Not Your Average Fairy Tale (Not Your Average Fairy Tale #1) (11 page)

"Kendall?" His voice was careful, cautious.

I looked up again. Ash's features were blurry through my tears, but he was still there. He hadn't run or disappeared. Even when I pushed him he didn't leave me. He stayed.

"I'm going to take you home now, okay?"

I put my hand in his. It felt good there. Safe. He interlaced our fingers and gave me a small smile.

"You ready?"

I nodded.

"Hold on tight."

The world began to spin. I couldn't help myself. I screamed and squeezed his hand so tight I thought I might break it. It was the strangest sensation I had ever felt. Like the ground opened up and swallowed me whole, then spit me back out. My eyes were shut, but I could still feel Ash's hand in mine. His thumb ran over mine, letting me know he was still there.

"You can open your eyes now," he said. His tone was subdued, and I did as he said.

We were standing in my front yard. He searched my face, and didn't let go of my hand.

I didn't want him to.

"You okay?"

It took me a while, but I finally found my voice. "How did you do that?"

He sighed. "I'm a fairy, remember?"

"Right. Thanks."

"No problem. You should probably get in the house, though. It's 11:59."

I rolled my eyes, remembering my stupid curfew. It's not like my mom even cared when I got home anymore. She didn't seem to worry about me at all lately.

I was hesitant to let go of his hand, but did anyway. I started toward the door and looked back to see if Ash was following me. He was gone.

"Kendall! You scared me to death!" My mom sat in the recliner, working on some cross-stitching. I was actually surprised to see her home.

"Sorry."

"Tessa called," she said. I saw something like confusion on her face. "Didn't she go with you?"

I cleared my throat. "Yes. I just left early." The fact that Tessa had called made me feel better. She really was a good friend. I felt a stab of guilt at leaving her at the party.

She stood and walked over to me. "Honey, I know you're still upset about dad, but we need to start moving on. Especially you. You seem to be taking it harder than any of us."

"Of course I am," I said. "It was my fault. Or have you forgotten that?"

"It wasn't your fault." She paused, her mouth in a thin line as she searched my face. "Do we need to go see Dr. Grey again?"

"I'm fine, mom. I don't need a shrink. Especially one that's more interested in dating you than talking to me."

Her eyes narrowed, but she didn't say anything. "Go to bed, Kendall. You look tired."

The conversation was over. I turned around and trudged up to my bedroom, my eyes brimming with tears again. Every time we argued, she just sent me to my room. She didn't like to talk about things. I wish she did. That's what mothers were for. I know she held me responsible for what happened to my dad, but she never admitted it.

I shut the door behind me and slid to the floor, burying my face in my hands.

I heard someone move across the room, and didn't even look up. I knew it was Ash.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

I glanced up, meeting his eyes. "Do I
look
okay to you?"

"I know it’s a stupid question, but I had to ask." He sat down next to me, his shoulder touching mine.

I exhaled. “My mom's so different now. I don’t even know what to say to her anymore.”

He didn’t say anything to that. I’m sure he was so sick of my stupid problems.

"I'm sorry about tonight,” he said, surprising me. “Especially for pushing Cameron in the pool. Or, flinging him would probably be more accurate."

"He would have gone in either way," I said. My laugh sounded more like a hiccup.

"I should have waited for you to push him in, then."

"I'm too big of a wimp. I'm not strong enough to do anything anymore."

I saw his arm lift, like he wanted to touch me, but he quickly put it down and folded his arms.

"Sure you are. Did you see all those people watching you tell him off?"

"Yes."

"It was awesome."

I nodded, but couldn't talk or even look at him. A tear rolled down my cheek.

"Don't cry," he said. "He's not worth it." He reached out, wiping it away.

"You don't understand, Ash. Look at me. I'm a mess. Who would ever want to be with someone like me?"

"Personally, I don't think he's your type."

"Oh, really? What exactly would my type be, Mr. Matchmaker?" I glared at him, and for once, saw a vulnerable look on his face.

His body tensed, but he turned to look at me. His eyes swept over my face. I was sure I looked like crap. And he looked tired.

I swallowed, knowing if I looked at his silvery eyes, my mind would wander where it shouldn't. Ash was off limits. I had to keep reminding myself of that. First off, he was a fairy. Secondly, he was way too good-looking to be with me.

