There is a surprise at the end of the chapter. But for now, enjoy! DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "Meet the Robinsons" or "High School Story: Class Act," and I also do not own the song "All Is Found." I only own Diana, Karena, and Wesley.
We were up bright and early today to take the train to Paris. I still thought this was a dream. It became reality when I had afternoon tea with my mom in The Rose Room, but I was not expecting to go to Paris. We did eat breakfast before we went on the train, but we were all so exhausted. I could not stop yawning, and I saw that most of the students were yawning as well.
"I feel like a zombie," Amy said sleepily across the car from me. "I thought jetlag was supposed to be over by now."
"At least waking up this early will help it be over sooner," Erin replied. "Plus, I think they sell caffeinated tea on the train."
"Praise the Lord for that," I said while yawning. "I could use some of that Earl Grey tea right now."
"I'll take the strongest stuff they have," Ajay replied. "Clint snored so loudly last night I thought an earthquake was happening."
"That's the truth," Caleb sleepily said, resting his head on my shoulder.
"Yikes. You better load up on caffeine quick," Adam suggested. "Today's supposed to be super special."
"I still can't believe we're visiting Paris," Amy said happily.
"Neither can I," I replied with a yawn.
"We had just enough left over from the scholarship fund to cover the day trip," Ajay explained. "I can't wait to soak up all the Parisian culture."
"I don't know about culture, but I'm here for Parisian fashion!" Amy replied excitedly.
"Ugh, I can't wait to step into prom wearing couture from Paris," Rory said with a lot of enthusiasm.
"Someone's not tired," I said out loud.
"Slow down dreamer," Ajay replied. "It'll likely be closer to 'nice consignment outfits from Paris.'"
"Even if we don't buy anything, we'll still get to try on expensive clothes and feel glamorous!" Amy said with excitement.
"Dude, clothes in Paris have got to be more expensive than clothes in America," I replied.
"Actually, America's dollar costs eleven cents more than the Euro Paris uses," Mom corrected me, and I rolled my eyes.
"As long as we don't break any zippers and then we have to pay for everything," Skye said. "We'd be finished."
"Couture is fascinating and all," Ajay chimed in. "But you're neglecting the most exciting thing about Paris. I can't believe none of you have mentioned the French theatrical legacy. We've got Moliere! Victor Hugo!"
"I thought Victor Hugo was an artist," I said, and I watched Mom look him up on her phone.
"No, Diana, you're thinking of Vincent van Gogh," Mom corrected me. "Victor Hugo was a poet."
"I don't know anything about the Paris theatre scene," Erin chimed in. "I know The Phantom of the Opera is set in Paris, but that runs in London."
"Oh, speaking of Phantom, the famous opera house from the story is here!" Rory said with excitement.
"Which I hear is full of ghosts," Skye replied, also with excitement. "Not to mention the stories about the catacombs."
I watched Amy press her face to the window, and I did the same, watching some new landscaping along the way. Then, I saw a reflection on the window, and I gulped.
"Speaking of ghosts, I hope what I'm seeing right now isn't real," Amy said.
"Nope, it's definitely real," I replied, turning around angrily to see the Fairfield drama department in our train car. "What are you doing here?"
"Nice to see you dorks, too," Cory replied icily. "Not."
"We were hoping this train car would be empty," Kitty said angrily.
"Not only is it full, but the contents are probably contagious," Marvin said with amusement in his voice.
"You are—"
"Who are you calling diseased?" Amy shot back angrily, interrupting me. "You're the sick ones! If we were contagious, maybe you'd catch us and turn into nice people!"
"We're nice," Yves defended herself and her friends. "You're just insecure because your show's not good."
"Why must you always assume that we're not good enough?" I asked angrily. "All you guys have done to me and my friends is bullying us to thinking we're not good enough."
"What are you doing on the same train as us, anyway?" Rory asked with anger in his voice.
"You're not the only school going to Paris today," Kitty answered. "How narcissistic can you get?"
"Narcissistic?!" I yelled back. "If anyone is narcissistic, it's you, Kitty."
"Diana."
