Chapter six
The last few days leading up to Friday was hell for Eve. The reasons being:
Lola, like a bloodhound, had managed to sniff out her reluctant soulmate everywhere. Even tracking him to boys changing rooms, (which was a sight burned into Eve's memories forever) which resulted in them dragging naive Lola, the unicorn not seeing what was wrong barging in on a dozen or so naked boys.
The corner shop that Eve liked and always had the best meal deals, as well as the brand of gum she likes, had the dreaded poltergeist return, which conveniently doesn't show up and creates mischief whenever Eve tries to convince people the ghost haunting the shop was real. Each time that week Eve stepped foot into the shop the poltergeist, (who she nicknamed Fred the dread) would cause all sorts of mayhem, throwing things off the shelves, messing with poor elderly shapeshifter who ran the shop, making him believe it was Eve's fault. He even once placed items in her pocket to make it seem like she was shoplifting. But worse of all that week he had ectoplasm dumped all over her, soaking into her clothes, staining her hair and ruining her favourite jumper, leaving it sticky, and with the odour of a decaying corpse.
It had appeared that week, the week during which the annual fairy flight tests were happening at school, the well and beloved fairy king had arrived in the city for a short visit, staying in, and i do believe a description of the fairy kings city mansion is best left to the good magical folks from the leperturan times (the most popular of the cities newspapers)
‘the king of the twinkle toes, (the fairy king) has engeniusly constructed a mansion, more gastly and rainbow puke awful than the likes of the fleabags murder mansion. One would not be surprised to find the building itself made of all things ‘nature’. As usual the fairies flaunt their money and magic, the building made from ancient shimmering star stone, rumour even circulating that bones from the long dead giants were used for the columns and pillars as well as the many arches. The white is a blasting and glaring thing to stare at among the many ordinary buildings in comparison nearby, so much so it makes you want to gouge your eyes out, as well as the annoying subtraction of the lack of the stairs. Oh but don’t worry, they have installed a crickety old ladder, a wooden ladder, a ladder despite all evidence manges not to break at the slightest touch that could be pushed away from the wall by a gust of wind. Note that among all of this the worst aspect of all about the mansion is the dragonfly winged dire badger that stands guard at the gates. An absolute terror if you're wearing sny of the following colours, purple, blue, green, red and finally yellow.’
Written by yodel dogel, critic of all things, self proclaimed non leprechaun, (Yodel is in fact a leprechaun, he just despises anything to do with the gold hoarding kin of his. Mostly because he had already failed to protect his very own pot of gold and refused to take fault and instead blamed the centuries worth of his culture and traditions.) Owner of said leprechaun times and forever nemesis of the fairy king. (Hence the unprofessional rant about the king's new mansion. He really should just let it go that the guy took the last cream horn all those years ago at school.)
Most who were not fairies did not like the fairy mansion, it was an eyesore, but mostly and the fairies would tell you this, it was jealousy for their brilliant architecture and style. Of course they never heard the coughing or muttering insults calling them ‘obnoxious pricks’.
The appearance of the fairy king back in the city had sparked excitement within the fairy community, it also gave the fairies at school the reminder that Eve existed. Glaring at with disgust whenever they saw her, she had even found that someone spray painted ‘embarrassment’ on her locker which was tamer than usual but still just as hurtful. Even the fairy teachers used it as an excuse to be curler about their snide remarks.
And unfortunately she saw a lot more of them that week. The fairy flight tests were exactly what they sounded like, a series of tests grading and evaluating the teenage fairies flight and magic ability, it was P.E. (physical education) but with a few extra steps, that and a part where students jump off of the top of the school building. But don’t worry they have safety mats lined out at the bottom, although they do smell like a combination of sweat, piss and old people.
But Friday was by far the worse for her, Eve's whole day consisted of nothing but fairy tests, which she all but failed, to everyone's amusement. It had not helped that the teachers practically egged on the sniggers from the students as they told Eve to try again or try harder.
When taking breaks, nearly all of the fairy students had gathered around Eve's two favourite tormentors. For the last few days at school, the two girls had bragged relentlessly about a state dinner their families had been invited to at the fairy king's city mansion. Only the elite of the elite of fairies got to meet the fairy king and grace one of his famous social gatherings. Eve rolled her eyes as she sat in the far corner of the room waiting till they were all called back in to carry on the tests. She tried to ignore the envy clouding her chest, it didn’t matter that she would never get to go to the fairy king's mansion, to see the grace and power herself. Eve knew the fairy king was like none other, one of the oldest beings in existence, older than the city itself, wise beyond measure but stagnant in age, stuck within the confines of fifty. According to rumour he was handsome in looks with kind pale green eyes and long silver blonde hair. His soulmate had been equally as stunning, with flowing brown hair and golden chestnut eyes, it had been a tragic thing when she passed due to complications during childbirth.
Eve sighed, the two girls were telling everyone about how grand the mansion was, and that they had actually gotten to speak with the fairy king, “it’s a given of course,” one of the two smirked, “I mean our fathers afterall are in the city's fairy ministry.” It was then that they were called back into the gym, a dodgeball set up was in place, teachers smiling as they ratted on about deserving a small break before carrying on with the tests.
They were split up into teams, the team leaders picking and choosing out of everyone who to be on thiers. Eve was of course one of the last to be picked, reluctantly by a girl Eve distiantly remembers once shoved her face into their schools sandbox when they were seven. Everyone glared ast Eve when she joined, knowing perfectly well that she was a terrible player.
