Flunked

  “I’m fine,” I say, feeling worse now that Mother is standing right in front of me. “How is everyone?” I’m afraid to say my siblings’ names out loud because it will just make what I’m about to say even harder. I’m not coming home.

  Someone throws their hands over my eyes. “Surprise!”

  “Anna?” I sputter. My sister uncovers my eyes, and I see she is standing in front of me in a cobbler uniform resembling my mother’s. She looks taller than she did a few weeks ago (is that possible?), and I can smell her Rapunzel hair perfume. (“It sparkles and smells great! Just like me!” Rapunzel says in the ad.) Around her neck, Anna has the tiny locket I stole—I mean got—her for her last birthday. “What are you doing here?”

  “Anna was so proud. She couldn’t wait ’til you got home to see you!” Mother says as my sister dances around me. “The others are home planning a big hero’s welcome at the boot. Felix, Hamish, and Han are already making signs, and Trixie…” Mother laughs. I can’t recall the last time I heard her do that. “Trixie started to make you a cake even though we were out of eggs and….” She touches my cheeks with both hands. “You’ve only been here three weeks and already you’re changing.”

  I glance at Father. He puts a hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. I can’t remember the last time he did that. “We’re proud of you, Gillian.”

  Whoa. I don’t think Father’s ever said those words to me in my entire life.

  My cheeks color as I think of the words “hero,” “proud,” and “party” being used about me. Thieving got me riches, but I’ve never received praise like this before. I don’t know what to say.

  “Did you really save Sleeping Beauty?” Anna asks excitedly, her cocoa-colored eyes shining. “I’ve been telling all my friends at trade school! You’re going to be practically royal in the village. Tell us exactly what happened and don’t leave out a word.”

  My family looks at me expectantly, but I can’t lie to them like I have to others. “It wasn’t really a big deal.”

  Father is watching me closely.

  “It’s a huge deal!” Anna says, squeezing my hand. She hasn’t let go since she got here. “Why don’t you seem excited? You’re coming home today!”

  This is what I wanted. To get home to my siblings, to make Anna proud, to get some respect from Father. And yet none of this praise feels exactly right and that is why I know now, more than ever, that I’m doing the right thing.

  Mother frowns. “Gillian, where is your suitcase? Didn’t you pack? Your professor said we needed to leave the grounds immediately because they’re doing final preparations for the ball tonight.”

  I plant my feet firmly on the oriental rug under my feet and take a deep breath. This is much harder to say with Anna hanging on me. “I didn’t pack because I’m not leaving today.”

  Mother looks baffled. She shows me the release scroll. “But it says here we can take you home. Professor Harlow said—”

  “I know what Professor Harlow said,” I say gently as Anna’s face deflates, “but I can’t go home just yet.” I eye Miri’s glowing mirror in the corner. “I’m sorry you closed the shop and had to make the trip over here, but there are things I have to do before I’m released and they could take a while. Dark things are happening in Enchantasia,” I say quietly, “things I can’t talk about now, but I’m trying to help stop them. Others are too. People in here are depending on me,” I say, being cryptic. “I wouldn’t feel right if I left them now when they need me more than ever.”

  Anna drops my hand. “We need you!” she yells, her voice full of disappointment. I feel a pang. I can’t even look at Father. “Mother has papers that say you can go home! We don’t have enough to eat, and I don’t know how to pluck from royals like you do. My first attempt failed.”

  “Anna!” Mother says in shock, and my heart sinks. What have I taught my sister?

  “Anna, don’t become a pickpocket like me,” I tell her. “Just because the royals are easy to steal from doesn’t mean it’s right.” Father looks at me with a note of pride.

  Anna, however, is furious. “What has this place done to you? Now you think you can stop villains too? I don’t know who you are. Mother, if she’s not coming home, then I can’t even look at her. I’m waiting outside.” She stomps out the front doors before I can stop her. I’m not sure I would reason with her even if I could.

  Anna, please forgive me, I think. I’m doing this for you.

  “Gillian, you’re not making any sense,” Mother says, waving the scroll in her hand. “How can you stay when they want you to leave? I don’t think I can just leave you here to help your little friends. We have an order.”

