Authors Note: Another uneventful chapter. Despite, being quite slow-paced, more elements to the story will unravel in upcoming chapters as planned. Promise.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Charmaine gets up from her beach chair and sprints to Gel – her curls bouncing behind her. She then reaches Gel to give her a hug.

Charmaine: Gel? I haven't seen you for ages! How have you been?

Gel: Charm, how are you? I really missed you and all of the others. How are the others?

Charm: I haven't seen them for ages. I'm so glad we finally meet each other. It's been so long! You've sure grown and look gorgeous now.

Gel: You too! I love your hair- it's grown so pretty. And your-

Darryl: Hey, hey what are you all talking about? I'm kinda lost.

Gel: We're from the Modes silly. And like all Modes, Charm here, is like my sister.

Darryl: So she's your sister? You don't look at all alike.

Gel: No silly, she's not my real sister. If she was, then I'd have a lot of real sisters. We're great friends though.

Charm [gazing at Sammy and Darryl]: So how did you end up banding with this bunch of losers?

Gel: They're not that bad. Here's Semmy, he may look a little geeky, but he's a great friend once you get to know him.

Sammy smiles a bit.

And there's Darryl.

Charm: Hi Mallrats, so Gel, what happened after everything happened? And how did you end up here?

Gel: Long story, but it all started when -

Lori: Sounds like a sweet, sweet reunion but really it seems that you've forgotten something important.

Charm: Leave it, Lori. This is important. Take the extras. I have to talk to Gel- big time. We need lots of catching up to do.

Lori: Charmaine, you could always leave this chatting later. It seems like we already decided to have three jobs ready for three people. Leave your talk after your friend has finished her task, sounds about right?

Charm: Just this moment Lori, please. So Gel, I can't believe I'll see you here. Any recent love interests? Though I think you'd hardly find any in a bunch of geeks.

Gel: Well there was one… Lix…but I'm over with him.

Sammy and Darryl beam.

Charm: Oh him! He was one of them who came to ask us for permission for the resort. I never knew he was your type, Gel.

Gel: Things change don't they? Anyway Lix turned out to be not-so-great in the end.

Lori: Fine you two, I'll give you ten minutes.

Charm: Fine. But I soon we might welcome a new member of our tribe.

Lori: We shall see.

-x-

Amber: What a mess! Looks like a stampede. Come on everyone let's clean this place up.

Everyone looks blankly at Amber.

Amber: Well?

More pauses.

Ellie: How about we do it after we eat?

Amber: And the next thing you tell me is that you want to clean up after lunch hey? You know what I'm drawing a roster. No-one's going to escape any work.

Ebony: Well don't you see the absence of our fellow friends?

Amber: What do you mean, Ebony?

Ebony: The Three Musketeers – Sammy, Darryl and Gel. Don't see them here cleaning our resort.

Amber: Ebony, there's no time to act all childish like that! You know that they're out there working for Lori. Who knows, they could be doing double the amount we do!

Lex: Lori. I wonder if she is going to send us more of those baskets. You also wonder why she is so generous all of a sudden. I think she likes me.

Ellie: Oh please.

-x-

Gel reclines on the banana chair rapidly chatting to Charm. Sammy and Darryl are nearby, sweeping the ground.

Sammy: Girls.

Darryl: Tell me about it. They relax and we do all the work.

Sammy: So… D-did you ever have a crush on one?

Darryl [looking at Gel]: Yeah. A few times – but they never wanted to talk to me.

Sammy: I-I know right! Most of me and Gel's conversations involve Gel bossing me around.

Lori: Times up Gel! Now get to work.

Gel: Eurgh. Bye for now, Charm. We'll talk later. Ciao. [she blows a kiss]

-x-

Lex and Noah are out in the boat catching fish whilst Trudy, Brady, Salene, May and Lottie playing catch in the beach. Near them, underneath the shade of palm trees sits Ebony and Slade.

Ebony: Slade, you know what. This island could do with a change.

Slade:What?

Ebony:Look at what has become of us. We're reduced to some tired, old couple being pushed by leaders who don't even know what they're saying. Aren't you tired of Amber and Jay always being the boss?

Slade: It seems like you are suggesting something.

Ebony [smiling]: Well maybe I am.

Slade: I don't have a boss, but I see what you mean. So what do you suggest?

Ebony: I suggest we go… find some place of our own and start fresh. If we could find a place like this so quick, there's bound to be better places out there.

Slade: Didn't see that one coming.

Ebony: So what do you suggest? I don't want to spend my whole life here, being puppet to Ken and Barbie. There's heaps of golden opportunities and we're here letting them rot. Think about it Slade, we can do it together. Pack our bags and leave.

So. Will that be a yes or a no?

Slade: Hm. We'll see.

-x-

Jack is checking the computer in his room.

Ellie: Jack! Are you listening?

Jack: Oh. Oh. Ellie. What's up?

Ellie: Jack. Can't you just do something that is much more interesting than that computer?

Jack [smiles]: What. Like continuing the Amulet?

Ellie: What are we to write anyway?I was thinking about maybe a tennis match.

Jack [smiles]: Then tennis match it is.

-x-

Sammy, Gel and Darryl are still working. Gel is at the entrance raking the scattered leaves while Sammy and Darryl are wiping dust off the beach tables. Darryl, bored, talks to Sammy. Charm comes holding two glasses of tropical fruit juice. Gel drops her rake and they goes into a deep conversation with Charm. From the distance, Sammy and Darryl hear them giggling.

Darryl: Gee, I hate this place.

Sammy: M-me too. Making us work.

