*Beep* *Beep* *Beep* *Smack*
After a quick look to see if anyone had awoken from her alarm, she ran to the closet. Out she pulled a box, containing her black jacket, pink scarf, and her lace-up black moccasin boots. After lacing up her boots and wrapping the scarf around her neck, she stuffed the box back under her bed. Reaching into a jewelry box, she pulled out a chain with a key attached to it. She slipped the key into the keyhole of a locked desk drawer and opened it. Inside, she stashed up to $500 over the years in Human American currency. It was what she needed whenever she visited.
After taking out around $50, she closed and locked the drawer once again. She was in the process of unlocking her window, when she remembered to stuff a few pillows under the covers to make it look like she was in bed, just in case her father or sister decided to check in. Taking a quick look around her room, she finally shut off the lights and slipped out of the bedroom.
She walked down the sidewalk, not feeling like flying. All she could hear was the rustling of the leaves in the breeze.
And a twig snap.
She swiveled around, eyes wide and fearful. "Who's there?" She choked out. No response. Turning back around, she walked faster. It would be around ten minutes before she got to the bridge, and she didn't like walking around Fairy World alone at night. It was unsafe, and pretty scary.
She continued to walk quickly, carefully observing her surroundings.
*Snap* *Snap* *Snap*
"Ouch!"
She screamed in surprise and twisted around. Lying right in front of her was Cosmo. "What are you doing?" She whispered loudly.
"Um, I, um…" He stuttered. He struggled to find a good excuse. "Well, one thing's for sure, I wasn't following you!" He laughed nervously.
She sighed, "Now I know that means you were following me." Wanda shot him an annoyed glance, "Why?"
His cheeks tinted pink, "Well, um, I wanted to see where you were going. I just noticed you snuck out of your window."
Wanda let out an aggravated huff, "Then maybe you should just go home now. There's no need to come with me."
Cosmo rose to his knees. "Please!" He begged, "I want to know where you're going! I won't bother you! Please let me come!" He gave her his best imitation of the puppy-dog-pout. She couldn't help but notice how the moon's beam reflected off his emerald eyes, giving them a dazzling look.
"Uh, I…" She stuttered, painfully tearing her gaze from his, "I don't know. If anyone knew where I was-"
"I won't tell a soul! Please let me come with you!" He continued to beg. She fell indecisive. It would be interesting if he came, she could share the feeling of wonder with him. But if he didn't come, she had less of a chance of getting in trouble. Knowing Cosmo, he's bound to let something slip.
She looked at him again. His eyes were still wide and pleading. She sighed, "Alright. You can come. You cannot tell anyone about anything that happens tonight. If you do, we can both get into a lot of trouble, and I won't be able to trust you again. Understand?"
Cosmo's smile broaden as he stood straight up and gave her a salute, "Yes, ma'am!"
"Good," She smiled, "Now follow me. Don't let anyone notice us." She started walking rapidly down the sidewalk, him following close after.
After a few minutes of walking, Cosmo stepped in front of her, "Um, Wanda? Where exactly are we going?"
Nearly crashing into him, she sighed and hurried around him, "Don't do that! You'll see when we get there."
"But Wanda-!" He ran in front of her. "No, Cosmo!" She looked up and stumbled into him, causing him to backpedal over a fallen branch. She continued to fall into him, which then made him fall backward.
They both groaned, and Wanda raised her head to look at him. It was then she realized how they lay. She lay on top of him, and he lay flat on his back on the ground, their faces only inches apart. They both blushed red and scrambled to get up.
"I'm so sorry, Wanda!" Cosmo cried, his face a reddish hue.
"No, no, it's my fault!" Wanda felt herself blushing too. "I crashed into you…"
They continued sharing points for quite a while, before it silenced into the noiseless street. An awkward silence fell upon them.
Wanda cleared her throat, "Well, shall we move on?" Cosmo nodded his response.
They didn't speak a word as they walked side by side on opposite sides of the sidewalk. Cosmo would occasionally inch closer, then hurry back to his side of the path.
Both fairies continued walking down the street. Wanda distinctly heard a rustling of leaves, but decided to leave it alone. The sound continued as she walked faster. Cosmo, noticing her speed, struggled to adjust. "Wanda, what's going on?" He questioned worriedly.
