Enchanted High Book I

‘Are you done there?’

June looked down at the circle she had traced, and slipped the pen into her pocket. ‘Done.’

‘Oh, Robbie will be so happy,’ Nicole cried. ‘I wish I was there to see his reaction.’

The two of them were back at their dorm rooms the next morning, preparing to head down to the cafeteria for breakfast. Today was the twenty fifth of November; the last day of the school year. They would be boarding the Speedy Sailor once again and June would be heading back to Cinder Street, to her Aunt Audrey.

‘It all feels unbelievable,’ said Nicole. ‘I mean, two days ago we were being held prisoner by a psychopath Prince who could’ve killed a man for his own enjoyment. And now we’re here, about to head home, to our own lives, our daily routines.’

June smiled, even though she disagreed with Nicole. Things would be different for June now, she knew it.

June and Nicole hurried down the overflowing corridor to the cafeteria, dragging their luggage with their pets hovering behind them as they went along. They found a vacant table where James and Dominic joined them after their breakfast was served.

June turned to James. ‘Thank you for lending it to me,’ she reached into her pocket and retrieved the silver pen, handing it to him.

‘My pleasure,’ he replied. ‘So,’ he added solemnly, ‘this is bye till next year, huh?’

‘Yeah, mate,’ replied Dominic.

‘Where will you be heading back to?’ asked Nicole.

‘I’ll be going to the human world,’ said Dominic. ‘We’ll be living in a beach house near Bearlake harbor, remember?’

‘Yeah, yeah,’ said Nicole. ‘And you James?’

His drained his water, ‘Emeraldholde.’

‘Okay, June,’ said Nicole. ‘I have a surprise for you. I meant to wait until the holidays ... but here it goes.’

June was genuinely intrigued. ‘What?’

‘My dad bought the vacant house on Cinder Street!’ she said ecstatically. ‘We can celebrate my birthday there too!’

June’s jaw dropped. Nicole, the one fascinated with all things human, living on Cinder Street ... she couldn’t imagine it. ‘When is your birthday?’

‘Sixth February,’ said Nicole, ‘the same day we re-open for school. It’s gonna be so exciting, you have to show me around, I don’t know a single thing.’

‘That’s true,’ Dominic commented.

Nicole shot him a harsh look. ‘There’s one thing I have to say though,’ she continued. ‘And although the moment was really tense, I got to admit it was pretty funny and it’s probably the highlight of my year.’

‘What?’ the other three asked in unison and Nicole stared at them gaining suspense.

‘The time when June slapped James.’ She finished. ‘It was hilarious.’

June chuckled at the expression on James’s face. He touched the side of his cheek as if he could still feel the sting.

The bell rang again and the crowds of students began piling out of Enchanted High’s golden gates. Friends parted ways, some boarding the Speedy Sailor, others jumping into hovercrafts.

She was nearing the gangplank when a hand grabbed at her elbow. She turned around to see Dominic.

‘Hey,’ he began, ‘uh, I just wanted to say, that – that, the situation at the hot springs, when I turned on James because you were with him ... I mean, I was under the curse, alright?’

June felt relieved. She had wanted to ask him about it, but couldn’t get herself to do so. ‘I know.’

‘I don’t like you,’ said Dominic. ’I mean – I like you but I don’t like you –′

‘Yeah,’ said June. ‘I get it.’

He looked uncomfortable.

‘And Dominic,’ said June. ‘We would never abandon you, ok? Especially not in a crisis like that.’

‘Got it.’

She waved and turned away. The was a loud honk of the Speedy Sailor.

‘All aboard?’ went Captain Squirm.

June leaned on the railing and gazed at the great doors of Enchanted High, soaring into the sky like the doors of a majestic castle. The place seemed so full of wonder and magic.

It’s not over yet, said Audrey’s voice. You’ll be back.

I wish I could tell you the story ends happily ever after. It doesn’t. My boss is mean.

For now, that’s the end we get. I hope you enjoyed the story, and my crappy author notes with it. I think I may have even made some friends?

Love from all the fur on my back,

--THUG.