Sound the alarm

Round 17: March 2028

Aaron Hayes, Emily Midlock and Frieda Robinson are 20.

(Sara is 19, Riley is 18 and Jesse is 15.)

Narrated by Emily

Frieda has been bugging us about throwing a party and this semester our schedules finally aligned enough that we actually could. We also wanted to welcome Riley to university so we decided to throw a joined birthday party for him and me. Throwing a party at a dorm is not exactly acceptable but people do it anyway because usually the RAs let it slide. We only invited Frieda's boyfriend Blake, Sara and Riley and also Frieda's nephew Todd and his girlfriend Skye. Mind you, Todd and Skye are only 16 but we figured our party would be tame enough for highschoolers. 

Happy now

Round 17: September 2027

Sara Midlock is 18.

(Emily and Frieda are 19.)

Narrated by Sara Midlock.

I feel like I'm more used to the gruelling schedule now than I was during my first semester. I used to be totally exhausted every night but I've worked out a system that works for me. After our midday practise I often come back to the dorm, get some lunch and take a nap.

Stargazing

Round 17: September 2027

Aaron Hayes, Emily Midlock and Frieda Robinson are 19.

(Sara is 18.)

Narrated by Aaron.

I don't have any sisters so I wasn't really prepared to all the aspects of living with girls. I mean, I thought pillow fights only happened in movies but I've witnessed Emily and Frieda having pillow fights in their underwear at least twice. Whenever I catch them they just laugh and ask me to join them!

Heal

Round 17: March 2027

Aaron Hayes, Emily Midlock and Frieda Robinson are 19.

(Tina is 39, Sara is 18, Tim is 6 and Michael is 3.)

Narrated by Frieda

I lost my dad just a few months ago. The hurt is still so raw that sometimes it feels like I can't breathe. Like I'm moving through a fog and I can't see anything. I don't know what I'd do without Aaron and Emily. They can understand what I'm going through so they know when to leave me alone or when to smother me with love. We're quite an unusual bunch of teenagers because we've all had so much grief in our lives. 

Kisses of fire

Round 16: September 2026

Aaron Hayes, Emily Midlock and Frieda Robinson are 18.

(Alexandra is 52.)

Narrated by Aaron.

I've been trying very hard to concentrate on my studies but I'm very easily distracted with thoughts of Emily. It feels weird to feel this way about her because we've been friends for so long and she used to be my brother's girlfriend.

Everything we touch

Round 16: April 2026

Rianna Midlock is 56, Anthony is 52, Sara is 17 and Jesse is 13.

(Gabriel is 26, Eve is 25, Emily is 18 and Freddie is 16.)

Narrated by Sara.

I love weekends. I get to sleep in, I don't have ballet lessons and I can just unwind. Jesse and I both usually sleep late and then drag ourselves downstairs to have breakfast in our pajamas.

Firework

Round 16: March 2026

Aaron Hayes, Emily Midlock and Frieda Robinson are 18.

(Tina is 38.)

Narrated by Emily.

Aaron, Frieda and I managed to get into the same dorm and Frieda and I even share a room. It makes it easier to live with a bunch of strangers when there's two people I've known since I was a kid.

Happy Birthday, January 2026

Mia Greene turns 12 this year and is one of the three new students in Wellington High School. Mia is very family-oriented but she also has her sights set on a career as an artist.

We rule the school, January 2025

Round 16: January 2025

Principal Nyah Marlowe and teacher Phoebe Lind.

Students: Frieda Robinson, Aaron Hayes and Emily Midlock are 17, Sara Midlock is 16, Riley Cooper is 15, Ross and Madelyn Cooper and Jeremy Hayes are 14, Liam Cooper, Skye Marlowe, Todd Robinson and Iona Fielding are 13 and Jesse Midlock is 12.

Narrated by Nyah Marlowe.

We're finally getting a new high school this year. The construction workers are currently tearing down the old one so we're stuck with this temporary lot with a couple of barracks working as class rooms and other necessary buildings. It's not ideal but it would have been impossible to tear down the old building and get a new one up and running during the summer holiday. At least this way we'll hopefully get to start the autumn semester in a brand new school building.

First day of my life

Round 15: July 2024

Ryland and Jackie Whitfield are 73.

(Emily is 16.)

Dark paradise

Round 15: February 2024

Rianna Midlock is 54, Anthony is 50, Emily is 16, Sara is 15 and Jesse is 11.

Narrated by Anthony Midlock.