  My heart sinks. I know she’s right, but I can’t bail now.

  I hear a ripping sound and look up. Father has surprised Mother and me by tearing the scroll to pieces. “I don’t see any release scroll,” Father says and Mother’s jaw drops. “I say she stays right where she is.” Father touches my chin. “Staying here means a lot to you, doesn’t it?”

  “Yes, I’m trying to do something good, Father,” I say, my voice wavering.

  “Then I think you should,” he says with a small smile. “You obviously have more work to do at Fairy Tale Reform School. Stay and make us proud.”

  “I will.” I throw my arms around him and squeeze. I don’t know when, if ever, I’ve hugged him, but he deserves a hug now. I’m not going to let my family or anyone inside these walls down.

  CHAPTER 17

  Let’s Get This Party Started

  When I sneak into the ballroom with Maxine a few hours later, I momentarily panic.

  “Come on! Come on!” Maxine says, tugging on my arm because I’ve suddenly gone statue-like on the main staircase. “Let’s go blend in before someone spots you.”

  I can’t help myself. I’m blown away. I can’t believe this is the same room where we practice dragon slaying. (We do not use a real dragon. Madame Tilly just conjures up a fake one for fire-safety reasons.) I’ve never been to a ball before, so I don’t have a lot to go on, but I can’t imagine anything as beautiful as this room. An intricate display of peonies, roses, gardenias, and ivy blankets the ballroom ceiling, which glows like stars thanks to lightning bugs and glowworms hanging out in it.

  One wall is made of glass, revealing the largest aquarium I’ve ever seen. Madame Cleo and the mer-students are having their own party inside. The Sea Siren is wearing a glittery shell top, and her long hair is piled high on her head in an updo adorned with shells and starfish. She sways to the music before she is pulled into a dance by a mer-man who looks a lot like the one she danced with in detention.

  A flash of lightning brightens the tables surrounding the dance floor where footmen and maids—usually busy laundering smelly socks and checking our mail for illegal objects—are carrying plates of roast lamb and cranberry salad. The number 5, for our school’s anniversary, is everywhere. It’s on table cards and banners, and has even been shaped into rolls.

  Despite what some of the soggy guests around me are whispering as they come in out of the rain this late fall day, nothing was stolen for the festivities.

  “You’ve got to give props to Headmistress Flora for going out with a bang,” says Ollie when we find him bopping along to the band near the appetizer table. “I’m glad I dressed up.” He’s wearing a white pompadour and a blue suit that makes him look like a South Pole elf, and his hair is so shiny and slick I could ice skate on it.

  “You can’t even tell I have magic tricks hidden in this jacket.” He slides his coat back to reveal a flower that squirts water, two decks of cards, and silver cuff links—I haven’t a clue what he’d do with those. “I think we’re ready to party!”

  By “party,” Ollie means battle. We’ve spent the last two days listening to Kayla tell us everything she can about Gottie, which isn’t much. (“She’s very dark and mysterious,” Kayla
said, which was less than helpful.) Ollie has stolen every radish in the school garden to handle the gargoyles, much to the gnome cafeteria chef’s dismay. I just passed a flyer in the hall that said “Do You Know the Radish Thief? Reward for Information!”

  I swiped a copy of Flora’s scroll from her office, which had the party timeline—from princess arrivals to her speech. We looked it over in the Pegasus stables one afternoon, but to be honest, I couldn’t find anything fishy. Jax struck out too. He tried to get word to the castle about what we think Gottie has planned, but with security so tight, we don’t even know if they got Jax’s message.

  “I think we’re on our own,” he said grimly late last night when we were going over details one last time in the observatory, which has become command central. “Help might not be coming.”

  We’re as ready as we’ll ever be to try to stop our villainous teachers and one of the biggest baddies to ever hit Enchantasia.

  And we’re not all that ready.

  If I think about what we’re trying to do too much, I want to throw up in one of the emerald green vases near the punch station.

  I catch Ollie staring at Maxine and me appreciatively. “You ladies clean up well.”

