Hunting the Fairy Tale

Chapter 96 - Hibiscuits

Molly

Why did I come down here?

I don't enjoy school socials since I no longer have friends... or rather, my friends became my enemies. I've been avoiding scenes like this one, like the plague. Why did I let Tanner talk me into coming? I'd rather just watch it from our balcony.

My eyes wander over Willow. She is looking very beautiful tonight; I've never seen her with her hair loose and flowing around her like a wavy golden ocean before. She is smiling sweetly, looking from Paisley to Jake to Asher and finally at me. Her smile doesn't waver when it reaches me; it feels like it is embracing me, including me in the group. It is a very warm smile, indeed.

Paisley also looks extremely different tonight. I always thought she was exotic-looking and gorgeous, and tonight, she is proving me right. The melancholy that clung to her yesterday is completely gone now; her eyes are shining with a thousand stars.

I pale between these two girls, and that is quite a feat, considering that my hair is made of hellfire and my clothes are spitting out rainbows of colour around me, weaving a protective shield... I hope...

Paisley grabbed me the moment she saw me coming down the steps, feeling uncertain, strongly longing to turn around and run back up them. She was coming out of hiding from behind some boulders with Asher following her, looking sheepish. The look on her face when she saw me made me feel truly wanted. She was clearly happy to see me.

So, is that the direction in which the wind is blowing? Asher and Paisley? 

I always knew that they were close, but I thought they were like siblings. It does make sense, though. I have never seen the boy with any other girl, and he is always looking out for her, willingly following her around like a loyal puppy. He took her other hand when she hooked her arm around mine, and we began our search for Willow.

It's sweet, really. So many things are making sense to me now.

Well, maybe I have some friends after all. The boys all jumped in and took down the girls who were bullying me on the message group. That was very kind; I've always known them to be kind... except Tanner...

Where is he? 

He asked me to come tonight, and now he is nowhere to be found. Are his injuries worse than I've been made to believe? Is he lying at home in pain? He never misses these events... Well, he usually at least shows up before he leaves with Galen or the spirit girls. I remember that much from when I used to come to these things.

This afternoon, I sent him a link to a really cool pie recipe I found. The other times I did that, it caused a long discussion. He said he really loves it when I send him recipe links, and he loves talking about them. Today, he just sent me a thumbs-up in response. The second thumbs up today! 

Well, at least he didn't just ignore me; still...

I guess he's just not feeling well enough to think about food and cooking, and it didn't cheer him up as much as I thought it would. He did make my mum some lovely stew, though. I had a bowl of it, and the wonderful flavours all mingled and blended harmoniously and then tried to strangle me because thoughts of him in pain were breaking my heart. I fully understand why my mother cried extra salt over her sausage rolls last night.

I'm worried about him and also a little annoyed that he seems to be shutting me out. Perhaps I'm just paranoid. I just want to see that he is alright.

I wish we were still sitting on the bench at the top of the steps, with him sleeping in my lap. He was fine then.