The Never-ending Book

== Please Don't Copy ==
Please don't copy anything in this story without crediting the author.
Thank you!
== The Author's Note ==
Hello! 
I'm Ella/PrincessPurryFins(Fins). 
If you want, I wrote another story: Princess, and a fanfic Hidden Realms( where I was a co-author), plus a side story for Hidden Realms, which you'll find here: Hidden Realms: Short stories page. 
Anyways, back to the story at hand. This story is super short, but forever in the works. Please enjoy The Never-ending Book! 
Thanks for reading! 
-Ella 
 
== 13 ==
September, 26, Monday, 2022, 7:24 AM
13.
13 years old.
Isn't 13 an unlucky number?
If it wasn't before it is now.
This was something along the lines of what I thought.
I've only been 13 for a month. 
Just a month.
And yet, ever since I turned 13, I've had nothing but bad luck.
It all started on my birthday. My life was perfect, my parents had been planning a secret party for me. All my friends, and my aunt came to the party. I was happy. For one day. The next day my parents had a fight. I should have noticed how strange they were acting on my birthday. Only two weeks later, a divorce. Here I am now, writing this all down. My dad has custody, my mom lives in Los Angeles. And me? I'm lost. Alone. Despaired.
***
"Amelia!" My best friend Eshaal runs up to me in the hall at school. "I'm so happy to see you!"
"Hi," I say, trying to be cheerful for Eshaal's sake.
"How was your birthday?" Eshaal asks. "I wish I could've been there!"
Then her brown eyes lock with mine. "What's the matter?"
"My parents-" My lip quivers. I tell myself to not cry. My parents are adults they can handle it. Their divorce is their problem not mine. It still hurts.
Eshaal grabs my shoulders and looks me in the eye. "What happened?"
"Divorce," Is all I can manage. 
"Oh," Eshaal blinks, stunned, then recovers and wraps me in a hug. "It's okay," She tells me.
I try to believe her. "Thanks," I choke-whisper. 
Eshaal pats me on the back. "If you need anything-If there's any way I can help-"
"Thank you," 
She nods and gently pushes me back to examine me. "I don't know what your dealing with, but I'll do my best to understand what your feeling."
I give her a shy smile, I have no idea what I'd do without her.
== Lies ==
October, 1, Friday, 2022, 5: 03 PM
Dad got hung up at work. Again. So this means I'll be by myself tonight. 
I don't care. I tell myself. 
But the truth is, I do.
Me and dad were never close. I try again.
But the truth is, we are.
Dad never used to be at work all the time. Him and mom both had jobs and managed to keep us afloat. But now... 
Don't think about it. I command myself. It doesn't matter, at all. 
Once again, I'm lying. It does. 
*** 
I'm in a calm forest, meditating on a large rock. There's a gentle breeze and everything is calm, and quiet. 
What am I doing here? 
I try to remember how I ended up here, but nothing comes to mind. 
I sigh. 
Then there's a crashing sound. A huge monster with brown fur, and beady eyes, appears behind me. 
I scream. 
Well, I try, but no sound comes out. 
I'm up and running, dirt flying under my sneakers. My hair clings to my face in sweaty clumps. 
The monster appears in front of me. 
I silently scream again. 
It reaches a hand down, claws barred, ready to strike. 
Then everything goes black. 
*** 
I wake up, panting, and sweaty. 
It was just a dream. 
My heart still beats loudly, ringing in my ears. 
I'll be fine. Everything will be okay.
More lies.... 
== Library ==
October, 2, Saturday, 2022, 7:36 AM.
I roll to my side with a groan. 
It's Saturday, and I'm reconsidering my agreement to go to the library with Eshaal. However, I know I can't let my friend down. 
After getting changed, I ride my bike to Eshaal's house, her mom will drive us to the library. 
"Hi, Amelia." Eshaal answers the door when I knock. She turns around and shouts into the house. "Mom! Amelia's here!"
Eshaal's mom, Mrs. Hafsa, comes out and has us get in the car.
