Once upon a time, there’s a prince, beside the prince is a princess, who’s told to be the fated to the prince’s life. A prince marrying a princess. It’s been like that to every love story I’ve heard.

I once believe that fate can bring two people together, whether it be Love at first sight or a childhood friendship. I was a little girl that time, when I started to be infatuated with making stories. Making stories that one day it would happen to me. Making my whole world bright.

——————————

My name is Skylar, a 16 year old girl turning woman who work part time as an online novelist and writer.

My life has been normal ever since, never been strange but also never exciting. It is my vision of the world, writing stories has always been my ticket to exit the world of the plain. Bringing things to life, excitement.

Today is a Tuesday but like other days it’s boring. I was planning of going abroad since it’s summer but my parents plan ahead and left to Hong Kong. So basically I’m alone now.

It’s been hours of thinking, I planned to have a break on my ‘ job ‘ since my brain is empty today. I leaned to the back of the chair scrolling through my phone if there is anything interesting online.

Everything is boring when I have a lot of time, I have so many things I could think of doing but I don’t feel like it. I always wish that now’s the time to do something productive like finding a boyfriend, but of course my dad won’t allow it since he’s aware How much I’m interested in relationships.

Even when I know that being single is a ‘fun’thing and time to have a worth being free from dating, I sometimes think it is better if I have someone to lean on. A friend is fine but it doesn’t really suffice my type of feeling.

The feeling I have been looking for, the hope, the excitement. Surely a friend doesn’t fix all of those holes.

I sighed. My whole life, finding, ogling the right one is no where in this place I’m living in. Everything is just...dull. Plain. Boring.

* RING!!!!

I jolted at the sound, it’s not my phone, I look to my side and walk to the area that has the telephone hanging in the apartment.

I place my hand on the handle and place it on my ear.

“ Hello? “

[ Ah, Sky is that you? ]

“ Aunt Sala-? Good afternoon, sorry to dissapoint you but you see my pare- “

[ Oh I know that your parents are abroad dear! ]

I can hear a chuckle from that soft voice.

[ You see I’m here for you. I know that this summer isn’t looking great for you. ]

It really isn’t for other summers.

[ So I’m talking to you if you want to come with me for a different vacation. ]

I tilt my head. “ But- this house- “

[ Oh hush dear! Actually your parents ask for my workers to clean your house and will be staying there. Don’t worry he’s very trustworthy and is trained to guard the house with all his life! Besides, I’ll be leaving for about months mabye come back before your parents can come back. ]

“ Ah well... I guess I can come with you, where are we going? “ It’s sudden, I have rights to hesitate but I feel a ting of a butterfly in my stomach. Mabye I can make a new life in there.

[ You know the place I keep showing pictures to you? My old home? It’s called Dead Sea. ]

Ah that. “ I remember but why is it called that? “

[ Ah girl, you will listen to all stories once we meet each other, so dear do your packing, we leave tomorrow morning, I’ll stop at you about... ]

I grip the phone as I listen. This is it. My prayers have been answered. A chance to be a new person. Meet people, have a love life.

“ How about nine in the morning? “

[ Hmm, I suppose I’ll catch you at nine, bye hope to see you in that cute new look for a fresh impression. ]

“ Yeah, bye. “

* Beep

I quickly slammed the phone to the wall. My head faced the floor as I breathe heavily. This is perfect. My excitement. But.. what will my parents say?

I shake my head. No Skylar, this is the perfect opportunity to be an independent lady. This could be like those romance novels. A girl trying to have a fresh start at a place she’s new in, then suddenly something unexpected happened to her. I place my palm to my mouth as I quiver in excitement.

This is it.

My time.

My story.

—————————————————————

“ SKYLAR!!!!! “

I see Aunt Sala waving her hands at me, behind her is somewhat a big black van, nice, big space. I am bringing a normal looking luggage and a big pillow so I could sleep comfortably on the trip.

As I walk to her, I can still hear her shouting. Yikes, my neighbors is going to notice. I sprint over to her hoping she would quiet down.

Aunt Sala sighed. “ Still trying to live up to the expectations of others I see. “

“ What does that mean? “ I huffed, guess staying home decrease my energy.

