Not Your Average Fairy Tale (Not Your Average Fairy Tale #1) Page 6

  I couldn't get the sound of the daughter's screams out of my head. They were so real. I couldn't handle it anymore.

  My heart started racing. I gripped the sides of my seat so tight my hands throbbed. The images from the accident came flooding back. My eyes started burning and I squeezed them shut to stop the tears.

  "Kendall?" Tessa asked.

  I had to get out of there.

  “Kendall? You okay?”

  Ignoring Tessa, I stood. I scooted past Cameron, who muttered something I didn’t catch, and hurried to the stairs. I don't think I'd ever made it down a flight of stairs so fast. Sweat dripped down my forehead, and I wiped it away. My body shook, and my vision blurred.

  Heading straight for the bathroom, I pushed open the door and locked myself in the largest stall at the back.

  My breath came in gasps, and I bent over, putting my head between my legs. I couldn't believe I was having another attack. Especially at the movie theater.

  The door opened, and I heard clicking heels making their way toward my stall.

  "Kendall? You in here?" Tessa sounded worried.

  "Yeah." I managed. "I’m feeling a little sick. I think I ate too much popcorn."

  She was quiet for a moment. "Do you need me to take you home?"

  "I'll call my mom. I'm fine."

  "You sure? I can take you–"

  "I'll be fine, Tessa!"

  She didn't say anything, and I felt bad for yelling at her.

  "I'm sorry, Tess. I just don't feel good. Tell Cameron I'm sorry."

  I heard her sigh. "Okay. I'll see you tomorrow."

  She walked out and I slid down the bathroom wall, not caring how disgusting it was. I texted my mom.

  After she answered, I sucked in a breath and put my arms around my knees. I rocked back and forth, letting my tears fall.

  How was I ever going to get over the grief? I'd already been to counseling. There was no way I was going back.

  A knock on my stall door brought me back to the present.

  "Kendall?"

  My heart leapt. "Ellie?"

  She stuck her head under the stall door to see me scrunched in the corner. With a sigh, she slid her body underneath.

  "You could have picked a cleaner place to sit," she said.

  "What are you doing here?" I asked. "Is mom here?"

  She nodded and crawled over to me, putting an arm around my shoulder. "She's waiting in the car. Tessa messaged me before mom told me she was coming to pick you up."

  I buried my face in my hands. "What's wrong with me, El? I can't get over this."

  She gave me a squeeze. "You've been through a lot, Kendall. It doesn't just go away in a few months. Sometimes it takes longer."

  "You're fine though," I said, sniffing.

  She shook her head. "I'm better, not fine. You just handle things differently." She paused, pushing her curtain of blonde hair over her shoulder. "And I wasn't in the car with Dad."

  She was right about that.

  "Come on. Let’s get you home," she said.

  I stood, leaning on her for support.

  “Thanks, El.”

  She grimaced. “Can I wash my hands before we leave? I just crawled across the gross bathroom floor.”

  I laughed, but it sounded more like a snort. “Sorry.”

  She smiled and gave me a squeeze. “The things I do for you.”

  Many things had changed in the past few months, but my relationship with my sister hadn't been one of them. I didn't know what I would do without her. Even though I was the older sibling, she took care of me.

  Chapter 7

  Ash

  "Did you have fun last night?" I asked as Kendall opened the door to her room.

  "Whoa!" she yelled, stumbling into the wall.

  I didn't move. Just stood near the window with my arms folded, watching her.

  "What the heck, Ash?" She looked over at me, her eyebrows knitting together, and, messing with the neck of her sweater, walked to her bed. "You can't just hang out in my room whenever you want!"

  Sitting down, she took her shoes off and kicked them into the closet. Well, near the closet. Not like it mattered anyway, since her room looked like a tornado zone.

  "So?"

  "Yes. I had a great time."

  For some reason her tone wasn’t very convincing.

  She saw me watching her and smiled. "Cameron actually talked to me. It was nice."

  "You mean Cameron hasn't talked to you before?" I asked.

