Not Your Average Fairytale

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

            “Hey, Bella, long time no see,” the male voice rang out over the hushed group of listeners. Arabella had reluctantly turned her phone to speaker after making everyone promise to stay silent.

            “That’s for a reason,” she said with growing frustration seeping into her voice. She took a deep breath. “Listen I need your help.”

            “With?” She could just picture him reclined back, a smug look on his face. “I’d love to know what would make you admit you need me.”

            “I don’t need you,” she snapped. She glanced around the circle. She needed to do this for her sister. “Rosalyn does.”

            “Oh, is she alright?” His voice suddenly changed from confident and suave to concerned. “What happened?”

            Arabella glanced around the group again. “I believe we once made a deal. I helped you, and now you’re going to help me,” she said as sternly as she could manage.

            “And if I don’t want to?” The pretentious attitude was back.

            “Then don’t do it for me, do it for Rosalyn,” she said. She couldn’t believe she was asking him to help.

            “Fine, what do you want? Anything for a fine lady,” he decided, turning back to smooth flattery.

            “Don’t use your crap on me, Jasper,” she warned.

            “I would never,” he assured her in a mocking tone.

            “I need you to drive here by tomorrow at noon,” she said as fast as she could.

            He paused, and she could tell he was going to make a deal. “That’s a pretty difficult thing to do, what do I get out of this?” he asked slowly.

            “You get to help a friend, can’t you be kind enough to do it for that alone?” she said hostilely before sighing. “Never mind, I’ll just owe you something.”

            “Works for me, I’ll be there in the morning,” he answered. “I’ll start driving now. Wouldn’t want Rosie’s curse to not break.”

            The whole room went dead silent. Arabella was didn’t know whether to be more confused by the pet name he called her sister or his knowledge of the curse. “You know about the curse,” she said slowly.

            “Yeah, she told me a couple weeks ago. She warned me that one day someone was going to call me up with a crazy story, and she wanted to explain it first so I would listen to them,” he explained.

            “Did she tell you who you were?” she said, her words suspicious and slow and measured. Wynter observed her, noticing how she looked almost scared of his answer.

            “I didn’t need her explanation. I already had proof,” he replied cryptically. “If you know who I am, you’ll know my story’s already started. I have the tattoo.”

            For one moment, a look of pure fear flashed across Arabella’s face, but it was gone as soon as Wynter registered it. “Well then, come whenever you like, I guess you know you’re not in any rush.”

            “Oh, Bella, you know I would never miss all this excitement,” he said, his tone dripping with fake excitement.

            “Just get over here,” she snapped, immediately pressing the end call button with an angry sigh. Everyone stood in a shell shocked silence around her.