"For starters," he said. "He'd open the door for you when you got in the car. Take you out to dinner once in a while. Instead of having you 'help' him with his homework."

"That's not–"

He put a finger to my lips to silence me. "I’m not finished."

I felt the blood rush to my face and swallowed. His eyes were intense, focused on only me.

"Sorry," I said, trying to keep the tremor from my voice.

His eyes searched mine. He looked so serious. "Then," he started. "I ... I mean
he
would take you on a walk somewhere nice, just holding your hand and enjoying your company. He'd notice the little things about you."

I snorted. "Like what?"

"You know, the way you chew your lip when you're nervous, or the way you twist your hair when you aren't sure what to say. The way you raise one eyebrow when you're confused, or clamp your lips together when you want to laugh at something, but can't because you don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. The way you blush when you’re embarrassed."

I stopped biting my lip and stared at him. "Was all that in my file too?"

The corner of his mouth turned up and he gave me a crooked smile. "No. You were right about the file. Screw it."

I chuckled. “Thanks." I was secretly pleased, but didn't want him to know, so I kept my expression neutral.

He laughed nervously and continued. "Anyway, about your true love. He'd take you to a quiet place, and tell you how much you meant to him. Not in some cheesy movie way, but a real, honest way."

"You're a romantic," I said.

"Not really. Anyway, then he'd kiss you. Not just any kiss, but, you know ..." He cleared his throat. "The kiss of true love or whatever. Just like all the stories."

"Um ..." I couldn't help staring at his lips while he said that last part.

He leaned toward me, his breath tickling my ear. "Isn't that what you want?"

My heart thumped so hard in my chest that I was afraid he could hear it. I couldn't talk, I could barely even breathe. I didn't dare move. He was so close, yet too far away for me to reach. We were inches apart until he backed away slowly, our eyes never leaving each other. Looking nervous, he cleared his throat again. He stood and ran a hand through his hair.

"I should go," he said.

"Ash," I started.

He pulled his wand out, waiting.

"Thank you. For everything."

He nodded. "I'll see you ... later," he said.

And he was gone.

Ash

I stomped through the courtyard, ignoring curious stares from people. I passed a centaur, who nodded at me, and pushed through a bunch of gnomes on their way to class.

I didn't really get into gnome mythology or all that. I didn't know why centaurs had human chests and heads, but a horse's butt. I wasn't even sure why elves had pointy ears, and I was best friends with one. I didn't know why people like me had magic, and others didn't. All I knew was that this fairy business was playing with my head, and not in a good way.

Kendall was starting to get to me. She was smart, funny, cute, and annoying. She was also emotional, had a temper, but was sweet and real. Half of which wasn't even in her file. She didn't make any sense to me. She was completely different than what I’d expected.

I also didn't know why she liked that Cameron loser. He was an idiot. Why couldn't girls see stuff like that, and why did I care?

"I didn't plan on seeing you again for a while," Logan said as I ascended his stairway.

"Don't get too excited. I'm just here to give you your books back." I handed him
Different Sands for Different Dreams
, and my personal favorite,
How to Not Make Yourself Fall Asleep On the Job.

"You don't need to return these, Ash. I gave them to you to study."

"Well, it looks like I'm going to be a fairy forever, since Ken-I mean, my assignment won't use her last two wishes."

Logan raised an eyebrow. "Just give her time."

"I'm not apprenticing Father Time, Logan. That isn't my area of expertise."

"Hey, cool it with the attitude, kid. I'm just trying to help."

I tried not to smile. He'd called me 'kid' since I had been brought to the Academy as a child.

"You can't call me that anymore. I look just as old as you do."

"Appearances can be deceiving. It's cliché, but it's true."

I shrugged. "I guess."

"I've got about three hundred years on you."

"Okay, you win."

"So, tell me about this girl. Kendall, is it?"

I folded my arms and leaned back against the railing overlooking the courtyard below. "There's nothing to tell."

"Really? You seem, I don't know … attached? Like you care about her. I'm not the only one who's noticed a change in you."

I shook my head and turned around, taking in the view of the campus. It really was beautiful. The only home I remembered.

"Don't worry, Logan. I'm not forming some emotional attachment to her. I barely know her. She's my assignment and that's it. Besides, you can't form an attachment to someone that fast."

