Thank you so much to LabyrinthsDavidBowieWildcats30, Pumkingking 5 and especially Grace for being my 30th review. Thank you so much you all are amazing! I have gotten several questions about what is going on between Calvin and Gabriella, but also the fight he is having with his parents/relatives and I swear it will be revealed in later chapters.

Sorry this was meant to be up a couple of days ago but I couldn't upload the chapter into doc manager but I saw that several people had that issue but now it seems to be fixed. Hope you all enjoy it!

Thursday December 27th
Gabriella's POV

I woke up with a jolt as there was a flash seen through the room followed by a loud rumbling. I turned and looked at the clock seeing it was just after one in the night. The snow was hitting hard against the large windows as another flash and rumbling came. Pulling the covers up to cover my head my heartrate increasing each time the loud rumbling was heard. Turning around once again I gave up trying to get back to sleep. It was rather silly being seventeen and afraid of the thunder. I picked up my duvet and quietly walked out of my room and to the left. Standing outside of his door, I knocked softly a couple of times before I opened it and silently walked inside. As I closed the door and turned around I watched as Troy sat up in his bed rubbing sleep out of his eye.

"Hi couldn't sleep?" he questioned as I crawled into the bed beside him. "Mhm," I said and another bang was heard as I flinched.

"And you're scared of the thunder," he stated and I nodded scooting closer towards him. "I'm glad you woke me up," Troy told me and I pulled my duvet on top of the one Troy pulled over us. "Is it that cold?" he almost mumbled and I rested my head on his chest.

"I'm not used to this cold," I claimed and Troy kissed the top of my head. "I'm just teasing Brie. Goodnight, sleep tight," he said and I smiled. "Goodnight," I said as he loosely rested his left arm around my waist. The thunder was still raging outside but now it didn't matter because Troy was there. Hence, I was asleep after a couple of minutes.

I slowly opened my eyes as I noticed someone shaking my shoulder repeating my name. "Mhm?" I questioned looking into the eyes of Troy. "We have to get up. It is almost twelve thirty," he said and my eyes widened in shock.

"What?" I questioned sitting up. "Have we really slept for that long?" I questioned in disbelief as Troy nodded.

"We have," he confirmed and laughed a little. "Mom actually woke me up ten minutes ago," he told me and I was still shocked.

"She was in here?" I asked in disbelief. "She would have said something to me if she had a problem with it," he reassured me and I nodded.

"I'll wait on you and we can go eat together," he told me as I wrapped the duvet around me before walking back to my room.

XOXO
Lucille's POV

"Where is Troy and Gabriella? I have not seen either of them this morning," Jack questioned as we were preparing breakfast in the kitchen. "They are both asleep," I said to him and he looked at me raising an eyebrow and I sighed putting the spatula down on the counter.

"I was going to wake him up because Adrianna told me yesterday that they were thinking about leaving sometime today, but as I knocked on the door there were no answer so I presumed he was sleeping. When I peeked inside both of them were asleep and I believe that they were up late because of the thunder," I explained to my husband.

The kettle that stood on the stove started whistling and Jack turned his attention to it. "So everyone else is up?" he questioned pouring the water into the pot with tea.

"I believe they are. I have seen most of them except my parents," I told him turning off the stove putting the egg in a bowl. "That was the last thing," I said and Jack took the pot as we carried everything up.

XOXO
Gabriella's POV

Troy and I were sitting by the counter down in the kitchen eating breakfast when Calvin came down. "Good morning," he said shortly walking over to the fridge grabbing a drink. "Morning," Troy and I greeted him.

"Why didn't you turn up for breakfast?" he questioned turning towards us, opening the bottle. "Slept in," Troy said simply shrugging his shoulders as he continued to eat.

"I'm surprised aunt Lucille didn't wake you up earlier," he commented shrugging his shoulders and I got a creeping feeling up my back. Not the good one.

"Oh. Why is that?" Troy simply questioned him. "We're leaving sometime today. I though you would have heard," he said and I had a slight guilt that I felt relieved. I really liked Makayla but not her brother. Why did twins have to be so opposite?

As Troy and I made our way towards the main living room we meet Makayla with a bag over her shoulder. "You're leaving?" I questioned and she nodded. "Yeah. I thought you didn't know," she commented looking at the two of us.

"Calvin told us a couple of minutes ago. He was down in the kitchen while we were eating breakfast," Troy told her and Makayla made a shocked expression turning more towards me. "You made breakfast here?" she exclaimed and Troy laughed as I must have had a shocked face.

"Haha," he mocked. "I have been living alone for half a year," he said and Makayla were laughing. "I'm just messing with you. I don't doubt you're managing on your own. Anyways, I have go pack up some last minute stuff. I will see you later," she said and gave us a small wave before skipping down the hallway.

Continuing down we saw his mom coming. "Good morning," she smiled at the two of us. "Good morning," we both greeted her. "Have you seen Calvin or Makayla today?" she questioned.

"We have seen both of them," Troy confirmed with a nod. "Did they tell you they are leaving within the hour?" she questioned and Troy nodded again.

"Yes Makayla told just a couple of minutes ago," he confirmed. "All right I will see you later," she said and we walked our separate ways.

