User blog:Cartoonprincess/Somnium: Chapter 8 What Makes One Beautiful?

'This chapter is dedicated to my very tolerant and magnificently beautiful best friend, Samlovesham. ^_^ Actually, this one's for all the One Direction fans out there, too. (THAT MEANS YOU TUBA AND FUDGE!)'

' NOTE : This chapter puts a huge ''emphasis on friendship. It is the theme, if you will. Also, I apologize in advance for the extremely disturbing image I create in the beginning. >:)'''



Chapter 8: What Makes One Beautiful?



           After last night’s episode, Isabel realized that she needed to de-stress. This was her fantasy world; a place where she was supposed to feel safe and relaxed.

''There’s no reason for me to feel alone here. ''She thought. ''Sydney and the rest of my Cartoon Pals and Wiki Buddies will take care of me. ''

Isabel then began to talk aloud, “Okay Izzy, there is nothing to worry about. Yesterday didn’t even happen! There was no scary portal, no Aronica, there isn’t even a closet!” She let out a hearty, psychotic laugh as she walked down the hallway to greet her friends.

“Hey, guys!” she hailed the clutch while attempting to counterfeit a smile.

“Hey, Toon,” everyone replied.

<span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Just then, Yoshi came walking into the scene wearing only his tighty whiteys.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Oh, hey Toon!” Yoshi greeted with a wiggle of his fingers.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">At the sight of this disturbing, unexpected prospect, Isabel’s eyes widened in repugnance.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Wow, good to know you guys are getting so comfortable here…” she pointed out with a nervy chuckle.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Yoshi then grabbed PurpleJerk and started making out with her as they enclosed into the closet.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The expression that followed could only be described with a lower-case O, an underscore and an uppercase O.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Oh, god; my fantasy world has been tainted…” Isabel contritely said in a distraught tone.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Ignoring all the commotion, Becky went straight to where Alica was standing.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Hey, can we talk..?” she asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Um, sure but let’s go somewhere more private…” Alica suggested.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The two of them quietly tip-toed into the banquet room as Becky gently shut the door.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Okay, first, I just want to say I’m sorry about yesterday…it was all Toon’s fault, anyway…” she started.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“No, it was mostly my fault; I wanted to talk to you, but I was also kind of avoiding it…” Alica shamefully admitted. “The truth is I want to fix things just as much as you do…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“I do too, but I don’t even know where to begin…” Becky said emotionally.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Alica paused and thought for a moment, “Well, I don’t usually do this, but why don’t we start here…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A warm, tender, affectionate hug ensued.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Suddenly, Alica spotted Ar0n and they made brief eye contact.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Walking on the other side of the cottage was none other than Tash and Lucy. After a few minutes, Lucy stopped abruptly in the middle of the hallway and pulled Tash outside towards the balcony.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Tash, on a scale of 1-10, how much would you say you like me…?” Lucy asked in sudden desperation.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Well, a ten obviously,” Tash replied matter-of-factly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Lucy’s entire face brightened, “…Really? You mean that?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Of course,” Tash said. “We’re best friends…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Oh, right…” Lucy chuckled nervously. “…Well, am I your prettiest friend..?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Tash became very uneasy as he chewed on that thought, but was not given much time to think it over when PurpleJerk popped up all of a sudden and offered to suck Tash’s neck to cater to her blood cravings.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Later that day, Isabel went searching for her creation through the many ins and outs of the cottage. When she finally found her, she was sitting quietly in the corner, deep in thought.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Sydney, have you seen Tuba? I want to talk to her…” Isabel inquired.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Who…?” Sydney questioned in confusion.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Samlovesham,” Isabel clarified. “Why…?” Sydney asked.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“You do realize I haven’t been able to spend any quality time with her since I’ve gotten here…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Oh, come on, yes you have…” Sydney countered.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“No, because you started dragging me right in the middle of my heartfelt speech…” Isabel reminded her. “Anyway, I’m going to need you to keep everyone company and keep an eye on all of them while I’m gone…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Sydney suddenly got up in alarm, “What? No! Why!?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“This is a great opportunity for you to bond with them. You’re good at entertaining people so this should be fun and easy…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Fun? Easy!? You’re basically just making me babysit these punks and besides, there are way too many of them to look after…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“You can always use magic to ease the burden in some way…come on,” Isabel began dragging Sydney to a group of users that was hanging out in the game room.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Ugh, why are you making me do this..?” Sydney groaned.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Come on Sydney, just be your sweet self and everyone will love you…” Isabel encouraged.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Sydney rolled her eyes, “Do I have to!?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Just for a few hours; I’ll be back before you know it…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Ugh, seriously, I have nothing in common with these losers!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel awkwardly turned to the crowd of users who were listening, “She’s cool once you get past the psycho…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Sydney casually flashed Isabel a death stare.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel’s mind was already set as she grinned and winked back at her, “Okay, be good Sydney and try to behave…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“No promises,” Sydney flatly responded as she crossed her arms.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">At that, she left Sydney with her Wiki Buddies as she began to search for Samlovesham. As she attentively looked around, she decided to ask some of her other friends where she might be.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“xx, have you seen Tuba anywhere…?” she asked tentatively.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Tubby? No, not lately…” xx replied as she thought it over.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Choo?” Isabel turned to Churchpants.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Sorry, Loony. Haven’t seen her…” she replied with a frown.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Finally, she recognized her best friend’s appearance far out in the distance walking down the trail. Frantically, she ran over to her and tried to get her attention.