Autumn's P.O.V.

My eyes flutter open after a dreamless sleep. A feeling of belonging settles deep within me. A smile actually spreads across my face. There was no little Autumn, frightened to death, no big bad guys breaking down the door. No mom with glazing eyes filled with terror. Nobody being carried away like a corpse. Just a peaceful night's sleep. And I always love waking up refreshed, however little it happens. I turn my eyes away from the ceiling.

Pure adrenaline rushes through my body. I don't think my little heart has ever worked as hard as it is right now. I clench my eyes shut. It's just not possible I repeat in my mind. When I open my eyes and still see the auburn hair, I lift my wing off of her slowly. Jade stirs a little and I freeze, holding my breath as if it's going to make all the difference in the world. When she settles again I'm out of that bed faster than the Flash. I lock the bathroom door behind me.

I don't remember Jade staying the night but then again I don't remember her leaving either.

I pace up and down in my tiny bathroom trying to recall what happened last night. My wings knock down the glass I use to rinse my mouth out with, after I brush my teeth. It shatters on the floor. Once again I'm keeping my air inside my inflated lungs waiting for Jade to say something about the racket. When I don't hear her voice I exhale. A knock so soft I almost think I imagine it, solidifies me in place.

"Is everything okay in there?" Jade's voice is still a little groggy from the sleep.

"Uh... Yeah just give me a sec please," I quickly pick up the glass pieces as best I could, before sweeping the tiny shards into the corner for now.

I splash my face with some cold water. The purple eyes staring back me feel unfamiliar. I've grown use to staring into the steel blue, I change them into.

Usually when I fall asleep in human form I stay in human form. I've been able to control my changings since I could walk. It doesn't make sense that I have trouble now. Maybe Jade is the reason why. I mean the first time did happen right after I inhaled her familiar fruity smell. Or maybe it has something to do with me turning eighteen, which is only two months away. Surely my mom must've warned my dad about something like this.

I remember singing a song that has been stuck in my head since I found out Jade was back. It summed up exactly how I felt. Then I heard something stir on my roof. I somehow already knew it was Jade even before I looked outside. A sly smile played on my lips when I saw Jade fall back because I gave her a good scare. She asked me to finish the song. At first I wasn't sure if I should because I knew just singing it to get it out of my head was different than singing to the person who made you feel like that. But Jade's eyes were pleading and I gave in. Then everything gets fuzzy because there were too many emotions swirling through me. All I remember after that is Jade picking me up and lying me on the bed.

I focus on pulling my wings back in my skin, but nothing. My eyes don't change to blue either. Anxiety builds in me. What the hell is going on with me?

"You sure you're okay? You've been in there a while." Jade points out.

"I'm fine, just getting ready for a shower." I turn on the water to make my lie believable. I guess I am a little like my father. Still standing in front of the mirror I focus on changing the color of my eyes.

Nothing.

Zero.

Zilch. I wipe the steam off the mirror to see my reflection better.

Not a thing at all. My purple eyes stare hauntingly back at me.

I decide to take a shower after all, before the morning events turn me into a complete stress ball.

The warm water slides down my neck and between my wings. I take in a deep breath and finally relax. I focus on my breathing. In and out. In and out.

I push aside the feeling of confusion I feel towards Jade. Its way too obvious that I still love her but I know that I can't forgive her just like that. There is something lingering in the corner of my mind also, something that keeps pulling me towards her.

My skin tears open allowing my wings retreat back into it. This time it takes no more than the sheer will to do it. No effort, no struggle. I close the water and step outside the shower. Warm air whips around my skin. I wipe the steam of the mirror once again to make sure my eyes are blue.

Satisfied, I open the door and all the steam enters my room, leaving the bathroom colder than it was just moments ago.

Jade's brow is creased with concern.

"You know I'm not much of a morning person," I say, ignoring the fact that she looks like a hot mess. Her hair is all tousled and her clothes wrinkled, but she still looks as sexy as ever. I curse myself for even thinking that.

"She's all yours," I point towards the shower.

After ten minutes of waiting for Jade to come out, it's my turn to knock on the door. We have about five minutes left until we are officially late for school. The door creaks open and Jade combs some of her wet hairs out of her face with her fingers. She's wearing the same clothes from earlier.

"We don't have time to go back to your house for clothes." I say and give her something else to wear. I excuse myself to the kitchen and grab a pancake while I wait.

My dad lowers his newspaper, leaving it open on the table.

"Ace or Sally?" he asks. I smile because he knows me so well.

"Neither, it's Jade."

As if on cue, Jade enters the kitchen.

My dad eyes her skeptically. Probably trying to recall who she is. I'm sure he remembers her; after all we were best friends. I offer her a pancake, but she declines. I knew she would. Jade has always been cautious of the toxins she fills her body with.

"Say hi to my dad."

"Hi Mr Reed. Bye Mr Reed," she says loud enough so he can hear.

"Bye girls," he shouts back.

♀♀♀♀♀♀♀♀

Jade and I both sneak in to the school's boiler room. If we miss the first whole period, that teacher will assume that we're absent. All we have to do now is avoid Dubour for the rest of the day and just stay out of sight from everyone else, until the bell sets us free. We both decided that being late for one class was not worth three hours of detention.

I leave my backpack by the door and walk down the metal steps. I feel the dust accumulate beneath my hand as I slide it down the rail. I sit back against the cold concrete wall and Jade joins me. I wipe my dusty hand off on my jean.

"This use to be our favorite spot. There are so many memories down here."

It's like she's living inside my brain or something.

I watch her take in the room as if it is her first time seeing it. There is nothing interesting about this place, never was. It only has grey walls and rusted pipes everywhere, with a few blow-down tanks. There is a big box with a red light that flashes every other second, but that's about it. We use to ditch classes here all the time, sometimes even with Ace. Sally was always too much of a goody-two-shoes to join us.