  "Of course he has. Just … not recently." She busied herself with her cell phone. I took a step away from the window. "Why?" I asked. Her cheeks reddened a little.

  "It's nothing."

  "Did you cheat on him or something?" As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew I shouldn't have said them.

  She stood, putting her hands on her hips. "Don't talk about me like you know me. Or him either."

  Oops.

  "I know you better than you think," I lied.

  "So, you know we were never together then, and there's no possible way I could have cheated on him?"

  "Well …"

  "That's what I thought! You have no idea what you're talking about."

  Wow. I’d have to finish reading her file now. "Sorry. I was just asking a question, and I guess I have my answer."

  Her icy glare scared me a little. "You don't know anything about me."

  "Have you thought of your second wish yet?" I asked, changing the subject.

  Her chest rose and fell and it took a moment before she answered. "No."

  I ran a hand through my hair and let out an exasperated sigh. "Well, hurry up. I want this job over with."

  "Then why don't you quit?"

  I resisted the urge to fling a spell at her. Like a "stop-freaking-out-over-everything-I-say" spell. She looked away and sat down on her bed.

  "I'm not mad at you," I grumbled. "You didn't get me into this mess." Feeling sorry for myself again, I made my way over and sat next to her.

  "I feel so much better now." She turned around and jumped in surprise, her eyes widening.

  "Sorry, I move quieter than I used to," I said, shrugging.

  "Yeah, you sort of float. You're really graceful."

  "Please. Don't ever tell me that again." Looking like a fairy was bad enough, without hearing that I moved like one. I frowned, hoping I’d still have some dignity left when this was all over.

  "So, um, it looks like my first wish really did work."

  "Duh," I said, smirking. My unpleasant thoughts dissolved. "Let me know your second and it'll happen even faster."

  She raised an eyebrow. "Are you this cocky with all of your assignments?"

  "Always," I said.

  "Lucky me." She sighed.

  "Yep." I popped my knuckles and stretched. The rope holding my wings down dug into my skin, reminding me they were there. I shrugged it off. "Actually, you're my first and only assignment. When I'm finished with your wishes, I have bigger plans than being a …" I trailed off, twisting my wand between my fingers. "A fairy."

  "You really weren't always like this."

  "No." My hands clenched into fists, and I forced myself to calm down so I wouldn't break my wand.

  "What are you, then?"

  I shook my head. I wasn't about to discuss that with her. "I'm just Ash. That's all you need to know."

  Her mouth drew into a thin line. "Fine."

  She stood there, waiting for me to speak again, so I said the first thing that popped into my head. "Do you know you have a boy’s name?"

  Her face flushed and she squared her jaw, ready to fight back. "I have a boy name? Have you heard your name lately? Ash. Is it short for Ashley?" She gave me a smug look, challenging me.

  "It's just Ash," I said between clenched teeth. "And it's not a girl name."

  "I call my friend Ashley, 'Ash' all the time," she said.

  I considered her a moment. "You don't have a friend named Ashley."

  The corner of
her mouth twitched. "How do you know?"

  "I'm psychic." I’d lucked out on that one.

  "Sure you are," she said.

  "Okay. Fine," I said. She was honestly unlike any girl I'd ever met. She didn't take

  crap from anyone. Especially me. "Now that we've established that we both have

  ridiculous names, let's work on your second wish."

  "I don't know what else to wish for."

  "Are you serious? Most girls have, like, fifty things they want to wish for. Just pick one!"

  "How would you know what girls wish for? I thought I was your first assignment?"

  I frowned. "I know several fairy godmothers who've filled me in on their assignment's wishes. Humans are so predictable. Perfect hair, perfect boyfriend, perfect body. Pick one."

  She glared at me. "I'm not going to wish for something stupid. I want to make my wishes count. "

  I thought about something in her file that would help her along. "You want to go to Paris, right?"

  "Yes," she said slowly. "How do you know that?"

  I ignored the question. "Wish to visit Paris. I’ll have you back by the end of the day."

  Her eyes widened. "Really?"

  "Try me."