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“TUBA!!!” she cried.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Samlovesham turned around with a delighted expression, “CARTOON!”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Out of breath, Isabel at last made it to where she was.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Hi,” she simply greeted.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Hi,” Samlovesham feebly smiled back.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Do you want to go get something to eat?” Isabel suggested.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Okay,” Samlovesham granted.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">They didn’t have to hunt far because just up ahead was a conveniently placed Johnny Rockets. With a quick, excited glance at each other, they went inside. The two girls were quick to hop on the shiny, red stools and order.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Man, I can’t decide between the burger and the sourdough grilled cheese…” Isabel said with a chuckle as she scanned over the menu.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Just get both; maybe we could split it.” Samlovesham proposed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Good idea,” Isabel said as she pointed admiringly to her face.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel devoured her meal as she made a number of satisfied moans. Samlovesham rolled her eyes and smiled affectionately.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">When they finished eating, they decided to go outside for a sunset walk down the trails of the attractive park. After a few minutes of silent awe, Samlovesham began a curious tête-à-tête.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“So, um, who is this Sydney character? I’m a little confused on why she’s here…” she started.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel smirked lovingly, “I created her when I was 11…she was my alter-ego. I would constantly be creating stories and situations for her based on my experiences. Then, later, I created more characters which became her friends…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Samlovesham eyes glowed with fascination, “That’s so nice…and cool…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“I guess,” Isabel responded as she sneered slightly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“So, I guess she’s like a part of you, right…?” Samlovesham inquisitively raised an eyebrow.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel nodded and sighed softly as she chewed on this idea, “Yeah,”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">All of a sudden, Samlovesham stopped in the middle of the trail and gave Isabel a frightened look.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“I’m scared,” she said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“You don’t think I’m scared, too..?” Isabel began to get emotional as she saw the fear in her best friend’s eyes. “…I don’t know what’s going to happen to us…I actually thought it would be okay for me to live here, but now that you guys are here, I have to get all of you back home; y’all have friends and families to get back to. It has become a moral obligation to seek us a way out of here…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Well, do you honestly think we ever will…?” Samlovesham asked worriedly.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel dreadfully pondered this inkling, “…I certainly hope so…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">As she looked up at her online colleague, the infamous One Direction song came to mind. Samlovesham didn’t know she was beautiful; she wasn’t aware of her own beauty. Even though Isabel had bathed in the Fountain of Youth and had basked in its benefits, she knew she could never match Samlovesham’s inner beauty. She flickered over at her nails; they had grown back already. Yep, the Fountain was hard at work on her.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“We should go back,” Samlovesham abruptly ended Isabel’s daze, “it’s getting late.”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Oh…right,” Isabel was distracted.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">On that note, they both went their separate ways.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Though her thoughts were still elsewhere, she decided to check on Sydney and the rest of her Wiki Buddies.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Out of nowhere, a disturbed Sydney appeared in front of her.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“I CAN’T STAND YOUR FRIENDS…” she screamed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel laughed diffidently, “What..?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“SFG won’t stop talking about ‘happiness’ and ‘positivity’—drives me nuts! Seddia insists on walking around topless, Slappy keeps asking me to poof up more pie, and Yishy…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Yoshi,” Isabel corrected.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Whatever!” Sydney retorted. “He keeps hitting on me and won’t give the sex talk a rest! How do you put up with this!?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel shrugged as she smirked, “I just do…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Well, all I know is that I hate them…” Sydney righteously declared.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Oh, come on Sydney, I thought we were all making progress here; are you already regressing…?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Sydney sighed and put her hand to her head in exhaustion, “Look, they’ve been asking about you all day. Why don’t you hang out with them..?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel nodded and smiled to herself, “You know what? I just might…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Isabel then invited everyone to join her in the bounce house, where they all bounced joyfully for a couple hours until their legs couldn’t carry their weight anymore. Then, later, everyone met up at the pool for even more amusement.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A user named AllYouNeedIsSeddie randomly announced what she had just been told about Ar0n and Alica’s closet adventure.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“They totally made out in the closet!” she confirmed.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“WHAT!?” Tara became so outraged she pushed Yoshi into the pool. Everyone heard a chilling, deep voice yelling for his life and then a loud splash. Cringes and winces filled the entire awkward silence until his head appeared from under the fizzing water.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“You know, it’s a good thing he was holding that pool noodle, or he may have drowned,” Samlovesham giggled.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Afterward, everyone grabbed a quick bite to eat. Tara, who was still outraged, stole Ar0n’s food.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Meanwhile, Tash, who had opted out of all the festivities, was walking through the hallways by himself, feeling tense and mildly stressed. Up ahead, he saw Alica walking out of the banquet room and decided to confront her.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Alica, do you know where Toon is?” he asked her as he cautiously bit his lip.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Um, I think she might still be eating…why?”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Did you know she bites her nails?” Tash revealed, half-aware of what he had just said.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“…Um, yeah, I think she may have mentioned it on chat once….what does that have to do with anything…?” Alica asked as she narrowed her eyes in misunderstanding.

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Tash paused for a moment as his eyes widened, “…Never mind, I’m going to bed…”

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 200%; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Alica blinked vacantly, “Um…okay…”