"Whatever you say."

I shook my head, not wanting to argue with him again.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" He gestured toward the grounds, full of every magical creature or person left in the world. "I was here when the Academy first opened. It used to be a safe-haven for only children, but look how much we've grown. No one can ever hurt us here."

"Not intentionally."

He ignored me. "It's a shame we didn't have this place before you came, Ash. If we’d only–"

"Please, don't bring that up."

Everyone knew I was one of the first students brought to the Academy. And it did its job. It made me feel safe all growing up. Even so, I didn’t want to talk about my father. It was still so hard, knowing he was gone. It had been nearly thirteen years since he died. I was starting to forget him.

Logan cleared his throat, bringing me back to the present. "You know, I chose Kendall as your assignment."

"What?" This whole time I thought it had been Shenelle. “Why?”

"I went through nearly a hundred profiles, and I didn't find any that suited you. Until I found her."

"Why was she so special?"

He sighed. "You two are a lot alike. You're both damaged. You've lost people who were important to you. She lost her father, you've lost your parents. I thought you'd make a good match. Help each other with your grief. I also knew she wouldn't make your assignment easy. She is stubborn. Just like you."

I glared at him. "I don't need anyone to help me with anything. I'm not grieving. It happened a long time ago. And I'm not stubborn."

"Ash–"

"Please, Logan. I don't want to talk about it anymore." I closed my eyes, feeling the breeze on my face. I silently wished the wind could take the bad memories of my past away and make me forget. In a way I
was
still grieving. I didn't know how to make it better, though.

"I'm sorry I brought it up."

We sat in silence for a while.

"I still have nightmares," I whispered. "About that night. I still hear my dad screaming."

He placed a hand on my shoulder and I jumped.

"I'm sorry," he said.

I stiffened, feeling more vulnerable by the second. I had to go somewhere. Anywhere but here. The nightmares were worse now, ever since Dax had started apprenticing Logan. I wasn't about to tell him that, though. I didn't want to make things worse. Dax would think I was weak, and I wasn't weak. I'd handle it, and when this was all over, I'd pay him back somehow.

Shrugging Logan off, I stepped away from him. "I have to go," I said.

***

The only place I could think of going to was Kendall's house.

I checked her room first, but she wasn't there, so I closed my eyes, grasping my wand with one hand. After a second of imagining her face, I saw her in my mind. She was sitting on some bleachers in her high school gym.

Her head was down, her eyes shut. I focused on her image, and opened my eyes, pleased that I was now sitting behind her on the bleachers. Her blond hair looked perfect, as always.

She sat alone, watching the drill team practicing a dance on the gym floor.

I leaned down so my mouth was near her ear. "Kendall?"

She jumped. "Oh." Her hands flew to her face, wiping her tears away.

I hesitated and then slid closer to her. My arm went around her, and she leaned her head against my shoulder.

We sat in silence, watching the dancers practice.

My hand stroked her hair, and I wondered why I was starting to feel so different around her. Like she’d been missing from my life for the last seventeen years. She felt so familiar to me now. Like we were meant to find each other. Maybe Logan was right. Maybe we could help each other.

"I'm such a loser," she said.

I pulled away. "What are you talking about?"

"I don't know." She sniffed. "I just, I don't have anyone anymore. Cameron's an idiot. My mom is either too protective of me, or lately, not protective enough. I've treated Tessa like crap. And Ellie..." Her eyes found her sister, practicing with the rest of the drill team.

"What about Ellie?" I asked.

"She's just so perfect."

I watched her sister, dancing with the rest of the girls. I wasn't sure what made a dancer perfect, but I could tell she was good and enjoyed dancing.

"I miss it." She leaned her head on my shoulder again, and I didn't move away.

"Dancing?"

"Yeah."

"Why don't you do it again?"

She shook her head. "I can't."

"Why not?"

"I just can't."

"Talk to me. Please."

She shook her head and sighed. "The accident was all my fault. If I'd been ready to go, it never would have happened."

She was quiet for a long time. I was about to respond when she started talking again. "I was drill mistress and had to be at the Homecoming game. I was going to be late for the half-time show." She glanced at me. "Being drill mistress as a junior almost never happens, so I never missed a game to make sure I stayed in good standing. Anyway, that night my dad told my mom and Ellie to go ahead, so he could wait for me to finish getting ready and drive me to the school. My dad and I had always been close." She closed her eyes. "Dad started getting in the driver's seat, but I begged him to let me drive. He gave me the keys.

