Fairy Bond

Chapter Fifteen: Too bad it always comes too late

Autumn's P.O.V.

I want to tell Jade that I think I saw my mom by the lake yesterday, but I don't because I'm afraid that it was just my imagination running away with me. The connection I have with Jade seems to be growing stronger. I can tell when she is looking at me, without actually catching her in the act. I feel her uneasiness when she lies, the way her heartbeat picks up speed as she does. I feel her emotions as she experiences them. Like today at lunch I felt her jealousy towards Sally, when Sally practically undressed me with her eyes. Ace choosing to be obtuse to the fact that she likes me a little more than she should. But the thing I feel the most is something entirely different. On the surface she appears normal but I can feel she is hiding something from me. Little does she know that I already know what that something is.

She's a Fairy Hunter and I'm a Fairy, we are as Shakespeare would put it; star-crossed lovers. Destined to be together but doomed from the start.

I push the thoughts of my mother to the back of my mind, afraid that our connection will make Jade feel all my confusion and ask me about it.

I look over to her briefly. She is staring out the car window, clearly deep in thought. The sun illuminating her icy blue eyes.

"If you're worried about your mom not believing the lie about the brace we can stop at the mall and get one quickly," I say. Jade turns her head to me and offers a small smile. I have to force my gaze back to the road and away from her dimples.

"I'm afraid she'll know that the brace won't offer enough support," she turns her head back to the window, watching the trees pass in a blur.

"Let's get one anyway and then when you're around her, just use your crutches for a few more days, switching to the brace after."

She nods her head and then turns her attention to the radio, turning the volume knob. The music is a lot louder as she bops her head to the beat. Clearly she is not in the mood for talking. I place my hand on her thigh and give a squeeze, in the hopes that it will comfort her.

I pull into the parking lot of the mall and stop the car near the entrance. I turn the key and the car dies down, the music stopping with it.

I take her hand and we walk straight into the sports store. Not bothering to aimlessly walk around and browse. I've never been one of those girls.

I pull of a black brace from the rack and stare at it for a while, before I turn around and give it to her.

The ride back home is pretty much the same as on the way to the mall. Jade puts the music loud and relaxes into the car seat. Closing her eyes so I can think she is sleeping instead appearing deep in thought. That is the oldest trick in the book, something that I've been doing for years myself.

My curiosity gets the best of me and I turn off the radio.

"What's going on in that head of yours?" I ask, looking at her.

She sits up straight her eyes meeting mine, "I have this feeling in the pit of my stomach, but it's like this feeling doesn't belong to me," she shakes her head.

"What is the feeling?"

"Uncertainty, obscurity," she pauses, "you're not having second thoughts about us are you?"

"What? No! I love you; there is no doubt about that in my mind."

"Then why am I feeling your confusion?" She watches me out the corner of her eye.

I walked right into that one.

"Is it because of Sally? Because any fool can see that she wants you and that Ace is just her cover."