"So that's pretty much it," said Irene. She closed her daybook and I closed mine. We sat at the table in the front of the bus. She took a sip of Diet Coke and tucked her pencil behind her ear. "We'll have a quick meeting everyday just to check in, but really you're not going to be in charge of too much at first. You can shadow me at the gig tomorrow night. I'll introduce you to the crew then."

"Sounds great! There's a lot more to this than I thought."

"There is, but you'll be fine. One other thing, be sure to lay down the law with the road crew. They're all really nice, but they have a tendency to walk all over newbies."

"Got it. Tough. Authoritative." I tapped my pencil on the table and she laughed.

"Exactly. Don't let them give you any grief."

As I put my pencil back in the slot in my day planner, Fi came out of her room with her lap top under her arm and rifled through the fridge. She pulled out two sodas and handed me one and sat down next to me on the bench.

"Hey, I was doing some research on fairies last night. Got a minute?" she said, opening her laptop.

I glanced at Irene, and she rolled her eyes with a smile.

"Sure," I said.

Clu came out, and my eyes immediately went to his face, heat in my cheeks. If this was what was going to happen every time I saw him, I was in for a very long year. He sat down next to Irene and put his arm around her. "Mom, can I borrow ten bucks?" he said.

"No," she said. She watched his eyes find mine, and she gave me a wary look.

I concentrated on Fi's screen. She pulled up a picture of a woman in a gossamer dress, with long butterfly wings trailing behind her. There was a man with a crown next to her, and at their feet, a man, half goat with short horns was holding a flower.

"Are you familiar with 'A Midsummer Night's Dream?' asked Fi.

"Sure, I read it last year. That's Puck right?"

"Right. Puck was a trickster fairy, who at the bidding of Oberon," she pointed at the fairy king, "made his wife Titania fall in love with a man who he turned into an Ass."

"Language," said Molly, coming out from the back and bopping Fi on the head lightly.

"Mom, I'm talking about a literal Ass. Donkey?"

Molly looked at her laptop and gave her a look. "Alright. As long as it's for educational purposes." Clu stuck his head over the top of the laptop to see the picture. I noticed how his hair smelled like fresh cut grass and sandalwood.

"Anyway," Fi continued. "Maybe your dream had something to do with a trickster fairy, trying to separate you from…"

I suddenly remembered my dream was about Clu, and he was staring at me, his face curious. "Um, right, that all sounds, um…" I closed her computer, and pinched Fi under the table. Luckily, she wasn't as thick as Jack, and she immediately sensed that she should stop talking. She furrowed her eyebrows at me. "It was just a silly dream." I continued. "I don't think… I mean that's all really interesting but..." I was blubbering like an idiot, and Molly, Clu, and Irene were staring at me like I'd just sprouted horns.

"I thought you'd understand," said Fi. She picked up her laptop, and walked back to her room, her shoulders drooping.

"Fi," I called after her, but she didn't stop. "Oh no. I messed that up," I said.

Molly put her hand on my shoulder. "We've all been there. Fi's been especially sensitive this year. She'll be alright."

"I should go talk to her," I said. I got up and Clu and I locked eyes. I tore mine away and walked past him, feeling a brush of warmth from the air around his body. It made me shiver.

I knocked on Fi's door, determined to stop thinking about the boy in the front hall and focus on my cousin who I'd hurt.

"Come in," she said.

I pushed the door and saw that she was still researching fairies. What a sweetheart. I sat down in the chair next to her at her desk. "Fi, I'm sorry," I said.

She clicked through a couple pages. "I was really excited for you to come. I kind of thought… I thought that you believed me."

"I do! At least, I want to. I was actually really interested in what you were saying, it's just…"

"What?" She turned in her chair toward me.

"It's just that my dream was… kind of personal, and I didn't want Cl… Everyone to hear about it."

Fi looked at me. "Sorry. I just figured… "

"It's ok. We good? I really want to know about what you found out. Just, maybe let's research in here."

She smiled. "Sure!" She pulled up the page again. "So, fairies are known Irish folklore creatures, and you know we have a connection to them through grandma right?"

"Yeah, I've heard Great Auntie's stories."

Fi launched into some whoppers that she'd experienced this year. A dragon creature that had come out of a book of spells from her grandma's attic, and a Spunkie that had taken over Jack's body. I nodded, trying to put on my best understanding face. I loved Fi with all my heart, but this was a little hard to swallow, even for her. But I said nothing.

"I thought the fairy you described sounded like Bricriu, but he's blue not green. And it doesn't sound like the same kind of tricks he might play."

"Why would a fairy try to keep me away from…" Clu. "From the thing that I…" I swallowed. "Love?"

"That's the question isn't it? What do the fay folk want from our family?"

I shrugged feeling awfully tired.

"You ok?" she asked. "You look a little green?"

"Just tired, and overwhelmed. Missing home a little."

"Why don't you go lie down. I have more research to do. I'll let you know what I find."

"Thanks Fi." I kissed her cheek and walked to her door. I closed it behind me and turned and ran smack into…

"Whoa," said Clu, grabbing my shoulders. His body was so solid, and the sensation of our collision stayed on my skin.

"I'm… sorry, I…" I stammered. I stared up into his blue eyes, his bangs falling over them in a breathtaking way. That smell of Summer wafted over me, coming off his body.

"Nah, my fault," he said. He let go and stared at me for a moment. He nodded and went to his room, shutting the door softly. I sighed, and closed my eyes, the feel of his fingers on my arms still.

I heard Irene and Molly talking at the table still in the front of the bus. "I just don't know if it was the best idea anymore." Irene was talking to Molly in a low voice, but loud enough for me to make out.

"Irene, you worry too much," said Molly. "That's just a silly family rumor."

"All's I'm saying, is that maybe it's not a good idea to have two eighteen year old's of the opposite gender shoved together on a small bus twenty four seven."

They were talking about Clu and I. My cheeks heated. Irene didn't want me here. And what family rumor? Hers, or mine? I felt light headed. I went into my room and locked the door and laid down on my comforter. My nap wasn't restful at all. I dreamed about a green light pushing me into the dark.