| Episode: | Season 1, Episode 1 – Chaos! At The Gala |
| Location: | Market District Skyway |
| Written By: | Ellie Reyes Ashley Ortega |
| Date: | 08/16/2026 |
| Word Count: | 1,104 |
The conversation with her sister had gone better than expected the other day. When Ashley had gotten home from school that day, and after Ellie had asked, Ashley had talked to her big sister about not going to the gala ball. There was a small part of the twelve-year-old that wondered if Alex had expected Ash to decide not to go?
But, that wasn’t really important either now was it? Ashley thought to herself as she sat on the edge of the walkway. Just below them, where they sat along the skyway that covered the small path below in the market district, the parade was already ongoing. A slight grin played on Ashley’s otherwise expressionless face.
“What is it?” Ellie had finally asked as she leaned over the railing and watched the marchers in the parade. The sound of trumpets and other music playing out beneath them as the crowd on the skyway watched.
Ashley shrugged, “Nothing,” She told the older girl. And it was true, there was nothing she was thinking about right in that moment.
Ellie nodded, behind them was the store front of one of the three restaurants owned by Ellie’s mother. The flagship store, and perhaps the most important of the three too. Ellie kept looking over her shoulder, expecting her mother to come out at any time. “Maybe later we can go to the festival that’s going on in the district?”
Ash shook her head, “Actually after the parade I was hoping we’d go back inside,” She said with a shrug. She leaned down until her elbows were pressing against the surface of the railing she was leaning against. “If that’s okay?”
“Sure,” Ellie mentioned. She looked around, it was a bit more crowded than what Ellie had remembered in years past. Ellie wondered if this was why the other girl had avoided the gala in the first place? The question played out in her head as she considered the possible answer. “Or, we go back to my place. We can watch the ball from there.”
“I would like that,” Ashley said softly. This year was a bit different for Ashley, and she hadn’t really wanted to watch it nor did she want to attend. The girl honestly didn’t know what she wanted. Her mind was a bit blurry at the moment. Maybe after the Gala was over she’d actually talk to the therapist about her feelings?
Or, she’d try to get her big sister to actually talk about it? There was some part of Ashley that had realized the older girl was holding something back. Did her big sister blame herself for what happened? Ashley shook her head trying to clear the thought from her brain as she watched the marchers.
“We don’t have to watch the gala on the tele-net,” Ellie said without looking at Ashley just as the crowd around them fell silent once more. The next group of parade participants were starting to pass. It was the largest float they’d seen so far.
“I know,” Ashley said, then the crowd erupted into loud cheering as the float passed them. They were throwing treats from the float and several small children below the skyway had raced into the fray trying to grab as much as they could. This caused Ashley to smile once more, remembering when she was that old.
Ellie nodded, “We could do anything you want.” She added wondering if her best friend was even listening to her. She turned and placed her hands on her hips, “You’re cute you know.”
Ashley had been listening and the words caught her completely off guard, “I…” She turned and faced the other girl for a moment. The heat on her cheeks starting to burn, “Were you testing me?” Ashley asked suddenly.
Ellie laughed playfully, “Partially,” She answered once she knew Ashley was actually listening to what she was saying. “I do mean it when I say you’re cute, but I wasn’t sure if you were paying attention. You seem a bit distracted.” The thirteen-year-old remarked rather confidently.
Ashley sighed heavily, “Thanks,” She said softly. Then she kept her eyes on Ellie for a moment partially wondering what the other girl was thinking right now. “Yeah, sorry I am just kinda distracted.” She admitted rather sheepishly.
“I can tell,” Ellie replied. “What are you thinking about?”
Ashley considered the question, the younger girl staring toward her best friend who was just a little taller than she was. And, a little more lanky and spindly too. “I was just thinking about Alex and how I think my sister is holding something back.”
“The fire?” Ellie asked her.
Ashley nodded, the small part of her that didn’t want to talk about it seemed to be losing the battle anyway. “I think she blames herself,” Ashley told the older girl quietly. “I think she thinks our Mom and Dad not making it is somehow her fault.”
Ellie nodded once as she looked down the length of the skyway and at the surface of the station below. The smaller children had since scattered once the float had passed by them, “You told me once Alex got you out, but when she went to get your Mom and Dad it was too late.”
Ashley nodded, she barely remembered the fire. It had been late at night, and she’d been woken up to the sounds of sirens, her sister pulling her out and then not much after that. “It was probably too late anyway, they said the fire started in their bedroom. We just don’t know much more than that.” The twelve-year-old grimaced.
And, it was true there weren’t many details about it. Ashley still didn’t know what had caused the fire, didn’t know what was going on. She believed her parents had probably passed away in their sleep without ever knowing there was a fire. The details were just so weird, “The entire thing was just so strange,” The twelve-year-old quipped.
Ellie listened to the other girl speak and hugged her once she’d finished the sentence. “You’ll probably never know.” She said sadly.
“Yep,” Ashley said with a single nod. She reached out and took Ellie by the hand, “Let’s go for a walk.” She remarked softly. “And, not talk about this anymore.”
Ellie nodded her head again, “We can do that.” She allowed herself to be pulled out of the crowd and down the opposite side of the skyway. The parade below was nearly over anyway, they only lasted a couple of hours. And, the parades were all at weird staggered times too. Not that it seemed all that important though.