XOXO

"It was so nice meeting you," I said to Makayla giving her a hug. "You too," she said and smiled at me.

"Hopefully we can meet again or at least keep in contact," she told me. "Yes I would really like that," I smiled at her. I looked over as Calvin was saying goodbye to Troy and his parents.

"You kids ready?" Gael asked and Makayla nodded. "Goodbye," the all said and the four of them walked out the castle's front doors. A faint cry was heard and Ben came with a crying Araya.

"Did Gael and Adrianna leave?" he asked bouncing slightly with Araya on his shoulder.

"They just left," Lucille informed looking at Araya. "Is she not well?" she questioned Ben.

"No she is just about to spike a fever so Bridget and I were thinking about leaving a little earlier," he informed them. "Poor thing," Alexander said sympathetically looking at her.

XOXO

An hour later and Bridgett, Ben and Araya had just left. Violet and Hendric had also left shortly after them. Now it was only Kathleen, Keith, Troy's family and me left. The whole atmosphere of the castle had changed and become more quiet. It almost felt like there was an echo in the halls when we walked down them.

"Is it this quiet all year round?" I asked looking up at him. "Only during Christmas and New Year's eve. Normally the people working here are going around doing their job, there are some security people doing rounds and tour guides giving tours to the tourists.

"So it is actually quite nosy?" I asked and he nodded. "But I don't mind that. I just have to think about where I go during the summer so I don't want to get in the path of the tourists. Too much attention," he said shrugging.

"It is so surreal to be here and imagine everyone wanting to take your picture," I said to him.

"I guess you get used to it," he told me shrugging.

XOXO

That afternoon I was sitting on Facebook talking to Taylor.

"How is Etrea?" she wrote to me.

"I really like it. There is so much snow here and it just looks like some fairy-tale winter wonderland," I wrote back.

"How was it meeting Troy's family?"

"It was great. Most of them were nice, but his cousin didn't seem to like me, but his sister was so opposite and we got along great. She told me about some traditions they had and gave me information about the parade that was shown on TV that the royal family attended," I wrote.

"Why didn't Troy tell you that stuff?" she questioned and I had to think of a lie. Quickly.

"He was just busy helping his mother."

"How many were there celebrating Christmas?"

"We were seventeen people. Many of them were from Lucille's family. Now it is only Troy, his parents plus grandparents and his grandparents on his mother's side." I wrote back to her.

"Wow, that's a crowd. So I imagine it is quieter now?" she questioned. "Yes. I really liked his family but it was nice to be just him and his family. How was your Christmas?" I questioned and she started telling about her Christmas.

XOXO

I was turning and tossing in my bed not getting any sleep. I rolled over once again looking at the clock. 03:30. This was the first Christmas I had celebrated without any of my parents, and I were starting to really miss my mom. Grabbing my phone from the nightstand I opened it and scrolled through my contacts finding my mom's number. My thumb hovered over the green call button before I pressed it and put the phone to my ear hearing the ringing tone.

"Hello Gabriella," mom's cheerful voice was sounded. "Hi mom. Merry Christmas," I said and smiled to myself.

"Merry Christmas mi hija." "Are you busy?" I questioned and her voice almost sounded surprised.

"No I'm on my lunch break now. It's one thirty here," she explained. "What's wrong. Are you regretting your decision?" she questioned and I sniffed a little.

"No," I told her my voice quivering. "I am just missing you and dad," I explained to mom.

"Oh hija. I miss you too. What time is it over there?" she asked me and I looked at the clock once more.

"Just after three thirty in the night," I said and mom laughed a little. "Oh Gabriella. Shouldn't you be asleep?" she questioned and I laughed. "I guess…" I trailed off.

"How has your Christmas been so far?" she questioned and I smiled to myself.

"Great. Troy's grandparent was really nice and welcoming and I really got along with his cousin Makayla. She told me a lot of interesting facts while we were watching this Christmas parade here the other day. Troy and I were actually out riding here the other day and it was so fun. He showed me this beautiful outlook point and we just sat there for a couple of hours. We were seventeen on Christmas eve but now it is only Troy's grandparents on his mother side left. Everyone else left earlier today. How has your Christmas been?" I told her.

"Sounds like quite an eventful Christmas then. Mine has been rather boring to be honest. Unfortunately, the meeting lasted longer than expected so I am not flying home until late on the 29th. Have you and Troy talked about when you are returning?" she asked. "No, but he told me before we left that we wouldn't be home later than Friday the fourth," I explained to her and smiled to myself

"I have to go hija but enjoy the rest of your vacation and we'll see each other in a week all right?" mom said and I nodded.

"Ok mom. I love you."

"Te amo mi hija," mom said and we ended the phone call.

Still feeling restless, I found my laptop and googled Royal College of Etrea and started reading about application rules. Their due date was February 1st for all applications and they accepted students from every country. I clicked on the admission tab and started reading. "Nationality. American," I said quietly to myself and clicked on it. "Age, seventeen. Name, Gabriella Montez." I filled out.

That was it! What do you all think? Please leave a review telling me what you think!
- FreeFlyingWriter.