Page 35 of A Flash of Neon
While Miss Fraser takes attendance and reads out a few updates from the headteacher’s daily bulletin, I rack my brain for places that Neon could stay without getting caught. I’ve already ruled out most of the people I know. He could sleep in the back room of the bookshop, but it would be uncomfortable and almost impossible to get him in and out without my mums or Gio noticing. I could see if Joel or Tilly have any money that we could put together to pay for a room in one of the local B&Bs, but that would only be a temporary solution.
Neon is unusually quiet as we walk towards our first class. Some of the others notice too – Hari swings an arm round Neon’s neck and gives him an energetic head rub, asking him what’s up. While they wander ahead, Caitlin and Hannah catch up with me.
“Is everything OK with Neon?” Hannah asks. “He seems pretty down this morning.”
Caitlin slides her arm through mine. “Did you guys have a fight? We’ve hardly seen you the past few days – we’re so behind.”
“No, nothing like that. He’s…” I grapple for an excuse but I can’t find one. It’s like the part of my brain that comes up with ideas is on pause. “He’s having a bad day.”
“You know what would probably make him feel better? Kissingyou.” Caitlin grins and jostles my arm. “Come on. Tell me you’ve done it already.”
This again. I almost sigh but I don’t want to deal with the attitude Caitlin would give me. “Not yet. Still waiting for the right moment.”
“Laurie!” Caitlin drops my arm so she can throw her hands into the air. “Oh my God, you’re hopeless.”
“Don’t say that!” Hannah ignores the dirty look Caitlin shoots her way and gives me an encouraging smile. “It’s totally fine to take things slow, Laurie.”
I nod, grateful to Hannah for sticking up for me, but a familiar feeling creeps in all the same. Maybe itisstrange that I haven’t kissed anyone yet. Neon and I have had more important things to worry about lately, and we haven’t had much time alone, either. But maybe it’s weird that I’m not thinking about it more. Maybe that’s not normal.
My worries fade into the background when I see Neon waiting for me outside our History classroom. He looks so sad and anxious, so unlike his usual sunshine self. Keeping him away from the Blanks has to be our main priority. I can worry about kissing him, or not kissing him, once we’ve found a new place for him to stay.
That’s when an idea finally comes to me. We’ve clearly reached the point where we need an adult’s help – a real adult, not Joel this time. But it has to be the sort of adult who will take us seriously. The sort of person who is likely to listen to what we need, and not go running to my mums.
And that’s probably the sort of person who believes in unicorns.
“Gosh, I’m unfit.” Carrie pants and wipes her forehead as we trudge up the steep path to the barn. “And to think I once ran a whole ultramarathon dressed as a hot dog.”
Tilly promises her it’s not much further. After school, she, Neon and I went straight to Carrie’s and told her we had something important to show her. A lot of adults would insist on more information before driving us all the way up here, but Carrie seemed quite excited by the idea of a surprise. The sun is setting now, the sky turning a deep, dusky purple streaked with orange, and I can still see a glint of curiosity in her eyes as we reach the barn.
“Try not to scream,” Tilly whispers, sliding the door open. “We don’t want to scare her.”
All I see is some flattened straw on the barn floor. My heart skips a beat, thinking that perhaps the Blanks have caught Aurora already – but then something shuffles in the corner and a shiny, glowing horn appears behind another pile of hay. Tilly goes towards the unicorn, talking softly and soothingly, and after a moment Aurora makes a dainty leap over the hay and lands in front of us.
“Carrie,” I say, smiling, “this is Aurora.”
For the first time since I’ve known her, Carrie is speechless. She stands frozen, her mouth a deep purple circle, as the unicorn trots round the barn. Aurora nuzzles her face against Tilly’s first, then goes to Neon and presses her muzzle into his hand in greeting. She lets me stroke her mane to say hello, then turns her glittering amethyst gaze to Carrie. When Aurora bends her head towards her in a slight bow, Carrie’s eyes brim with tears.
“I knew it,” she whispers. “Iknewit.”
There are so many emotions in those few words: excitement and wonder, but some pain and vindication too. Suddenly I realise how unusual it is for Carrie to be the way she is. Most adults would feel silly having lots of unicorn ornaments on display in their house, and most would have long lost the imagination they need to actually believe in them. She must have come across loads of people who made fun of her for it, but she’s stayed her eccentric self. I like that.
Aurora trots over to her sleeping spot and settles down in the hay, her tail swishing happily behind her. Tilly takes out a large bunch of carrots from her schoolbag and picks one to feed her. I take Carrie’s arm and lead her over to join them.
“Where did you – how did you – when?” Carrie splutters, still shaking her head in astonishment. “Laurie,whatis going on?”
Neon and I tell her the whole story. While we talk, Tilly gives Carrie a carrot to feed Aurora. Aurora eats it in small, neat bites and then tilts her head towards Carrie for her to stroke her mane. Carrie runs her fingers through the silky strands, and the tears in her eyes finally fall. I don’t know if she’s going to be able to help us, but either way I’m glad we could give her this moment.
“Do you believe us?” I ask.
“Of course I believe you. This one is proof enough.” Carrie laughs lightly and presses her hand gently against Aurora’s face. “And you know, now you mention it, Ihavebeen feeling a bit funny lately. I did a full-moon flash-fiction workshop online yesterday and couldn’t come up with a single idea. That’s not like me.”
Neon lets out a long sigh. “I don’t know what to do. I don’t want the Blanks to stick around and eat up everyone’s imagination, but I don’t want them to erase me or send me away, either.”
“Well, first we need to get you two out of this barn,” Carrie says, looking at the bare wooden walls. “If these Blank characters turn up here, you’ll have no one around to help you.”
She presses her lips tight together, thinking. I sit back in the hay and pick up a carrot to feed to Aurora. For the first time since Neon arrived, a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. It feels good to finally let an adult take charge.
Suddenly Carrie claps her hands so loudly it makes us all jump, Aurora included.
