/Chapter One/

"You will hear thunder and remember me, and think: She wanted storms."

-Anna Akhmatova


/TILLY/

They want you to love the entire world. Even the corruption it holds, how is that possible? It's easy really. From the very moment you are brought into the world, you're brainwashed to believe that the world is a great place to live but that's not true. The truth is there's nothing good about this life. That's an easy way of putting it. Even if I were living a good life the world is still corrupted. The poor are hungry and tired, adults are ruining the children, children are looking to celebrities as influences to change the beauty that they have. Life is like an empty glass, full of air but not full of living. We live just to die and I stand by that.

I am whole and I deserve to enjoy the light that shines down on the earth from time to time. WE Matter. We need to be heard, we may not be able to be saved but we will be heard.

X

Tilly Paez could hear faint barking in the distance. She groaned squeezing her eyes a bit tighter shifting her legs underneath her as she remained resting. She could only rest up for a few seconds before cracking her eyes open and reached out for the clock on the small night stand beside her bed. 11:04 A.M. Tilly's brown eyes widened at that, she shoved her comforters back swinging her legs around to rest against the wooden floor. With a rub of her eyes Tilly found herself shocked that she had slept that late, over the past year she hasn't received nearly as much sleep until now.

The sixteen year old moved over to the steps that led from the loft down to the main entrance of the cabin that she now made her home. Tilly spotted her Australian Shepherd whining at the front door and ran her right hand through his multi-colored fur then patted his head, "I'm over slept didn't I boy? I hope you didn't leave any pee around the house."

Atticus let out a low growl earning a small laugh from Tilly who quickly reached up to unlock the front doors letting Atticus run out free. Tilly watched as Atticus moved about on the front porch before heading down the steps. Tilly had him trained to not stray too far away from the house unless she were with him. She left the front door open just a crack before heading pass the stairs to the kitchen. Tilly searched the pantry first scooping up a good portion of food to toss into Atticus' food bowl and filled up his water bowl with tap water. After washing her hands she checked that it was now 11:15 and decided that she would eat an early lunch now since she didn't have much breakfast foods left around the cabin.

Tilly pulled the last box of rice from her pantry. She began to rinse her rice after placing it into a strainer, then measured the grain and water, boiled her water, added the rice, salt and butter, and covered the pot. As she did this she went back over to the front entrance of the house and used her fingers to whistle out for Atticus watching as he jumped up the steps panting as he made his way inside. Tilly glanced out into the sun breathing in the air before closing the door shut locking it immediately after. Tilly tended to cooking her lunch and placed it onto a plate then stood in the narrow kitchen turning to Atticus, "Eat."

Atticus immediately turned to his bowl drinking his water before eating his food. Tilly had spent a lot of time with her father training Atticus since he were a puppy. Chino Paez had brought the dog home on Tilly's ninth birthday making his little girl extremely happy. Tilly would never forget the day that her father tricked her thinking she were getting another doll house but Atticus had become her best friend...her only friend. Tilly didn't have many friends growing up, she remembered the one friend she did. Her name was Juliana and she had really long hair like Tilly had when she was younger. Juliana was a little quiet opposed to Tilly who was loud and outspoken the two just clicked. Before the rangatiratanga took over there were rumors flying around that things were going to change and Juliana took the first plane out of here while Tilly's parents decided to stay. Juliana's parents tried to persuade her family to leave but her parents would not leave their home. If someone wanted to run them out of town then they would have try hard. The rangatiratanga won. They should have went, matter of fact they should have gave Juliana's parents the okay to take Tilly with them when they offered but my parents refused.

Tilly checked the time again after washing her dish to see that it was 11:42 and made her way in the bathroom with Atticus following. Atticus stopped in front of the door and turned to face the main entrance resting on his belly with his chin resting on his hands. Tilly closed the bathroom door and got herself reading for the day. She left her bathroom in a towel heading up the stairs to her loft to go through the clothes she had against the open rack for this season. The months that were like winter in some places were like summers here in Te Raorao o Te Hara Huna. The clothes that Tilly managed to get from her old home before the fire were stuffed underneath the floor boards in the house. Tilly pulled on a tan short sleeve shirt with a light pink zip up hoodie over it and dark denim shorts with a large black belt and sneakers. Tilly turned to her bed and reached underneath her bed for her laptop. As she waited for her computer to boot she drunk from the jug of water to make sure she were hydrated for the day. Tilly got to work on hacking, finding the locations where brain suckers were and how to avoid them. Juliana taught how the trips to hacking at thirteen, it was true what they say about the quiet ones.

Tilly memorized the areas where the brain suckers were before erasing her history and placing her computer into her backpack. After shoving on some sneakers she placed her computer onto her back jogging down the steps to Atticus who had his face up towards her. "You ready to go boy?"

Tilly opened the door to her home waiting for Atticus to head out first. Tilly turned to the panel by her window and set up the system where if the brain suckers arrived to her house she would be aware and had plains to trap them. She needed to get to the rangatiratanga to figure out how to reserve the damage done to her parents, to her people if there were one and to put a stop to them.

The alarm beeped a total of three times signaling that the alarm was set and left her home on a journey she knew all too well.