I turned toward my mom who had put a hand on my shoulder and given me a raised eyebrow.
"I'd advise you to leave," Ajay recommended with a glare. "We're here to enjoy ourselves with a day in Paris, not deal with the likes of you."
"Oh, so you're hanging out in Paris all day," Marvin replied. "Probably into the evening, too?"
"Yeah, Mr. Obvious," Amy answered. "What's it to you?"
"Oh, nothing," Cory replied. "It's just gonna feel good doing productive things like rehearsal while you idiots waste your time."
"Speaking of wasting time, let's bounce," Kitty said. "Bye, losers!"
We all shared a confused look as the Fairfield students left the train car.
"That was weird," Amy finally spoke up after a few moments of silence. "Why would they care how late we're staying?"
"Don't waste your energy figuring them out," Skye recommended. "Look, we're crossing the border."
And surely enough, the Eiffel Tower was in view as we crossed the French border, and before we knew it, we were in Paris. We disembarked the train and walked around the streets, which to my surprise was more modernized.
"I watch way too many movies and read way too many books," I said out loud.
"Authors liked to give readers a feel of what historic Paris looked like," Mom explained. "France sure has gone through a lot of history since the early days."
"Ah, the Paris air!" I heard Amy yell out excitedly. "It smells like baguettes and wonder!"
I took a sniff, and sure enough, I was smelling bread.
"Mr. Olson said we can do whatever we want until 3:00 PM," Erin reminded all of us. "Paris is our oyster!"
"I could go for a Starbucks coffee right now," I told Caleb and my mom.
"Obviously, we're going shopping first," I heard Rory say to his friends. "I am not passing up the chance to try on designer clothes."
"Prom is happening right when we return," Ajay explained. "It would be ideal to have prom clothes ready so we don't need to rush."
"Sure, but just so it's said, if all we see through the window is stuff a baby doll would wear, I'm not going in," Skye spoke up.
"You could always come with me and Mom for some coffee," I recommended to her, and she shrugged.
"Look, I see a store with amazing suits and gowns in the window!" Amy shouted excitedly while pointing her finger to a boutique with guards wearing black tuxedos manning the entrance. "And the mannequins have hair like real people!"
"I'm not sure it's normal to have guards outside of clothing stores," Adam said uneasily.
"Welcome to the world of high fashion, where expensive clothes are treated like museum pieces," Rory explained. "Let's go in!"
"I have good news," Mom spoke up as Amy's group of friends went in the store. "I found a Starbucks by the Louvre. I know Mr. Olson wanted all of us to gather there."
"Is the Eiffel Tower close?" Caleb asked with a smile on his face.
"Actually, yes! It's walking distance."
"Well, then let's grab coffee!" I said with excitement as we walked toward the Starbucks that was right next to the museum.
"Hold on, before we go in, we need a picture in front of the store so that we can show Dad that there is a Starbucks here," Mom recommended, and the three of us crowded in for a selfie before walking in the store. Caleb ordered a cookies n' crème frappucino, Mom ordered an iced vanilla latte, I ordered an iced caramel macchiato, and we all ordered baguettes. We decided to stay in the store only because we had a fantastic view of the Eiffel Tower. Caleb and I could not resist not taking pictures of the view, and I took photos of our drinks with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
When we finished our drinks, the three of us walked to the Eiffel Tower, and there was an elevator that took us to the top. We did have to wait quite a bit, but we eventually got in the elevator, and we made it to the top. Caleb and I walked up to the rail and put our forearms on it, gazing at the view of the city.
"It's all so beautiful," I said in awe as Caleb took my hand.
"You know, if I was ready, I would be proposing marriage to you," Caleb told me, and I turned to gaze him in his brown eyes.
"Caleb, I would love that, but I'm not ready for marriage either. I'm only a sophomore in high school, after all. Besides, when the time does come, I know you will prepare something that both of us will remember for the rest of our lives."
"I never thought I would be here right now."
"Neither did I," I replied. "Let alone during my high school days."
"Has your dad ever been to Paris before?" Caleb asked, and I belted out a long laugh.
