barn wasn't an accident. That those dreams are real.. and that Harrison is .. is.. one of us?" Erin took in the shock as her father tried to comfort her.
"I'm not supposed to tell you anything, so I can't tell you a lot more. When you get married, your fate will seal with Harrisons, causing things to happen. It's so complicated right now, hunny, I wish you could know."
Erin nodded and went into her bedroom. What the hell is going on!?
And then she remembered the day her grandfather died.....

He gravitated closer. "We were all born to die, but that's just general. It happens to everyone."

Erin wasn't even listening her sobs were so loud.

"But you, my dear," It seemed impossible but his smile got bigger, "were born for something greater."
She looked up from her hands and noticed his face was serious now.

"You'll always be your mother and fathers little princess, a true princess."

The grin on his face was back, and he walked away alongside the man in the dark cloak.

She climbed up to the balcony of her room, hoping that some along time would help her gather her thoughts on everything that she had just heard.

 Only if Dodo could talk.. she thought to herself.
She brought him out of his cage and rested him onto her arm.
"If I ever leave, I'll make sure to keep you cage open" she said, now talking out loud to the bird. "If I ever leave, I want you to find me, and bring me something that will remind me of home."

She put Dodo back into his cage. She went back down the her bedroom, leaving the cage opened.

Chapter 21 - Happy Birthday!

 "We have about a week" Arlie gave the news to Arya. "Her birthday is just around the corner and the marriage will follow after."
"I need more time" Arya replied, scracting her head. "This has to end up perfect or lives will be cost."
"We will get through okay." Arlie said reassuring her. "The war is almost over."

 "Look at you all dressed up for your birthday!" Erin joked with Harrison.
"Aw come on, my mom thought it would be a good idea, dress to impress."
"Of course it was. But who are you trying to impress?"
"No one" Harrison replied with a foolish smile.

 The two families gathered around for Harrison's birthday.

 "Make sure to wish for something." Erin said to him, excited for him. But he looked serious, and Erin just took this as one of those "I'm becoming a man " jokes.
"I know what I'm wishing for."

 He blew out the candles, and before everyone stood a young man.

"...And remember to apologize to my cousin." Brian said, handing Rosalind flowers.

Erin was eating her cake when Rosalind took across from her.
"I'm sorry for everything I've done" Rosalind looked down at her cake. "It's my fault for the things that used to go on at school and I'm sorry. I didn't know what I was doing. I've changed though. Brian made me realize that there's more to life than putting down others to make myself feel better."
Erin appreciated the apology, but it didn't really bother her anymore. "It's fine" Erin said, taking another bite of the cake. "Honestly. The drama is nothing to me anymore. It's all in the past."
Rosalind nodded, and pushed out of her chair, ready to get up.
"Wait," Erin said, putting her fork down. "You can come over tomorrow for my birthday if you'd like. I'm not sure if Brian told you."
"I'd love to" She smiled and walked away.

Erin left right after Rosalind got up to find the birthday boy.

 "Why the long face?" Erin questioned him, getting closer.
"Nothing" he said, not meeting her gaze. "Just business stuff."
Erin searched his eyes for more, she could sense his bluff. " I don't believe you" She finally said.
"Do you trust me ?" Harrison asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Of course I do" Erin replied a little scared.

 "Then trust me when I say it's nothing" laughing, he pulled Erin into a hug. "That was pretty funny you got real scared!"
"Shut up!" Erin laughed and playfully punched him. "I'm going to go shower. Don't leave until I'm done.. Okay?"
He promised and she left to get ready for bed.

 While Erin went off to the shower Harrison left to seek out Chad.
"Congrats Harrison!" Chad took Harrisons hand to shake it. Chad's voice dropped, "You're of age now. You know what that means."
Harrison nodded. "That's what I needed to ask you..."
"But you already know my answer."
"That's not the point. I know it has to be done for Ulaysia, but I still do love her" Harrison said. "But I wanted to properly ask you because I wanted it to be a proper wedding."

 "Go on then" Chad said, laughing softly at how strong headed Harrison was.
Harrison laughed too. "Do I have permission to marry your daughter?"
"No." Chad laughed hard, until her realized Harrison wasn't laughing at all. "I'm joking, son. Of course you can marry her. She loves you and I know that it is whats best for her."

