This doesn’t make any sense. “But Headmistress Flora said—”
“I know what Flora said.” Harlow’s voice tightens. “You’ve flunked out of Fairy Tale Reform School, so to speak, and that’s a good thing!” She laughs, but it sounds fake. “I’ve already sent a scroll to your parents letting them know they can pick you up.”
My heart starts to speed up. I’m going home? Today?
“Unfortunately, your parents are out of town for a few days at a shoemakers’ convention, but they said they will come straight home and should be here by Friday afternoon.”
“The day of the FTRS Ball?” I question. Natasha filled me in on the ball’s will-they-or-won’t-they-let-the-school-have-it gossip.
Professor Harlow’s smile widens. “Why, yes. I didn’t think you’d care about something as silly as a ball when you could go home to Hamish, Han, Trixie, Felix, and Anna.”
I squirm. I don’t like that she knows their names, but I’m desperate to see them. “So you mean they’re still having the FTRS Ball even after everything that happened?” I ask. “But what about security? The Happily Ever After Scroll this morning said—”
“I know what the scroll said!” Harlow’s voice booms, and the torches in her room dim. Aldo rushes into his cage and I watch the look on my professor’s face twist into something sinister. But then just as quickly the room brightens and the Evil Queen is smiling her awkward smile. “I just mean, we are well aware of the scroll exaggerations. A ball is happening, and I will be releasing a statement later today telling all of Enchantasia they have nothing to fear in attending. Really, Miss Cobbler. You’ve done enough to help our school and me.” Harlow offers Aldo a small treat and he nips it out of her hand. “Go home to your family and enjoy your life.”
Madame Cleo’s prediction flashes in my mind, but I quickly push it away. Professor Harlow is right. I can’t worry about what’s happening at FTRS or Jax, Kayla, Ollie, or Maxine. They’ll survive. They’d ditch me if they had the chance to leave. My family is more important. Anna hasn’t written, which means she’s still mad or hungry or desperate. I think of Han crying out in hunger, and I want to race right out of the Evil Queen’s office. My loyalty is to them.
I’m a thief, plain and simple, and I belong at home. Not in Fairy Tale Reform School.
“Now if you’d just sign these forms.” Harlow slides a long, wordy scroll across the desk to me along with a black-feathered quill. I try to read the words, but they’re too tiny. “Just customary release paperwork, of course, saying you are never again permitted to cross school grounds or converse with students in our care.”
That’s a weird clause to have in reform school release papers. I sign them anyway.
“Good girl! Excellent!” Harlow folds her hands in her lap and flashes me a questionable smile. “You’ll forget all about this place in no time.”
CHAPTER 15
Right, Wrong, and In Between
“There she is!” Maxine cries as I walk into the cafeteria for what will be my second-to-last dinner there. “FTRS’s hero!”
Me? A hero?
I never thought someone would use that word to describe me, but here I am holding my dining tray and several hundred students of every kind are suddenly applauding and cheering for me. The sound echoes through the room with high ceilings and fish tanks. The left side of the room is less rowdy (Have you ever seen an ogre eat? Not only are they messy, but they break their plates at every meal!), and that’s where I find my friends cheering the loudest. Maxine, Ollie, and Jax wave me over to a round table piled high with food.
“We’re so happy you’re okay,” Maxine says, squeezing me a little too tightly and making one of my bandages pop off. “Oops! Sorry. Want me to get your dinner for you? You sit right here.” She practically throws me into my seat. “What do you want?” She waves her large, hairy hand away. “No matter. I’ll get you everything! You need your energy if you’re going to be ready for the FTRS Ball.”
For a split second, my heart sinks. Maxine and I were talking last week about what we were going to wear to the ball. Jax had offered to practice a few steps with me, and Ollie even said he’d escort Maxine and me personally. Now I won’t be here.
“Did you hear they got Gnome-More for the band?” Ollie asks us. “Goblins of Fire got spooked when they heard what’s been going on.” He waves a turkey leg around. “Can’t say I blame them. The way this place is going, I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole party went up in flames. Good thing we have Gilly here to save us again.”
I feel my body stiffen. Ollie’s making a joke, like he always does, but Madame Cleo’s premonition hangs over my head. I look at my new friends’ smiling faces, and I don’t know how to tell them I’m bailing.