  She shook her head. "I’m not wasting a wish like that. If I go to Paris, I'm going when I have more than a few hours to spend there. I want to see so many things. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre … I could spend a few days at the Louvre."

  "Oh, come on!"

  "Quit bugging me so I can think!"

  She actually yelled at me.

  I sat down, annoyed and frustrated. How could she not like any of my ideas?

  Lame.

  She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye. I raised an eyebrow, and she smiled.

  "What?" I asked.

  "You have pretty eyes. They're silver. I've never seen that color before," she said. A hint of a smile played about her lips, and she cleared her throat and turned around. It didn't hide her flaming cheeks, and I had to give myself props for making her blush.

  I knew I had weird eyes. At least I thought they were weird. I couldn't name one person in my world with silver eyes. The only other person who came close was Dax, but his were gold. It was the only thing I'd admit we had in common. Not that I wanted anything in common with him.

  Speaking of that devil, I still hadn't figured out why he'd been at the theater. It was odd. He wasn't supposed to know who my assignment was, but somehow he did.

  "I've been wondering," I said, plopping into the huge pink bean bag again. Really, it was huge. I wondered if Kendall had ever gotten lost in it. "Why does Kendall need three wishes?"

  "Kendall doesn't like annoying fairy boys asking questions." She reached up, skimming her fingers over her scar. Habit, I supposed.

  I stood up and took a step toward her. She still sat on the bed. "Does it hurt?" I asked, gesturing toward her face. The scar was red, going from below the edge of her right eye all the way down her neck and into the collar of her shirt.

  "Yes," she said. I was making her nervous, I could tell.

  Reaching out, I touched her cheek with my finger, sending magic coursing into the wound.

  "That's better," I said, surprised how husky my voice sounded. I forced myself to stay focused and pulled away to admire my work.

  The scar was much lighter now. I couldn't heal it, but I could make it look better.

  "How did you do that without your wand?" she asked, astonished. She put a hand to her neck, stepping close to the mirror to examine it. I thought I saw moisture in her eyes.

  I shrugged. "I can use magic without it." I smiled. "I am a fairy." As if that explained everything. I was born with magic in my blood. Unfortunately, the council decided what I would do with it.

  "Thank you," she whispered.

  "You’re welcome."

  The silence stretched on.

  Finally, she frowned. "Is Cameron only talking to me now because of the wish I made? I thought he hated me."

  "He has to like you at least a little for the wish to work its magic." I paused. "You obviously have feelings for him. Maybe he feels the same way?" What the heck was wrong with me? Maybe they turned me into a fairy on purpose. This conversation was turning me into a girl.

  "Riiight,” she said.

  "I'm serious."

  She smiled a little. "Thanks, Ash." I was surprised at the emotion in her voice. She sounded sad.

  "You okay?"

  She nodded. "Sure."

  I touched her shoulder and she shivered.

  My stomach churned, and I felt some strange emotion I'd never felt before. I couldn't explain it. I cleared my throat, clapping her on the back like an old friend. "Well, I've got to go."

  "You know, you're pretty cool. For a fairy, I mean," she said.

  "Thanks," I said. "I'll see you tomorrow. But only if you think of your second wish."

  She smiled, and I vanished.

  I rolled my shoulders when I appeared in Lady Shenelle's office, trying to get the tension out of them. It had been an interesting day, and I was exhausted.

  Shenelle was waiting for me. "How did it go?" she asked. "Did she make her second wish?"

  It took me a minute to answer. Trying to keep a straight face while looking at a woman floating around the room with a bright purple dress and matching hair was difficult. Her hot pink wings peeked a little above her shoulders, and I cringed, remembering mine probably did the same. Or would, if I hadn't tied them down.

  I thought of Kendall. "It went fine. And no, she didn't make her second wish."

  Shenelle frowned. "I thought you would have gotten it out of her by now."

  "Don't worry about it. I'll get it soon."

  She studied me for a second and then looked away. "Just don't get attached to her."

  I laughed. "Like that would ever happen. She's just an assignment."

  She smiled like she was relieved. "Good."

