I watched a drop of water hit the window and crawl down slowly. Another one soon splattered onto the glass surface, and suddenly, it started pouring outside.

Someone poked my shoulder, and I turned to glare at them. The boy next to me made an apologetic gesture and pointed towards the front of the room, where our teacher stood. I looked over and found Mr. Swallow's eyes boring into mine. He seemed to be saying something.

Then sound flooded my ears, and I heard him again.

"Mister Goodfellow, please read the next line."

The next line? I looked down at my unopened book.

"You and I both know I was looking out the window. Why would I know what line we're on?"

I heard a few snickers around the room, but ignored them. Mr. Swallow shook his head.

"Mister Goodfellow, I'm afraid I have to relocate you."

"But I like this window."

"I noticed. Which is why you'll be sitting nowhere near it."

Fair enough.

He scanned the seats in the room. His eyes crinkled and he frowned. Where would I create the least amount of trouble?, he seemed to be thinking. His expression cleared, and a small smile graced his lips.

"Sit near Serela."

"Who's that?"

Again, everyone in the class laughed.

Mr. Swallow sighed a very long-suffering sigh.

"Serela, please raise your hand."

Some red haired girl raised her hand, albeit with a reluctant expression. She seemed less than pleased.

I stood up and gathered my things before making my way to the girl. Oh, I see. Mustardseed was sitting on a desk behind and above mine. He could see what I was doing from there and keep me in check.

"Puck, when did you last bathe?" Serela suddenly shrieked. "You smell horrible."

I smiled at her, and she froze.

"I bet you think you smell so much better under those reeking layers of perfume."

The class roared with laughter, but for some reason, my eyes floated to my brother. He was watching me and frowning. It hit me like a blow to the chest, and I stared at him wordlessly. His eyes were bright hazel, and they held a quiet anger behind them. I hated making him mad. He knew that.

"I'm leaving." I declared, and made my way down the stairs.

"You can't do that—" Mr. Swallow's voice cut off when I glared at him. He bowed and stepped out of the way. "I apologize, Prince."

I brushed past him and out the door.

I hated it here. I really did. Everything felt so stifling. I didn't want to go to this annoying school anymore. I stormed down the hallways to my locker. I slammed it open and shoved my books in. When I turned around, I realized that I'd been followed. Again.

I glared at the girl lingering beside me. She quickly averted her eyes, but I kept my stare on her face.

"I haven't seen you before. A new one, huh?" I said, smirking. The girl flinched. "Stop following me. Tell my brother that it's not his business to watch over everything I do."

She looked like she was about to protest, but she only held my gaze for half a second before she looked elsewhere again. She turned on her heel and walked away silently, but I'd seen the hurt that had filled her gaze.

Another pang hit my heart. Had I been wrong? Had she not been following me because of my brother's orders? She turned back, once.

"I'm sorry," she mouthed.

So she had been following me. I slammed my locker shut before going to my room.

Water still dripped off my hair, but I didn't care. I stared out of my window, watching the rain. I pulled off the wet towel hanging off of my head and threw it on my bed. I smelled like soap. I was in a really bad mood.

Suddenly, a head appeared outside, and I reeled back.

My windows were thrown wide open, and a gust of wind howled in, along with pelts of rain. My white curtains fluttered towards me, reaching for me like ghostly fingers.

I prepared to pour my wrath out to whoever had dared to break into my room, but I stopped. It was that girl from before. She perched on my windowsill, drenched in water. But she wasn't shivering.

She smiled warmly, and held her hand out to me. I stared at her for a beat, then I grabbed her hand. Her smile widened, and suddenly, I was pulled out of my room.

I was tumbling through empty air, with only the raindrops as company. I opened my eyes and stared up at the raging sky. Lighting flashed across the broiling clouds, lighting up the side of the building that was quickly slipping past my vision.

Why had I grabbed that girl's hand? I should've known she was trying to kill me. I wondered who'd sent her. The goblins? The elves? I was never sure- more people than I cared to know about wanted me dead.