 "It's my birthday today!" Erin said excitedly to her cousin. "And you're stuck in school how sad" Erin added, rubbing it in that she would never be going to school again.
"My days at school are numbered." Brian said lazily.
"You're birthday's not for a while though" Erin pointed out.
"Birthdays aren't the only thing that can stop a person from going to school." Brian smirked and left the room, leaving Erin to wonder what he was going on about.

 Erin's family gathered around the cake. Unfortunately  Harrison's family could not make it as they were out of town for a business trip. Erin found this quite odd; then she remembered when he asked if she trusted him, and thought it was better not to question his where a bouts.

 She looked just like her mother.

 Erin was taking out the garbage when a car pulled up to the house.
Harrison got out and walked over to Erin, "Happy birthday, love" he said grabbing her hand.
She smiled at him and led him into the house.

They spent the night hanging out with her family. It was Harrisons idea, and when Erin asked why he said it was good to spend time with family.
By the time he left that night there was a shiny engagement ring on her hand.

Chapter 20 - A Couple of Couples

 RIP Mojo Manicorn :(

 "Make sure to be here and ready at 5" Erin said, leaning in close.
Harrison kept his distance,"I wouldn't miss this for my life".

 RIP Asta Horse :(

 The stretch limo came exactly at 6.
Erin was nervous. Harrison hadn't came over yet.. what if he was a no show?

 But he came!

Some pictures;

 Taking home the crown was really the highlight of her night. Who would of known that one of the most unpopular girls could be prom queen?

 They waited for Erin to get home from prom to celebrate Brian's birthday.
He didn't want a big crowd, all he needed was for his family to be there.

 DEM EYES D:

Brian grew up just in time because his parents wedding was the next day.

Mandie showed up, she was invited and could only stay the night.

 Erin invited Harrison as her date and they laughed and danced the whole time. He was a great person to invite to parties and he wasn't shy around Erin's family.

 All the couples seemed to be dancing and having a good time. Chad tried to get as close to Mandie as possible because she would be leaving that night.

 "Stop crying!" Amy laughed at him. "I'm supposed to be crying not you!"
"You just look so beautiful... and .. an.." He sobbed more into his sleave, "I never thought this day would come!"

 Xavier stabled himself. They exchanged rings while the crowd watched in silence.
A few sniffles could be heard from where Chad was sitting. His bestfriend was getting married! His sister too  but Xavier !

 They kissed and everyone cheered.

 They cut the cake for the hungry guests. (Except the vampires. They almost died)

 Erin ended up having a nice night. Love was obviously in the air.

 Steve's days were coming to a close end. Chad kept him as active as possible, hoping that would add some days.

 Erin was meeting Martha at the pool again to catch up on their gossip.
"Did you hear about your cousin? He's been hanging out with this girl named Rosalind a lot. Rosalind Roddick."
"What?" Erin said confused. "She's so popular and he's so artsy and quite!"
"Yeah I know!" Martha said, getting excited. "No one really knows about. They're trying to keep it a secret for some reason."

 Erin went home immediately  to confirm what she heard with Brian.
It was obviously true; right when Erin entered the room Rosalind shot up off Brian's bed and moved near him.
"Oh hey, uh.. Erin?" She said questionably.
She damn right knows my name. Erin thought as Rosalind gathered her stuff. She used to call me a loser everyday, she knows who I am.  
"Well I gotta go now"  Rosalind said looking at Brian.
"Yeah... see ya" he said blushing, looking away from Erin.

"What was that?!" Erin shouted when Rosalind left the room.
"It's hard to explain" Brian said, smiling as he looked passed Erin.
"Why are you smiling? You know that she used to call me names when we were little! She's a total bitch!" Erins eyes started to water. Rosalind was the girl who made Erin so unpopular.
"She's different now." Brian reassured her, now serious. "She's really sorry about everything. She's told me everything, she wishes she could change it all."
"She's different? What are you guys like dating now?" Erin said, not buying anything that Brian was saying.
"Yeah." he said. "I think I'm in love with her."