July 2085: if looks could kill

Gabby Roseland is 12. Lily Riley-Kim is 13.

Soundtrack: "If Looks Could Kill" by Heart


It was just an ordinary hot and hazy day in July. Gabby Roseland didn't think anything about wearing her green spotted flippers to the beach...

June 2085: kissing frogs

Lily Riley-Kim and Claude McCullough are 13.

There was one week before school let out for the summer, and Lily wasn't impressed with the season's offerings so far. France was all she could think about. She was going to France. Sure, it was two months away still, but a girl could dream, about the clothes, about the art, about the boys. Certainly there would be boys in France. But that wasn't the only reason she needed to break up with Claude McCullough.

Lily called Claude and told him to meet her at the park near his house. Her Aunt Mariah had to drop off Quinn at her new job, so she had exactly 25 minutes, no more and no less. That was fine. She didn't think she'd need longer than that anyway.

"We have to break up," Lily said.

"What? Why?"

February 2085: The Snowflake Ball (Ruby)

February, 2085. Ruby McCullough is 17, Claude is 12. Kevin Pittman is 19. Lily is 12.


"Smile," Barbara said, holding the camera up at her son and his girlfriend.

Claude's grades were ridiculous, and it was a miracle his father was even letting him go to prom. But they knew it would only disappoint Lily if he didn't go, and she looked so lovely. Her parents were lovely, and rich, and had five children in the school district. Barbara knew it never hurt to have powerful connections when her husband going for school board president. Best not disappoint one of their daughters.

Claude and Lily smiled for the camera.