"I don't remember everything about that night, but I remember the car that came around the corner too fast. The headlights shone right in my eyes, blinding me, and then all I remember is tires screeching, my dad calling out my name, and slamming into something hard. There was a lot of broken glass. A lot of blood." Her voice quivered on the last word.

"I was in and out. I remember people cutting me out of the car. The pain was horrible. My face, my legs. I was freaking out, calling for my dad, when everything went quiet. And dark. I woke up in a hospital room two days later. My mom sat on the edge of the bed, and her face was red and puffy." She shook her head. A tear ran down her cheek, and I reached out, wiping it away.

"I'll never forget the look on her face. When I asked about Dad, she told me he didn't make it."

"I'm so sorry." I had the sudden urge to tell her about my own parents, but decided against it. It was her time to talk. Not mine.

"If I had let him drive, he'd still be ..." She choked on the last word, and I pulled her closer.

"Then
you
wouldn't be," I said.

"At least my mom would have him still," she said. "She wouldn't blame me for taking him away every time she sees me."

I turned her face so she was looking at me. "She doesn't think that."

"She does. I can see the pain in her eyes. She never talks about it. She'll never forgive me. She isn't even my mom anymore. She’s a totally different person now."

"That's not true." My own eyes were starting to water, and I blinked a few times, pushing the tears back.

"You can't know that!"

I hesitated, thinking maybe I shouldn't say anything, but the words came tumbling out of my mouth before I could stop them. "Your mom loves you. I know she does."

"I know. I just wish she'd be my mom again. Treat me like her daughter again.” The moment the words were out of her mouth, she froze. “Oh no!” She sat up straight and I withdrew my arm. My shoulder tingled where her head had been resting, and I wished she hadn’t moved.

My heart sped up. I wasn't ready to grant her other wishes yet. I wanted her to take her time. I wanted more time with her, but once she said the words
I wish
, I had to grant them no matter what.

My wand appeared in my hand and my magic surged through it. Blue sparkles shot out of it, covering us.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“I didn’t ... I mean ...” She groaned.

“You said I wish. I had to grant it.”

“I didn’t mean to say it! I was upset!”

I reached out and touched her cheek, not knowing what to say.

She sighed and stared out into the gym. She didn’t say anything for a long time and I didn’t bug her. After what seemed like at least ten minutes, she finally spoke again. "So, what happens now? Will my mom be okay? Since I made that wish?"

I nodded. "It may take a few days for her to get back to normal, but it will happen. She won't forget the grief, but she'll remember you and Ellie and how much she needs you. And the other way around."

"I hope I did the right thing."

"It was a good wish, Kendall. You need your mom."

"I know." She smiled and bumped my shoulder with her own. “Thanks for finding me. I don’t really like to be alone.”

“I’ve noticed.”

She met my eyes, blushed, and looked away.

I stood and stretched. "Do you need a lift back home?" I asked, grinning.

She glanced at me and grimaced. "No way. Been there, done that, almost threw up after."

I laughed. Traveling fairy-style wasn't
that
bad. She just wasn't used to it.

"Your loss," I said, shrugging.

"You can ride with me if you want. I drove. I'm not the biggest fan of cars, well, you know why, but it gets me from point A to point B." Her eyes widened. "Ugh. I sound like my mom." She shook her head and started down the bleachers.

I followed her down and around the corner toward the parking lot. "I hope you're a good driver. I've never ridden in a car before."

"You serious?" She raised her eyebrows, and then frowned when she saw my smirk. "You're such a liar," she said, quickening her pace. "They have cars where you come from?"

"Of course. Not a lot of us use them, but those who can't 'teleport' have no other option. I guess they could ride a bike. Or run, like centaurs and satyrs."

"Centaurs? Like the horse people?"

I tugged on her arm and she stopped walking. "Don't ever call them that. It hurts their feelings. Their bodies are horsy, but they're more human at heart. And they have nasty tempers. Not as bad as trolls, but still pretty bad."

"Please tell me you're joking."

"I'm totally serious."

"Huh. Weird."

"Pretty much."