Dodgeball, when played by fairies, was near brutal, magic and flight was allowed use in the game as long as the magic used was of a basic level. Eve always had walked away from a game of dodgeball when bruises and bumps, once even a busted lip and cracked tooth.
When the whistle was blown Eve instantly had a bad feeling as both of her tormentors shared a knowing grin with each other. Whilst one flew overhead and another ran to the far edge, Eve felt her feet begin to stick to the gym floor, glancing down she saw that yellow sticky moss was encasing her foot, and of course today was the day of all days she decided to double knot her laces. She tried to wriggle out but her feet were stuck in her trainers. It was then that she realised that all the players in her team had moved to the side making a wide berth for herself, and the other team were floating in the air with all the dodgeballs in their hands. She gulped just as they swung their arms back and launched the balls down at her. Eve closed her eyes, covering her head the best she could with her arms.
The next thing she knew she was on the floor, groaning, her arms felt as if they were burning as well as her face and chest. Something flowed from her nose, dripping onto her lips, it had a metallic taste. She sighed, praying to the goddess that her nose wasn’t broken, she really didn’t want her mum charging into school yet again, a broken nose was hardly something she could hide from her.
Eve pushed herself up shakily, her head felt dizzy, her stomach churning as a sickening sensation grew in her gut. Bowed over clasping her belly. A teacher gazed at Eve impatiently, frowning not pleased with her dramatics.
“Go to the nurse's office,” she bit out, “and stop acting like that, you're not dying, it was just a little stumble.”
Eve didn’t say anything glad that she was told that she could leave instead of suffering through more dodgeball ambushes. She shuffled to the nurses office when she arrived she sat down for half an hour till the nurse finally noticed her. The centaur shook her head, placing her hands on her hips. “I think you should just start skipping class if you keep coming to me like this,”
“That bad?”
“Pretty sure your nose is broken,” she handed Eve a cold compress, “how’s the head,”
“Swirling, pounding, I feel like I'm going to be sick, or faint.”
The nurse frowned, handing yet another compress, “keep them to your nose and head, if you keep feeling like that, best to ask your mum to take you to hospital, it might be a concussion.”
“Brilliant,” Eve sighed,
“For the meantime, go take a shower, you stick worse than a wet wolf.”
Eve obeyed heading back to the changing rooms, at least no one else was there, little did she know that one of her bullies happened to pass by from her trip to the toilets, not at all accidentally misplacing Eve's clothes and putting them in the bins outside.
When Eve finished with her showder still feeling as if she was seeing double, tripping over her feet, she came out to find all her things missing. No matter how hard she looked she couldn’t find them, she shivered naked, hugging her arms around herself. She sat down trying not to panic but already the tears streamed from her eyes. She couldn’t leave, everyone would see her naked, and she couldn’t call anyone for help. Her phone was with her stuff. She just sat there for hours till the rest of the students piled in, all of them laughing at Eve, some even taking pictures and videos. Eve wished she could die, the throbbing pain of her head and nose still wasn’t going away, and the loud chattering and chuckling of the girls around her made everything so much worse. They teased her offering their clothes, but smirking as they curelly changed their minds with a glimmer in their eyes.
Eventually everyone got bored with Eve leaving her alone once more, she didn’t know how long she sat there till Delila found her, it turned out only two periods, there being only two more classes left of the day.
“Those bitches,” she growled, “they can’t get away with this,”
“No ones going to do anything about it,” Eve sniffled, “is it all over socials?”
Delila hesitated, “no,”
“Fuck,” Eve groaned, “you know what that means,”
It grew silent, Eve huddled up, her chin resting on her knees, “I just wanna go home.”
“I have a few extra clothes in my locker. Wait here?”
“Not like i want to show everyone my birthday suit,” Eve chuckled but the laughter didn’t reach her eyes.
Soon enough Eve was dressed and ready to go, ignoring Delilas offer to go and look for her stuff. She rushed out of school, power walking in odd socks, (Delila didn’t have a spare pair of shoes) a mini dress and an oversized cardigan, trying not to flash anyone her private bits. It was a goddess sent when she was her building quickly jamming in the code and climbing up the many stairs. Walking in she didn’t expect her mum home, yet there she was sitting in their small lounge, with the good tea set out, and the fancy branded tea bags with a man Eve didn’t recognise.
“Eve? What are you doing home so early? Why are you wearing different clothes-”
“Oh-well i-”
“Where's your school stuff?” Feya’s face immediately morphed into a pained expression as she clearly took in Eves face, “oh, sweetheart,” her left hand grasps her mouth, “your nose, what happened-”
“N-nothing,” Eve stuttered, “I fell on the stairs.”
Feya frowned a fire lighting in her eyes, “it was those girls again wasn’t it.” she gritted, “that’s it,” Eves mum lifted up off her head, determinedly heading towards her purse and keys placed on the kitchen table, “i’m going to that damn school and giving them a piece of my-”
“No! Mum please, it-it wasn’t them, i’m okay really please.”
“Eve-”
“We have a guest you can’t just get up and leave,”
Feya was shocked for a moment, completely forgetting the man sitting on their sofa. She took a calming breath, “alright, i’ll stay here.”
Eve sighed in relief, then turned to look at the man sitting on the sofa watching them both. “Um-er-who is that?”
Feya went rigid, she passed an uncertain look in the man's direction.
He smiled brightly at Eve. “i’m your grandfather,”
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