The Fairy Queen

Chapter 6

“I look embarrassing.”

“You look fine. You’re all dressed up today, even I’m falling in love with you.”

“Fall off a cliff,” She remarks snidely, smacking Gus. He chuckled and flopped around her bed. Coraline nodded in approval.

“I did such a good job.”

“Yeah. Look at our little tomboy.”

“If she was thinking of wearing another flannel shirt today, I would’ve hit her. I couldn’t bear the thought so I just came here.”

“I wasn’t thinking of wearing a flannel shirt! It’s summer.”

The two of them gave her a deadpan look, like they couldn’t believe her.

“You think flannels are the most attractive clothing items with hoodies coming second and thigh boots coming third.”

“That was 7th grade!”

“Well then, shall we open your closet?”

“Most of them still fit, okay?”

“Honey, your excuses are lame.”

“Shut up Gus!”

Meryl was really dressed up. She wore a short off shoulder blue dress with short arms. She paired it up with a three inch silver wedge heel. The necklace her father had gifted her was on her neck and the bracelet Lucas gave her was also paired with it.

Her normally frizzled hair was braided into a unique style that Coraline came up with. She put on light makeup and two pearl earrings. She was even more beautiful than they thought she would be.

Even if her friends thought so, Meryl didn’t feel that way. She was extremely insecure because of her body. She weighed about 133 pounds, had big thighs and wide hips. She had a smaller upper body but she was definitely a C-cup.

Compared to everyone else around her; Shelia, Isabella, Coraline, she was fat. They never failed to remind her of that and over time, it made her feel bad about herself.

“I don’t think I can wear this.”

“Aw, come on. It’s my gift to you. Please, Meryl,” Coraline begged with puppy eyes and pouty lips.

“Meryl, you look really beautiful in it. I mean it. Come on, wear it and strut your stuff.”

“Gus, you sound like a pedophile.”

“Well, what do you know? I just happen to be older than you. Come here baby.”

“Eek, get away!”

The trio took Meryl’s car to school, taking Lucas and Jessie along. Gus drove instead of Meryl, insisting on giving her a treat on her birthday. Lucas took the passenger’s seat, chatting away with Gus. The two shared a love for drums.

Meryl, Jessie and Coraline on the other hand, discussed prom gown accessories. They spent their trip to school looking online, talking about materials and where to get them so Coraline could patch them together. Coraline’s dream to become a fashion designer never waned even once. They dropped Jessie off and soon pulled into the parking lot of their high school. Lucas gave his sister a thumbs up before disappearing into the school.

“So, birthday girl, what do you wanna do?” Coraline asks with excitement.

“Go back home…”

“Denied!” Gus flicked her forehead.

“Why don’t we go to the club three towns over? You’re finally 18 so it means we can finally go there together.”

“You guys have been going there without me?!”

“W-What? What are you talking about? Of course not,” Gus denied, hiding behind Coraline. She panicked and pointed behind Meryl.

“It was Warren’s idea!”

The boy casually sneaking up on Meryl halted in his tracks, confused.

“What was my idea?”

“Warren was in on it too?! Come on guys!”

“What are we even talking about?”

“Going to the club, Warren. Without me,” Meryl deadpanned.

“Aiit, I’m out.” Warren turned to leave, caught by the collar by Gus.

“You can’t leave me here, bro. We’re in this together.”

“Huh? Who are you? Do I know you?”

Meryl shocked her head, not phased by their antics. She didn’t want to go to the club anyways. It would just hurt less if she was invited. She looked beyond the arguing boys, catching a glimpse of Isabella standing by her locker.

She left them, walking towards her.

“Isabella, morning.”

She was suddenly hugged.

“Happy birthday Meryl!”

When Isabella let go, she shoved a small red box with a white ribbon on it. She smiled brightly, waiting for her to open it. Meryl felt a little embarrassed but Isabella’s smile was contagious and so was the excitement to open it.

Inside the box was a pair of sneakers. They looked hand designed, a cute drawing of a fairy on it. It melted Meryl’s heart.

“Thank you Isabella.”

“You’re welcome. You look hot by the way.”

“This is embarrassing but thank you.”

Meryl stowed her gift away in her now empty locker, walking back to her friends after waving to Isabella. She scoffed when she saw Warren.

“Isabella is too good for you.”

“Hey!”

“I mean she’s not wrong” Gus shrugged, slumping over Meryl. She shrugged to get him off but he wouldn’t budge.

“Coraline, would you like to hear what the initial draft of our after game celebration looked like?”

“Warren!”

Meryl and Coraline giggled as they watched Gus chase Warren down the hall.

“Meryl! Happy birthday!” Meryl heard Sheila scream from afar. She walked in with a cake box while Sheldon was beside her, grumbling because he had to carry his sister’s bag.

“Thank you Sheila. I don’t really like cake.”

“I know you don’t. This is for everyone else. I got you a more fitting present. So, I spoke to my dad and he introduced me to a publisher in the city. I told them about your dream journal and they said they would be interested in seeing the draft.”

“Really?!”

“Yes! If you send me an e-copy tonight, I’ll send it to them!”

Meryl squealed and hugged Sheila, who was screaming alongside her. Sheldon and Coraline shared a pained but happy look.

Sheldon casually inserted himself in their middle and pulled Meryl away. He ignored Sheila’s protest and Coraline’s weird look, taking her further into the school until they were out back.

There was a huge tree at the back of the school. It had been there for a long time and everyone passing the school could see it. Everytime she wanted to get away, she always came to the tree. As it turned out, it was also Sheldon’s favorite place.

“What’s this about?”

“I wanted to give you your own gift, here, alone. It’s embarrassing to give it to you out there.”

“What are you even talking about?”

“Just, listen to me. Close your eyes.”

“I swear if you do something weird…”

“Just… close your eyes.”

Meryl closed her eyes and waited. ‘Sheldon’ who stood before her, slowly started morphing into someone else. The bright fair cheeks turned pale, green eyes became grey, red hair became white and long transparent wings projected from his back.

“Sheldon, why aren’t you saying anything?”

‘Sheldon’ smirked, raising a dagger above her head. As he lowered his hand, a raven swooped down and snatched the dagger, flying back high up. The fairy looked behind and met with vivid violet eyes burning with rage.

Meryl felt a shiver go down her spine when a sudden gust of wind blew by. The violet eyed man unfurled his large wings, taking the fairy with him up in the sky. Looking back down, there was something strange about Meryl.

For someone who had never used magic before, there was a bright white halo behind her. He grit his teeth and flew the assassin away.

Meryl opened her eyes and found Sheldon absent.

“Really Sheldon? A prank on my birthday? How nice! How very nice!”

She rolled her eyes and stalked back into the school. Little did she know that Sheldon didn’t make it to school that day.