Page 84 of Faerie Gift

Mike shook his head. “Not really.”

My mouth had gone too dry to answer her.

“Miss Alderidge, congratulations,” Larch said at last. “Full marks for you. And Mr. Thornwood, you did good. A close second. You’ll receive full marks as well. You should both be extremely proud of yourselves. I know I am.”

Mike gave me a stunned look, falling silent. Then broke into a wide grin.

“I guess you showed me after all,” he said. “You’re the winner, Tavi.”

29

Watching Melia graduate broke my heart into pieces.

Something inside of me snapped as she walked across the stage erected off the rear patio of the castle. Chairs had been set up on the green lawn and parents, teachers, and students gathered to watch the procession. There were only ten. Ten members of the fourth-year graduating class made it into Faerie.

Ten students down from hundreds.

That’s what awaited the further I got into this game.

But before she walked, I was there to help Melia get ready in her room, watching her don her Fae Academy for Halflings blazer for the last time. Tears pricked my eyes and I wiped them away before she saw.

“What am I going to do without you?” I asked, hating how forlorn I sounded.

She paused in brushing her rich golden-brown curls. When she turned to me, her lip trembled. “I don’t want to think about it,” she said immediately. “Just know I’m going to be waiting for you with open arms. It’s a promise.”

“And if I don’t make it into Faerie?”

Her expression turned to steel. “You will. There’s no one like you in this whole school. It’s been an honor to be your mentor, and a privilege to call you friend.”

“You’re going to make me blush.” No, she was going to make me cry again, if my trembling chin gave me any indication of what was to come.

“Don’t you start,” Melia warned. She held up a finger like it had the power to stop me. “Don’t you dare start crying. I actually wore makeup today and if I start with the waterworks, girl…it’s not going to be pretty. I want to look my best for the ceremony.”

I’d gone the extra mile with makeup too, not something I had bothered with since coming to the academy.

“It’s too late,” I blubbered. “I’m starting already. There’s no stopping it. I can’t control myself and I’m going to turn into a weepy mess.” I wore my own academy blazer over a black dress and the new Converse shoes Mike had given me, and used the sleeve to dab around my cheeks.

I didn’t want to do this without her. But I had no choice.

There was nothing left of her in the room, on the bed where we’d done homework and laughed and talked about boys. There was nothing left of her in the school, and every time I walked down the hallways from here on out, I knew I would be looking for my friend. But we’d made a promise to each other. I would do my best and join her soon, leaving behind the human world for a new life we would build. And a promise was law.

Summer lay around the corner and spring had happily made way for the long, heated days. Graduation took place two weeks after the final exams. It felt like the time rushed by. My win during the practical exam placed me in the top five students for the second semester in a row. Not that our professors went any easier on us.

Finally, I sat with the rest of the school waiting for the procession to start and fanning myself with my hand. Sweat beaded along my hairline.Good thing I actually spent time on myself today. My hair was wrapped around the top of my head in an intricate braid I’d definitely required Nora’s help to finish. But it kept the weight of all the hair off of my neck.

Headmaster Leaves called us to attention and I flashed Nora and Mike a teary smile. The former reached over to pat my hand. “Chin up,” she whispered.

“Students, friends, family,” Leaves began. “We welcome you here today to celebrate this significant occasion. A graduation, where our top students now embark on their next adventure as brand-new residents of Faerie.”

A staggering cheer erupted form the crowd. I clapped my hands hard enough to redden my palms.

“This is a truly wonderful day, and one of my favorite times of the semester. It is such a joy to see the halflings who arrived four years ago, rough around the edges, transformed in a way which will not only be a benefit to Faerie but a benefit to the world. These half-fae are amazing creatures who have certainly earned their reward, and I know I speak for everyone at the Academy for Halflings when I say we are proud. We areproud!”

I clapped again, searching for Melia’s wild hair among the crowd, then spotted her on the front row with her attention focused on the stage. Ready to walk.

Ready toleave.

Headmaster Leaves continued his speech for the longest time until he finally came to the small list of names of students moving forward.

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