“ It’s time to live for yourself, be free, smile be happy, don’t find anything you didn’t enjoy before. “

I furrowed my eyebrows. What does she mean by that?

Aunt Sala walk to her van and get in to start the engine.“ Hop in, we don’t have all day love. “

I sighed. ‘ Still the same weird energetic aunt I knew. ‘

Aunt Sala is the older sister of my dad. She’s also the person who often visits us then the rest of my family members, I don’t mind her visiting since she’s fun.

Her figure and appearance is kinda like mine, basically because I’ll more like my dad. We have the same blonde hair, blue-green eyes and fair skin.

“ Skylar? “

“ Oh- I’m coming! “

I quickly place my luggage at the back of the van and my pillow on the seat. As I close the door, I stare at my house through the glass to see Aunt Sala’s worker cleaning the yard. Hope things go well.

Worries suddenly flood me as I think of the things I prepared. It’s okay Skylar..

Soon the van roar loader as we start to leave.

Dead Sea, Aunt Sala and dad always said stories about it. It wasn’t really popular to other countries and it’s been rarely noticed by tourists and foreigners. Luckily my dad and aunt once lived there since as kids.

I wonder. What makes it so mysterious though.

“ Skylar are you already awake? “

I open my eyes and look at my aunt nodding.

“ Well good, you were drooling by the way. “

“ !! “ I immediately wipe my mouth feeling droplet of my drool to my neck. Great. But then again I can’t help it when the car’s running.

“ Ahaha, so embarrassed all of a sudden love? You were very cute sleeping with your mouth open I could just take a pic. “

“ You won’t.. “

My aunt raise her brow. “ How’d you know? “

“ It’s embarrassing. “ It is embarrassing, I should be big and mature now damnit..

“ Say, why don’t we take a bite in McDonald’s for lunch, we’re halfway to our destination. “ Aunt said as she drove near a post.

I groggily sit up as I fix my hair. “ Why McDonald’s? “

“ Well there aren’t any other healthy restaurants around us is there? Come on it won’t be long, we can’t take out since we need some fresh air. “

I sighed. As I open the car door I went out and quickly fix my clothes then I quickly run to Aunt’s side walking towards a one floor building with a clown statue for attraction. Gotta be honest, that Clown gives me the creeps but can’t complain since the one who made McDonald’s died.

As we neared the entrance I feel a force bumping from my left. I grunted as I held my shoulder turning to the side.

“ Oh! Sorry, you k? “

The voice made me turn a 180 degrees as a guy run to me probably inspecting if I’m hurt. As the guy proceeds to apologize more I stare at his appearance.

A honey colored hair flood my vision at first then followed a white and black checkered polo together with dark blue jeans. His one ear pierced with an earring and forest green eyes bubbled as he close it.

“ Son, you don’t have anything to worry about, my niece is just weak from your figure, you hear that love? “

I blink as I turn red. Much into embarrassment. ‘ Aunt Sala quit with the nickname.. ‘

the boy’s white skin wrinkled as he close his eyes with relief. “ Sorry I have to run. Safe travels. “ He then run away.

“ Seems he’s in a hurry, hey love your quiet. “ I feel her nudge at me but I didn’t care.

Isn’t this the part of a romance drama where two lovers accidentally bump to each other. I turn to my aunt shaking it off. “ Let’s go in. “ I can’t think about it, a fresh vacation is what I want, ogling boys is later.

—————————

“ Honey look, there’s a new school opening in Dead Sea, I wonder if your parents will allow you to enroll there? “

I sighed as I take a bite of my nuggets. “ Why so excited, it’s school. “

“ Skylar Skylar, you have never been there before, trust me the environment there is refreshing even the people, there’s a lot of kids I think your age mabye you can hang out with them. “

“ Sounds great aunty but I’m not really into group hangouts. “

But I do wonder if I can get to have a nice scenery for me to make a novel there or many I could finally fall in love..

“ Sky, next time mabye I should buy something to slap you into reality everyday you daydream. “ I can hear Aunt murmur.

Ugh now I have to slap myself to reality, I don’t know how hard Aunt is going to hit me and I never want to have my image of her being merciful thrown out to the window.

