Ferry flew to Lavender's house as he'd never flown before. He didn't care the dawn was near and that the branches of the trees hit and scratched him. He had to get there faster and tell Thyme what he had seen—Mrs. Jones was a fairy in the flesh and bone. A powerful one, too.

When he reached Lavender's garden, he was surprised to see that Thyme was already waiting for him. Together with all the other fairy-keepers. Ferry descended in the middle of them.

"Thyme, Thyme," he yelled, trying to catch his breath. "I need to talk to you. All of you. Mrs. Jones is a—she's a fairy!"

Thyme came to him and picked up the leaves in his hair.

"Did you hear me?!" shouted Ferry. "She's a fairy! A fairy living among humans. And she's looking for a ... thing, I don't know what thing ... I don't know what for..."

"I heard you," Thyme said coldly. "It's none of your business. Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong!"

"Where it doesn't belong? Do you hear yourself?" shouted Ferry. "There are fairies living in Goodharts: Mrs. Jones, and I'm pretty sure that Andrew--"

"Of course," Thyme interrupted him, "Andrew. What's your obsession with this boy? I know that because of him, your life has changed completely, but don't you think it's time to stop?"

"Something else should concern you."

"But Thyme--"

"Enough!" Thyme's voice thundered. "I need to tell you something," he added, taking a long breath. "I'm going to Akna. Lord Stephan needs me. Akna needs me. There is no time."

The news fell upon Ferry like a thunder. "What do you mean, you're leaving? What-- What about me?"

"You'll stay here for a while," Thyme said coldly. "You'll be in Parsley's care. He will teach you. Not with weapons, this time. He will try to bring out your fairy powers. Maybe he has more luck than I, "he added, and Ferry felt disappointed in his voice.

His other fairy friends gathered around Thyme and laid their hands on his arm.

"May the Moon watch over your path," Sage said.

Thyme thanked them with a nod, then turned to leave.

"Thyme, wait!" shouted Ferry.

Thyme stoped. Ferry came closer. He could see his red eyes sparkling.

"Take care of yourself," he said, putting his hand on his shoulder.

Thyme put his hand on Ferry's shoulder and squeezed it gently, "I trust you, Garrett," he said, forcing a smile.

Then he started for the wooden door of the garden.

Rosemary ran after him, "Shouldn't we tell him about her? she asked before he came out the gate.

Thyme did not turn when he answered. "No," he said, then left.

*

Thyme's departure had shaken him up. The last events had brought uneasiness into his heart. Now, every time he went out, he was expecting to see her. Mrs. Jones or Andrew behind him. But that didn't happen. The town and its people looked the same as before. How many other fairies were living among people without them having no idea?

On that sunny Sunday, he accepted Matilda's invitation to go biking. They also called Ben to join them, but he said he had to study.

In the fresh, warm air, in the smell of blossomed flowers and fresh soil, the worries began to dissipate. Ferry pedaled hard, trying to catch up with Matilda. This proved to be difficult because Matilda was the fastest to ride a bike. Even now, the girl rode with her hands outstretched, without touching the handlebar, with the wind playing in her hair. From time to time, she turned to the Ferry and smiled.

Without realizing it, they had reached the foot of the hill near Lavender's house. Ferry hesitated for a moment. They had not been here since their first and last kiss. It seemed to had happened such a long time ago. And yet, as if it happened yesterday ...

They would rest their bicycles against the old tree, then laid into the young, soft grass. The sun was caressing their faces and embracing their young bodies. From time to time, their fingers would touch each other, as if by mistake. Touching Matilda's warm hand made him feel at peace as if there was no care in the world. Ferry got up on one elbow, snatched a strand of grass and tickled Matilda's nose. Matilda always tickled. 

The girl chased him away without opening her eyes, "Ferry, stop."

Ferry noticed her full, red lips and the small freckles glistening in the sun. Her hair was ruffled as usual. Some of her hair strands were stuck on her cheek, and Ferry pulled them gently with his fingertips. The girl turned to him and opened her eyes. They stood for such a time, without saying anything, just looking at each other. And Ferry wondered how Matilda's so restless nature could bring him so much peace.

Soon, the sky was covered with fluffy, white clouds. The wind began to wander around them, giving them unusual shapes.

"We should go," Matilda said, waking him up from the numbness.

