The Crystal by Jones M (the chimp paradox .txt) 📕

got fired within two months."

I just blinked as I stared at her.

"Girl, chill!" I said while shaking her shoulders. "It will not reflect on our resume or some important document. It was a job that we took as freaking teenagers!"

"We're adults," she countered.

"We are not yet 21 years old or whatever age it will take us to figure the world out." Selena thought of my reply, and then she nodded while wiping the tears off her face.

"Okay. We'll just look for another job," I was going to agree with her statement, but my mind went elsewhere. 

We had three weeks before we went to college. Finding the job as baristas took us about two weeks before we graduated. Who knew when we would find new jobs? And if we were to get jobs, wouldn't it seem like a waste of time?

Selena walked past me, heading towards another room in the castle. I went towards the opposite direction. I needed to do something I had not done in a long while.

Fight training was one of my stress relievers. It engaged the whole body, but there was also another reliever for me.

I got out of the castle through the back entrance. A couple of minutes later, I found myself in the city. Crystalia looked majestic. Tall buildings that resembled those on earth were being constructed at a fast pace. Roads were also being built using magic.

I recalled the last change that occurred in the city. It was about twelve years ago when Erick, Justin and I lost important parental figures in our lives. The Queen had the throne demolished to form the halls. She didn't want the place that reminded her of her husband's death. Instead of rebuilding the throne, she ordered the construction of a large hall.

I walked past the castle, enjoying the view of my surroundings. The morning sun shone brighter than the ever-present stars in the sky. There were a few scattered clouds, providing shades to those who were outside. It was about ten in the morning, which meant I had two hours before I would meet up with Rachel and Selena.

During the last conversation I had with the Ordinary Brothers, we had made a deal. I got tickets to go to their meet-and-greet whereas they expected me to show them around the castle ( even though Selena did that) and explain to them about everything related to witchcraft. Then another thought came to mind.

Why did I accept the tickets when I could ask the boys to sign some stuff to take them to Rachel?

Well, I was doing it for Rachel. At first, I thought of having Rachel meet the boys through me. She was a big fan of them, and so she would scream and ask how I knew them. 

That would be awkward. Also, if I took something signed to her, she would ask where I met the boys and why I didn't take her to meet them. I had no option but to escort her to the meet-and-greet. That way, I would avoid questions about the horrible past I shared with the OBs.

I came to a stop once I reached my destination. It was a two-storey building with brown walls. The doors were wooden and locked. It was a building designated to Justin and the rest of the royal family. Selena, my mother and I could also get in if we wanted. It was where Justin would sometimes come to work on his new songs.

With a flick of a wrist, the door unlocked, creaking slowly as it opened. I pushed it open to enable me to pass through. Once I was in the room, I was met by darkness. I closed and locked the door behind me before clapping my hands. The room was soon illuminated.

It was a large area. The walls were painted olive green with a white ceiling above me. Two white ceiling fans were off. Moreover, the room was filled with musical instruments. 

Further into the room was another wooden door centered in the middle of the wall opposite to the door. It served as a creativity room for songs, but I used it for my privacy.

My other stress reliever was singing, or in my case, karaoke, but without people seeing me. It was a secret hobby of mine. I got to sing and act like I was one of those major musicians without facing judgmental comments from other people. Unfortunately for me, someone found out. One day at work, Rachel heard me sing. She said I was talented, but I didn't believe her. Even though the suggestion of singing in front of the people I knew came to mind, I refused because of fear of embarrassment. Also, I didn't want my talent to be for profit.

 It was a good thing that the area was sound-proof. I cast a magic spell over the instruments while thinking of a song.

♫ Don't try to explain your mind

I know what's happening here

One minute it's love and suddenly

It's like a battlefield

One word turns into war

Why is it the smallest things that tear us down

My world's nothing when you're gone

I'm out here without a shield

Can't go back now

Both hands tied behind my back for nothing

Oh, no

These times when we climb so fast to fall again

Why we gotta fall for it now

I never meant to start a war

You know I never wanna hurt you

Don't even know what we're fighting for

Why does love always feel like ...

a battlefield (oh, oh)

a battlefield (oh, oh)

a battlefield (oh, oh)

Why does love always feel like ...

a battlefield (oh, oh)

a battlefield (oh, oh)

a battlefield (oh, oh)

Why does love always feel like

Can't swallow our pride,

Neither of us wanna raise that flag

(mmhm)

If we can't surrender then we both gonna lose what we had

Oh no

Both hands tied behind my back for nothing

(nothing)

Oh no,

These times when we climb so fast to fall again

I don't wanna fall for it now

I never meant to start a war

You know I never wanna hurt you

Don't even know what we're fighting for

Why does love always feel like ...

a battlefield (oh, oh)

a battlefield (oh, oh)

a battlefield (oh, oh)

Why does love always feel like ...

a battlefield (oh, oh)

a battlefield (oh, oh)

a battlefield (oh, oh)

I guess you better go and get your armor
(get your armor)

Get your armor (get your armor)
I guess you better go and get your armor
(get your armor)
Get your armor (get your armor)
I guess you better go and get your

We could pretend that we are friends tonight

And in the morning we'll wake up and we'll be alright

Cause baby we don't have to fight

And I don't want this love to feel like

A battlefield (oh), a battlefield (oh), a battlefield,

Why does love always feel like a battlefield (oh),

A battlefield (oh), a battlefield

I guess you better go and get your armor

I never meant to start a war

(Start a war)

You know I never wanna hurt you

Don't even know what we're fighting for

(fighting, fighting for)

Why does love always feel like ...

a battlefield (oh, oh)

a battlefield (oh, oh)

a battlefield (oh, oh)

Why does love always feel like ...

a battlefield (oh, oh)

a battlefield (oh, oh)

a battlefield (oh, oh)

I guess you better go and get your armor
(get your armor)
Get your armor (get your armor)
I guess you better go and get your armor
(get your armor)
Get your armor (get your armor)

Why does love always feel like
(whoa ooow)
Why does love always feel like
(whoa ooow)
A battlefield, a battlefield..