Darryl: And that girl Charmaine, or Charm, whatever she calls herself. What's with her and all that?

Sammy: I dunno. She's friends with Gel though.

Darryl: That's the point! She's totally changed Gel.

Sammy: W-well, I don't see any change. Gel's always been like that. M-maybe less – chatty. And I've been friends with her longer than you have so I should know!

Darryl [grumbling]: Whatever.

Gel struts over to Sammy and Darryl like a flamboyant flamingo as she sparkles a smile. Charm is nearby.

Gel: Semmy, would you be so kind to help me do my chores?

Sammy: Um… I thought Lori said that you had to do the raking. S-sorry…

Gel: Semmy! She doesn't have teh know.

Sammy [shrugs]: She might find out.

Charm: And how would you know, kid? You don't know Lori at all.

Darryl: Fine. I will do your portion for you.

Gel smiles.

Gel: Well good to know that there's some genteelmen here. Me and Charm are off back to the resort.

Gel hands the rake to Darryl.

Darryl: Hey!

Gel: What?

Darryl: You scratched me! Your nails. They're sharp – like a cat's. Can't you have them shorter?

Gel: No can do, Darryl. Come on Charm. Let's get outta here.

-x-

Trudy and Brady, Salene and May are sitting on some seats of what had once probably been a theatre.

May: I can't believe we're all here, bored and doing nothing. Time passes so slowly, it's like watching paint dry all day long. Nothing exciting, nothing interesting – nothing to do except breathe, live, grow old and complain like a spoilt child. We've got a whole resort here, but look at us.

Salene: It's hard not to complain. Back at the city, there was always something to think about. Something to do and something going on. Now it seems… strangely peaceful.

Trudy: I know, but here it is safe. We don't have to worry about anything. We can let time pass. It's a place where I can finally let loose and be free, raise Brady. I can see myself and my daughter living here for the rest of our lives. We don't have to worry about the Locos, the Chosen, the Technos… Lori's tribe seems fine.

Salene: That is definitely good, with no crazies out to get your back. I just miss the city, the mall. I know that deep in me, I don't belong in this place. Though least we've all got each other.

Trudy: Yes, the Mallrats. You probably all know, but all this time after the Virus and even before, I was always afraid, you know insecure. I settled in the Mall, everything was almost right, except there's always something and it was not safe. Now I'm in a safe place where me and Brady can finally breathe. We can remember all the good memories of our time at the Mall, Salene, but there's always those bad ones, and we should be grateful for what we have now.

-x-

Ellie and Jack are at the tennis court.

Jack: Since when were you good at tennis?

Ellie: Since you first started using the computer. No really – I'm not that good. It's just you, Jack. I think we should schedule more practice session.

Jack: Oh, well. I never really had a knack for sports. Science and computers were my thing. That's why I've got you El. You're the best girlfriend ever and I'm lucky to have you.

Ellie: You're sweet, Jack.

They kiss.

Ellie [grabbing her racquet]: Another match?

Jack: Nahh.. Let's call it for the day.

Ellie and Jack are departing the tennis court.

Ellie: Hey Ruby's there.

Then Ebony passes with a smug look on her face. She smirks at Ruby who is sitting under the shade of a tree and playing patience with a pack of cards. There is a sinister atmosphere between them both.

Jack: And Ebony.

Jack and Ellie move to a nearby bush to see what is happening.

Ruby: I never classified you as someone who would run away, Ebony. In that wild dream of yours, oh, leaving with your prince charming Slade. I'm surprised you've got some imagination in that pea-sized brain of yours.

Ebony [fuming up]: What did you call me? Were you stalking me? Spying on me? Or was it at Slade?

Ruby: You know what, I'd rather you leave. Just don't take Slade with you. I still have to tell him about-

Ebony: If you oh so insist to. Fight me, princess. You did it once and got lucky, but this time, once I'm done with you, not even a beast will love you.

Ebony picks up a nearby rock and chucks it at Ruby hitting straight at her chest.

Ebony: Too bad that missed your face, darling.

Ruby fumes up as she grabs the same rock only to miss Ebony.

Ebony: Haven't you learnt that you can't mess with a tigeress?

Ruby laughs.

Ruby: Kill me. I don't care. You should- everyone would know you did it.

Ebony strikes swiping Ruby who tries to grab her arms.

Ebony: I don't intend to kill you dear. Just mess up that pretty face of yours.

Jack and Ellie sprint towards them.

Jack: ENOUGH! This is just crazy!

Jack and Ellie try to restrain them. Ebony shoves Jack and then Ellie screams.

Ellie: IF YOU TWO DON'T STOP THIS. I'LL LET THE OTHERS KNOW OF THIS.

Ebony and Ruby alarmed by Ellie's shouts, stop and glare at each other.

Ruby: I'll get back to you, I swear.

Ebony: If you dare.

Jack: Look. No one's going to revenge against each other.

But the two do not hear him. Ebony and Ruby depart their ways.

Jack: Brutal much. What is it with those two?

Ellie: You have to realise, one of them is Ebony – former queen of Locos.

-x-

The Mallrats are having lunch.

Sammy, Gel and Darryl have returned from work.

Sammy: Woohoo! We are free!

Gel: Oh guys. You've got to hear this. You know Charm?

Amber: You mean Charmaine?

Gel: It's Charm actually. Anyway, she used to be from the Modes…with me. I thought she was dead, but it turns out she is very much alive!

Lottie [peering into the ocean]: Hey! There's someone out there! In the sea!

Amber turns to see a goofy and friendly face – a face she would never forget. She can not resist a smile.

Amber: Sasha?