Hey my loves and dearests! Ok, not doing well on my end! I'm am so sick that I have lost my voice and have almost coughed up a lung, lol jk, but seriously not feeling good! I hope to feel better! As of now, my baby is taking care of me good lol I love him (:

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So this chapter is filled with a lot, mainly Jackie considering and thinking about things. ENJOY! (;

Chapter 7: It was Real

She looked up at the window to her room. "How will I know this was real?" She asked him. He grasped her hand and placed the key in her hand.

"This," he said. She looked down at the key. She looked back into his eyes. She felt an electric pull to him, and he experienced the same. Soon their lips pulled into contact. It was her first kiss . . . and it was amazing.

Jackie felt her eyes blink open, and realized she was in her bed. Her hand under her pillow and her covers wrapped all around her. She sighed to herself, realizing she was now awake . . . but did this change what happened last night. Jackie shifted but stopped her movements when she felt something foreign in her palm. She sat up and pulled her hand out from under the pillow. Her eyes widened and her jaw relaxed as she stared down at the brass key sitting in her hand.

It was real . . .

She jumped out of her bed and ran over to the window. A tangerine glow inched across the once dark sky. The forest seemed so peaceful as the morning light shun on it. She took a deep breath as she put her head in her hands. She so desperately wanted to go there now, to be a part of their- of her world now! It wasn't like there was anything holding her here.

The sudden sound of coos from her brother made Jackie spin around and stare at him as if she had never seen him before. How could she forget him? . . . She was all he really seemed to have and she was ready to leave him in the dust . . . Jackie felt so awful inside. When his coos started to turn to weeps, Jackie raced to his bed and wrapped him up in her arms and held him tight to her chest, resting her cheek on his head. "I'm so sorry, Max." She said to him as she cradled him in her arms. Was she apologizing for leaving him in his crib too long or for feeling she was about to betray him . . . either way she felt terrible. He started to calm down a bit, and finally relaxed in his sister's arms. Jackie sighed as she carried him back to her window. The forest beckoned for her to return . . . but the young boy siting in her arms made her feel conflicted.

Suddenly, the door to her room swung open and Pam stood in the door way, with Marissa close behind her. Upon her first sight of Pam, Jackie quickly shifted Max so he would sit on her hip and hide the cool crisp key behind her back. She stared at Pam as she felt her heart rushing in her chest. Why was she so nervous and anxious all of the sudden? But, of course, Pam was none the wiser as a big smile was painted on her face.

"Oh good you're up!" She said with joy. Although Jackie simply rolled her eyes. "Richard invited us to his home for brunch this morning!" Pam announced feeling so excited. Again, Jackie rolled her eyes, searching her mind for an excuse not to go, but as if Pam could read her mind, she quickly said, "You are going, Jackie." She said with a stern voice.

"Jacqueline." Jackie mumbled to herself.

"What?" Pam asked.

Jackie sighed and said, "Nothing," feeling it was no use.

Pam mumbled something to herself, but then straightened herself back to her happy disposition. "Marissa will take Max to get ready, while you get ready yourself." She said, looking Jackie up and down as if she was still coated in all the mud. Marissa, ignoring the tension between Pam and Jackie, moved past Pam to Jackie and held out her arms for Max. Again, although Jackie would rather not let go of her brother, she released him to Marissa. Marissa left the room with Max in her arms and Pam left only a second after.

Jackie, feeling an anger boil inside of her, picked up her pillow and threw it at the door. She released a few heavy breaths and finally sighed to herself. She pulled her arm back from behind her and again looked at the key in her hand. She decided to put it somewhere safe. She got under her bed, placing the key along the bed's frame. She crawled back out from under her bed and went to the small bathroom in her room.

She walked to the sink and filled it with warm water, splashing it against her face. She dried her face with a small hand towel, but then watched herself in the mirror. Her lips were still a bit swollen and a warm pink color from Steven's kiss. She blushed to herself as she thought more about their kiss. It was like a fire was lit inside of her, a wave of joy washed over her, and the stars danced in the sky. She knew she loved him, and there was no one else she wanted to be with more than him. She gently placed her finger tips to her lips, imaging his lips pressed against her again.

She had no idea how long she stayed there trapped by her thoughts, but her dreams were broken by Pam shouting "Hurry Jackie! We don't want to be late!" Jackie shook herself as she resumed movement. She quickly brushed her hair and then ran back into her room to change her clothes. She put on a simple yellow dress with a gray cardigan over it. At first she was ready to wear her flats, but there was still a thick coat of mud on them . . . she sighed, then had an involuntary shiver as she thought about the disgusting events she had to go through. What horrible thing would she have to do tonight? She shook herself again, trying to not get anxious about it. She decided to wear her brown boots instead. Once she felt she was ready she opened her door and went down the stairs.

Pam, Marissa and Max were waiting for her. Pam seemed as if she was so excited she might burst.

'Yeah, that would be something', Jackie thought.