"Thank you for driving us, Mrs. Hafsa." I tell her. 
"It's no problem." Mrs. Hafsa tells me, and once again I am amazed by how similar she and Eshaal are.
***
Mrs. Hafsa drops us off at the library and says she'll pick us up at one thirty.
We thank her, and Eshaal shows me around the library. Books are Eshaal's life. She takes me to her favorite section: Fiction.
I've never been super interested in books, but Eshaal insists I check out at least one. 
I browse for a while, and Eshaal's stack of books grows taller and taller.
The only interesting looking books I find are a memoir by Patricia McCraw, and A fictional book about time travel.
Finally, Eshaal finds me and says her mom will be here in ten minuets.
We check out and I carry half of Eshaal's books while we make our way to the sidewalk and wait for Mrs. Hafsa.
"So," Eshaal asks me. "Did you like it?"
"Yeah," I tell her. Which is only half true. I did enjoy the quiet, but it was a little boring to me. 
"Why not?" Apparently best friends can see through fake smiles.
"It's just not really..." I try to find the right way to describe it. 
Eshaal smiles. 
I'm glad she's not hurt.
"You'll like it and be begging me to go with you again once you read those," She gestures to the books I'm holding.
I'm not so sure. But I don't tell her that. 
"Come on," Eshaal pulls me into the parking lot. "The car's over here."
Mrs. Hafsa drives us back, to Eshaal's house. 
During the next hour Eshaal and I worked on art. I'm told I have a talent for it. And Eshaal claims she's horrible, she's not really that bad. 
And yet, for the first time in a few weeks, I actually felt happy.
== News ==
October 6, Thursday, 2022, 7:20 pm. 
I sigh and drop my phone on the bed. Dad just texted. He’s hung up at work so I’ll be alone tonight. I consider making dinner but I’m too tired. So instead I sit on my bed and stare into space. 
My phone rings. I pick it up and read the name.
Mom.
”Honey?” 
I swallow. "Hey Mom."
"Oh, hi. Listen, I have good news-"
"What type of good news?" I ask, icily. "Good news for me? Or good news for you?" 
There's a silence.
I wince. I remember I need to keep my feelings to myself. 
It's their divorce, I remind myself. I don't need to be involved.
"I'm sorry," My mom says. "It's...It's good news for you, you'll be happier this way-"
"Mom?" I interrupt, feeling a bit worried. "What's happening?"
My mom's voice softens. "I'm moving again,"
"But-"
"It's okay, I'll be moving to England in a month."
I taste something sour. 
Happier this way?
How can mom even think that?
But then I realize. 
"Mom," I say, quietly. 'You shouldn't-"
I can hear my mom shaking her head. "No, Melia, it's okay." Her voice quieted even more. "It's better, this way."
"Mom-" I start. 
"Goodbye," My mom says. I can hear her sniffling. "I love you, Amelia."
"I love you too," I whisper.
And then she's gone.
== The Book ==
October 7, Friday, 2022, 7:20 pm.
I wake late the next morning to find myself still fully dressed, still clutching my phone.
Dad’s already left for work. 
I quickly change and go to the kitchen for breakfast, but I can’t eat. I text Eshaal instead and tell her about my mom’s move.
Then I gather my things and wait for the bus. 
I look around at the orange leaves hanging on the trees. Our neighbor, Mrs. Sathman, is walking her poodle. And someone is jogging down the street...Eshaal! She skids to a stop in front of me panting. 
“You okay?” I ask her.
She nods swiping her hair out of her face. “I got your text. I’m so sorry, it must be so hard…” She squeezes my hand.
“Best, best friend, ever,” I tell her.
She smiles back at me.
Just then the bus pulls up and we climb on.
”Did she give you any details?” Eshaal asks me.
I shake my head. “No.”
”Well…” 
I can tell Eshaal’s searching for something reassuring to say.
”it’s okay,” I tell her. 
“You should call her.” Eshaal advises.