After I took a sip on the my drink I wipe my fingers as I pull out my phone, mabye there are other places relaxing for me to visit there.

“

“ Come Sky, use phone later, we have to go and visit our destination before sunset, trust me you can see the scenery clearly. “

I glared quietly at her as I grab my drink. “ I do wonder why it has low reviews. “

“ I told you it’s very underrated. But less crowded is the best isn’t it. “ Aunt said as we leave.

————————-

“ Love, mind you, we’re going fast pace, this is heavy traffic here but don’t worry, it’s going to be gone soon. “

“ Hm. “ I said as I scroll my phone. “ Wait will there be WiFi there? “

“ Mabye love, but I don’t think it will help you with socializing. “

Well I guess with Aunt Sala being insistent there’s going be something there or something. Whatever, if there’s WiFi there’s a way.

.

.

.

After a couple hours the cars in the road did slowly became to decrease. Like there aren’t any single cars except ours but I guess it happens to other vacation so it’s normal.

It’s strange, I’ve been to many trips with my parents but this route seemed unfamiliar. A little bit of excitement seeped through me.

“ Look we’re near Sky. “

I look up from my phone. “ Hm? “

“ That statue looking stone, we’re near the island. “

I look to my left to see a tall thing stone with a weird looking structure kinda looks like an unfinished statue. In a second there I was entranced by the blue green color at the sides of the statues as it reflects the light of the sun. It is beautiful. It sure is the one attractive as it stands proudly on the sea.

I raise my phone to take a pic of it but pause, mabye I can take it later in person. Yeah I should. I slump back to my seat as I scroll my phone.

I can hear Aunt sigh but I ignore it.

“ Sky? Wake up we’re here. “ I grunted as I feel warm hands rattling me. As I open my eyes, I see my Aunt looking at me with an amused smile.

I blinked but suddenly I quickly wipe my drool. Again. Ugh I’m so disgusting.

“ Well love you can’t help it. “ Aunt chuckle, I just glared at her as I playfully swat her hands.

“ We’re here, really?

Aunt nod. I scooted away from her to get a proper look. As I stand out of the car. I find myself standing infront of a parking lot filled with vines snaking and lying on concrete walls and buzzing of white butterflies dancing beside the tree leaves.

It is quite peaceful but it’s... still plain.

What’s the point, it’s nature.

“ Come on Sky, pack later, socialize and exploring now. “

I didn’t look at Aunt but I nodded as I pick up my phone remembering my objective, picturing the statue from the ocean surface.

“ Aunt, is there any nearby pools here? “

“ I’ll look into it, enjoy for now and tell me what places you’ve been too, it’s been long since I last been here. “ Aunt then proceeds to unpack something.

“ Aunt, you know the direction the statue is? “

Aunt Sala hmmed but chuckles nervously, I sighed. So it’s a no then. Alright.

I didn’t wait for her as I walk away, finding the statue. ‘ I will certainly make a blog about this, should be viral enough. ‘

* Scrunch Scrunch

I flinch as I slap a masquito from my shoulder, mabye if I wouldn’t wear anything revealing in nature I wouldn’t be in stress. Curse nature.

‘ I should have take a picture from the car as a chance just in case I never find it. ‘

I wander around the forest as I try to look for the statue. It wasn’t all important but what am I going to do. I’ll get bored if I do nothing. Common sense.

As I continued walking I jolted at the sudden light from the sun. I shielded my eyes as I grow frustrated. ‘ Who knew that the sun is so bright here even in sunset? ‘

Then suddenly I reach a cliff. But I fortunately found the unfinished statue looking stone from before. It’s a pretty gorgeous view with the statue illuminating the light from the sun.

I wince as l notice a huge shadow before mine, I turn to my right and find a boy meters away from me sitting on the cliff relaxed as he seems to focus sketching.

I didn’t see him properly so I walk closer. I took a peek at the sketch. It’s..beautiful, almost like the exact copy from the real one but it seems to be colored by the orange light from the sun.