"Caleb, Dad went to Paris for work, and he traveled back in time to the 1400s! I imagine it was not as nice as this."
"You're probably right. Maybe your dad will make it here one day."
"Wesley too," I replied. "My brother would love this city. Actually, my dad would prefer to be in Rome."
"Really? I'm surprised."
"I'm not. My grandma's side of the family is Italian. To my dad, he'd think it would be cool to see the place his family came from."
We both heard a camera, and we turned around to see my mom taking photos of us.
"Were you taking photos of us the whole time?" Caleb asked with a smile.
"Hey, you're here together!" Mom explained. "You can't not take pictures."
"Mom, may I take a picture with you?" I asked, and Mom smiled at me as she handed her phone to Caleb. We took pictures at the rail with the view of the city in the background, and then we moved to where it was evident we were on the Eiffel Tower. When we were done touring the Eiffel Tower, we took the elevator back down, and we met up with the rest of the group at the Louvre.
"This sculpture is called The Thinker," Mr. Olson explained we walked along with my hand in Caleb's. "Its artist, Rodin, was known for his emotionally evocative human figures."
"He's so intense," I said with observance. "I wonder what he's supposed to be thinking about."
"Maybe he's pondering mortality," Amy suggested. "I bet he's pulling apart the mysteries of existence!"
"I wish I knew what he's figured out," Rory replied. "Maybe life would be less confusing."
"Well, he is stuck thinking for all eternity," Ajay said. "So he can't have figured out all the answers yet."
"Over here, you'll find the famed Mona Lisa," Mr. Olson continued. "With the most mysterious smile in the art world."
I took a closer look at the most famous art piece done by Leonardo DaVinci, and I wondered what he had in mind when painted her. Of course, I have read The DaVinci Code, but I still couldn't help but ponder what Leonardo was truly thinking…
"AAHHH!"
We all turned to see Ajay poking Amy on her shoulder, which clearly freaked her out.
"Amy, please keep your voice down," Mr. Olson reprimanded her. "We're in a museum."
"Sorry, Mr. Olson. Ajay, what the heck?"
"Only trying to make sure you don't miss one of the most famous paintings in history," Ajay explained, and I shook my head in disbelief.
"I'm looking, I promise!" Amy replied with laughter. "Can't a modern girl text and be totally present in the world?"
"You tell me," Ajay replied with a smile. "But first tell me what you think of the Mona Lisa."
"She's very beautiful. And small. I can barely even see her through all these people."
"But at least now you can say that you saw her at all. Speaking of crowds, though… we're not gonna be in Paris much longer, and the sun's starting to set outside."
"Lemme guess, you want to go enjoy Paris alone with me," Amy teased him. "And maybe kiss under the stars."
We finished touring the museum and got back on the train to head back to London, but not before Mom and I stopped at Starbucks one more time for a coffee and baguette.
"Prospero's staff is missing!"
I overheard Ajay near my room and I shot off my bed in alarm. I bolted out the door and entered Amy's room with panic racing through my mind.
"Prospero's staff was stolen?" Amy asked with shock. "What makes you so sure?"
"When I checked our props at the Spotlite venue earlier this morning, I realized someone else had gone through them first," Skye explained with sadness in her voice.
"It looked like they turned the place upside down searching for it," Ajay added.
Suddenly, all of our phones went off with different ringtones playing on each phone, and I was shocked at who was texting us.
KittyKat44: Hey dweebs! Just got to Spotlite and saw you guys weren't there.
CoryintheHouse44: I heard a prop of yours went missing! How tragic!
WonderWoman45: How the hey did you get our numbers?!
EnchantedPrincess46: Wait it was you?! GIVE IT BACK YOU SCUMBAGS
EnchantedPrincess46: RETURN OUR STAFF OR ELSE
KittyKat44: No idea what you're talking about. Lol
MrDirector43: This isn't a matter to 'laugh out loud' at. If you fail to comply we're reporting this to the authorities!
KittyKat44: With no proof? For the record we were just checking on you because we were worried.
