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DARCIE CAN'T LOOK AT QUIL, WHO sits next to her in Bella's truck. Though, she can feel his watchful gaze, unknowing if those irises still see Darcie as his best friend. Self-consciously, Darcie pulls the strands of her hair forward to make sure that her ears are covered.
"Darcie?"
Hearing her name causes Darcie's head to turn, finally looking at her best friend properly since he had first shifted. Those eyes still look at her the same, but now the irises are softer, more concerned for his friend rather than afraid of her.
"That day when you came to see me," says Darcie. "You were right: everything's changed, Q."
"Maybe so," Quil agrees. "But you haven't changed to me, Darcie — to any of us. I still love you. You're still my best friend. H-Have I changed to you?"
"No, Quil, you haven't," Darcie reassures him, taking his warm hand as she squeezes it. "All I see is my best friend too. You're still Quil, but I'm...not Darcie."
Darcie's very aware that Bella (and Jared, who sits at the back of the truck alone) can hear their conversation. Out of the two, Bella is probably confused, but Darcie's very aware that Bella's seen her ears.
Quil, though, shakes his head. "You are Darcie. I know that because I've been friends with you for most of my life. You shouted at me for trapping bugs when we were little. You turned up in the middle of the night when I lost my grandmother just to be there for me. When you're upset, you search for Bruno. You can't stand oranges — even the colour and smell. You love being outside and with animals. I can go on, Darcie, because that's who you are. Being a Faerie is just a small part of who you are."
Darcie's speechless, feeling her eyes blur with tears that won't fall as she can't possibly shed another tear. "But I'm not even human."
"Neither am I, technically," says Quil. "But I'm still me, right?"
"Yeah," Darcie answers. "Of course you are."
"Then you're still the Darcie we love," Quil promises. "I'm your friend, Darcie, so I will stand by you. If Sam wants to banish you, then I'm leaving with you. You wouldn't hurt a fly and everyone's a fool for thinking you could."
Behind them, Jared scoffs as if not believing that. Darcie ignores him as she wraps her arms around Quil, finding her heart sparking back to life a little. Quil is willing to leave with her, Jacob's taking up his rightful place for her, and Embry... he's practically fighting for Darcie. They still love her.
"I'm sorry," Bella's voice appears. "I don't want to intrude, but Faeries? Being banished?"
Darcie presses her lips together, pulling away from Quil as she turns to face Bella, who is trying to concentrate on the road. "You've seen my ears, right?"
Bella nods. "I did notice them when I met you in Jacob's garage."
"It's all complicated," says Darcie. "But I'm a...Faerie or a Fae? It's confusing, really, but I only found out recently. I was swapped with the baby Darcie at birth, so I had no idea."