  I cleared my throat, embarrassed. "I'll turn my notes in a little later."

  "Good." She picked three books from the massive bookshelf that dominated one side of the room. "Are you having any problems with your magic?"

  "No," I said.

  It was a rather odd question, but Shenelle had always been interested in my magic, ever since I was a child. I wasn't sure why, but I had the feeling she knew something I didn't. About my mother. I wasn't about to ask her about that though.

  "Let me know if you do," she said.

  I nodded. "You changed your hair."

  "Every day." She smiled. "You should try it!" She pointed her wand at me, and I tried to jump out of the way, but didn't make it in time.

  My scalp tingled. "You better not have changed mine," I warned.

  She laughed. "You may want to avoid people on your way back to your dorm."

  Great.

  ***

  "Come on, Ash. It's just a party. Sinna wants you to come. Everyone does, since you've been hiding out in your room all day. Every day."

  I glanced up at Sam, who stood in the doorway with a jacket slung over his arm. He had dark glasses on, his flaming hair gelled into spiky tips, and he was texting. He'd been talking about Sinna's party for a week. I put Kendall's file away and sighed. "Fine. Don't set me up with anyone, though. I'm not in the mood."

  We headed across campus to Sinna's dorm. Loud music blasted us as we entered the building, and more than one head turned when we walked through the doorway.

  A multicolored disco ball swirled from the ceiling, casting colored lights over the walls and people. An instant headache.

  "Hey, Ash!" Misty came running up, her green wings displayed for everyone to see. Her form fitting dark green dress complimented her eyes. Not that I noticed.

  "Hi," I grumbled.

  She raised an eyebrow and turned to greet Sam. "You got him out of his room. You're pretty amazing."

  "I try," he said.

  I swear, Sam's chest puffed up and his voice lowered two octaves. I wondered
if something was going on between them.

  "Come on, let's go," she said, grabbing us each by the arm.

  She steered us past a group of elves, several fairies, and a few sirens sitting near the fountain at the center of the room. One of the sirens, Clarissa, I think, winked at me.

  "Hey, Ash." Her violet eyes glowed softly, and she ran her fingers through her dark hair. It was enough to make any male lose his mind, but I knew better. I rolled my eyes, not falling for her tricky siren ways, and was grateful they had a ban on singing near water in our world. Half the guys in the room would have drowned by now.

  Misty took us over to the corner where Sinna and a bunch of other dryads gathered. They each held cups full of golden sap, and had flowers in their hair.

  Sinna stood when she saw me. Her willowy body all but floated over to us. "Ash, I didn't think you'd come," she said. Her voice was soft, melodic. I tried to avoid her stare.

  "Happy Birthday, Sinna. How old are you now? Two hundred?" Sam asked.

  "One ninety-nine," she said, beaming. Quite young, for a dryad. She'd only been at the Academy for a year or so.

  "You look great." I took in her long red dress, her almost-white hair that hung past her waist. She did look good. At her knowing smile, I glanced away, feeling my face heat up.

  "You like?" she asked.

  I cleared my throat and wondered why Kendall's face kept invading my thoughts.

  "Of course. How could anyone not think you're beautiful?"

  She sidled up to me and ran a finger across my cheek. "We could go back to my tree." She leaned in to whisper in my ear. "You could show me your wings."

  I jerked away.

  "Wouldn't that be special!"

  I tensed at the sound of Dax's voice.

  "The party’s already crashed and I haven't even gotten my dance on," Sam said, glaring at him.

  Dax grinned. "I like Sinna's idea." He walked over and slid an arm around her waist. She squealed, her face turning red. "Let's see fairy boy's wings."

  I heard chuckles all around the room, and I tried to keep myself calm.

  "Leave it alone, Ash," Sam said. "He's not worth it."

  I couldn’t leave it alone. "Who invited you anyway? I heard djinns aren't allowed."

  "That's funny," Dax said, smiling. He reached into his robe and pulled something out. "Oh, I almost forgot your gift, Sinna. I'm giving Ash a makeover for you." Before I could react, he blew a bunch of sand right in my face.