CoryintheHouse44: I bet it's a great hotel room decoration for whoever took it… totally not speaking from experience.
CoryintheHouse44: Bye losers!
"The staff must be in Cory's hotel room," Maria angrily suggested. "If they're all at Spotlite, it should be unattended."
"It'd be suspicious if the entire drama department went up to their room," Emma suggested. "Our task force should probably be pretty small."
"Rory, Amy, you're with me," Ajay said boldly, taking Maria and Emma's suggestions into consideration. "I have a hunch your acting abilities will prove invaluable."
"I'm at your service!" Amy replied with determination on her face.
"I'm coming with you," Skye chimed in angrily. "As head tech, I'm responsible for that staff."
"Good, the four of us will have to do," Ajay said in agreement. "The rest of you, head to Spotlite and prepare to perform."
"We'll be entrusting the staff to you, then," Erin replied boldly.
"By the power vested in us, we'll bring her back safe and sound," Rory told us with determination.
"What am I doing, marrying the staff?" I asked sarcastically only to be met with glares. "Just go."
While Rory, Amy, Ajay, and Skye stayed in the room, I left to go back to my own hotel room with Maria, Emma, and Erin following me.
"How are you feeling, Diana?" Emma asked.
"Emma, what if Fairfield destroyed the staff?" I asked with worry in my voice. "How am I supposed to do my part?"
"I doubt Fairfield would stoop that low," Maria replied. "Staples, maybe. But not Fairfield."
"No, Maria, I don't think Staples would do that now that Max and Kara are gone. But based on what we know about Fairfield's drama department, they'd do anything to win Spotlite and take advantage of us."
"Diana, all we can do right now is head to the venue to prepare," Mom said as I felt her hand on my shoulder. "Let Ajay and the rest handle this."
I was still worried when I reached the venue and helped the crew assembled the sets and had so many thoughts run through my head. Would Amy's improv skills work? Did they go into Cory's room in disguise? Will they ever find the staff?
I heard the doors open and found Skye leading the other three backstage.
"Is that Thunderfury?" Graham asked with worry. "Please tell me you found Thunderfury!"
"Behold!" Amy said, revealing the staff by raising it up in the air. "Prospero's staff, safe and sound!"
"Whew! What a relief!" I exclaimed with a grateful smile. "My magic will be at full power tonight!"
Then, Maria walked in with a box of lunches.
"I picked up lunch for everyone. Vegetarian options, over here."
We grabbed our lunches and listened to the production before ours, though it was muffled.
"I'm not afraid of you anymore!" I heard an actress yell out followed by a roar.
"Their costumes are out of this world," Amy said with both awe and sadness at the same time. "I hope we can still catch a few performances before the award ceremony tonight."
"We'll have time to spare," Rory assured her. "Plus, a few categories like one-acts and immersive theatre will be running through the whole weekend."
"Good, you're done eating!" Sydney said loudly and with excitement. "Get in costume!"
"Already?" Amy asked with surprise as we finished the last of our meals. "We have three hours until call time!"
"We need to get your hair perfect for this performance!" Sydney shot back.
"Well, I might as well start with your hair," Mom said, walking toward me with a hairbrush and some hairpins.
"I can't wait to see what you come up with," I replied with a smile as we walked toward a mirror.
I sat down on the chair and felt my mom brush my hair like she did when I was a small child.
Where the north wind meets the sea,
There's a river full of memory
Sleep my darling safe and sound,
For in this river all is found.
I listened to my mom sing as she braided my hair from the back and toward the front as she started making the crown, and her voice was just as beautiful as it was in the past.
In her waters deep and true,
Lie the answers and a path for you
Dive down deep into her sound,
But not too far or you'll be drowned.
My mom braided the other side of my hair and then braided it straight down, and I held a confused look on my face as she brushed my bangs down on my forehead.
Yes, she will sing to those who hear
And in her song our magic flows.
But can you brave what you most fear?
Can you face what the river knows?
Then I watched as my mom took the braid and wrapped it around my head, blending it in with the already-existing crown and pinned it in my hair.