We thought that the worst was over with Emily grieving over Ethan's death but it seems that she has just scratched the surface. She started school with everyone else and we haven't heard anything from the teachers so apparently she's doing well there. She got a couple of weeks off work but she's been back there for months now and says it's going fine. But in the evenings she just sulks in her room and only comes downstairs for dinner and that's just because we order her to join us. She's not even spending time with her sister anymore which is really worrying.

Every night we hear her listen to the same song with really haunting lyrics over and over again.

"Every time I close my eyes
It's like a dark paradise
No one compares to you
I'm scared that you won't be waiting on the other side"

(Grant/Nowels)

No cars go

Round 15: November 2023

Kaitlyn Brennan and Eve Midlock are 22.

(Anthony is 49, Jack is 40 and Stephen is 22.)

Narrated by Eve Midlock.

It still feels a bit weird to participate in all family gatherings but I do enjoy it. Just the other week we celebrated Father's Day and also dad's promotion to lieutenant.

We rule the school, October 2023

Round 15: October 2023

Principal Nyah Marlowe is 37 and teacher Phoebe Lind is 29.

Students: Aaron Hayes, Frieda Robinson and Emily Midlock are 15, Sara Midlock is 14, Riley Cooper is 13 and Madelyn and Ross Cooper and Jeremy Hayes are 12.

Narrated by Phoebe Lind.

This semester's start couldn't have been worse. Ethan Hayes passed away just two weeks before school started and it really changed the whole school. Nyah immediately arranged a counsellor to stay at the school for the first month so that students could get some help in this crisis. Ethan was such an outgoing person and loved to joke around. I've never seen the students so quiet especially after summer.

Some die young

Round 15: August 2023

Patrick Marlowe is 76, Alexandra Hayes is 49, Quinn is 47, Aaron and Ethan are 15 and Jeremy is 12.

(Emily is 15.)

Narrated by Alexandra Hayes.

Having three teenagers in the house is sure way to drive any adult crazy. It feels like the boys are going through every emotion every day. Aaron and Ethan can be at each other's throats at any time.

Dancehall queen

Round 14: Autumn 2022


Rianna Midlock is 52, Anthony is 48, Emily is 14, Sara is 13 and Jesse is 9.
(Regan is 58, Eve is 21 and Ethan is 14.)

Narrated by Sara Midlock

I've been working really hard for good grades lately. Mom and dad finally allowed me to start proper dance lessons this autumn but I can only continue them if I manage to keep my grades up. It's not exactly ballet but it's a good start.

We rule the school, Spring 2021

Round 14: Spring 2021

Principal Nyah Marlowe is 35 and Phoebe Lind is 27.
Students: Dawn and Zach Whitfield are 17, Josh Cooper, Lilly Fielding and Finn Harris are 16, Aaron and Ethan Hayes, Emily Midlock and Frieda Robinson are 13 and Sara Midlock is 12.

Phoebe has 5 students in her class this year. She has gathered the kids into the library where they are researching the books for information.

Breathe slow

Round 14: Spring 2021


Patrick Marlowe is 74, Alexandra Hayes is 47, Quinn is 45, Aaron and Ethan are 13 and Jeremy is 10.
(Stephen is 20, Emily is 13 and Sara is 12.)

Narrated by Ethan Hayes.

Mom's been really worried about grandpa ever since grandma died last summer. At first he barely got out of the house and most days he wouldn't have gotten out of bed if one of us didn't tell him to get up.

Diving for hearts

Round 14: Spring 2021


Stephen Marlowe, Eve Midlock and Kaitlyn Brennan are 20.

Narrated by Eve Midlock.

Last year was a real rollercoaster for me. My mom revealed information about my father just before she died so I came to Wellington looking for him. I was surprised and relieved how well Anthony took the news of a 19-year-old daughter. I've been seeing him and his family quite a lot lately.

Mercy

Round 13: Summer 2020


Rianna Midlock is 50, Anthony is 46, Emily is 12, Sara is 11 and Jesse is 7.
(Eve is 19.)

Narrated by Anthony Midlock.

I've been working all summer so Rianna spends the days with the kids. We can't afford to travel anywhere so she usually takes them to the park. Emily's all grown-up now, at least that's what she thinks, and she says she's too old to play in the park but she goes there anyway.

Happy Birthday, Winter 2020

Alexa and Will Harper bring home their new born daughter Jena Caitlin. Their twin boys are excited to meet their little sister.