”Your right I should.” I agree
We sit in silence for the rest of the ride.
***
"Okay, try more like this," I sketch the face of my character-Kaya-and demonstrate to Eshaal how to draw a person.
"I'm not getting it." Eshaal sighs, she pushes her notebook away. 
"It's-" I start.
"Time for dinner," Eshaal's mom comes through the door. 
"Okay," Eshaal flicks her notebook closed. "Are you staying?" She asks me.
I glance at my watch. "I should probably go, sorry."
"No, it's fine." 
I hug Eshaal. "Bye,"
"Bye," She tells me.
I grab my bag, slid into the kitchen, say goodbye to Mrs. Hafsa, and head out the door. I take a walk down the sidewalk, and not knowing what else to do, stop at my favorite bench. 
I dig through my bag to find something of entertainment, but all I find is the memior I checked out at the library. I flip open the cover, and begin to read....
== Reading/ The Second Try ==
October 8, Saturday, 2022, 5: 45 pm
It was about one in the morning when I finally stopped reading. I had gone home when it started raining, but continued reading on the couch, for another four hours.
The memoir was so relatable. It was about when Patricia McCaw was a young teen. Her parents had a divorce, after years of fighting, and she was left living with her grandmother. I think the story may have been dramatized a little, but it was still amazing, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it ever since.
I think I'm beginning to understand why Eshaal likes reading so much, and I told her as much when I dropped by after breakfast. She was super excited and convinced me to go to the library again with her today. And I've gotta admit, it was actually pretty fun. Eshaal helped me get a library card, and checked out another dozen books. 
How she reads so fast, is something I still have to discover. 
Now, I'm finally home.
I go straight to the kitchen, and grab some food. My phone pings. It's the list of book recommendations Eshaal promised to send me. I scroll through my notifications, there's a missed call, from my mom. With everything me and Eshaal have been doing, I almost forgot about my mom's move. Well I remember now. 
I take Eshaal's advice and call her. 
The phone rings. 
Nothing.
I call three more times, but with the same result.
I'll try again in the morning.
== Bonus, Eshaal's POV: Worry ==
October 8, Saturday, 2022, 5: 56 pm
I'm worried about Amelia. Today I tried to act excited, but I'm still so worried for her. 
I think it's good she's interested in books, but I know why. And- well, honestly, I'm just so confused right now. I don't know what it's like to have divorced parents. And I have no idea how to comfort Amelia right now. 
So far I don't think I'm doing too bad, but Amelia's always been good at hiding her feelings. I wish sometimes she would share them. 
But, maybe all she needs is space.
I'll do my best to give it to her.
== Only A Dream ==
October 10, Monday, 2022, 11: 23 pm
School was a mess today. 
In science, the experiment we were doing went wrong, and somehow set off the fire alarm. Everyone panicked, and by the time everything was figured out, we had to go back home. 
So, Eshaal came over after school, for a sleepover, and we did a Star Wars marathon. 
She fell asleep by the beginning of Return of the Jedi, but I was wide awake, until the last name in the credits of Rise of Skywalker.
"How can you stay awake for that long?" Eshaal had asked when I woke her up. 
I shrugged. "Dunno, but let's get to bed."
Eshaal gets her bag, while I brush my teeth. 
She lugs her pillow, book, flashlight, and blanket into the room. 
"Are you sure you'll be comfortable on that?" I ask, coming into the room.
She nods. "Probably, your carpet's really thick."
I shrug, and pull my hair up into a ponytail. 
Eshaal snuggles under her blanket and turns on her flashlight. 
"Night," I tell her, switching off the lamp. 
"Good night," She replies, opening her book. 
I climb into bed, and almost as soon as my head hits the pillow, I'm asleep.
***
That night I dream I'm a Jedi.
But then my dream turns into another nightmare and I'm chased. 
By what, I do not know.
I wake, my hair plastered to my face with sweat, fear coursing through my heart.
it's only a dream....
== Eight ==
coming eventually!