Where the north wind meets the sea,
There's a mother full of memory
Come my darling homeward bound,
When all is lost, then all is found.
"I look like an elf!" I exclaimed with a big smile on my face.
"Well all we need are the ears!" Mom replied and we chuckled.
"But seriously, Mom, I love it! If Prospero was a woman, this would be the hairstyle. This is perfect."
"Now let's get you into costume," Mom said with a smile before we hugged each other.
Before we knew it, we were all ready to give the performance of our lives as we heard thunderous applause from the other side of the stage.
"That must be the other play's curtain call!" Emma exclaimed with nervousness. "We're up soon."
"Ajay, care to share a few words of encouragement?" Mr. Olson asked, and Ajay took a deep breath.
"Here we are."
"Wait, you mean I didn't dream our flight to London?" Michael asked, and I shook my head in disbelief.
"Silence in the peanut gallery," Ajay shot back calmly. "As I was saying… Here we are at the most prestigious theatre competition in the world. We couldn't have gotten here without the hard work of every one of you."
"Hear, hear!" Amy cheered.
"After tonight, every theatre critic worth their salt will know Westport High's name. Now, let's show those judges what we're made of! This better be the best performance of your lives!"
We cheered before we took our positions on the stage for our opening number. We heard murmurs from the audience as the curtain raised to reveal the stage. A furious storm thundered through the theater as the opening number began. I heard voices of delight as Adam appeared onstage as Ariel in a flash of light, accompanied with a clap of thunder.
"Now on the beak, now in the waist, the deck, in every cabin, I flame amazement!"
I watched as Adam intensified the tempest with all his might as the nobles and sailors squabbled aboard their capsizing ship.
"We are less afraid to be drowned than thou art," Emma sang bravely.
"All lost!" Natalie cried. "To prayers, to prayers, all lost!"
It was my cue to walk on the stage as Amy dashed forward with tears streaming down her face.
"If by your art, my dearest father, you have put the wild waters in this roar, allay them."
"Be collected," I sang with a stoned face. "No more amazement. Tell your piteous heart there's no harm done."
"Oh, woe the day!"
Rory glared at me with his body quaking in anger as I captured him with my magic.
"No. I will resist such entertainment till mine enemy has more power," Rory sang as he drew his sword, and I pointed my staff at him.
"Halt!"
"Father, don't do it!" Amy yelled as lightning bolts crackled across the theater walls, and I heard gasps from the audience. "O dear father! Make not too rash a trial of him, for he's gentle and not fearful."
Suddenly, the room went dark with the glow of my staff as the only source of light. We stopped in our tracks as the audience murmured in confusion.
"Wait what?" I exclaimed quietly. "What just happened?"
"It's a blackout!" I heard someone from the audience exclaim.
"What do we do now?" Rory whispered.
"Everyone, please remain calm," I heard a security guard say. "Extreme winds outside have caused an electric outage in the area. Power should be restored within a few minutes."
"I suppose we can't fault them for having bad luck," I heard another person say.
"Still, it pains me to see such a glorious performance so unceremoniously interrupted."
An idea came to my head as the audience impatiently stirs in the darkness.
"Psst, Rory! Amy! Come here!" I watched my two peers run toward me. "Hey, what if we didn't let this interrupt our show?"
"What do you mean?" Amy whispered. "Are you saying we should improvise?"
"Exactly. Any play would pause for this and make the audience wait. But we're not just any play."
"You're right!" Rory whispered back. "If we can find a way to work this blackout into our show and keep everyone entertained… This is our chance to really surprise the judges and show them we have the best cast and crew in the world!"
"We should improvise and show the judges what we're made of!" Amy whispered wholeheartedly as she rushed in between me and Rory with her hands outstretched to shield the latter from the heavens.
"Beseech you, father," Amy cried. "Withhold thine thunderclouds from thin air! By frightening such a thing divine, you harm thine own daughter!"
I was confused at first, but then I realized Amy had already started improvising, accusing my character of summoning another storm.
"My foot my tutor?" I yelled back. "Silence! I shall besiege this traitor with darkness and make his bold heart tremble."
