20 years after The Last Ever After (SGE)

Chapter 35

"You okay?" Callis stared at Coventina from the ground.

"Why do you care? I'm so mean to you" Coventina squeaked from a hammock hiding between two thick branches.

"Yea, but that doesn't mean I can't be nice," Callis responded crossing her arms.

"That's very princess-y of you." Coventina moved her legs to hang off the hammock. "Unlike me," She added with a pout.

"You're plenty princessly, aren't you like third in girls scores?" Callis asked watching Coventina's red finger glow grow a branch stairway towards the ground.

"Yea, but it's only because I'm copying you. Just a little better" Coventina smiled, hanging on a branch, she seemed very much like the Cheshire cat. Callis watched, her hang down by a hand, bringing her hand down slightly, the root waving down and growing to the side and pick her up.

"But-"

"Don't. Your so smart, you're just not.. DOING it correctly." She yawned, kicking her legs back and forth, she waved her hands and a branch came spindling forward to the ground in a ladder, Callis stepped forward and pulled at the ladder, it seemed strong enough. She climbed up, careful no one was looking as her corduroy a line skirt rode up.

"You have a room up here.." Callis was in awe, there was a complete house made of roots and branches and flowers.

"Yep" Coventina moved her hands, the ladder rolled up.

She looked sad.

"So..." Callis tapped the ground, a little worried the branches would snap.

"I'm leaving. You'll, get to be in the trial" Coventina stood and climbed off the branch she had been sitting upon.

Callis blinked, "what? Coventina, it was just a break up!"

Coventina gave her a glare, "Everyone knows, Caroline!"

"that's not my name?" Callis muttered, she knew she had to help her.

"But Ivory loves you!" Callis continued, raising her voice. She heard a rumble of voices approach to go to class. Coventina sighed, she waved her hand, red fingers pushing the branches under Callis up, Callis reached to grab the ceiling.

"Its either I leave now or stay here and become... some plant!" Coventina pressed harder, the branches under Callis pulled back, Callis dangled over the open hole. She watched the ground in fear, students began to move into the hall of trees.

"But Coventina, your so strong! And I'm sure ivory could help! It'll be okay!" Callis bit her lip in worry, she began to swing back and forth.

"no" Coventina hissed before releasing her hand, the branch Callis held disintegrated in her fingers, she began to swiftly fall, she made herself into a ball, she let out a scream, and when she expected death she only found warmth enveloping her.

"Callie?" It was Andrew, sitting on a stool next to her, Callis' blue eyes ran around the new location, the walls were glossy and white, Andrew's carmel hair was a mess, hazel eyes caring and sad focused on her.

"Yea..?" Her voice came out in a croak. Andrew's eyes grew, he threw his arms around Callis in a hug, Callis giggled and nestled her head on Andrew.

He released her and quickly fixed the sheets around her.

"Where am I?" Callis fumbled, the room was very white, there was a needle in her arm.

"Infirmary" Andrew nodded, he stood up from the stool, Callis watched as he moved to the dresser at the end of the bed, there was a large bouquet of pink and blue flowers. Callis immediately knew it was from Vanessa.

She nodded, watching Andrew as he opened a drawer to take out one of the normal uniforms, denim skirt, pink and white striped tops and a blue sweater with the crest.

"What day is it?" Callis asked, her voice was scratchy. She watched Andrew, he placed the clothes on top of the dresser next to the flowers. He bent down and out of Callis' point of view.

"Day before the trial" Andrew's voice was gruff, he sounded.. Mad?

Callis sat up more to see what he was doing. He stood back up and placed a pair of pink pleather ankle boots.

"Are you angry..?" Callis asked, her voice broke in the middle causing her to sound like she going to cry. She was in an emotional state.

"You'll still be in the trial, your tenth.. Only by default. It took a lot of convincing to professor Dovey. And me failing a few courses"

"What?" Callis ignored everything but the last sentence.

Andrew looked up at her, "I'm tenth too. That way I can help you"

"You didn't have to do that" Callis crossed her arms.

"I did it for us" Andrew looked back down at the pile of clothes.

"But-" She paused, confused what to say. There wasn't an "us", they were just two friends. She sighed, Andrew was looking at her now, eyes swimming with "why?" and hope. Hope for an us..

Callis hiccuped.

"There isn't an us."

Andrew's eyes flashed with broken, before he stood taller. He wanted something.

"But there can be!" His voice was louder.

Callis shook her head, she saw the window to her left. Teacher were setting up the blue forest, great spells were being cast.

Callis took a breath, closing her eyes.

When she opened them Andrew was in front of her, holding out a hand.

She reached out, he wrapped his hand around hers and pulled her to him, Callis had on a hospital gown, simple white fabric. He smiled, she smiled. He pulled her closer, she stayed closer.

And then Andrew kissed her and Callis had been right about the first time they met, it was love at first sight. She saw fireworks, and warm feelings running around her. He felt it too.

And there was Vanessa, watching from the open doorway, a new vase of flowers in her hands. This wasn't the Callis Vee knew. The Callis that hated boys and dating and love, that loved dogs and books and the stars. Vanessa's body ran with jealousy, she needed a prince more than Callis did, she needed Callis more than a prince did.

Vanessa dropped the vase and ran.