"I wonder if they will move us this year? You've worked so hard, Dad, and should be closer to the center. You did fix the leak in the aqueduct and if that didn't get fixed all of last year's crop would have died," I said as I washed and got ready for the day.

Every spring the Council rewards the hardest of workers by moving their lodgings closer to the center. Everyone gathers for a large feast to see who the Council will recognize but also who they will punish. Last year a girl a few years older than me, had been deemed unsuitable for her career training and the Council sent her whole family to the outer edge. The feast is the only opportunity for us to dress up and be social without consequences. All in Forks are invited. I hope I can discover whose eyes have been plaguing my dreams. That mystery will have to wait a few more days though, until the feast.

"If I have learned anything since the Ending, Bella, it is how important family is. As long as you are happy and taken care of, I need no more." Dad said as he finished buttoning his shirt, " You have the morning off today, kid, to prepare for the celebration. Go to the dressers and maybe that orange dress you wore last time will be available"

Making new clothes after the Ending became a luxury. If it is not a cotton broadcloth or even a sturdy denim it is not practical. Most of our finer clothes are salvaged and kept in repair by our dressers. At our yearly celebration we get to choose an outfit out of storage to wear. Last year I wore a beautiful orange dress that made me feel like the sun, warm and bright.

"Hello , Bella it's time to go to the dresser's" Angela knocked and walked into our small living area. Angela grabbed my arm and excitedly dragged me out the door and down the path. "I have a new dresser I want to go to," she whispered eagerly.

"Where are we going?" I whispered back.

"On an adventure!" Angela exclaimed.

I stopped walking. Adventures were frowned upon and we were so close to our celebration. "Angela, I don't know…" I started.

"Don't worry Bella. We are going to a dresser that has just finished her career training, but she is in the outer circle" Angela explained.

I allowed Angela to pull me again. The outer circle was supposed to be dangerous and have so much less. Why would a dresser be so far out? I guess even those in the outer circle needed clothes but how would we find something fit for tonight? "I have never been to the outer circle," I mumbled. The farther out we went, the lush green plants started to change to dry pale yellows and tans. Less leafy tall trees and more dry yellow grasses. The outer edge looked thirsty.

Angela tugged me around a corner and into a stall vibrant with colour. Shear fabric hung from the ceiling with strings of tiny beads dangled down the walls. It was beautiful. "I know!" Angela said in reaction to my obvious awe.

"Hi there!" said a small pixie-like girl not much older than Angela and I, "Are you looking for something for the celebration? I have so many options. Not many people come out to my shop. In fact, you two are the first. I have a beautiful rose coloured dress over here or a midnight blue one there. What about burgundy organza! Oh please come here and let me get a good look at both of you. I promise I will find the perfect dress for each of you!" She said enthusiastically.

Both Angela and I were speechless. We weren't used to anyone talking so much. We were taught to be as wasteless as possible and that included our words.

"Oh sorry, I was just so happy to have someone come in. I was afraid no one would. I'm Alice, can I help you find anything?" She said with a bit more composure.

I gently smiled at Alice. "Hello, I am Bella and this is Angela and yes we are looking for something to wear to the celebration. Do you have anything we could use?"

Alice circled both Angela and I. She looked us up and down, lifted up our arms and quickly disappeared behind one of her beaded walls. She quickly returned with a pristine white jumpsuit that she handed to Angela. Then they both disappeared behind another beaded wall and all I heard was some quiet murmuring. With a flourish, the beaded curtain was pushed aside by Alice and Angela walked through. The perfectly white jumpsuit had wide legs and flowing off the shoulder lace sleeves. It contrasted wonderfully with Angela's olive skin.

"Angela… Alice it's perfect" I gasped.

"I know, now it's your turn Bella," Alice replied as she again disappeared behind the first wall. There was some rustling but again Alice quickly returned. This time with a handful of midnight blue material. She pulled me into ,what I discovered was, her fitting room and proceeded to undress and redress me with a speed that left no option for awkwardness. Before I knew it I was wearing a one shouldered midnight blue grecian style dress, tied at the waist with a sparkling silver rope and a diamond-like embellishment on the shoulder. The material was so light and soft that it flowed down my body like a waterfall.

I stepped out of the fitting room and Angela's eyes grew wide and her mouth was open.

"Definitely an adventure," I said to myself.

Author's note:

Sorry for the delay I wound up with strep-throat and the first set of meds did not work, but I am back and will do my best to post in another 2 weeks.

~Teebug