"If you do not allay these dreadful shadows, I'll take matters into my own hands!" Amy shouted back as Rory held a look of sadness. Then, she lunged forward to try to take the staff from my grasp. I wrestled back carefully, trying not to break the staff, and the stage lights turned back on! I heard gasps and cheers from the audience as I tugged the staff free.
"My husband, then?" Amy asked in song.
"Ay, with a heart as willing as bondage e'er of freedom," Rory sang in reply. "Here's my hand."
"And mine, with my heart in't." I started to cry as Amy pressed a kiss to Rory's cheek. "And now farewell till half an hour hence."
"A thousand thousand!"
"If you could hurt, your swords are now too massy for your strengths and will not be uplifted," Adam sang with a big smile on his face.
"Be you quiet, monster!" Caleb sang angrily as he struggled to draw his sword.
"Begone!" Erin shouted as she successfully drew her sword and charged at Adam.
At the end of the play, I heard thunder cracking from the huge stage speakers as I swung my staff, pulling everyone on stage into my charmed circle.
"I shall be pinched to death," Michael sang with sadness in his voice.
"Go, sirrah, to my cell," I sang back. "Take with you your companions. As you look to have my pardon, trim it handsomely." I paused as I turned toward the audience. "Release me from my bands with the help of your good hands!"
We were met with an explosive standing ovation as the lights dimmed, and we made our curtain calls.
We all re-entered the venue hall after getting out of our costumes, though I wanted my hair to stay the way it was. I felt so beautiful with it up.
"Congratulations!" Mr. Silva said, approaching us. "Remember me when you're famous, Amy!"
"Agh, no, I'm still a regular girl!" Amy exclaimed, but with happiness.
"When do you find out if you won?" Mrs. Silva asked.
"At the awards ceremony in a few hours," Ajay answered with nervousness. "The suspense will be the death of me yet."
"You all performed admirably even with the unexpected blackout," Ajay's mother, Shruti, complimented us. "Apparently a huge thunderstorm is forecast to hit just as we leave London."
"It really seems like the weather is going crazy all over the world lately," Amy replied with surprise.
"Skye! Your musical was amazing!"
We turned to see Lilith Vidal approaching the group with a big smile on her face!
"You were watching?" Skye asked with surprise in her voice.
"Didn't I promise I would?" Lilith answered, handing Skye a huge bouquet of lilacs. "The night after you mentioned it in the hotel, I bought tickets at the last minute online. They cost a fortune… darn scalpers! But it was worth every penny."
"Thanks so much," Skye replied with a big smile. "It means a lot to me that you came. More than you even know."
"You're welcome. I'll let all your other adoring fans have some time with you now. Catch ya later!"
As Lilith disappeared into the crowd, Skye's parents pushed through and approached her.
"No… how are you here?" Skye asked with shock.
"Skye, since we already booked our flights and luxury hotel before we rescinded our funding, we decided to come to London anyway," Mrs. Crandall explained with a look of sadness.
"You shouldn't have," Amy shot back. "Leave Skye alone!"
"We can't," Mr. Crandall replied, also with a look of sadness. "Skye is our daughter, and ever since she boarded that plane to London, we've spent sleepless nights rethinking everything."
"Skye, once you left, I realized no disagreement was worth losing you to," Mrs. Crandall explained. "We took you for granted and judged your ways too harshly."
"You judged her ways too harshly?" Ajay shot back. "Is that what you call abusing your daughter?"
"Wait, let them talk," Skye told Ajay, and I could tell she was shaking all over. I walked over to her and put my hand on her shoulder, letting her know she was not alone.
"Skye, we watched your production tonight," Mr. Crandall explained. "For a few hours, the singing and costumes and props weren't embarrassing child's play at all."
"In those theater's seats, under the lights, they weren't so bad," Mrs. Crandall added. "I finally understand why you insist on spending your days fiddling with the lights backstage."
"You… You're serious?" Skye asked with surprise in her voice. "But you were always so ashamed of me!"
"Skye, I regret that we tried to change you," Mr. Crandall replied. "We just didn't understand what you were always going on about. Your style was so eccentric."