“ Huh? “

“ Hm? “

I look up slowly as I seem to see a view of bed hair from the boy, his eyes were droopy and somewhat lazy looking. I can’t see the rest of his figure clearly from the orange light but he seem to be wearing a grey jacket and black jogging pants. His shoes were just flip-flops.

I blink, noticing that we’re actually very close. I quickly back away.

Covering my face with my elbow.

The boy seemed slightly startled but soon relax.

He was about to resume sketching but I stop him to make a proper conversation. “ Um.. your drawing’s really nice, almost very realistic. “

“ Almost? “ I heard him mutter. I said something wrong didn’t I..He looked stress, is he trying to make it look perfect?

“ Almost and very is a statement but I would choose to see what’s compared my sketch with the thing infront of me. “ The Boy said as he bring up his paper as if to compare it with the real thing.

“ Well, My name is Skylar, nice to meet you. “ I can’t say my last name yet to a stranger.

The Boy nod as he go back to his drawing. “ Matthew. “

Rude. He also just said his first name so I guess we’ll be strangers today. I’ll just leave him, nothing interesting happened. Wait.

I raise my phone as I try to angle the sun together with the stone.

* Click

Guess my job here is done. I sighed. Better return to I don’t know where.

As I was about to walk straight to the forest I early went through.

‘ Mabye I could just stay here with Matthew. It’s getting dark anyway to leave alone. ‘

I sighed again as I sit beside Matthew hugging my knees as I stare at my recent picture.

“ Your new here. “ I hear Matthew whisper, I turn to him to see he’s still engrossed with his drawing.

I shrug. “ Yeah, with my aunt. She used to live here together with my dad. “ Wait why am I giving him this information?

Matthew hummed as he nod. “ I see. The place is nothing special but view is pretty nice. “

‘ Okay whether Aunt is lying to me or that’s just his personality. ‘ Well whatever, Matthew seems like a cool guy.

I should talk more, being a coward isn’t gonna solve this. This trip is my chance to be liked.

“ So.. do you have other hobbies? “

“ Not really. “

“ O-Ok.. um How about favorite food? “

“ I like yogurt. “

I blink. This isn’t going anywhere I mean it is but it’s too slow. Let’s proceed faster.

“ Well my hobby is making novels, my favorite food is meat basically bacon mainly and well.. “ It’s hard, I feel like I’m talking to thin air.

“ Don’t have to talk if you don’t feel like it. “

‘ Huh? ‘ Ey, Matthew is now looking up.

“ If you keep insisting yourself for others then the atmosphere around you will make you feel eaten up. “

‘ Well good to know he’s caring. ‘ Mabye this Guy could be my- nah that Guy from earlier in Mcdonald’s is more my type. I’ll wait for him to finish.

As the sky turned dim, Matthew finally stands up and place his stuff in his bag. “ I can’t see clearly here anymore. “

I blinked out of my daze and stand up. “ I’ll be coming with you! “

Matthew didn’t answer but it didn’t stop me to close myself beside him. Damn, the trees around us sure is scary in the dark.

As we started to walk through, I can’t help myself but cling into Matthew. “ Sorry, I’m not used to outdoor stuff.. “ I said as I shiver a bit from the cricket noise sounding around us.

———————-

* Crunch Crunch

The sound repeats as we walk around. ‘ Does this Boy know the way? Seriously, I believe that we’re walking in circles.. ‘

Suddenly I noticed a glowing light infront of us. As I squinted I find out it’s a lampost. So we must be near.

I quickly move away from Matthew’s side as I sprinted across the path.

“ -!!! “ I accidently step trip on myself as I ran. I grunted to the ground.

I hear rustling from behind me. I turn to see Matthew walking to me. ‘ Ah- so embarrassing.. ‘

As I silently lament in shame, I feel being pulled up by my waist. Then to my arm.

“ I’ll walk you to infirmary. “

I shake my head. “ Is there an office, let’s go there. “ Surely Aunt would be there looking for me.

As we position ourselves properly with him still supporting me, we walk. “ H-Hey I’m fine, let go. “

The Boy didn’t listen he kept walking while holding my arm tight above his shoulders. I shame fully place my head on his shoulder. “ Thanks for the company I guess. “

I hear him grunt softly as saying ‘ Your welcome ‘.