Chapter Seven: Catherine's House
Bea had just finished stuffing her breakfast into her mouth and was running towards the door when her mother stopped her. It was Saturday and Bea was eager to get out and over to Catherine's house so that they could finish the conversation that they couldn't even start yesterday after finding Catherine in the Edge. Catherine had panicked after coming out of the Edge when she realized the time and had made a final decision that nothing more was to be discussed and the three of them were to head home immediately. Bea begged and pleaded with her friend to at least talk for just five minutes, trying desperately to convince her that such a small amount of time would mean nothing, but nothing could change Catherine's mind and she was already flying low towards home, dragging Curtis behind her. Bea had reluctantly used the pod that Curtis had given her to return home herself. When she had gotten home that night she was faced with lots of questions and strange looks from her mother and father. Her mother had only asked her once what had happened and if Catherine was OK. Bea had given her some pitiful explanation that Catherine had been mesmerized by some new store display and had lost track of time. Anyone who knew Catherine would know that this was the greatest of lies since she hated shopping and was never late. Mrs. Featherstone knew Catherine and Bea knew that her story wasn't going to convince her mother. But Mrs. Featherstone was never one to push or pry and she usually only asked questions once, which always made Bea feel relieved. But this morning, as she was trying to head out the door, Mrs. Featherstone stopped her and brought up the subject again.
"You going over to Catherine's?" Mrs. Featherstone asked as she grabbed Bea's arm on its way to the small bowl on the counter containing the bubbles for the pods.
"Yeah, I told you that last night. It's OK, isn't it?" Bea asked annoyed. Why was her mother harassing her this morning?
"Yeah, it's OK. I'm glad she is OK. It will be nice for you guys to hang out. You sure you told me everything you wanted to about yesterday?" Mrs. Featherstone asked without letting go of Bea's arm.
Bea looked into her mother's eyes and saw some wrinkles of concern around her usually kind expression. Bea was angry at herself for not telling her mother more about what had happened yesterday, but she didn't know if it was really her story to tell. She'd have to talk to Catherine about it today and see what she thought. For the time being, Mrs. Featherstone would have to be satisfied with the silly story about a bad day of shopping.
Bea patted her mother's hand and said with a smile, "Yeah mom. That's really all that happened. Can I go now?"
Mrs. Featherstone finally moved her hand away from Bea's arm and said quickly, "Sure. Go ahead and have fun."
Bea was so relieved to finally get out of the house and away from her mother's accusing stare. She tossed the bubble into the air and lazily shot a line of fairy dust at it. She missed and the bubble landed on the ground. Bea, angry at herself for having missed, snatched the bubble from the ground and tried again. Her aim was right this time but her line of fairy dust shot out too hard and smashed into the bubble causing it to expand on only one side. Bea looked up and around her to see if anyone was watching her as she fought with the silly pod bubble. She would have to really concentrate to remedy the deformed pod hovering in front of her. Bea was never very good at magic and was so careless that this had not been the first time she had failed to properly expand the pod bubble. Bea pointed at the strange misshapen pod and tried her best to focus her attention and energy on that one spot as a line of fairy dust shot from her fingertips once again. The magic was fairly on mark as the pod inflated on the other side. The pod was still a little off, with the one side being a little bit bigger than it was supposed to be, but Bea had successfully expanded it for use as the pod began to slowly rise to the line waiting doors open for a passenger to board. Bea shot into the pod and pushed the button for the NW5 stop.
The ride was the same 30 second ride she had taken when she rushed to meet up with Curtis just yesterday. Bea was trying to get her thoughts in order before seeing her friend. She had so many questions and things she wanted to talk to her about that it was hard to decide where to start. Catherine was waiting for her when she drifted down from the pod. Catherine looked much more herself this morning. Her face was tear-stain free and her hair was its usual beautiful ringlets of curls. She still had a pretty round face like she did when she was eight and if anything her eyes seemed to have gotten even bigger as she got older. Her hair was still hazy blue, but her mother had allowed her to use the higher-grade fairy dust to curl it and it looked so voluminous that it made Bea subconsciously try to hide her own straight hair behind her ears. Catherine had grown a little taller, but she was a bit shorter than Bea. When they both had their wings out it made Catherine look that much more like a small child in comparison. Catherine hated having her wings out. She would find any excuse to keep them tucked down in the smaller size appropriate for indoors. Bea would try to get her to fly with her at times, when it was just the two of them, but Catherine always found some excuse. And Curtis was almost always with them which gave Catherine the perfect reason to stay grounded. Bea didn't realize how much pain it caused Catherine to see her friend and her beautiful wings. Nothing was to be compared to Catherine's envy, not even Bea's desire to have curly hair like her friend. Catherine never let her face betray this envy to Bea, and she was ready with a beaming smile as her friend had floated down out of the pod with her gorgeous wings gliding her down. Bea landed with a thud.