"Nothing," She didn't want to worry him. Up ahead, she saw the bushes ruffle slightly. Breath caught in her throat, she was determined to see what it was. They walked closer and closer, and when they approached the bush, another sound was heard. It was a whispering voice:
"Cosmo and Wanda…"
Another voice came in, "Sitting in a tree…"
Two faces popped out from the bushes, causing Wanda to shriek in surprise and fall back into Cosmo, who also screamed but caught Wanda in his arms.
"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" The voices sang. Opening her eyes, Wanda realized who stood in front of her.
"Tricia! Claire! What are you guys doing here?" She demanded.
They laughed. "We saw you guys walking down the sidewalk" Claire said.
"We wanted to find out where you're going for your date!" Tricia cackled.
"What?" Wanda turned red, "We are not on a date! We were just going to…um…" They grinned at her slyly. She shook her head, "Whatever. It doesn't actually look like we're on a date, right?"
Tricia and Claire exchanged looks and raised their eyebrows, smirking.
Wanda huffed, and grabbed onto Cosmo's hand dragging him down the street, "We're leaving now." They left the two friends down the street, doubled over laughing.
Their laughter was heard in the distance. "Don't stay out too late you two!" She heard them cackle.
Around ten minutes later, the rainbow leading to Earth came into view. Cosmo gave her a worried glance, "Um…Wanda?"
"Hm?" She replied, not stopping. He followed suit, "Why are we going to the rainbow?"
She glanced at him, "Well, how else are we supposed to get to Earth without the humans freaking out?"
His eyes widened, "But, Wanda! That's against Da Rules!"
She sighed, "I know. That's why you can't tell anyone where we're going."
"But-" She cut him off by running to the rainbow, "You coming?"
Without hesitation, Cosmo ran over to the rainbow and jumped on, "But I don't see-"
With a quick shove by Wanda, he was sliding toward the Earth. "You'll see why when you get down there!" Wanda called after him. She jumped onto the colored slide, and rode down after him.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
"Ooof!"
"Ouch!"
"Sorry, my bad…"
"It's okay….ow."
Wanda got up from where she fell. Cosmo had failed to move from the path of the rainbow in time, causing Wanda to crash into him when she got off the rainbow. After helping him up, she wordlessly passed through a thick line of trees toward the rays of lights coming from behind. Scared, Cosmo walked closely behind her, still curious as to what they were doing here. They passed the forest line and emerged in a dark alleyway.
"Wanda," Cosmo pulled on her jacket sleeve, "What are we doing here on Earth? And why is it so cold?"
"Well," She started, "One, because I come here every year around this time and you decided to follow me. Two, because it is the middle of winter, a season here."
She crept around the corner of the building, and silently motioned him to follow.
"Now, listen," she stated, "You can't be seen with your wings. If the humans discover us fairies here, Jorgen will have our heads. You need to stay in this exact spot and don't move from here. I need to buy you a jacket or something to hide them."
She pressed her finger to her lips to signal him to stay silent, and walked around the corner nonchalantly. She entered a street buzzing with people. Lights hung from buildings, red and green, and music filled the street. She could smell cinnamon from a bakery down the road, and shoppers filled numerous shops everywhere. The dark night sky was the perfect backdrop for the brightly lit stores.
Wanda smiled. It was just as she left it last year, and she wouldn't want it any other way.
Momentarily lost in her own world, she sauntered down the street, absorbing the hustle and bustle of the night. It was just beautiful.
She soon snapped out of it, and remembered her quest. She ran to the nearest thrift shop. Upon opening the front door, a merry little jingle echoed throughout the store.
A forty-something year old man approached the counter, "What can I do for you, young lady?" He smiled cheerily.
She replied with a happy grin, "I'm just looking for a jacket for someone."
The man proceeded to point to racks of men's outerwear. She thanked him and walked over to scour the section. Wanda finally picked out a nice leather jacket, and paid for it at the front of the store.
She exited the store quickly, taking a sharp turn towards were she left the male fairy.
"Okay, Cosmo, I got your-" She looked up and cut herself off, gasping. He was nowhere to be found!
