Halfway through second period I was half – asleep, and so dazed that Meghan had to pinch me on the arm to get me awake.

"H-huh… Woah."

I blinked double – time in the fluorescent light of the classroom, and tossed my thick auburn hair out of my eyes, wincing as I rubbed my shoulder. "What…" I repeated myself again and several times more, albeit softly, until my eyes were all the way open (and this took a long time; I'm a really heavy sleeper). As soon as I saw Meghan, my confusion dimmed somewhat, which was good even if it was replaced by blood rushing to my cheeks. I groaned inwardly; how attractive. Why was it that this human who I'd known for not even two decades (which is like two seconds to me; I can barely remember how old I am) make me feel so flustered? Fay do not fall for random humans; they just don't.

Meghan must have seen the look of pensiveness on my face, because concern was etched in her expression. Her mouth was pulled taught; was she concerned? Meghan isn't the type of person to get concerned.

"Hey princess," I drawled, "watcha looking at? Something on your mind?"

That did the trick; Meghan snapped out of that dour expression and turned to me with a catty grin.

"No," she replied. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were being a little bit overprotective!" The words were light, but they caught me; I was supposed to be overprotective, wasn't I? That was my job. So why did I always want her to think of me as more than a… Friend, or a guardian?

I slapped the smile off her face with a comeback. "I would've said the same to you, although it was nice of you to look out and all, if you hadn't been staring at a certain blondie's head in the front of the classroom." Meghan blushed furiously; I was pleased with myself. It was so very ego – boosting to live in a world where my peers were as see through as glass. "You're not harboring secret affections, princess, are you?"

Meghan turned even more red – if that was possible – and looked as if she was about to either say something harsh or slap me, but then thought better of it. Her mouth closed and her arms pressed to the sides before she realized it was useless to try for intimidation. Even in my Robbie – not Goodfellow alias, I didn't get intimidated, and I was a step ahead before Meghan even saw it coming.

Well, at least I can end that little fantasy, if she's going to change everything tonight. The thought sent cold, painful shivers down my spine, making me tremble even in the humidity, and I had the sudden urge to tear my hair out. I resisted.

The blond Meghan had been salivating over was in the corner – could he see me? Yes, he could definitely see me. Good. I leaned forward and, in a huge, starry – eyed show of chivalry I leaned forward to whisper something to Meghan; I took the time to pull her hair from behind her ear delicately, romantically, as I spoke.

"Just hold still. Act natural, and this won't be at all embarrassing." Meghan shook with suppressed fury but complied.

Well, the last part was not entirely a lie. Maybe.

I pulled away from Meghan but not before I went back, ever so slightly, to quickly kiss her cheek. And for a moment I realized that this was a bad idea; the closer I got to her, the closer I wanted to get.

Speaking loudly, I turned back to half – way face my audience. "So its on Saturday, right? At about ten? I'll pick you up- just don't forget to make some story for your folks; we might be out a little laaate." I sang the last word, partly to Meghan – who was by now wondering whether to laugh or to kill me – and halfway to my audience, which earned a few hoots and a bit of a snicker from the corner.

Well it looked like whatever plans Meghan had thought of for blondie wouldn't be going anywhere tonight.

Or tomorrow, or ever… A mean voice said in my head, as the mushroom cloud reappeared above me. The kids were gone now, and Meghan was still standing there stock – still, looking at me with daggers. I had to say something.

"Well, I didn't want Blondie stealing you did I, princess? Not on your sixteenth!" I said rather pitifully. Meghan frowned at me.

"His name's Scott."

"Well," I searched for words out of a near – dead beat brain, "Scott probably had other plans anyways." I finally found the words; the ones that would maybe, possibly get the job done.

Get the job done… Like I wanted this. Like I wanted never to see her again; either that or put her in so much pain in the span of a few minutes, she would hate me for eternity; and she'd probably live for eternity, if she had it one way.

Well, it might be time to sever the ties after all.

"Hey princess?"

"Hey is for horses."

"Yeah whatever. I'm thinking, so its your sixteenth, and life is rather miserable. And I've got a few bucks on my hands…" At Meghan's quizzical look I added, "favor from some friends."

Meghan snickered. "I'm not so sure, Robbie – how much will my parents have to pay if the cops catch us?"

"Hey hey hey, princess!" I gave her a wounded look, not entirely fake as it were. "Don't make any false assumptions! I was gonna say, I could buy some champagne and all, and maybe if your parents aren't in a nosy mood – which is pretty much all the time – we could live it up a little." I grinned crookedly. When Meghan entwined her hand in mine – which, however unromantic, was a silent yes – my heart stuttered.

We walked down the hallway in silence, a layer of undetectable sadness shrouding me. Meghan didn't notice anything. After all, I don't have to be Robin Goodfellow in every single Midsummer Night's Dream to be an actor, do I?

It was a smooth pathway from Lunch until the ending bell, which is why I should have known disaster was in the midst. It did seem to follow me everywhere in the mortal realm. And because of my carelessness, because I wasn't with Meghan on the walk from buildings to the bus, we wound up here – but I'll explain that later.

SO what did happen to Meghan? If you've read the Iron Fey series you might think you know, but keep in mind, that in this series all does not go according to book ; )