Kingdom Keepers: Once Upon a Dream

Chapter 11

Terry checked the address Jess had given him again before looking up at the house in front of him. It was right, for the fifth time, and he sighed, relenting to the fact that he hadn't made a mistake; this was the place. Finn's house was nice, at least nicer than any house he'd ever been in. Being in front of it made everything more real; he was here to meet with this group of people who he didn't know, and certainly didn't trust. He was giving himself up to spend a significant amount of time with them, and making himself vulnerable in the process. How could he expect any of them to understand him when they were used to a house like this? Furthermore, how could he expect any of them to even like him?

"Hi!"

He startled as his trance was broken by a voice sounding from behind. He turned to see Charlie standing behind him.

"Oh, hey," he said shyly, breathing a sigh of relief.

She chuckled slightly at his jumpiness, and he found himself doing the same. They stood there in silence for a few moments, and she held herself nervously, something that, in the four years that they'd been in school together, he'd never seen her do. A few more moments passed before they both realized they'd been staring at each other, and quickly looked away.

"About the other day," Charlie blurted out, leaning towards him abruptly. Terry put out a hand to stop her.

"Don't worry about it," he said.

"No," Charlie insisted. "I'm sorry; it was wrong of me to barge in like that, and all of those things I said..."

"Nah, I was being a dick," Terry said. "Really, it's okay."

This seemed to earn a smile from Charlie, who grinned shyly and brushed her hair behind her ear.

"So, maybe we just forget it ever happened?" she asked.

"Yeah," Terry stuttered, finding he was breathing a bit easier than he'd been before. "That sounds great,"

They started to melt a bit, in spite of themselves, and their smiles grew ever so gradually, when suddenly a new voice sounded from behind them.

"Oh thank god," it said. "I'm not the first one here!"

They turned to see Willa walking up the path, clutching the straps of a tiny backpack. She held herself in a way that made her appear to be trying to sink into the floor, and her face was so pointedly still that she looked as if she may vomit at any moment.

"Why would that matter?" Charlie asked. "Haven't you been here before?"

"Yes," Willa said, her voice shaking slightly, and her gaze half-pointed at her feet. "I was, but it was just...awkward, just being me and Finn. I don't do so well around new people."

Willa sunk even further into herself, realizing that she had, as she often did, overshared. She bit at her nails. This entire ordeal was terrifying enough as it was, especially after the experience she'd had the day before, and Charlie and Terry certainly didn't seem like the easiest people to become comfortable around. Finn was nice at least, but being around them made her feel like she was right back in high school.

"I mean....isn't it awkward anyway?" Charlie asked. "We're all new at this."

Just then, Dell walked up to them, smiling brightly and practically skipping.

"Cool, everyone's here!" he exclaimed. "Why haven't we gone in yet?"

Willa's feet turned inward, and she turned immediately ashen.

"Now it's awkward," Terry said, earning a cold stare from Willa.

Dell raised an eyebrow, oblivious to what was happening, and Charlie stifled a laugh, when the door opened, revealing Finn.