"Mom, Dad, you have no idea!" Skye cried. "You have no idea how much you've hurt me all my life! I just wanted you to love me. But you were never there for me! Where were you when I needed you?
"We'll be there now," Mrs. Crandall said, and her voice was full of promise. "I missed you so much, Skye. Please, forgive us."
"I… I need a minute. Let me think this over."
I watched Skye turn away and walk towards her friends, asking them what she should do. After a few minutes, she turned back to her parents.
"Skye, honey, what do you think?" Mrs. Crandall asked.
"I haven't forgiven you yet," Skye explained. "After everything that's happened, it's possible I never will. So if you're going to try, you have to really win me back and show me you've changed. If you mess up again and hurt me or my friends, then it's over."
"Thank you for giving us this chance," Mr. Crandall replied with a smile on his face. "We won't squander it."
"We're not at hug level yet, if that's what you're thinking," Skye said after a few moments of awkward silence.
"All right, we'll have to earn it," Mrs. Crandall replied. "However long it takes."
"We'll get out of your hair for now," Mr. Crandall said. "Enjoy the rest of the festival, Skye."
We watched as her parents nodded at each other and walk away.
"Are you okay?" I asked Skye.
"I… don't know. I'm not sure I believe they can change… but I hope they meant it."
"Skye, where's that wacky one-act you promised to watch with us if we pulled the show off without anyone getting electrocuted?" Graham asked excitedly as he, Trevor, and Sydney approached us.
"We can't start without our head honcho!" Sydney said with a smile.
"I guess a promise is a promise," Skye answered, putting a smile on her face. "Amy, I'll meet back up with you guys for the awards ceremony."
"We'll try not to cry too much from missing you," Amy replied happily. "Have fun!"
As Skye left with the rest of the crew, my eyes turned to a man who looked like my dad, and the man with the black cowlick stared back at me with a smile on his face.
"Hey, Mom," I said, tapping my mom on the shoulder. "Is that who I think it is?"
We started walking toward the man, and the closer we got, the more convinced I was that it was my dad.
"Dad, is that you?" I asked, and the man broke into an even bigger smile. I clapped both my hands onto my face with a big gasp, and I ran toward him. My dad also ran toward me and swept me in his arms, twirling me around. We both laughed and cried in our embrace before we pulled apart and smiled at each other with fondness.
"Dad, what are you doing here?" I asked with so much happiness in my voice. "I thought were you working for TIME?"
"We wanted to see your play and surprise you!" Dad explained. "You were amazing, and I am so proud of you!"
"Wait, we?" I asked, and Dad walked to my side to reveal Wesley and my grandparents! "Oh my gosh!"
"Hello there, Diana!" Grandpa Cornelius yelled with happiness as I ran to them and hugged them.
"Diana, your father explained everything to us, and you were an amazing Prospero!" Grandma Franny said with a big smile on her face. "Your parents taught you well."
"That was even better than the play in the fall," Wesley said as I hugged him. "I really like your hair."
"Thanks! Mom did it."
We turned to watch our parents in a tight embrace and giving each other a passionate kiss.
"How was London?" Dad asked Mom.
"Wilbur, London and Paris have been amazing," Mom answered with a big smile. "Diana and I had a fantastic time! But now that you're here, our experience really is complete."
"Wait, Paris? You went to Paris, too?" Dad asked with a big smile on his face.
"Surprise!" I answered as the four of us walked toward Mom and Dad. "We even have pictures from a Starbucks near the Eiffel Tower to prove it."
"I'm so jealous of you two," Grandma said to me and my mom. "I've always wanted to go to Paris."
"We do have one more day here in Europe," I replied. "Maybe we can give you a tour of London?"
"Thanks, Diana, but we did that when we got here," Dad explained with a smile.
"Why not go to Paris again tomorrow?" Mom suggested. "I told Diana that we needed you guys here for an updated family photo. Why not do it on the Eiffel Tower?"
"I think that is an excellent idea," Grandma agreed with a smile as the six of us gathered in a big family hug before we walked to the awards ceremony.