Ferry nodded and got up, heading for the bicycle. Matilda followed him shortly after. The wind was pushing them from behind, and now riding a bicycle seemed like a flight. They entered the town, laughing and shouting.

In the central square, however, the good mood disappeared. The sky had cleared and the wind was no longer playing, but becoming stronger, trying to send all the people of the town to their homes. On the still crowded sidewalk, Ferry saw the black figure of Mrs. Jones pushing Anne's wheelchair. In front of the grocery store, she stopped, leaving, as usual, the wheelchair in front of the store. From the revelation he experienced a few days ago, Ferry had always wondered who Anne was and what her place was in all this charade Mrs. Jones played and Andrew, or whatever his name was, stepped out of.

Ferry motioned to Matilda in Anne's direction. Matilda shook her head repeatedly, "Ferry, no! Don't go to her. You're going to be in trouble."

But Ferry had already crossed the street. He rested his bicycle against a street lamp and slowly stepped closer to Anne. He leaned near his wheelchair and gently touched her hand. She didn't even flinch. She wore the same black clothes, the glasses with the smoky lens and the dusty hat with black feathers.

"Anne, it's me, Ferry," he said softly. "How are you?"

The girl did not answer, but remained there, stiffed. Ferry had an idea--now, it was the time to see her eyes. The eyes are the mirror of the soul, his mother often said. With slow moves, so as not to frighten him, he took the glasses from his eyes. Anne didn't even look at him. Ferry looked into her eyes: they were small, like two beads and gleamed in a strange way. Matilda, who slowly approached, was looking at the strange creature that Anne was from a small distance.

"Anne, are you all right?" insisted Ferry. "It's me, Ferry. Don't you remember me?"

But Anne was staring blankly, her eyes small and piercing. Ferry put her glasses back on. Then, he noticed something strange--hat moved on the top of her head as if unseen hands would have fitted it better. Ferry wanted to take off the hat, but Anne pulled a sharp bird-like cry and scratched his face with her claw-hand.

Ferry quickly covered his face with his hand. The next second, Mrs. Jones came out of the grocery store.

"How many times have I told you to leave her alone?" she yelled at Ferry. Then, she pushed the wheelchair back to her house.

Matilda looked at Ferry, "Let's get out of here," she said, giving him her handkerchief to cover his face from which a drop of white blood began to fall. "I'll send Dad to get our bikes." He snuck among the crowd of looky-loos and headed for Matilda's house.

In her bright, cool room, Matilda cared for his wound with a tincture prepared by Rosemary. There were a few fine scratches on his cheek and upper lip. They were both on their knees, face to face, in front of the window, so that Matilda could take care of his wound better. Through the open window, the wind brought fragrances of lilies-of-the-valley and hyacinth from the flower beds under the girl's window. It was nice and Ferry didn't feel the pain anymore. Matilda's soft fingers which walked smoothly along the scratches brought pleasant tingles to his face and throughout his entire body.

"Don't move," said the girl, frowned. "It might hurt a little."

"It doesn't hurt at all," said Ferry, caressed by her soft touch.

Matilda carefully and longly cleaned every scratch. When she reached the one on his upper lip, her finger trembled slightly, staying a second too long as if she wanted to feel his lips with her fingertips.

Ferry felt a funny warmth slowly coming over him. The same one he felt in May's presence, and yet somehow different. Ferry searched for her eyes, but the girl bit her lip and looked away. He gently touched her hand that was still resting on his cheek. He felt his heart racing and his breathing speeding up. Matilda looked up at him, and Ferry moved closer. Her breath smelled like milk and cookies as usual. And he loved milk and cookies. He didn't know what he was doing anymore, moving even closer to her like in a dream. Their foreheads were touching now. He slowly rubbed his face against her smooth cheek and then... Then, the door suddenly opened and Finn barged into the room.

Matilda jumped to her feet, "Finn, how many times have I told you to knock?" she scolded him. Finn looked at Matilda first, then at Ferry, and suddenly he was all smiles as if the most genius idea came to his head. He got out of the room singing, Feiyy an' Maaatt sitting in a teee ...

Ferry also got up and headed for the window, to catch some air. He felt dizzy. Maybe from the events of the day, maybe from the closeness between him and Matilda.

She gave him the small bottle with Rosemary's tincture, "Keep that," she said, avoiding to look at him. "Put on some more tonight and it should pas by tomorrow morning. And try to stay away from that girl. Don't you see she's mad and wild?"