Catherine laughed as she tugged on her friend's arm, "You never seem to get that landing down, do you?"
"No. It's terrible. I really need to try harder. It was cute when I was a kid, now it just makes me look stupid." Bea looked around her and then asked, "Where's Curtis?"
"Oh, he is at home. He was finishing up something and said he would meet up with us for our chat."
Bea was ready to suggest to Catherine that they make a race of it then to her house, flying, but she stopped herself. This was the perfect chance to have a few moments to chat with her best friend, alone.
"Well, then, let's take a slow and easy stroll back to your place and talk," Bea said as she started off in the direction of the Royce's home.
Bea smiled at her friend as she decided to leap into some of her questions that were pounding in her head. She started off by asking her friend, "How are you doing?"
Catherine looked at the ground and then brought her head up with a small smile at her lips. "I'm good. I mean, yeah, I'm good. My mother freaked out. I'll tell you everything when we get to my place. But, other than that, I'm good. I feel stupid. I'm really sorry I caused you guys so much trouble."
"It wasn't any trouble. Just glad we found you. I guess it was just a matter of time before we did though. You can only just go round and round the island in the Edge, there's no place to go but that," Bea said this with as much expression and laughter in her voice as she could pull off without sounding crazy. She was trying to cheer her friend up. It seemed to be working a little.
Catherine's smile grew as she said, "Yeah, that's true. No place to go really. Thank you though for finding me."
Bea felt that anger from yesterday creeping in again and pushed it back as she said to Catherine, "No problem. That's what friends do."
Catherine cringed a little at these last words and seemed to have felt their double meaning as she stopped and turned to face Bea and say, "I was really terrible for not telling you Bea. I know it has been years that I have lied to you and you have every right to hate me, but I really didn't mean to hurt you in any way. Please forgive me!"
Bea knew it was the right thing to do, to forgive her friend. She wanted to, if anything to just get it over with and move on to other things. She forced a huge smile on her face as she drew her friend into a hug. "Don't worry about it. I forgive you." Bea wondered how long it would take for her heart to agree with the words she was now speaking.
The houses on the family island followed a pattern of sorts. T
he pattern was easy to decode as it was a representation of what little class structure existed on the small island. The houses that were closer to the Hall, at the center of the island, were a little smaller. Their design was simpler. The houses that were further out on the island had big yards, and lots of space between them. They were also larger and it was apparent that some owners had used some higher-grade dust to make some changes and upgrades. All homes were styles that were clearly copied from the homes below on earth. As Bea and Catherine walked from the NW5 stop towards Catherine's house, they passed four other homes. They were each separated by a fair amount of grassy land and there were no fences that drew lines to delineate properties. Catherine's house was on the outermost ring and sat with some of the more magnificent homes on the island. The Royce's two-story home had a beautiful redbrick exterior that was accented with long windows. Bea had always loved those windows because they had the quaintest shutters and half-circular fanlights over each. Inside it made the light that fell through the windows into the house so pretty. Bea had told herself many times that when she had a home of her own she was going to make sure to have those fanlights just so that she could watch the shadows dance across her walls as the sun traveled across the sky.
Inside Mrs. Royce had decorated everything beautifully. The furniture was a deep cherry wood. The upholstery was Bea's favorite because it was always changing. Sometimes it would even change day-to-day. This was a perk of having a mother who had such amazing magic ability.
Catherine and Bea had just sat themselves down on Catherine's floor when Curtis stuck his head in with a smile. "Hey you guys. Thought I heard you come in."
"Come in. You must have been stalking out my room waiting for us to get back," Catherine teased her brother as she turned to Bea. "He has been bugging me nonstop since we got back last night. I told him I didn't want to have to repeat myself to you and him, so you would all have to wait until now to talk."
Curtis looked so excited it was a wonder he could find the words to reply. "Well, I knew after the chat you and mother had last night that there was going to be something big to talk about today." He shot a quick glance at Bea and said in a joking tone, "Wish you didn't exist, then she would have told me everything last night."
