Chapter 1: Sticks Suck

Puck

Bleh, Hollywood, I thought as I stepped out of the trod. Stupid Hollywood, they always either got my persona wrong, or they just never came up with new ideas about me.

To these hoity toity director types and script writers, I am just the guy who turned Bottom's head into that of an ass, making me to be a character that should only be talked about should they ever do a remake of a Midsummer's Night Dream.

Otherwise, I was strictly Shakespeare. Freaking hate Hollywood, and I wouldn't be here unless it was absolutely necessary. I would rather be off doing my own thing, like moping about Megan Chase because she chose my mopey former best friend Ash, exiled Prince of the Unseelie court and now the King of the Iron Kingdom, over me. They got married last week and oh my god! I wanted to scream! How could she choose him?

If it were up to me, right now, I would be in a pub in england, drinking to my heart's content, not having a care in the world. But Obren made me come out here to Hollywood to find some damn magical stick for his uptight bitch wife.

Why he sent me, the "fool," I don't know, but here I am, looking for a damn stuck in the land of glamour, glamour that has NOTHING TO DO WITH ME! God I hate mortals sometimes.

I walked out onto Sunset Boulevard in the Californian spring even though it felt more like summer, at sunset. The smoggy air filled my lungs and I almost doubled over from coughing so hard. I needed to find this stuck quickly and then get the fuck out of this god forbidden hell hole and get back to Leanside's, where she will let me get wasted in a safe place.

I thought over the hints that Obren had given me about this fucking stick. He said that it was in the home of the "Trojans" and that it was only accessible on one Saturday of the year at night. And apparently, today was that only Saturday.

With my heart broken, I trudged to the nearest phone booth to start the search for these damn Trojans.

ELSEWHERE

I'm faking the smile on my face as my mother snaps another picture of me and my prom date. I continued to fake the smile as the boy put the stupid flower on my wrist.

I couldn't believe that I had to go through this stupid rite of passage my junior year, but when mom heard that Jason, captain of the Chess Team had asked me to prom, she denied me the right to refuse him.

After much argument, we came to the compromise that I would go to prom with this nerd only, if I got to pick my dress and she got no input. She agreed on the condition that I actually wear a dress

I went with a dress that made me look like a fey. Winter fey to be exact. It was a knee length dress that was covered in aurora crystals in the bodice and had delicate designs on the bottom.

Prom theme was masquerade and my mask made me look like a mysterious ice goddess. My outfit made my pale skin look snow white and my black hair that was usually in a pony tail was placed into an elegant updo. My mask completely hid my identity as it covered half of my face.

"Okay Jason, let's get going," I prodded, wanting to escape my mom's photo session as quickly as possible.

"Oh come on Alucinda," she pleaded, "Just one more? Please?"

Begrudgingly, I consented, knowing it would be the easiest way to make her leave me alone.

Finally she stopped taking pictures and Jason Escorted me out of the house and to the limo that the chess team had rented together.

Instantly, I knew this was going to be a very long and unforgettable night.