  “Thanks!” Maxine has a fondness for Chef Raul’s gingersnap cookies, but in her hot pink dress and numerous accessories (three necklaces and a dozen pearl earrings in her pointy ears), she looks sweet. “I did Gilly’s and my hair. Rapunzel gel will make it stay put even during an explosion.”

  Long curls drape down my back. When I try to shake my hair helmet from side to side, my curls barely move. “It’s definitely a change from my ponytail,” I say. “So is this dress.” Ollie stole me the green taffeta gown from who knows where. It feels heavy and is hard to move in, but the hoop skirt is a great place to hide my radish supply. I tried to pinch us swords during gym, but I think Madame Tilly was on to me. I’m weaponless. We all are.

  “Why do I think you’re wearing shorts under that skirt?” Ollie asks.

  “Because I am.” I can’t imagine this skirt doing me much good if we have to run. Better to be prepared, which is why I have bloomers on underneath. My eyes scan the room for signs of anything amiss. The dwarf squad is patrolling and doing random bag checks. If Pete knows I’m not supposed to be here, he hasn’t said anything. A fairyographer is whipping up pictures. Headmistress Flora is watching the clock. Nothing seems out of the ordinary. Yet. “Have you seen Jax and Kayla?”

  “Nope!” Ollie grabs Maxine’s hand, just as Gnome-More starts playing a dance number. “Might as well dance and keep an eye on things on the floor.”

  Maxine turns to me and gives a silent squeal. “We won’t go far.”

  I give her a small thumbs-up and watch them run down the stairs. A loud clap of thunder makes everyone freeze for a moment. It is nasty out. According to Miri, who gives us the weather every morning, “those who wear glass slippers instead of rain boots today are making more than just a fashion faux pas.”

  “Look at you, thief!” Jax comes up behind me with Kayla and walks around me. “I never thought I’d see you in a dress.” He makes a face. “You stick out like a sore thumb in that thing.”

  I huff. “Well, you look royal in your outfit, so good job there.” In a taupe silk jacket, cropped pants, and high socks, he looks like a prince, which I guess he is. “You look nice too, Kayla.”

  “Thanks,” Kayla says in a small voice. Her shimmery dress is so pale blue it almost looks clear. Anna, a huge fashion fan, would definitely approve. Kayla keeps her eyes on the work boots that peer out from underneath my gown. “You too.”

  A flash of lightning brightens Jax’s face. The rain is coming down so hard we can’t see much of anything outside. “See anything unusual yet?”

  “Wolfington was pacing the floor a few minutes ago, but other than that, all seems normal,” I report. “Flora, Azalea, and Dahlia are talking to Happily Ever After Scrolls. Their reporters are stationed at every corner of the room. I haven’t seen any sign of Harlow or Jocelyn though.” And that makes me uneasy.

  “Once the bait arrives, Gottie shouldn’t be long after,” Kayla says. “Or Harlow.”

  By bait, she means royals.

  “I left the stables unlocked like she asked.” Kayla’s wings flutter more rapidly when she’s stressed. “I still think we should have set up some magic there to stop her.”

  “I doubt one of Ollie’s magic tricks could do that,” Jax says grimly. “We’re winging this thing.”

  “I’ll double-cross her if I can,” Kayla says. “We know I’m good at that.”

  Jax and I are quiet. Jax may be able to forgive Kayla for all she’s done—it is the royal way—but thieves don’t forget. I don’t trust her.

  “Evening, students.” I freeze. Wolfington has somehow snuck up on us. He’s wearing a green velvet suit, and his long hair is tamed in a ponytail. His green eyes are unusually bright. “Miss Gillian, I’m surprised to see you here. How are you enjoying the ball?”

  “I…” I look at Kayla and Jax who are momentarily stunned. How could I have missed him in the crowd? “I decided not to go home,” I blurt out. “I meant to go straight to the headmistress’s office to let her know, but then I got sidetracked getting ready for tonight.” I look down at my shoes. “I don’t feel ready for Enchantasia yet.”