They left their small cottage like home and started toward Richard's large lavishing house. Pam moved as if she was near the point of running, Marissa with Max in her arms moved at a normal pace behind Pam, while Jackie was dragging her feet almost hoping the sun would go down already so she could go to the forest. She really did not want to go to Richard's house. She wasn't comfortable with the idea of being in Pam's boyfriend's home while his son was busy trying to look up her dress. She shuddered at the thought and pulled her cardigan further down, trying to cover herself. She felt so much more torn right now. Pam started yelling at Jackie to hurry up. Jackie grumbled to herself, wishing she could send Pam into that tree and see how she would've dealt with that toad . . . she would've given up after the first two seconds . . . Jackie smiled to herself as the image of Pam waist deep in mud, with that toad's tongue licking her face.

She was brought out of her thought by the sound of a ringing door bell. Pam, Marissa and Max were waiting at the door. Jackie sighed and found her way to stand behind Marissa, hoping she would be ignored.

An old man in a suit opened the door, and gestured his arm for the women and Max to enter the house. Although, Jackie wanted to take her leave now, she followed everyone inside. Needless to say, the house was extravagant, and huge. Max stared wide eyed at everything, but his sister remained unimpressed. It wasn't that the house wasn't large and beautiful, but it wasn't anything out of the new to Jackie.

Richard was not Pam's first boyfriend and Jackie was positive he would not be the last.

Speak of the devil, Richard appeared at the end of the hall, a big grin on his face. Jackie gulped when she noticed Chip right behind him. He looked so sure in himself, like Jackie would soon be putty in his hands. She chuckled to herself knowing he had no chance.

Pam immediately went to Richard, acting like a lovesick teenager. Marissa stayed next to Jackie with Max still in her arms. To Jackie, it seemed she was waiting for someone who really cared about Max to tell her where he should be going. Max started to fuss a little, obviously not liking this new environment he was brought into. Taking her chance to avoid Richard, Pam and Chip all together, she turned toward Marissa and said "I think I'll take Max outside for some fresh air." She said, holding out her arms for him which Marissa agreed to and gave Max to his sister. Although Pam was trying to burn her with a glare, Jackie ignored them all and took Max outside.

Being outside easily seemed to calm Max down. He was so excited now by the fresh dew on the grass, and the sparkling sun dancing across the sky. He fussed in Jackie's arms for a moment, showing her he wanted to be put down so he could explore. She smiled and kissed his forehead and gently put him on the ground. He started to crawl around feeling he had just entered a great adventure. Jackie smiled as he made each new motion. She got down on her knees and followed him around. He could make her laugh so easily.

Suddenly, Jackie's attention was changed by a Psst sound directed toward her. She looked up and moved her head all around, searching for the source of the sound, but she couldn't find anything. Psssssssssssssst! It went again. Jackie's eyes suddenly landed on a black bird with some gold colored feathers sitting on a rock on the edge of the forest.

Did that bird just Psst me? Jackie asked herself.

Psssssssssssssssssssssst! It went again, waving its wing at her to come over. She jumped a little at her surprise of a bird speaking. Jackie slowly moved toward the bird and knelt in front of him. He seemed to bow before further speaking to her. "Good day to you, Princess Jacqueline." He said. Jackie nodded her head back to him. "I come to you with word from Prince Steven." He said, making Jackie perk up and lean further forward. "He said, they will meet you at the Hollow Tree again tonight, and to bring the key with you." She nodded. Max crawled over to them and reached for the bird, but Jackie quickly grabbed him and sat him in her lap. "The second task will be much more dangerous than the first, but if you are brave and wise, then you will be alright." The bird said to her.

"Thank you," she said to him. She was already afraid of the second task. Getting a key from a toad's intestines was nasty enough, yet it didn't frighten her much. But, hearing how dangerous the second task would be sent fear through her whole body. She was about to speak again, possibly ask him for more details, but then:

"Jackie," Chip's voice spoke from behind her. Jackie looked over her shoulder and saw Chip standing there with a questioning look on his face. Jackie looked back at the bird, but he only squawked in her face and flew back into the forest. She so badly wanted to follow him inside, but knew she couldn't . . . not yet at least. "Your mother wanted me to come get you." He said.

Jackie remained quiet for a moment, staring off after the bird still, but turned around with Max in her arms and started back to Richard's house. However, Chip stepped into her path.

"What were you doing out here?" He asked.

She quickly searched her mind for an answer. "I was just enjoyed nature." She said, with a simple smile on her face. She knew he thought she was a little crazy for talking to a bird, so it might be best for her to pretend it didn't happen. She side-stepped him and again continued walking toward the house. Chip quickly caught up and walked with her, obviously dropping the issue. However, Jackie took one last look over her shoulder at the forest . . . if you are brave and wise, then you will be alright.

What did you think? I hope you enjoyed it! What do you think the second task will be?

Next chapter Jackie will go into the forest once again to ready for the second task! WOO!

For updates on this story and others check my profile page, where I will be posting weekly updates! AND also monthly news as well, just so you guys know what's going on and know about my ideas and works (:

Also, check out my other story: Sing Another Song! It a musical story of awesomeness (:

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~Spencer