I never meant, to start a war

Don't even know, what we're fighting for

I never meant, to start a war

Don't even know, what we're fighting for
(whoa ooow) ♫

My mind seemed to have been cleared once the music stopped. That was until I remembered I had to get ready for the meet-and-greet with Selena and Rachel in the afternoon.

***********************************************************************************************

Ethan's P.O.V

"Guys! We have to get ready soon. We have a meet-and-greet with our fans today, remember?" Liam announced as a way of waking all of us up. Sometimes I envied how he was able to wake up all energetic as if we did not have five hours of sleep. Nonetheless, he was like a father figure to the boys and me. He was responsible, and he knew what to do when something went wrong.

I groaned, bringing the sheets over my head. The guys and I were on our tour bus and on our way to New York where the meet-and-greet would be held. It seemed a bit unfair to other cities because we had been performing in New York weeks ago and then we were going back there.

"Come on, guys! Get up!" Liam shouted, making all of us groan in our beds.

"It's 4 in the morning, Liam," Zane said with his voice muffled by his pillow.

"It's 8 o'clock," Liam deadpanned. My eyes quickly opened. In an instant, the rest of us got up and started preparing ourselves.

"Trevor said we'll be stopping at a hotel. We'll properly get ready for the meet-and-greet and do it there," Liam informed us.

"Where's my toothbrush?" Logan asked, his eyes half open and his eyebrows furrowed. He still looked sleepy.

Harry passed by him and handed him his toothbrush.

"Did you guys hear of the plans that the witches—"

"Ssh!" four of us shouted at Harry. Harry's eyes widened in shock as he clasped a hand over his mouth.

"Do you think anyone heard?" I whispered to them. We remained silent for about ten seconds before we all sighed in relief.

"Thank God," Logan said. Liam gave Harry a disapproving look, and the latter winced.

"Sorry, guys," Harry apologized. "I forgot we were on a tour bus and not at a hotel."

"As I was asking, did you hear the plans?" Harry continued.

"Yes, we did," Logan replied. "They'll be going to Eva's castle or something to deal with the erboons."

"Guys, have you forgotten something?" Harry asked. We stared at him, answering his question with puzzled looks. Harry sighed.

"You all know that Emery is a crystal. Do you understand where I'm going with this?"

It all clicked immediately. Emery was a powerful witch, and there was no doubt she would be sent to deal with the erboons. What if she was going alone? What if she died there?

"The Queen said that she would be going with some guards tomorrow. There is nothing to worry about," Liam eased our concerns.

"What Queen?" Trevor asked as he entered our view, making all of us stand still in hidden shock. The boys and I shared looks.

"We were talking about the Queen of England and how we would like to visit her someday," Logan said, earning a nudge from Harry. Trevor stared at us weirdly.

"Okay," he stretched the word, finding it hard to believe what Logan said.

"We're twenty minutes from the hotel. I hope you are all ready for this. I also got word that your fans are outside the hotel, waiting for your arrival."

Oh crap.

"We're currently making plans with management on how you'll enter the hotel without being spotted," Trevor said as he exited the small compartment in the bus. He probably went to the bus driver to sit beside him.

The boys and I went to get ready for the day. We could only brush our teeth and change our clothes because the bus did not have a shower.

We arrived five minutes earlier than expected, but we had already gotten dressed.

Trevor was in front of us, holding onto the door's handle.

"Remember, stick close to me. We'll be moving quickly so that your fans don't notice you."

We all nodded our heads before he opened the door. We were staring at the back entrance of the hotel. Our dedicated fans were at the front, waiting for our arrival.

"Go! Go! Go!" Trevor shouted at us in a whisper. We took off like cars in a race. Once we entered the hotel, a butler closed the door behind us. The boys and I sighed in relief, glad that our fans forgot to check the back entrance.

"Hello. I'm Pete, and I'll direct you to your room," the butler said. He proceeded to walk towards an elevator with us following him.

Emery's P.O.V

"I can't believe I agreed to do this," I said with a bored look. That did not affect Selena and Rachel. They shrieked, ignoring my statement.

"Cheer up, Emery," Rachel said. "This is by far the best thing you've ever done for me."

I looked up at the sky.

Why me?

Remember the erboon incident? And the debt I owed Rachel for trying to cover my shift at my last job? Well, Selena received the three tickets to go to the Ordinary Brothers' meet-and-greet. I was hoping they had forgotten, but they hadn't. It turned out that they had given the tickets to Selena. She had Rachel and me join her. 

In short, the meet-and-greet was how we were paying Rachel for covering for our shifts at our first job.

We were in New York, standing in line with other fans of the Ordinary Brothers. Most of them were girls. The environment was filled with screaming sounds and chatters all around. At certain intervals, there would be girls that would scream "I SEE THEM!" Everyone, including me, would turn to search for them with our eyes. Then it would turn out that it was not them. It had already happened five times, and it was starting to get on my nerves.

"I SEE THEM!" a girl happened to scream, sending others into fits of screams.

If it was another false announcement...

I placed my hands over my ears, trying to block out the noise. Selena and Rachel looked at me before sharing knowing looks, and they too started to scream. I narrowed my eyes at them, giving them the best glare I could form.

"Hello everyone!" Logan shouted, eliciting more screams from his fans. Covering my ears was becoming tasking. My arms hurt for staying in that position. I shrugged my shoulders with an 'eh'