So here is a part from Fairest in Jared's POV, again. I will add another chapter as soon as I'm done and it will be the whole forest scene and then a one shot set in the very end of it where she finishes the quest.

I do not own these characters or plot- all by Chanda Hahn!

Jared leaned against the wall, watching the crowd walk by. He was waiting for Ever, probably the only person close enough to him to even be considered friends. Except maybe Mina- sometimes. He saw the short pixie push her way past the crowd towards him. A brown haired girl just as short as her was too busy watching a certain blonde friend and another blonde enemy to watch where she was going.

They collided and Jared smiled briefly before hiding it as he watched Ever say something to Mina. Mina frowned and opened her mouth to say something back, probably an apology but she shut it as soon as she saw Ever headed towards Jared. He mentally laughed as she stopped cold in the middle of the hallway, watching them, and hardly bothering to cover herself.

Ever walked over to him and said something, but he wanted to see what Mina's reaction would be if it appeared he and Ever were more than friends. They had once been, but not anymore.

"What?" he put on a flirty smile and leaned closer to her way more than he should have.

"I can't believe that the stupid Gimp is a girl. It's a wonder she's still alive," Ever noticed the extra attention and played along, though not realizing it was just a game.

Jared saw Mina with a stunned look. He leaned even closer to the pixie and put his mouth right next to her ear, his lips were hidden by her short black hair. "I think she's going to do it."

Ever's eyes went wide. "What… Jared if she breaks it then you'll be in danger and…" He stopped listening as he saw jealousy flash across Mina's beautiful face. It was hardly any that she showed, but Jared had opened up his 'bond' with her to feel her emotions. Jealousy was definitely there, and curiosity.

"Ever, relax. I'll be fine, I promise." He pulled her in for a hug, trying to make it feel as less-intimate as possible, but look like so much more. When Mina ducked her head and walked away, Jared slowly pulled back.

Ever started talking about a biology class she had to do a dissection in but Jared stopped listening when he saw Mina, again. She walked briskly, trying not to be noticed. He smirked as he realized she had gone the wrong way. He knew she was watching him, but she tried to hide it. Her hands were clutching her books so tightly he thought it would bend the spine.

He didn't see Mina the rest of the morning until lunch. He sat at a table full of oblivious boys whom he just ignored. He was watching Mina, who was watching Nan and Savannah White. He had figured out her plan a little while ago and almost wanted to laugh at her for being so wrong. She needed to make better judgment. Sure, Savannah was the princess of the school, but Nan was the fairest of them all, meaning the popular kids.

He watched in satisfaction as Mina walked over and hit an apple out of Savannah's hand. The apple rolled on the floor and landed at his shoe. He caught Mina's eye, and cleaned the apple before taking a bite, laughing at her. The glare that she gave him let him know that today, they were not friends.

Jared skipped his last class and went outside to the motorcycle. He changed it into a mustang and waited, a little less than patiently for the school day to end. He thought about what he had found out a few days ago: a reaper was in the human world. He had no doubt that it was his parent's idea. He had to find a way to throw its scent of Mina so she would be okay. He still didn't want her to die, and there was no way that she could beat a Grimm Reaper. Jared thought he had an idea, but she would hate him for it, and she already didn't trust him.

Finally he saw Mina walk outside among the students and rush over to her bike. He pushed the gas and showed off his driving skills, stopping in front of Mina. She waited for the window to roll down and stepped back in surprise when she saw it was him. Who else would it be? he vaguely wondered before leaning over the seat to talk to her. "We need to talk."

She glanced behind her before answering. "No, I don't think we do."

"Yes we do, and if you don't stop avoiding me, you are quickly going to be in over your head again."

"What do you mean 'again'?"

He sighed at her cluelessness. "Can't you feel it? The storm brewing, the accumulation of power- the Story is building up toward another quest for you."

Mina shivered, "Yeah, I know. It's not my first rodeo. I'm way ahead of you, and I've already got it covered."

He filled his voice with sarcasm. "Oh you mean taking care of it the way you did today in the lunchroom? You are way off track and obviously don't understand how these things work." She gave him a dirty look. "Get in the car. I'll drive you home and we can talk."

"How do you know there's another quest coming? You haven't been very forthcoming with information yet." She pointed at him accusingly.

He spoke as he leaned forward to open the door for her. "I'll explain later. Just get in." Why was she being so difficult? He could see her thinking.

Finally, she nodded. "What about my bike?"

