Chapter One - Ever
I'll be doing this story along with "Blank Space," so enjoy!
I spot Mina from across the schoolyard, and stop leaning against the wall. She's later to school than usual, and she's walking, not being driven by her mom or even riding her bike. Did something happen on the way to school? A Fae attack, perhaps? She doesn't seem worried, but while I hate to admit it, I am.
"Hey Gimp!" I say, walking over towards her, and my wings give a tiny beat.
She happened to be looking my way, and makes a slight face. "Are you talking to me?"
"There are no other Gimps at this school." What on earth is running through her head? Is she messing around? I can't tell.
"You must be mistaking me for someone else." She shakes her head. "I've never even talked to you before."
"Mina, it's me! Ever!" Now this is just exasperating. "It was funny at first, but now it's not."
"Look, I-I don't know you." She shakes her head again, frowning. "I really need to go."
"Mina? Where have you been?" I glance over her shoulder to see Brody - with Nix in tow - coming over.
She turns around, and shock is written all over her face. "B-Brody?" She seems to be trying to register it all. "I...I...why do you care where I've been?"
"Why shouldn't I care where my girlfriend has been?" He looks slightly confused.
"I'm not your girlfriend...Savannah is." Now she looks even more confused, and I try to figure out what's going on.
"Are you alright, Mina?" Nix chips in worriedly.
"Who are you?" She blinks, and Nix looks slightly hurt.
"I'm Nix!"
"I don't know any Nixs." She backs away slightly.
"Mina, where on earth have you been?! You normally are here by now!" And then in comes Nan, and relief enters Mina's eyes.
"I was riding my bike, and it crashed. I had to walk."
"Riding your bike? Mina, your mom has been driving you!"
"N-no, she hasn't." She shakes her head, and now there are a total of three confused humans in the group.
"What's going on, Mina?" Nan's brow creases slightly with worry, and she sets a hand on Mina's shoulder.
"I don't know any of these people!" She gestures to Nix, Brody, and me. "Well, I know of Brody. But I'm not on speaking terms with him!" Her face looks slightly pained. "Is this some kind of sick prank? It's not funny, Nan."
"Mina, you've known Ever for months now, and Nix for a few months too. And you started dating Brody around that time!"
"I've never dated Brody! Not in my life!" Mina trembles. "What is wrong with all of you?"
The schoolyard has become rather lacking of students beside us, which only suggests that school has started, and I decide there's only one course of action now. "We're skipping school today." I say it in a matter of fact tone, and that makes all four heads snap to look at me. "There's only one person who could possibly know what happened."
"Nothing happ-" Mina starts, but Brody cuts her off.
"Who?" Well, now that he's asked, I can't exactly not tell him.
"We're contacting the Story. The Dark Prince. Teague."