Three online exams down, one more to go!

It's a special day for the story, not regarding outer world things, but in the story itself.

Year One: The Brightest Green

[2:04 AM]

Group Chat - Stark's Angels Minus One
Members: Merida, Angela, Emily

Angela: Today's Britney's birthday. We didn't plan a pop-tart excursion like for Apollo's.

Merida: Well, what's the plan?

Emily: Iqadi and I are hanging out.

Angela: Thanks for inviting me and Merida.

Emily: You two just started second semester.

Merida: Exactly. It's time for a break.

Emily: You're welcome to join us. I'll pay for your flight and room.

Angela: Can't. We're stuck here. What are you doing?

Emily: Not sure but I need a new manicure.

Angela: … why don't we make Britney's Pop-Tart a manicure?

-o-

Cafeteria - 6:59 AM

"They left in August," Xavier says, stabbing his toast with a plastic knife. "I didn't even realize it's been five months."

Xavier woke up this morning before his alarm. Unlike other mornings, he felt a knot in his stomach. He knew something was up but couldn't put his finger on it. It wasn't until he turned on his phone, saw the date, and his wallpaper which was an old photo of him and Britney on their high school football field back when he was a football player and she a cheerleader. Back when times were simpler. Now it's her birthday and Xavier isn't sure how to feel. It was way different than Apollo's birthday. He was happy. Now, he's full of angst and taking it out on a piece of bread.

"Five months is…" Daniel starts, unsure where he's going with his point.

"Approximately 183 days," James responds. The other boys look at him because they didn't expect the number. Honestly, neither did he. "But the approximate is only because Apollo and Britney didn't leave on the first day of the month nor is Britney's birthday on the first or the last days of said month. Just remind me of the specific days and I'll tell you a more accurate answer."

Xavier stops stabbing his toast and Daniel isn't sure what to make of this situation. Instead, James takes Xavier's murdered bread, spreads some butter and jam, and eats his breakfast.

"What happened to you?" Xavier asks him.

James raises the toast. "Happy birthday, Britney."

-o-

Atlantic Residence - 13:19 PM

A new semester means new schedules. New schedules mean needing to find a time slot that works for them. But for Britney, they were willing to leave a class early or completely skip one (which Angela and Merida did respectively). It wouldn't be long. There's a well-rated place just ten minutes out or five minutes with Merida's driving. Some of the other girls on campus have said it's a good place so, why not?

But now they're back from the salon with their new nails. In their group chat, they agreed on long gel nails in the brightest shade of green possible. It was to match her magical aura and her eyes but Merida opted out of the glitter which Angela only put on her ring fingers as accent nails.

"I look like Christmas," Merida says, holding the green nails against her red curls.

"I like it," Angela says, flexing her fingers and holding a hand up against the light. She rarely gets her nails done and, when she does, it's never anything as extreme as this. She mostly goes for a French manicure or a simple and short pastel shade. "I could get used to this colour."

"Because it's the colour of grass? It's not like we're seeing any vegetation, or even infrastructure, with the weather we're having right now."

"I was referring to leafy greens."

Merida cringes as Angela laughs. "Oh, gross."

Angela opens her phone and goes to their group chat. She turns the screen towards Merida and shows the selfie Emily took with Iqadi. They're in Orange County with palm trees behind them. They're in shorts, sleeveless tops, sandals, and sunglasses while Angela and Merida are in boats and jackets. Unlike suntans, they got frostbite. Goddamn New Jersey. They should've joined them.

"Look at them!" Merida exclaims sarcastically. "Two girls in beaches and paradise while we're stuck here in the snow!"

"Girl, I wish we were in the sun," Angela says as she opens the camera. "She's in freaking California!"

Angela holds up her phone and her free hand to show off her nails, smiling brightly. In the remaining space, Merida holds a hand over her curls that cover her face. The apples of Angela's cheeks still have a red tinge from the cold and the two of them are still in their jackets and scarves. She snaps a photo and sends it, not caring about how bad it looks. But Angela would argue that they still look amazing.

-o-

Earlier - Orange County, California - 10:04 AM

"I'm so glad you were available!" Emily exclaims.

Emily and Iqadi sit in the top salon in Orange County. The seats were cushioned and champagne chilled. They haven't been here for long and it was already a superb experience. Britney would've loved it. Now, the two of them sit next to each other as the manicurists work on giving them the same nails as their friends in New Jersey.

"It's Britney's birthday," Iqadi responds. "I wouldn't miss it. Besides, my mother wanted me to take a break. I think they want to focus on Imanu and work on integrating him into royal responsibilities."

"I think they want him to try and adjust without you there."

Iqadi scoffs. "He just got adjusted to me. It wouldn't have made a difference."

"Don't say that. I saw that he loved you from your engagement ball."

"You're being too nice."

"Please. Daniel always looks at me the way he did for you."

Iqadi raises a brow and shrugs a little, keeping a smile. Imanu isn't Daniel but her words are genuine. "Whatever you say. Imanu's trying to adjust to having more, shall we say, official eyes on him."

"I could teach him a thing or two on that." Emily smiles. "Anyways, have you ever gotten your nails like this before?"

"No." Iqadi glances back at the green paint as it's applied to her nails. "As much as they're glamorous, they seem impractical."

"That's why we're getting gel. They're more durable than acrylics."

Once their nails are done, they take their hands out of the curing machines. They fawn at the bright green nails, flexing their fingers and watching the light reflect. Emily and Iqadi almost squeal like teenage girls although they're technically adult women. They're drinking mimosas, are married or engaged, and have a future inheriting a kingdom and enterprise. And yet here they are flattering each other's manicures. Britney would be so proud of them.

"Look, this matches my engagement ring," Emily says, swapping her engagement ring from her right finger to the left, where it should be.

-o-

"You won't believe who's engaged!

Emily Stark, daughter of Tony and Pepper Stark, is engaged at the young age of nineteen-years-old! The young billionaire was spotted getting her nails done in Orange County with a friend. Once her manicure was cured, she beamed to her friend about how it now matches her engagement ring, which was described by bystanders as a simple emerald with a border of diamonds around the centrepiece green gem.

Seeing that the ring was worn on the opposite hand in past events, its constant presence and overheard comment from Stark herself indicates that the ring has some importance. Or a major one if the engagement is true. Talk about a beauty!

Her mystery fiancé has yet to be revealed, especially since Stark was never spotted in a romantic relationship with anyone, but the engagement hasn't been confirmed by any Stark or other sources close to them."

Oh no, now the engagement is out. I can't tell if I'm being sarcastic or not because I love the next chapter.

In the spirit of this chapter, my nails are done bright green as well (at least, when I'm typing this and possibly not publishing. From the publishing end, they're yellow).