He followed her pointing finger and saw the red Schwinn on the bike rack. He thought about it. Ever could drop it off. "It will be back on your apartment landing before morning, but we need to talk and we need to talk soon."

"Just give me a minute," she turned around to replace the lock on her bike before sliding into the car. Jared saw Brody Carmichael walk out of the school aquatics building. Mina buckled her seatbelt and Jared had an idea. He revved the engine of the car before speeding towards Brody. He jumped back at the last second and Jared had to hold back a laugh. He saw Mina's surprised face and continued speeding down the road.

Mina was quiet for a while before asking questions. Her first one surprised him. "Where did you get the car?"

"Huh?"

"Don't play dumb. I know you have a black motorcycle. I even saw you crash it and yet somehow you've been riding the same bike the last few weeks. I have never seen you drive a car before today, so where did you get the car?" He didn't answer until she spoke again. "Did you steal it?"

"No! I did not steal it."

She crossed her arms and continued to annoy him. "Then where did you get it?" Didn't she have more useful questions for him besides the stupid car? He didn't want to tell her about all of his magic yet, they weren't that close.

"It is none of your concern!"

"Of course it's my concern. I need to know if I'm consorting with a criminal!"

Jared was trying very hard to not laugh. "Mina, you know I'm not a criminal!"

"No, I don't. You've made certain that I know very little about you. For instance, who's the girl?" she asked. He felt a spark of happiness that she cared- sort of.

Instead of showing it, he smirked and pretended to be innocent. "What girl?"

"The one you were practically making out with in the hallway at school." Jared cringed at her words. Ew, not Ever, not now.

"Jealous much?"

"No! I just wish you would tell me things," she sounded defeated. He felt bad for having to lie and hide things from her all the time. Jeez, ever since her met Mina he had been feeling guilty a lot.

"It's none of your business who I hang out with. It's safer that way," he squeezed the steering wheel in anger and turned sharply.

She slammed into the door. "No, what would be safer is if you would slow down!"

Oops. He released the gas a little bit. "Her name is Ever," he said reluctantly.

"Who is she?" Why did Mina have to be so curious? Did she actually care?

No, stupid, she hates you and doesn't trust you. Why would she care? He was getting agitated. Mina made him feel so… weird. He wasn't sure exactly what he felt, but it was unfamiliar and when she was so close to him it was so annoying and took all of his self-control to not scoop her up and kiss her. Wait, what?! Where the hell did that come from? "No one you should worry about," he said a little too harshly.

Her eyebrows pinched together in anger and she tensed. He knew she was mad now. "I've heard your pathetic excuses before. You sound like a broken record. You can't tell me, or won't tell me? Oooh it's not safe if you tell me…" He zoned out on her rant until it was over. "-and I want answers now!"

"You won't like any of them."

"Then why ask me to get in the car?" she crossed her arms.

"Because I needed to speak with you privately." And hide you until the reaper is gone.

"This is private. We are in a car alone." Jared was very aware of that fact; she didn't have to emphasize it.

"No, this isn't private enough. There are too many people. We need to be where no one can see us." That was part-true.

"Jared, you are really starting to scare me."

Damn it. He hit the steering wheel and she jumped. "That's exactly what I'm trying not to do. I'm trying to give you answers, and I don't want to scare you, but you are just so darn impatient."

She looked at him, "I don't care if I like the answers- I just want answers. I don't even know if I can trust you, if you are on my side." She lowered her voice for that part. Ouch, that hurt. A lot. "Well are you?"

"Am I what?" he rushed out.

"On my side?"

"Who says there has to be sides?" Jared was trying to avoid her question. He didn't want her to fail and he was bound to the Grimoire, so yes, he was on her side. But getting technical with who he really was… not on her side.

"Of course there are sides. You are either with me or with the evil Fae who are always trying to kill me."

"Not all of us are trying to kill you-" crap! Oh well, she probably figured out he was Fae anyway. Using magic in front of her might have given it away. "It's just… complicated. Hey, there's an ice cream place up here. Do you want ice cream?" It was a lame attempt and he knew it.

Mina looked out the window. "Yes, actually I do want ice cream." She was a terrible liar and he knew it.

He pulled the car up and parked it. "Great what do you want?" He randomly named flavors that he knew of.

She looked out the window, towards the bus station and then back to him. "Hmm, how about black raspberry chip?"

"Great I'll be right back." He took the keys- as if that would make her stay- and walked inside. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her sneak out and run behind the building. He walked out and got back into the car. The bus pulled away and he followed behind.