Later that afternoon, Chloe went to the library and settled into her favorite corner, opening her diary. Writing always calmed her—her secret way of untangling the chaos in her mind.
She had barely finished her first sentence when someone sat down close to her, the quiet tapping of laptop keys filling the space. She lifted her head and froze.
Andrew.
"Psst… hey," she whispered.
Andrew looked up, his face lighting up. "Hey. 'Sup?"
"I'm good," she said, tucking a curl behind her ear. "What are you working on? Didn't expect to see you here." Her laugh came out nervous.
"Uh, yeah," he said. "I come here sometimes to get away from… stuff. And I'm just working on a little project."
They exchanged a warm smile—one of those rare, soft smiles that made Chloe's heart flutter.
But the moment didn't last.
Brianna strutted into the library like she owned it.
"Andrew! I've been looking everywhere for—" She stopped when she noticed Chloe. "Oh. I didn't know you were hanging out with her." Her face twisted in disgust.
Chloe looked away, refusing to engage, but Brianna pressed on.
"Piece of advice?" Brianna said coldly. "Stop trying to be a leech. You're nobody compared to Andrew and me. Know your place."
Andrew's jaw tightened. "Brianna, would you stop already? We're in a library. What's wrong with you?" He turned to Chloe. "Chloe, I—"
But Chloe stood abruptly, blinking back embarrassment. Without a word, she packed her things and walked away.
She didn't look back.
---
When she finally got home, her mother was waiting in the living room, arms crossed and face tight with worry and anger.
"Where do you think you're coming from, young lady? And why do you look like that?"
"Sorry, Mom," Chloe murmured. "I stayed at the library a little longer. I forgot to call."
"Your siblings got home two hours ago, Chloe! And you didn't even come help me at the restaurant. You better not be hanging out with the wrong friends."
"Mom, please." Chloe's voice cracked. "Not now, okay? I'm nineteen. I know what I'm doing. Just trust me for once. I was at the library. That's the truth."
Tears blurred her vision. She rushed upstairs and shut her bedroom door before her voice could break again.
---
The next morning, Cherry immediately sensed something was wrong.
"You alright, sis?" she whispered.
"I'm okay. Just… didn't sleep well," Chloe said quietly.
Their teacher walked in moments later with an announcement.
"Tomorrow, we'll be going on a tour to the city's history museum."
"Oh, finally some fun," Cherry said, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Let's go shopping after class!"
"I can't," Chloe muttered. "Me and my mom… we're not in the best place right now."
"Ugh, whatever. But you can't stop me from coming over tonight. I'm sleeping over, and tomorrow morning? I'm giving you a makeover. Period."
Chloe couldn't help a weak smile. "Who am I to say no?"
---
The next day, Chloe and Cherry arrived early to board the bus. Soon the entire class was on their way to the museum with Mrs. Smith leading the tour.
After a while, boredom set in.
"Let's explore," Cherry whispered.
Chloe hesitated, then nodded. They slipped away, wandering into quieter halls filled with ancient artifacts and forgotten wonders.
But exploring had a consequence—they lost the group entirely.
"Uh… Chloe? What's this?" Cherry asked suddenly.
Chloe turned just in time to see Cherry press her hand against a strange stone panel in the wall.
A low rumbling echoed through the hallway.
A seam appeared…
A crack of light…
And then—
A hidden door slowly swung open.
---
AUTHOR'S STATEMENT (End of Chapter One)
In every ordinary life, there exists a single moment that changes everything—one choice, one step, one door. For Chloe, a girl who spent her whole life wishing for something more, fate has finally answered. But magic never comes without a price, and the door she and Cherry have opened may rewrite not only her world… but who she is meant to become.