NOT OVER YET

Thursday, 18th July, 2013.

"Goodness gracious, you're still in bed!" Audrey gasped dramatically, glancing over at the one and only frame in the room, which was a wall clock showing 7:15am. "The kids are having breakfast downstairs, and you are here sleeping... It's already 7:15am for goodness sake, Grace!" She grumbled at her niece, pushing open the windows to let the morning sunlight flood the small room.

Grace pulled up the comforter, shielding her eyes from the blinding sun rays. "I am not going anywhere today, Aunt," she declared, shifting to the left to continue sleeping. However, her comforter was swiftly pulled away from her.

"Get out of bed, you lazy bone!" Audrey persisted, tugging at the covers until Grace's sky blue cotton nightgown was exposed. With her caramel messy hair and pale skin, Grace possessed an ethereal quality.

In a lazy tone, Grace mumbled, "Aunt, please just give me a moment. I'm not a kid; you don't have to force me to go to school. I'm turning eightee—"

"—but you're not yet eighteen," Audrey interjected with a glare. "You're still seventeen, Grace. So don't try to lecture me on how I should and shouldn't treat you. Until you're twenty, you will not be considered an adult in this household."

Grace managed to drag herself out of bed. "I'm up..." She groaned heavily and reluctantly made her way to the bathroom.

With Grace out of bed, Audrey left the room and hurried downstairs to check on the kids.

Later at school, Grace entered the library with quiet footsteps.

Coming up behind her best friend Nova, Grace leaned close and emitted a low, guttural sound, startling Nova to the point of almost leaping out of her chair.

"...calm down, calm down, it's me," Grace said softly, stifling a laugh after startling her friend. She noticed a few students shooting them annoyed looks for causing a scene in the library.

"Calm down my foot!" Nova retorted, clearly irritated. "You're going to be the death of me if you keep doing this. Anyway, you're lucky we're friends." Despite her nagging, Nova eventually shrugged and laughed along with Grace.

Both girls were the same age, seventeen, but Grace was taller.

Moving away from the library quietly, they headed to the cafeteria for a snack. Unbeknownst to them, the bell rang to signal the end of the break. Engrossed in their conversation about school and graduation, they didn't notice the time.

"I won't miss this school after graduation," Nova commented. Grace nodded sympathetically. Nova continued, "Oh, by the way, I left your book at home again. Remind me to bring it tomorrow."

"You can keep it. It's just a novel."

"But it's your favorite novel," Nova insisted. "I'll return it tomorrow."

"Students!" A booming voice interrupted the girls, causing them to turn and see Mr. Thompson, the strict Discipline Master of the Academy.

Without hesitation, the girls darted away, fully aware they weren't supposed to be in the hallway after the break.