MAY 6

I climbed into Jon's car, careful not to lean back against the seat. The tattoo that I'd gotten started on my back, just a little higher than mid-back. It was a set of broken wings that curved down slightly to wrap around and under my breasts, the tips nearly touching each other at the base of my sternum. The words, "Take these broken wings and learn to fly…" were tattooed just under the swell of my right breast, above the wing, in an elegant script.

I loved it, even though it hurt like hell.

"Thank you, Jon. This is like, the best birthday present. Ever."

He smiled at me. "You're welcome. Wanna come over to my place for a bit?"

"I would, but I should probably get home. I promised Maddie I'd help her study for our English final tomorrow."

Jon frowned. "Why does Maddison need your help to study?"

"She doesn't. She's got the information practically memorized. But she's hoping that by helping her study, I'll get some actual studying in myself, because she knows I won't study on my own." It wasn't like Maddie was smarter than me. No, we were at the same level. I just didn't care and she did. I could whip out an A in all my classes just like my twin, if I wanted to.

I didn't want to.

"I really don't want to go to summer school, though, so I'll humor Maddie."

He nodded and drove me home. I was glad I had decided not to drive myself because my tat felt like it was on fire. It was like a sunburn, only a little bit worse. It was bad enough just sitting in the passenger seat.

I thanked him again, giving him a quick kiss on the lips, before going inside my house.

I didn't encounter anyone as I made my way to my twin's bedroom, which was a little strange. I hadn't expected to see Dad. He usually worked until about five most nights. But Mom and Harper were generally home before I was on schooldays.

Maddie was laying on her stomach on her bed, a textbook open in front of her. Her room was very…pink and flowery. She was definitely a girly-girl. My room, on the other hand, was painted a dark blue and was full of collectable swords and daggers. My favorite was this really cool old-looking sword, with a name scrolled along the blade. Excalibur. It just sounded so cool.

"Where is everybody?" I asked.

"Harper's at a study group with some of her friends. Mom went to visit Great Uncle Gaius. She's worried about him. He's getting old, and he's been weak lately. Didn't you notice how much of a struggle it was for him to walk, at the bowling alley? Even with the help of his walker."

"Yeah, I did notice that. I hope he's all right. Still want to study?"

"Yes." She studied me closely. "So you got the tattoo?"

Nodding again, I sat beside my sister on her bed, getting my cell out of my pocket. "I'd show it to you, but it's all wrapped up right now. The tat artist recommended that I keep it bandaged for about four or five hours. I had him take a picture, though, with my phone. Here." I pulled up the picture and gave her my cell phone.

Maddie studied the picture before handing it back to me. "Dad is going to kill you when he finds out about it."

I smirked. "He won't find out."

She arched an eyebrow. "School's going to be out in just a couple weeks. Are you telling me you're not going to wear a bikini this summer? You always wear a bikini."

"I will not be wearing a bikini this summer. I bought a new one-piece the other day, once I'd decided what kind of tattoo I wanted. It'll cover it. And it's still pretty damn sexy, for a one-piece."

She just shook her head. "Mom and Dad will still get suspicious. I don't think they've ever seen you in anything other than a bikini since the day they let you start buying your clothes."

"No, they won't."

"They will."

"They won't," I said, laying carefully on my back to stare at the ceiling. "Because I'll explain to them that I'm not going to be trying to attract too much attention to myself this summer."

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Mac…"

I smirked at her.

"Mac, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Jon and I have a plan. We're going to get you a boyfriend."

My sister's eyes widened at that. I knew she would never get a boyfriend on her own. She was way too shy for that. Maddie and I, we didn't really have any friends other than each other and our cousins. She was way too shy, and I didn't like people, so we usually just kept to ourselves.

And then I'd met Jon, and he'd refused to be intimidated by me or pushed away. He wouldn't leave me alone, and then we just…sort of ended up dating. Now it was my sister's turn.

"Mac –"

"Nope," I interrupted. "I'm going to find the perfect guy for you this summer. I'm determined."

Maddie looked down. "I don't want a boyfriend," she mumbled.

"You can't lie to me, Maddison. I'm your twin." I narrowed my eyes at her. "Is there a specific guy you've got your eye on?"

She shook her head vigorously.

Which was a yes.

I grinned. "Who is it?"

She pursed her lips. "I'm not telling you. It wouldn't matter, anyway. He's got a girlfriend. And he'd never think of me in that way."

Now I was curious. "Who is it? I'm sure we can figure something out. We'll get the two of you together."

"No."

"Come on, Maddie."

"No, Mackenzie. No."

I backed off. Maddie didn't tell me no very often, so I knew she was serious when she actually did say no. She could be very stubborn when she wanted to be. She just didn't usually see any reason to be stubborn.

Unless it involved a boy, apparently.

I wasn't too worried, though. I'd eventually get her to talk to me. I always did. I'd just have to be patient and wait for the right time. And it didn't change my plans to get her a boyfriend. If she wouldn't tell me who she had a crush on, fine. I'd find her some other guy to date. It would just make everything so much easier if she would just tell me, and then I could set her up with the guy that she actually liked.

By the way, I realized that I never clarified this in the prequels, but in this fanfic, we're going to pretend that the legend of Arthur doesn't exist. I thought about having it, and having the characters mentioning it at some point, but their names are just way too similar to make it work. Since I'm not doing a reincarnation story or anything. It's an AU, so yeah. Because they would look at the legend and be like, "Oh my gosh. We live in Camelot. Hey, my name's Arthur. And my best pal is Lancelot. Who's dating Guinevere. My father is Uther and my sister is Morgana. And my girlfriend is...Merlin? Why is Merlin the only one's a different gender?" I just thought it would be too weird for this particular story setting. So, while Mac has a sword named Excalibur, it's not from the legend of King Arthur, if that makes sense. Not for this story, anyway.