The Parker Saga

Chapter Five: Thinking About the Future

All the Parker girls were now teenagers. Being the most outgoing, Clara had decided to set up a club to meet other spellcasters their age.
"Hello, I'm Hazel," Hazel said to a young man with curly auburn hair. "What's your name?"
"I'm Will. Will Gardner," he replied.
"Where are you from?"
"Actually, I'm from Henford-on-Bagley," he said. "3 Olde Mill Lane, just over there."
"Oh cool!" Hazel replied. "I had no idea."
"Yeah, my mum tends to keep to herself," Will explained.

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Seeing that Will wanted to go inside, Hazel quickly exchanged phone numbers with him. There was definitely something about him that made Hazel want to get to know Will better...

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"You know... I really dig your hair," Hazel said, shyly. "I love the colour."
"I like yours too," Will replied. "It's so shiny and wavy. It really suits you."

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A couple of days later, at school, all the girls had had a career talk advising them to think about the future. As a wannabe author, Hazel hadn't really thought she needed to go to university, but now she realised that it could actually give her some good material; not many books seemed to be set at university. Plus, having a degree was good backup in case her writing career didn't take off as she hoped.
The Language and Literature degree, of course, seemed ideal. Not only would it expose her to different forms of writing, it would also encourage her to develop her charisma skills - no doubt useful if she went on book tours.

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In the kitchen...
"So, have you thought about what you want to do?" Katie asked.
"Um, I'm not actually sure," Clara replied. "A Communications degree appeals to me, but I'm not sure what to do with it. How about you?"
"I was thinking of becoming a professor," Katie answered.
"Yeah, that would fit you," Clara grinned. "Being really knowledgable about something and passing that knowledge on to others."

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As a gardener, Emily was required to improve her logic skill, so she settled down to a game of chess with Joshua.
"I'm beginning to regret this," she said ruefully. "I have no idea what I'm doing. How do people get so good at this game?"
"Practice," Joshua replied simply. "Just be patient, love."
"Patience was never my strong point," Emily muttered, surveying the board.

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The following evening, Hazel went over to visit Will. After a little bit of flirting...
"Ooh! I didn't expect that so soon," Will said.
"Oh? I hope you feel the same way," Hazel replied.
"Of course," Will smiled. "It was a great kiss."

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Meanwhile, Lydia had been getting to know the other member of the club, Rosa. As the pair chatted in Rosa's apartment in San Myshuno, Lydia realised she wanted something more than friendship.

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When Lydia got home, she knew just who to tell about her feelings.
"Hazel, I've got something to say," she said. "I'm... I'm a lesbian."
"Oh, that's great!" Hazel replied. "So do you have a girlfriend?"
"No, not yet. I don't know if she feels the same way."
"Lemme guess - is it Rosa Sánchez?"
"Yeah. She's so pretty..."
"She is," Hazel agreed.
"I noticed you've got your eyes on Will..."
"Oh yeah," Hazel grinned. "We're official now."
"Awesome!" Lydia replied. "You two will be adorable together."

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The next day was hot, which didn't often happen in Henford-on-Bagley. The girls all ate breakfast together before school.
"So, I hear you've got a boyfriend now," Clara said.
"Yeah. It's Will from the spellcasting club. He's so cute..."
"How about you, Lyd?" Katie asked.
"Oh... I haven't got anyone just now. But there is a girl I've got my eye on..."
Katie nodded, fully understanding.
"Hopefully she feels the same way. Everyone deserves happiness," Katie said.

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Lydia had decided that she fancied a career in marine conservation, with Biology the obvious degree choice. She decided to work on her fitness after school.

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On a date with Will that evening, Hazel was intrigued to see a familiar ghostly figure at the bar.
Grandpa? she thought. She well remembered coming home from Scouts that time and seeing his corpse on the porch. She hadn't realised back then that ghosts were real. She didn't know where he was buried. She was still keen to find out more about her family history, but knew now that her father would reveal his past in his own time.

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Not too far away in Willow Creek, Lydia was ecstatic to find out that Rosa did, in fact, feel the same way.
"Oh, I'm so happy we both fancy each other," Lydia said. "It'd be so unfortunate if our feelings were unreciprocated."
"I think any couple feels like that," Rosa said, "straight, lesbian or otherwise."

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After a quick kiss, Lydia was delighted when Rosa agreed to become her girlfriend.

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Once home, Lydia knew she had to tell her parents. Joshua was tired and had to go to bed, but Emily was able to listen.
"Look, Mum, I have to tell you something," Lydia began.
"Yes?"
"I've got a girlfriend."
"Oh, honey, that's wonderful," Emily replied. "What's her name?"
"Rosa. She's a Spellcaster like us."
"I'm glad you're happy," Emily said. "I know it can be difficult to come out, so thank you for sharing. I know your dad would be fine with it too, but he's really tired."
"I understand," Lydia nodded. "He works so hard at his engineering job."
(I know Emily looks a little disapproving here, but she's not! Since I don't have Pose Player I have to just go with what I can get from the in-game screenshot function.)

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