I decided to open my wings up, but I realized that something still clutched my hand. I turned my head and stared. It was that girl.

She was falling faster than me, but she kept her hand tightly around mine. What sort of assassin tried to kill herself, too? She looked at me with calm eyes.

On some impulse, I pulled her closer to me. She tightly wrapped her arms around my torso, as if I'd just granted her permission to touch me. I was about to fly us both up, but she met my eyes and shook her head, her hair whipping all around her face.

Why? Why did she want us both to fall?

A kamikaze assassination attempt?

Should I even be surprised anymore?

Then she pulled out a grappling hook. I looked at it incredulously. How was this supposed to save us? She threw it at a window that flashed by, and we suddenly jerked to a stop. This time I clung onto her as she supported us both. I nodded thanks at her. It would be easier to unfurl my wings when I wasn't in free fall. Then I braced my feet against the wall we hung against, and pushed off. We floated for only a second, then my wings came out and carried us both up.

The girl that I held tugged my shirt's collar, and pointed to a particular window. She wanted me to fly there. So I obliged.

I swept down, and held her securely as she opened the window. Then we went in.

It took my breath away. It was obviously all magic, but it looked wonderful.

The room beyond was filled with clouds and sunshine, warm air and birdsong. It was a sunny sky, and there were ropes suspended across the clouds, bearing baskets. The girl tugged on my collar again, and pointed towards one of the baskets.

I understood, and flew us near it. She carefully held onto me, and stepped into the basket. It swayed for a second, precariously. Then it stilled. She smiled and beckoned me to sit in it with her. I did, after I let my wings fold in.

I stared at her as she sat opposite me, curious. She smiled at me, then reached up and did something with the rope. Suddenly, we were zipping through the air.

I put my head over the lip of the basket to see, and saw that the basket was speeding along the rope that it was attached to. I laughed and whooped as warm wind rushed through my hair, hitting my face with gentle force. The girl sat up near me, and stared at the clouds whipping past us. We were both drenched, and the rush of air was making her shiver uncontrollably. But when she looked at me, her eyes were alive, dancing with mirth.

"I love this place! What is this room?" I asked. She shrugged.

"I call it the Sunshine room."

I made a face. "Can you make the name less sickly sweet?"

I saw a huge turtle fly beneath us, and jumped out of the basket. I brought out my wings and flew down, staring at the huge reptile.

"That is so cool!"

The girl had somehow stopped the basket, and she looked down with me.

"That's Mr. Dregs." When I looked at her curiously, she explained, "Because he always looks like he's living in the dregs of life even though he's here in this wonderful place."

I laughed. "You're so weird."

"I'm nothing compared to you," she said, smiling.

I scowled at her. "Who are you?"

"Not telling."

I looked at her ruefully. "Are you going to turn this into a guessing game? I'll find out eventually, you know."

"Yes, you will. But my name won't mean anything to you yet."

I stuck my tongue out at her, and she laughed.

The bright room suddenly seemed to darken as a shape appeared over us. I looked up, and found the Queen glaring down at me with all the rage in the world.

"Puck, go back to your room. You have to study."

I frowned, and then grew angry. Before I could say anything, a small hand touched my back.

"Calm down," the girl whispered.

I closed my mouth and looked away.

"Yes, Mother," I said, though gritted teeth.

Titania watched me with grave eyes until I flew back to the window. Then she went to the girl and held her hand out towards her. The girl looked at the queen fearfully, but took the hand she offered. Titania smiled warmly at her. I felt a pang of betrayal. The girl hadn't been sent by my Mother, had she?

"What is you name, child?"

Oh. Good. They weren't related.

"Moth, your majesty."

"Moth," Titania said, tasting the name thoughtfully. "Thank you. You've helped my son."

Moth? I looked at the wisp of a girl, and realized that the name fit her perfectly.

Moth.

The girl smiled at me shyly, noticing my gaze. I stuck my tongue out at her.

"See you later, little insect." I called, as I flew away.