Our breaths are the only light noise, disturbing the tranquility of the room.

Jade is sitting close enough that I'm aware of her presence but far enough so that nothing can happen. The only thing I'm able to focus on, is her intoxicatingly wonderful citrus scent. I don't dare breaking the peace that has settled over us and neither does she. Her azure orbs are locked on mine, and she is wearing a smile that says talking is overrated. I squeeze my eyes shut. I don't know if it's because I'm more aware now, or the good night's sleep but this time I can feel the fibers moving behind my eyes. I know that it's mere seconds away from taking its original color. It's like an itch in the back of my eye ball that I can't scratch.

Instinctively I jump up and put as much distance between us as the room allows. I focus on keeping my eye color blue. I ball up my fist and rub at my eyes in an attempt to cover my sudden weirdness. The thought of being completely alone with Jade for another 11 minutes suddenly has me on the edge. She is definitely the reason why I can't control the Fairy side of me. But I don't understand why because we've been together before and this never happened once. More space is a good idea, but I can't move my feet. Almost as if I don't want to.

I risk looking at her. She doesn't freak out or mention anything so I assume my attempts were successful in keeping them blue.

"What are you doing to me?" I yell from across the room.

Her face scrunches together. She has no idea what I'm talking about. She doesn't know the effect she has on me. Being unable to control my changing, leaves me feeling exasperated.

She tilts her head to the side and walks up to me. She is so close that her breath reaches my face. If she smiles now and reveals her dimples, I'll be a goner. Her eyes are searching mine, probably trying to make sense of my actions.

I make the mistake to dart my eyes to her lips as she licks them, causing me to bite down on my bottom lip.

Jade grabs my face between her hands and presses her lips to mine. Her tongue forces a way into my mouth. My breath hitches, but I like the roughness. I feel every sensation, every electrical charge swoop through my body, my veins. A fire forms in the pit of my stomach and lust takes over. I grab a hold of her gorgeous head of hair, to kiss her harder. My free hand snakes up her shirt. My fingertips tingle at the touch of her stomach muscles. Kissing her has never felt this good.

Then.

I feel the skin on my back rip open and I know my wings are seconds away from rupture. But I can't let go just yet. I hold onto her like the world is about to end. She nibbles down on my lip and pulls away. From the heavy rise and fall of her chest, I can tell she needs air. Every ounce of strength I have, I'm using to keep myself looking normal.

"You're trouble," I say. My comment makes her scrunch her nose in response. She doesn't defend herself so I guess on some level she must think it true.

♀♀♀♀♀♀♀♀

I'm running as fast as I can. I need to get home. Before I lose complete control and everyone sees what I am. The haunted echoes of Jade calling my name, burns in my mind with every step farther away from her. What was I thinking, allowing her to kiss me? As if I needed anymore complications in my life.

I'm barely inside the house when my wings explode from my skin. I collapse on the floor and just lie there until I catch my breath. The white ceiling is painfully boring to watch. My purple eyes zoom in so I can see every stroke of paint that was applied. I can hear footsteps all the way at least from a mile away, as well as a mother singing a lullaby to her crying baby in the house at the end of the street. Suddenly there are more noises; more footsteps, low murmurs, insects flying around, a TV, a car door slamming...

I place my hand on my ears and squeeze as hard as I can. It doesn't reduce the noise even in the slightest. The front door swings open and my father is standing in front of me, eyes spread wide from shock. I hear his heart beating frantically in his chest. He finally realizes the door is still open and falls against it. The loud thump sound it creates takes away all the other sounds with it.

"What is happening to me daddy," I say with a quivering lip releasing my hold on my ears. I sound scared but that's because I am. I know I can fly and see things better but hearing everything that's going on around me; that is some freaky shit.

"Autumn, your ears," he points a finger.

"Your ears, they're" – he stops like his not sure what to say. I reach up and trace my thumb from my earlobe over to the top of my ear. I come to an abrupt stop, widening my eyes.

"What the..."

I run to the mirror in our hallway. My fingers trace over this bizarre new feature. For the moment curiosity takes over my fear and then confusion takes over my curiosity.

"I thought Fairies don't have pointy ears,"

"Your mother... she never... I never saw..." he shakes his head. His even more flabbergasted than I am.

I carry the coffee I just made over to my dad. He nods his head. It looks like his calmed down a bit, but he still hasn't said a word to me. The wheels inside his head are turning as he tries to wrap his mind around this. I can't help but wonder if this was the same way he reacted when my mom told him she was a Fairy.

"Why were you in Fairy form in the broad daylight?" His tone doesn't sound angry, like it usually does when I risk exposing myself. Instead it sounds like he is trying to piece something together.

"I couldn't contain it much longer so I ran home."

"Hmmm. Did you receive any new students?"

"Not that I know of, why?"

My dad scrunches his face together. Me, I'm about ready to burst out yelling, 'what the hell is going on?'

"Autumn, who was with you when you started feeling the changes?"

This time it is my turn to scrunch my face together. What is he getting at?

"Jade, we skipped first period because we didn't want detention for being late."

"Is Jade the girl who slept over last night?" I'm surprised that he doesn't scowl me for skipping a class.

I nod my head. He digs his hands in his hair, shaking it from side to side, "it doesn't make sense, it just doesn't."

"What doesn't make sense? Just tell me already," I say with my teeth clenched together. I've never been a patient person.

"Every Fairy has a person they're connected to. This person helps develop their abilities. According to your mom most Fairies don't find them and end up only with the abilities they already figured out by themselves, like the ones you already have: changing eye color, hiding their wings etc. etc. I'm not sure how it works but the first time you come into contact with this person, you take your natural form."