A Human’s Guide to Surviving Magical Mishaps

Rule 168- Dropping by someone's home unannounced is like showing up to a party in pyjamas, fun, but they might not be ready for it!



**FINVARA**

If I hadn't already decided to go after Lucy, Ashton and Kat getting engaged would have been the push I needed. I'm happy for them, really I am. I've been telling Ashton for weeks that he should probably just ask her already. I was about three seconds away from handing Kat a note saying 'Do you want to marry Ashton? Tick yes or no.' Sure it might be childish but watching the two of them dance around the issue has been more than a little frustrating, for all of us. I talk to Ashton about leaving and I stick around long enough to congratulate the two of them, although if I'm completely honest I really only waited because I needed it to get dark. I could congratulate them some other time and I'm more than a little impatient to leave. I'm not particularly surprised that Ashton already knows I'm leaving. I assume that Kat told him. The queen is fussing over the two of them when I sneak out. Kat catches my eyes and gives me a thumbs up gesture which she has explained is a sign of agreement or encouragement if I remember correctly. I nod my appreciation, grab my bags and leave. I make my way through the portal and do my best to ignore the pounding headache it leaves me. I probably should have waited another hour. It isn't QUITE dark yet. Although the sun is low in the sky. But I don't want to wait any longer. I don't bother trying to call for a car like I do when I'm with Kat or Ashton. I have wings, so I make use of them. It's not a long trip, but my shoulders are straining by the time I get there. Flying is a bit like running. Sure you can do it for a while, but it's a lot more tiring than just walking around. Walking uses gravity to propel you forward, it's actually a very energy conservative way of getting around. Flying is a constant effort. But it IS faster, and that's what I'm aiming for right now.

I'm relieved when I land on the correct street, automatically putting on my glamour now that people might catch sight of me. Houses are a lot harder to identify from above, but Kat's car is brightly coloured and it's still sitting in the driveway. I don't think it's been in use. I wonder if she's going to sell it, it's not like she really needs one anymore. I leave my bags by the car, it's a little presumptuous to show up WITH all the things I need to stay for an extended time period, but if Lucy doesn't want me around I guess I'll just go back home and packing will have been a waste. I'm about to knock on the door when I realise I've already made a mistake. Kat told me that when I arrived at the human realm, I should use my phone and message Lucy to let her know that I am coming. She said that it was partly to make sure that Lucy is home and partly to give her a chance to put pants on. Is she implying that Lucy is walking around undressed? I'm weirdly tempted to peek in through a window, but that would be wrong. I don't have to look through the window to see that the lights are on inside though, so at least I know that she's here. Should I knock? Or maybe I should still send her a message? How important is it to give warning that I am coming over? When I was staying here with Kat as my host, Lucy often came over without warning, but the two women are best friends, they're as close as sisters. The rules might not be the same. I decide to play it safe so I pull out my phone, wait as it powers up and I send her a message.

Finvara- Good evening Lucy, I am currently in the human realm and I would like to request a few minutes of your time. I will knock on your door in ten minutes from now.

I frown, I feel like I should finish the message off somehow, but I don't know what to say. Giving up, I just hit send and accept that it's not going to be perfect.

I spend the next nine minutes and fifty five seconds staring at the clock on my phone. I desperately want to knock, but I promised ten minutes. I have been able to hear Lucy moving around inside the house. I'm not completely sure what she's doing. Cleaning maybe? Is there something that she doesn't want me to see? I don't know if that's encouraging or discouraging. I mean, you clean if you want to impress people, right? But at the same time you don't tidy up for the people you are really comfortable with. Finally the numbers on the clock change to indicate it's been ten minutes. I don't wait, I immediately knock on the door. I hear Lucy swear from the living room.novelbin

"Damn. One minute!" She calls. I stand on the doorstep impatiently, trying not to tap my feet or shuffle around too much. I don't want her to think I'm being impatient, even though I definitely am. I don't think I want her to know how nervous I am either. Exactly forty-six seconds later the door swings open and I see Lucy for the first time in six months. She is just as beautiful as I remember. Her hair has grown a little. The brown curls that were just brushing her shoulders before now are lightly draped over them. She's small compared to me and has to angle her head up to look at me properly which gives me a perfect view of her lovely deep brown eyes. I open my mouth to say... Something. Greet her maybe? I had a plan earlier but with her here in front of me it's like my mind has gone blank. I've totally frozen up, well this is embarrassing.

I'm saved from further embarrassment when a bundle of white fur comes barreling out the door and leaps up on my legs. Is this a dog? I vaguely remember Lucy mentioning that she had a puppy at home, although this creature looks far too small to be considered a puppy. I have to adjust my stance so that I don't stumble back when it jumps up on me.

"Harley! Down Harley! Down! We don't jump on guests. Naughty. Go lie down. Bed, now." Lucy orders. The dog tries to lick my hands one more time before doing as it's told. It runs back inside, I guess to lie down somewhere. "Sorry about her. I'm still training her to greet guests nicely." Lucy says with a polite smile, but it looks forced to me. I'm not so sure that she's happy to see me. Shit. Was this a mistake? Maybe I should turn around and... And what? Go home? I can't do that. I need to tell her how I feel or I'll just go back to being miserable anyway. I take a deep breath before I speak.

"May I come in?" I ask, mirroring her polite expression. Lucy looks uncomfortable, but she nods.

"Sure, come inside I guess." She steps aside and I step into the hallway. It's bright in here and my head is pounding, but not as badly as my heart is. My palms are getting sweaty and I'm desperately fighting the urge to twitch my wings. I suddenly have a lot more sympathy for Ashton and Kat. This whole talking about my feelings thing is a lot more difficult than I anticipated.

"Uh, can I get you a drink or something?" Lucy offers. She's not as good at hiding her feelings as me, and she is definitely nervous, and maybe a little annoyed. Or possibly angry. Either way, she isn't happy. I stand there, awkward and silent, squinting against the light until Lucy huffs out an irritated sigh.

"What are you doing here Finvara?" She demands. Her tone is still polite but there's a definite edge to it. Her mask of civility is slipping.

"I..." I trail off, not sure where to start. Maybe I should have written this down. Okay, let me start with a form of honesty that doesn't need words since they seem to be escaping me.


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