Ch 12

I was transported back to my world, but it wasn't to my house, I found myself a few feet outside my classroom. I also found my backpack at my feet fully loaded from when I last left it, but something was still out of place.

I looked down and gasped, I was still dressed in the medieval garb! I reached towards y neck to look for the necklace, I closed my eyes and whispered Gareth's name. I opened my eyes expecting him to be there but saw nothing. What did I do wrong?

While I was pondering what had happened, I noticed Judy walking down the hallway, straight towards me! Oh crap… I was sure I wasn't going to hear the end of this one.

"Morning Alex, my oh my, who would have thought?"

I inwardly groaned, "thought what Judy?"

Judy smirked, "that you would be a cosplay weirdo, lost a bet in a wet t-shirt contest? Or are you trying to act childish to feel young again? Cute, but bad idea."

"What'ca talking about Judy?"

"You forgot that today is uniform inspection day! Sucks for you."

I gritted my teeth, realizing she was right.

Today was the day we were required to all come in our uniform scrubs for inspection and pictures for our new hospital IDs. I glanced at the clock on the wall, realizing I only had five minutes before class even started. Judy seemed to enjoy my discomfort as she whipped her blonde hair into a perfect ponytail on the top of her head, framing her head in a pretty fashion.

I felt sick, if I wasn't so angry with Judy, I would have cried in despair at my own stupidity. I should have requested an earlier time frame or something! Regardless that Gareth was distracting me at the time.

I caught my breathe, did I just think that?

I checked the clock again, now I only had four minutes till I faced my instructors to try and explain my errors. I couldn't reveal Sarah's secret as an excuse, I felt so confused.

That was when I felt the oddly familiar sense that someone was behind me, my nose took in the smell of fresh pine, mint, and other spices that seemed to calm my nerves to my surprise. Before, that smell and hot breath on my neck would freak me out, yet I still found myself getting goose bumps.

"You called so soon?" Gareth's voice whispered close to my ear.

I took a deep breath and turned around to see Gareth….dressed as a human…a very handsome human of all things! Other than his mismatched eyes, he looked a cross between rich business entrepreneur and medieval legend wearing a dark suite with his wavy hair pulled back. His ears were not even pointed as before! If I didn't know any better I wouldn't have recognized him. I found myself becoming annoyed that I even thought of him and handsome in the same sentence four times in one morning.

I tried to breath and focus on continuing to stay mad with him, "D-don't d-do that!"

He raised an arched eyebrow while staring down at me, despite his change in appearance Gareth still towered over me, "Do what Lady-"

"Just Alex, please I don't have time for antics, in the next 2 minutes and 50 seconds I'm about to get into trouble with my superiors."

"Oh dear, poor little Alex: so careless with her time and unintelligent too!"

Crap, I forgot Judy was still here, but why wasn't she surprised about Gareth appearing out of nowhere?

Judy strutted over and gracefully nudged me aside which caused me to fall against a wall. As I rubbed my now sore shoulder, I bit my tongue to keep from yelling at her as she spoke to Gareth.

"Hello my name is Judy, I'm a friend of Alex's, she didn't tell me she was dating again."

Gareth only gave a bored expression, "I beg your pardon?"

"I'm not seeing any man of that interest Judy, and it is none of your business." I hissed through my teeth as I gathered my bearings.

"Aaawww, that's too bad, Rob still asks about you sometimes, maybe you two should meet up later for coffee and catch up?"

I narrowed my eyes, I knew Judy was obviously putting on an act, she was never in favor of me being anywhere around Rob again. She almost tried to have me arrested once just because he invited me over so I could get my stuff back. Why was she being so helpful now?

Judy ignored me and continued to stare at Gareth, licking her lips before she spoke, "So Alex, are you going to continue being rude or are you going to introduce me to your new handsome friend?"

I inwardly groaned, I couldn't believe this lady! First she steals my ex-fiancé, now she's trying to flirt with my new partner! She made me sick sometimes!

I walked over to Gareth and put my hand on his arm, "Gareth is my future in-law Judy, he's new in town and we are working together to prepare my cousin's wedding."

Gareth bowed at the waist, "Pleasure"

"Oh believe me the pleasure is all mine." Judy gave an annoying high pitched giggle, I frowned.

She clapped her hands, "Oh! I just had a wonderful idea! While Alex meets with Rob, I could give you a tour of the city!"

I felt close to snapping at this lady, how dare she that-

Judy cut off my thoughts while glancing at her watch, "oops look at the time! Gotta get to class can't be late, right Alex? Rob will text you the details for this weekend."

I opened my mouth to speak, "hold on Judy-"

Judy ignored me and placed a hand on Gareth's should to whisper into his ear, "see ya later mister."

Before I could lose my temper, Judy was already strutting to our classroom door. I pushed a negative feelings aside and grabbed Gareth's arm to pull him around a corner in the corridor. "Gareth, I need one of your balls please!"

Gareth raised both his eyebrows in surprised, "I never considered a lady like you to have a vulgar mind."

"What? I'm talking about one of those crystal ball things you and Jareth make. What are you talking about?"

I was surprised to see Garth's cheeks turn warm, "Why do you need a crystal, Alex?"

I shook my head to focus, "My clothes didn't change when I was sent here, I' out of uniform and today's an inspection by my instructors. I'm really in trouble right now!"

Gareth nodded, "I understand, I did serve in a military position in my youth, so I'll help you."

I breathed a sigh of relief, "thank you, thank you, thank you, so much!"

Gareth placed both his hands on my shoulders, I have never seen his hands without his gloves so was amazed how warm they were. When he brushed them up my shoulders towards my neck, I felt myself get goose bumps and slightly shiver.

"W-what a-are you doing?"

"Sssshh, calm your mind and shut your eyes."

"What? Why?"

"Close your eyes and picture your uniform and anything else you might need."

I sighed and closed my eyes, I remembered every article I needed from the scrub pants and white socks to match the clean new sneakers. I also tried to think of my hair out of the braids into a bun behind my neck so my hair wasn't in my face.

"Alex, you can open your eyes now."

I opened my eyes to see Gareth's gold and brown irises glowing as they stare into my blue ones. I suddenly couldn't speak or even move away from his intense gaze. What was happening to me?

Gareth finally spoke, "you better run you cannot be late for inspection."

I blinked, then looked down to see that my clothes have changed from that pretty blue dress to my brand new hospital scrubs: white for the short sleeved top, and burgundy red bottoms. I even touched my hair in fascination to find that it was just as I imagined it would be.

Gareth cleared his throat, "if you have more need of my services, my lady, I must return-ugh!"

I had cut him because I had launched myself at him to give him a big hug,

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, so much Gareth!"

I think I scared him because he just stood there in shock not moving even when I ended the hug to smile at him and wave. I grabbed my backpack near the door and realized that the clock still read 1 minute till on it when I am sure what happened to me took longer than that. I looked over my shoulder to grin at a still shell shocked Gareth who was wide eyed and hadn't moved from his position.

"You can let go of the time continuation now, your majesty! I'll see ya later, thanks again!"

I opened my classroom door and ran inside, leaving the poor Dream King shaking his head.

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