/FARKLE/

Farkle sat in his normal spot behind Riley as Mr. Matthews made his way to the front of the classroom. Farkle tried not to get his hopes up as he saw nothing written on the board which was a bit strange coming from his favorite teacher. He sat up straight wondering if this was the day that Mr. Matthews would finally talk about what happened in Belgium 1831 but tried to keep his hopes down.

"I want to know how much do you know about the world." Mr. Matthews started his lesson.

Riley frowned, "Dad don't you think that's a little vague?"

She had sadly gotten used to her father being her teacher yet again. The man had became their teacher from middle school all the way up to High School just like Feeny but a part of her hoped that once High School was over that she would get the freedom that she needed when she went to college. Now don't get Riley wrong, everyone knew the girl loved her father it's just she saw him at home and at school the girl had to get tired of seeing the man sometimes.

"Exactly. How much do you think you know about the world?" Mr. Matthews questioned, pointing at his doctor then folding his hands together.

"Riley...do you have any idea where he's going with this?" Maya asked, resting her cheek into the palm of her hand while her elbow resting against the edge of her chair.

Riley shook her head.

"Sir can you provide us with a little more detail about where this lesson is taking us?" Lucas spoke, eyeing his teacher with complete confusion as well.

Mr. Matthews smiled and turned to circle his desk to stand in front of the chalkboard. Farkle watched carefully as Mr. Matthews picked up the piece of chalk drawing a large circle on the center of the board. He then turned to his students with the chalk still between his fingers, "How many people are on this planet?"

Farkle raised his hand which Mr. Matthews nodded his head for an answer, "7.3 billion people."

"Good. Now how many have you ever thought about how different their lives maybe from yours?" Mr. Matthews continued writing 7.3. Billion on the center of the circle.

Riley glanced around, "Whenever I watch the news with you and mom there's always something bad happening on the other side. I don't like hearing about that happening to other people."

Farkle smiled at the back of Riley's head. Even if she didn't know those people she still felt like she needed to help them.

"Have you ever thought about why that bothers you, Riley?"

Riley stared down at her desk before meeting the eyes she shared, "I don't like the fact that I can't help them. That I can't be there to make it better."

"That's Riley Matthews. Wanting to save the world." Maya flipped her hair smiling over at Riley who returned the smile before they both turned back to Mr. Matthews.

"Sometimes it's not always about saving. It's about helping."

"What do you mean by that?" Farkle wondered.

"Yeah, what's the difference sir?" Lucas added.

Mr. Matthews smiled once more which is something his students seen plenty of times. That was his, 'I have an idea' smile. Mr. Matthews placed his chalk back where it belonged then faced his students, "That's what I want you guys to tell me. We are coming to the end of October and November is next. Which means Thanksgiving-"

"Which means Lots of Turkey legs." Maya pointed out.

"Yes Maya, lots of that," Mr. Matthews stated before moving on, "Your next assignment is to tell me the difference between saving and helping. I have a list of other children about your age on different sides of the world who are going to be your new pen pals for the next few weeks."

Riley clapped her hands excitedly, "This maybe the best lesson yet dad."

"Not so fast Riley. Now remember these kids that you're going to be writing to don't live easy lives. They may live in what seems like a pretty country or state but that's the things the news doesn't show. I want you guys to write to them, to hear there stories and for you to tell them yours in return. You will figure out the difference between saving and helping." Mr. Matthews stated.

Farkle raised his hand again, "Do we get to pick our pen pals? Are we allowed to send them things? Maybe even visit?"

Mr. Matthews laughed a bit, "Hold on Farkle. Let's just get through writing your letter first, also to answer your question I have picked your pen pals."

Some of the class groaned which caused Mr. Matthews to frown in return, "Hey! I know each and every one of you weasels well! I did my best of matching you up with the students and I think most of you will thank me for this experience."

"Quit your yappin' and hand out the papers man!" Zay ordered waking up from his nap.

"Glad to see that you've joined the party, Mr. Babineaux." Mr. Matthews sighed starting from the left row and finally made it to the second row.

Mr. Matthews handled Riley her sheet of paper before moving to Farkle. He held out a piece of paper which Farkle gladly took. He thought positive of this assignment as his eyes scanned over the paper. His pen pal resided in New Zealand and he chatted with Zay, Lucas, Riley, and Maya about who they received while Mr. Matthews regrouped the class together to tell the do and don'ts of what to say in their letters. By the next time they meet they should have their letter finished and ready to be mailed off.

Farkle could hardly wait until he got home. While hanging out with his friends his thoughts went wild thinking of all the things he could share with someone on the other side of the globe. When he made it home he asked his parents over dinner if they ever been to New Zealand and did some research after dinner to get a well enough visual of what the place truly looked like. As Farkle sat at his desk he pulled out a piece of paper and a gel ballpoint pen tapping the pen against his chin a bit on how to start it out.

Farkle hunched over the piece of printer paper and began:

Hello New Zealand Lady!

My names Farkle Minkus...


A/N: Millions Of Amelias - Thank you so much for your words of kindness! Thank you to hadrianlopez1 for following and adding this story to your favorites. I hope you both continue to stick with me through this story.

Have a Happy Gobble Gobble Day ;]