"But she's not," Ferry protested. "Last time I visited, she was warm and she even talked to me. She looked like a completely different person. She seemed scared, for some reason. And she asked me to help her. I think she's in trouble, Matt."

Matilda shook her head, "You can't save everyone, Ferry," she softly said.

Outside, it was getting dark. The wind had softened, filling the curtain and invading the room. The papers on the working table next to the window scattered on the floor. Ferry rushed to gather them. Among them, he found a Spring Fling flyer. He showed it to Matilda.

"Will you go?" he wondered. He knew she didn't like anything it had to do with dancing or dresses.

"I don't know ..." Matilda shrugged. "It seems like everyone at school is talking about it. Poor Steph, she has already made her dress. Rebecca told me she has tried it dozens of times. Of course, Ben didn't invite her. He told her he didn't like these things ... Boys are so stupid sometimes."

"What about you?" Has anyone... invited you?" Ferry wondered.

Matilda frowned, "Why wouldn't anyone invite me? Is it really that hard to believe?" she said in a harsh tone.

"I didn't mean that--"

"You think that if I don't wear dresses or makeup, or flowers in my hair, I'm not interesting enough for someone to ask? she continued her rage. " Not good enough to see the real me? Beyond my clothes or how I behave?"

Ferry came close to her and took her hand. Matilda could barely breathe.

"I'm sorry," he said, looking dead in her eyes, "I'm sure you would look great in a dress. I'm sure the one who asks you is a lucky boy ... Is it Danny?" he asked after a short pause.

"Danny and half of the football team," she said, seeming to calm down.

"Oh, you're the most courted girl I've ever heard of," he said.

"Not quite. The other half invited Celia."

"You still have plus one," he added.

"Plus one?"

"Danny ..."

"Oh ..."

"Did you say yes"

"No..."

"Will you say yes?"

"I don't know, it depends--"

"Depends on what?"

Matilda turned her back to him, looking out the window.

"Did you ask anyone?"

"Not yet..."

"Will you ask May?" she softly said.

"Yes ..." he replied just as softly.

"When?"

"Tomorrow ..."

Matilda slowly nodded. She turned to him and tried to put on a smile, "It's late," she said. I think you should leave ..."

*

Ferry imagined the scene in his head dozens of times. He was going to meet May that day because they were having the Art class together. Then, they would go out and walk in the schoolyard, under the soft sun and the smell of fresh spring. He was going to ask her as if by chance, what's all this fuss with Spring Fling. She would laugh and tell him that she, too, felt everyone was taking it too seriously. He would continue the discussion, so as to find out if she accepted someone else's invitation (which was very likely since May was the most beautiful girl in school). She would put her hand on his arm, look into his eyes and say no. Then he would look into her deep eyes and invite her.

Ferry took a deep breath, gathered his courage and started for the Art classroom. To his surprise, all the students were crowded in front of the easel on which a white canvas was prepared for the next class. Ferry barely made his way through the crowd and found May staring at the easel, her eyes in tears. On the canvas, there were pinned with needle pins, cut-out letters that formed a sentence. Only one:

May is a 19-year-old high school grandma.

Ferry read the words several times. Around them, murmurs, laughter, and giggles started. Ferry turned to her, "May ..."

But when the girl laid her eyes on him, tears began to fall. She rushed out of the classroom. Ferry followed her, barely walking through the crowd of students. He had to run on the halls of the high school and almost lost her. Fortunately, he saw a strand of her brown hair coming out of the school door. He hurried to catch up with her. The sun was just as warm and the spring just as fresh. But May's heart was breaking.

Ferry had to cut her way because May was about to leave that place.

"How could you do that, Ferry?" she cried at him between sobs.

"I didn't do it, May, I swear," he said, shaking his head.

"But you're the only one who knows," she said, wiping away the tears that kept falling.

"I know, but I wouldn't do that to you, May ... You know me. I wouldn't do that to anyone. To you, of all people ..."

"Then you told someone," she said with a sigh.

"I didn't, May, I swear. I didn't tell anyone."

He would have done anything to keep her from crying. But May was determined to leave. "I have to go," she said, wiping her tears. "I can't stay at school today. Not after all this ..."

"May, it's no big deal ..." Ferry tried to make her feel better.

That moment, she looked at him like never before, and her eyes filled with tears again, "I trusted you, Ferry ..."

Halfway through this book, everyone! What do you think of the story so far?