  Wolfington nods. “Quite understandable. We all have work we need to do before we return to our normal lives, don’t we?” I blink rapidly. Did he hear me talking to my parents? “Personally, I’m glad you’re staying, but if I were you, I’d stay out of Professor Harlow’s way tonight.” He takes a swig from the goblet in his hand. “She doesn’t handle change as well as the rest of us, and I’d hate for her to spoil the party.”

  The three of us look at each other. “Yes, sir.”

  He scratches his chin. I can see his hair sticking out of his shirt cuff below his wolf cuff links. “You and your friends seem to have been preparing for this evening a lot. All those late-night chats you’ve been having in the observatory.”

  A bead of sweat forms on my brow. He’s on to us. Stay cool, Gilly. Deny, deny, deny. Wolfington doesn’t even give me a chance to do so.

  “We just wanted to look our best, sir,” Jax says calmly. “We needed to help Gilly find a dress since she changed her mind about staying at the last minute.”

  He eyes us all intently. “Well, you look wonderful. Enjoy your evening and do be careful,” Wolfington says and disappears into the crowd.

  “Oh my God.” Kayla freaks. “What are we going to do?”

  Suddenly Gnome-More stops playing and trumpets sound. A footman appears at the opposite staircase.“Hear ye! Hear ye!” he yells. “Presenting the Royal Court of Enchantasia—Princesses Ella, Snow, Rapunzel, and Rose!” The entire room seems to curtsy and bow at the same time.

  The princesses are decked to the nines with tiaras, jewels, and dresses so big it seems almost impossible that they could sit down in them. They prove me wrong by heading straight to their table, which is surrounded by Snow’s beloved dwarf squad. Maxine and Ollie make their way back, and the five of us peer out at the crowd, waiting for something to go wrong. Flora heads to a podium and begins to give a speech about our school’s anniversary, and I feel my back go up.

  Something is going to happen any minute now. I can feel it. But I’m wrong. Minutes later, Gnome-More is playing again and a fairyographer is leaving with Flora and some of the princesses to pose for pictures in the entrance hall. Madame Cleo disappears from her tank, and I assume she’s headed to the photo op as well.

  “This might be the nicest ball I’ve ever been to,” I hear a guest say as she passes by me. “Can you believe we’re in a reform school? I hope no one tries to hurt us!” Her friend laughs.

  But it’s not funny. Someone wants to hurt all of us. I scratch my neck. I’m breaking out in hives. Where is Gottie?
r />   Kayla begins to hyperventilate as people go back to dancing or head off to get food. “I don’t understand. She should be here by now with her army of gargoyles. I swear!” she insists.

  “Liar, liar,” Jocelyn tsks, appearing out of nowhere. She grabs Kayla and me by the arms. “Kayla just doesn’t want you to join the real party, but I do.” Her smile fades. “All of you are coming with me.”

  CHAPTER 18

  Playing by the Rules Is for Wimps

  “I thought you were smarter, Cobbler,” Jocelyn says icily and flicks her annoying black cape so it billows out behind her. She’s leading us down a hall away from the ballroom. She has a small purple mirror I recognize from Harlow’s office pointed at our backs. She already warned us about trying to make a move to escape. “My sister gave you an out. You’d be home with Mommy and Daddy right now if you had just listened to her. Instead, you’ve made things much worse for you and your friends.”

  “I swear! I don’t know what she’s talking about,” Kayla insists, whimpering as we’re led along. “Gottie told me she was coming to the ball.”

  Jocelyn whirls around. “Do you really think she’d be so foolish as to show up in the middle of a room with all of Enchantasia watching? Why do you think she sent her gargoyles to do her bidding on Royal Day?”

  “I guess Harlow wasn’t really under a spell that day, was she?” Jax asks. I watch him motion to Ollie to get something out of his jacket. He moves his hand slightly and Jocelyn’s hands begin to crackle. She sends a zap Ollie’s way and he flinches.

  “Don’t be stupid. Harlow couldn’t fall under a spell set by gargoyles,” Jocelyn says. “She was trying to take out some of the royals for Gottie without having to bring the Wicked One into it.” Jocelyn’s dark eyes burn through me. “But you had to go and mess things up, and now I’m stuck delivering you five to her instead of staying out of things like my sister wanted.”