Chapter 19: Choose and Hope
King Radius sat in his study thinking about what Stella's mother had told him.
"From now on, I want our daughter to spend more time with me Radius, you make sure of it! I wouldn't want you turning Stella against me now would I?"
King Radius played it over and over in his head. He would never do such a thing, why would she think such a thing? His thoughts were interrupted when a maid walked in to announce that someone was at the palace doors that wanted to talk to him.
Bloom and Sky got back to alfea only to discover that the others had not yet arrived, but many of the students were all ready back from their vacation and were either unpacking, talking to the teachers, or catching up with their friends.
"Well Bloom, I 'd love to stay and spend more time with you, but I also have to get back to red fountain and unpack, if the girls aren't back yet, that can only mean that the guys aren't back either. I'm sure they'll be here soon." Sky said.
"I also have to unpack, so I'll see you. I know we're going to be very busy this week since we all just got back and all but I'll call you during the weekend if I can" Bloom told him.
"Sure, that sounds great. Well, bye Bloom" Sky said, he gave her a gentle hug, and drove away on his levabike.
"Bye Sky" Bloom said smiling.
Just as Sky left, Bloom saw Francis, one of Stella's friends, who was also from Solaria.
"Hey Francis" Bloom said waving.
"Hey Bloom" Francis said walking over to her.
"So I guess you've heard about what's going on in Solaria, it's a bit sad isn't it? " She told Bloom.
"Wait, what news?" Bloom asked her, she hadn't heard about anything unusual going on in Solaria.
"So you haven't heard? Stella's parents might just go to court and argue her custody again, there's a big issue on it in the Solarian newspaper. I thought you knew" Francis said to her. Bloom was shocked.
"Oh no, poor Stella, I wonder how she's taking this. I hope everything turns out all right". Bloom said, she hadn't been back for even five minutes and all ready something bad had happened.
On their way to alfea, Stella was very quiet, and Brandon could tell that she was still upset about what had happened at the palace with her father. They would be at alfea at any minute, Stella used the scepter to transport them there and they ended up only a couple of feet away.
"Sunshine, I know how upset you are, do you want to talk about it?" Brandon offered.
"No Brandon I'm okay really" She sighed. " All I want is to stay with my dad, as much as I love my mom, my dad needs me more". Stella told Brandon.
"Don't worry Stella, you're the princess of Solaria, and you're turning 18 this year, so they'll probably let you choose who you want to stay with." Brandon said trying to cheer her up.
"That's right, I am turning18, why didn't it occur to me before"? Brandon laughed at her expression. She looked so cute.
"Thanks Brandon, you always know how to cheer me up," Stella said, smiling for the first time that day. She hoped-prayed that Brandon was right and she would be allowed to choose whom she wanted to stay with. She couldn't wait to get to alfea and see all her friends again. Her thoughts were interrupted when she ran into Musa and Riven who were just arriving.
"Musa, hey" Stella said hugging her. Brandon and Riven said hi to each other and told the girls that they had to get back to red fountain, they each hugged their girl and left.
"I don't know about you Stella, but even though we only had like a week and a half of vacation, things feel a bit different around here.
"Yea I feel the same" Stella sighed, when Musa asked her what was wrong, Stella told her what was going on. As soon as they reached the steps of the school Bloom rushed up to them and gave them each a big hug.
"Bloom darling it was a week and a half not a century, but its completely understandable that you missed me so much, you know" Stella said, Bloom and Musa burst out laughing.
Pretty soon Flora arrived too. The only ones left were Tecna and Layla. After a few minutes they were there as well. They went inside and Stella told them everything too. The girls were all there to support her. And they knew that even if she smiled and tried to make jokes, she was so upset and torn up inside that she would be forced to choose once again between her mother and her father, she didn't want to upset her mom, but her dad needed Stella by his side so much. She was scared. Musa also told the girls that before coming to alfea, Riven took her to a restaurant to eat, and even if they had to go to alfea right after that, it was still pretty romantic. He bought her roses and everything. Musa still had a rose in her hair. She couldn't wait to see him again, even though she had all ready spent most of her vacation with him.
"Hey girls, I know we just got back, but I was thinking that maybe this weekend we can invite the boys to diner or a movie?" Stella suggested.
"It sounds like a good idea, but everyone is really busy this week, do you think they will have time on the weekend?" Bloom said.
"Bloom's got a point, maybe next week Stella, lets finish unpacking and get settled in this week, and maybe on the weekend we could just call them or something" Flora said.
"Yea I guess you're right" Stella said. She looked so down, and Brandon was really good at cheering her up, and so were the girls, but lately it seemed harder to make her happy because of everything that was going on in Solaria. Hopefully things would get better.