Chapter 11- Toast

The day was dawning crisp and clear on a Monday morning at Ever After High. Another sun rises in the sky above the enchanted forest, bringing with it new hopes and possibilities. Its rays cast a golden hue across the milky clouds. I make my way across the lawn to the edge of the forest. The fresh morning dew of the grass coats my heels in a shiny finish. Right now, everything is peaceful; the students are still rising from their sleep, the birds are chirping and the air smells fresh; the calm before the storm we are about to create.

Sparrow and I had arranged to meet at the edge of the forest before school, so we could arrive at class together as a couple. I wait anxiously, tapping my foot restlessly. I peer into the woods; it is still dark under the canopy of the trees even though the sun is getting higher. Sparrow doesn't live in his dorm at Ever After High. Instead, he chooses to sleep ruff in a tree house he built himself in the enchanted forest. Heaven knows why he chooses to shun the comforts and conveniences of the dorms. I shudder to think what state he keeps his tree house in; no doubt he does not prioritise cleanliness. But still, it must be peaceful living in the woods, with no one for miles around.

Finally, he emerges from the thick trees. Even his walk is loud. He confidently swaggers out of the trees, stomping on twigs and leaves. He's even strumming his electric guitar as he walks!

"Do you have to bring that guitar everywhere with you? It's so distracting," I complain.

"I'm never without it. I like to practice every moment I get!" He dramatically strums a chord with a swinging arm to demonstrate his point.

"More like to show off," I mutter. He chooses to ignore my comment.

"Did you bring what I asked?" he looks at me eagerly.

"Oh, yes, I almost forgot," I say, opening my book bag. I take out slices of toast with gooseberry jam wrapped in a clean napkin tied with a ribbon. I received a very urgent message from Sparrow last night and I had taken slices of toast from breakfast early this morning at his request. He quickly takes the toast from me and with no regard for my neat packaging, tears away the ribbon and napkin, through them to the ground and scoffs down the toast. Crumbs stick to his soul patch and a glob of sticky jam falls onto his shirt. My nose scrunches with distaste.

"Did I have to come all this way, and get up so early, just to bring you breakfast? We could have met up at school!" I hate having to get up so early for anyone. I was the first one in the castleteria this morning, just so Sparrow could have his breakfast delivered to his doorstep!

"You could have said no," he says smugly. "And our plan won't make as big a wave if we are seen together at breakfast first, we have to wait for a full audience when school starts. Trust me, I know how to make an entrance."

"You have jam on your shirt," I huff, pointing to his front.

"Oh yeah," he says amused. I look away, feeling it is the polite thing to do as he makes himself more presentable. I turn back to see him sucking the jam out of the fabric, leaving a soggy wet patch. I recoil at the state of this boy.

"That's disgusting. Could you not have dressed more princely today, seeing as we are making our couple debut?" His hair is unbrushed and greasy, his jeans are ripped and dusty, and now he was covered in jam and crumbs. He looks like he is wearing the exact same outfit he wore to the party, two days ago. Normally I would never be caught dead with someone who looked such a mess. But needs must, I guess. I just thought that he would put in a little more effort for him. I had for him. I had spent ages picking out a dress in a shade of forest green, to match his colours. It was brighter than I was used to (I prefer delicate pastels) but I wanted us to match. I even was pernickety about my hair and makeup. I made such a mess trying to get my hair to sit just right, I'm still hopeless at doing my own hair. And I couldn't pick out a lipstick shade. Bored I drew hearts on my mirror in a million different shades of pink. Myrtle will be furious when she sees the mess.

"I look as I always look, why should I change?" he shrugs and strides off toward the school whistling loudly. Ugh, he just doesn't get it. I pick up the rubbish he left from his breakfast and jog after him.

"I didn't agree to this so I'd end up being your maid," I say frustratedly. "You are not taking our plan seriously." This is all his idea, the two of us dating, but I feel like I'm the one who is doing all the work.

"Relax, will you? It's all chill. Sparrows got this" he says with an obnoxious confidence.

"You've got nothing!" I stamp my foot. "No one is going to be so stupid to believe that the two of us would ever date. We can't even stand each other. We should call this whole thing off," I say nervously looking at my feet.

"What? No! We made a deal. You owe me." Sparrow stops and turns back towards me.

"No, you owe me for letting you into the dance on Saturday," I defend myself. "I'm just not confident. And besides, I don't want to be your... girlfriend," I blush as I say the last word. I've never dated before and I'm not sure I'm ready to start. But I'm not going to admit that to Sparrow.

"You are not my girlfriend," he says a little too quickly, "so you don't have to worry about us falling for each other for real, because I would never fall for a stuck-up royal like you. And I'm not backing out of this until I get what I want. My music career needs this attention we are going to receive."

"Are you sure I will get what I want? I don't trust you to leave me high and dry once you achieve your goal. I'm not going to be tricked again."

"You want Hopper to notice you, don't you? And to control what gossip says about you? Then this is what you need, right here," he gestures to himself, "and on my honour as a Hood of Nottingham Forest, I will not betray you, cross my heart."

I am certain his honour means nothing when he is an infamous scoundrel.

"Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye," he sings joyfully on his screeching guitar as if he thinks his singing will do anything but dissuade me.

I must be as mad as a Hatter to rely upon such a tricky rebel like Sparrow. I don't think even Madeline Hatter herself would agree to put this much trust in Sparrow. But he might just be the device I need to get my destiny back on track and win Hopper back from Briar. And at least no fairy magic is involved this time. I'll just have to be on high alert. Be brave Lily, I tell myself over inside my head. One thing is for sure; If he's going to ditch me at the first opportunity, then I must be ready to do the same.

*** Tbc***