Hi there! I'm super duper nervous sneaking this bunny into my house and I really really hope that my parents don't ask about my report card.
She punched in the key code and slid into the apartment like a ninja. As the door unlocked, Noella gingerly twisted the knob, catching snippets of her parents' chatter drifting from the dining room. Luck was on her side; they were too busy clinking glasses with guests to notice her less-than-stellar report card. Sneaking up the stairs, she nearly jumped out of her skin when her name rang out.
"NOELLA, MY SWEET DAUGHTER, WELCOME HOME!" her parents cheered, clearly in high spirits.
"Another round!" the guest chimed in.
"I hear report cards are coming out soon," her mom mused, unzipping Noella's backpack. Mistaking the F's and D's for A's and B's, she beamed, "Our little genius is going to rule the class!"
Noella swiftly reclaimed her report card. "Just keeping my grades safe," she fibbed, her heart racing.
"Where'd you get that stuffed animal? A secret admirer?" her mom teased.
"Looks like your daughter's got a sweetheart," the guest winked.
"Not until she's got gray hair!" her dad huffed, full of boozy bravado.
Safely upstairs, Noella flopped onto her bed with a sigh of relief. She shredded her report card into confetti and tossed it away. Just then, the bunny she'd smuggled home poked its head out of the bag, blissfully unaware of the drama.
"Welcome to my chaotic crib, Mr. Rabbit," she giggled, watching it groom itself adorably.
As sleep claimed her on the floor, a sound like fireworks jolted her awake. Rubbing her eyes, she heard the bunny speak. "You're the one I've searched a millennium for. Awaken!"
Suddenly, her chest warmed, and a brooch appeared, seemingly from her heart, landing on the bed. She goggled at the talking bunny and the mystical brooch, scooting back until she hit the wall.
"Transform now, or everyone you love will perish!"the bunny urged.
Confused, she dashed to the bathroom, splashing water on her face. Back downstairs, she shook her parents, but they were out cold. Panic welled up as tears brimmed. "Please wake up."
"Noella, you must fight the evil threatening to devour souls. Everything will be normal again," the bunny insisted, rolling the brooch to her. "Repeat after me."
And then, in a twist no one saw coming, Noella fainted.
Yep, I must be snoozing in a fantasy!