"Good morning, class. Today we'll be learning about the anatomy of anti-fairies," Ms. Sparkleheart was saying.
All the class groaned. The absolute last thing they cared about was most definitely anti-fairies.
"Now I know you don't like the idea, but, let's face it, everyone here has an anti-fairy running around. Now as you know, anti-fairies are the opposite of the fairies. Mean, ruthless, stupid, smart, blue, et cetera," she said.
Bernie wasn't paying attention. He was trying not to notice that nearly every girl in his class had perfume, and the combined scent of apricots, lilacs, roses, and the new perfume, Innocence, was making him sick to his stomach. Something poked his shoulder. He turned.
"Dude, you all right?" asked a red-haired boy fairy. It was Bernie's friend, DJ.
"Sure," Bernie said, and set his head on the desk.
"You're kinda pale," DJ pointed out.
"Yeah. Did you notice that all the girls are wearing perfume?"
"Uh, yeah. Can't tell 'em apart, though, 'cause they're always together, judging boys and stuff," DJ said, shrugging.
"I can tell you what they're wearing. Shannon over there's wearing the apricot perfume. Louisa is wearing vanilla scented perfume. Linda and Maxine are wearing lilac, Cheyenne, Hailey, and Rocky are wearing rose, and Eliza, Marie, Coco, Daphne, and Terry are wearing that new one Innocence," Bernie said, waving his hand to push away the smell. "It's making me sick, man."
"Wow, you're good. How'd you do that?" DJ asked, glancing up at Ms. Sparkleheart, who was drawing on the chalkboard.
"Did you eat a breakfast burrito?" asked Bernie.
"Uh, yeah. What flavor?"
"Ham and cheese. Cheddar."
"You could earn some money, y'know, if you did the 'what did you eat for breakfast' thing," DJ said.
"Oh, God, no. I'd throw up."
"Pay attention!" scolded Ms. Sparkleheart, who was now standing between the two boys' seats.
"Shoot! Sorry, Sparky, we'll pay attention. Right, Mr. Burns?"
"Don't call me Mr. Burns. It's Bernie,'' Bernie scowled, putting his head back down on the desk.
Ms. Sparkleheart glanced at Bernie. "Are you okay?" she asked softly, bending over.
"Yep. If I look pale, it's because I got the flu a while back. I'm fine now," Bernie said, feeling sicker as her perfume, Smart, flooded his area.
"Hmm. Want the school nurse to check it out?"
"No, please. But.. Can I go to the bathroom..?" Bernie asked. He couldn't take it any more.
"Uh, sure?" Ms. Sparkleheart said slowly.
"Thanks," Bernie said, making a mad poof to the toilet.