Bea laughed, but she was eager to hear from her friend too and leaned forward. Catherine saw that she had a very attentive audience so she began.
"First of all, I want to say again how thankful I am that you guys came to get me. I feel stupid for having gotten stuck like that. I really am grateful and apologize a million times over to both of you for not having shared my secret. It was really just me being incredibly selfish and wanting something that was just mine. I would just go there to clear my head, relax and feel better about myself."
Curtis grabbed his sister's hand as he interjected, "You always keep things to yourself. You should try a little more to gab to us. I know I always seem to be talking, but if you started saying anything to Bea and I, I know we would shut up and listen."
Bea saw the opportunity to try to push that anger that was still humming around her head a little further back by joining Curtis in this display of friendship. "Yeah, we will listen. It may seem hard to believe, but we will."
"Thanks you guys. And I will try a little more to calm my stress levels with you two rather than hanging out at the Edge. I will have to since I am not allowed to go there anymore. I guess that kind of brings us to the next thing, what my mother said to me."
Bea was a little disappointed since she thought the next topic would be Veronica or that strange boy. But as she saw Curtis light up at the mention of his mother, Bea realized that there was more to this part of the story than she was anticipating. With her interest now piqued, she leaned further in towards her friend.
Catherine took a deep breath and continued. "So, when we got back that night I didn't really know what to expect. Curtis had said that he had told mother that I had gone shopping and wasn't back yet so he was going to go meet up with me."
"Really?" Bea had to interrupt with her surprise at the coincidence of similar stories. "I told my mom the same thing, that you had gone shopping and lost track of time. Which my mom totally did not believe so you'll have to let me know if it is OK to tell her truth, but we can talk about that later. Go on."
Catherine didn't laugh very much after Bea's comment, which just made it clearer how serious this part of the story was. Catherine went on. "We got back and my mother didn't really say much, just that we were late for dinner and to hurry up and be seated. Dinner was a normal affair and I was starting to think maybe, miraculously, I was in the clear. That night I was in my room getting ready for bed and my mother came to my room. She shut the door behind her and that totally freaked me out. She sat down in the chair at my desk and asked me to have a seat too. And then she just started to talk to me, real calm like. It was weird."
Curtis was nearly standing up in excitement at this point as he spurted out, "What did she say?"
"Well, she told me that she had known all along where I was going, when I went, where I went, how long I stayed. I guess all the kids on the island are being tracked." Catherine paused here for emphasis at what was clearly some shocking news.
Bea couldn't believe what she was hearing. Tracked? What did that mean? "You mean like followed? But how?"
Catherine continued with her story. As Bea and Curtis knew, on each island there were patrol fairies. These patrol fairies were like policemen in that it was there job to keep everyone safe. There were not many things to protect from though on the island. Their main jobs were to watch the pod lines for accidents and to watch to make sure no one hurt themselves while flying or using magic. Everything was so organized on the island that very few incidents occurred. Bea had often thought that being a patrol fairy as a career choice could either be very relaxing or boring depending on how one looked at things. But apparently there was more to their jobs than the average inhabitant of the island knew about. Mrs. Royce had told her that what she was sharing with her daughter was not information that was usually shared with anyone on the island, let alone a child.
"Does she know you are telling Curtis and me?" Bea asked quickly.
Catherine nodded her head and continued, "Yeah, she actually told me she knew I would tell you two anyway so it was OK. I guess she just doesn't want us really talking about it with everyone at school though."
Catherine explained how her mother had told her that the patrol fairies used a special magic tracking system to follow where the kids on the island go. It was very similar to the system that was used by the fliers when they are on their missions and was a very accurate way of knowing where a fairy was at any given time. Each fairy's magic left a different trace trail that could be mapped. The tracking only provided location and condition since the stronger the signal the healthier the fairy was. Mrs. Royce had received a call that day after Catherine's birthday, when the three of them had visited the Edge. Bea's mind was racing and she realized that this must mean that her mother also received that same phone call.
Catherine took a moment to smile at her friends now as she continued, "Mother sounded a little impressed when she commented that over the years not many young fairies had actually gone inside the Edge like we had. Not only did we go all the way in, but we also hung out a bit. She said it was very unusual, and you know mother, she never really gives compliments, but she did sort of stop to say that we were all very 'brave.' She also said that she was really surprised that I went back there, alone. "
"So were we sis." Curtis' comment, though said in his usual joking manner, gave Bea the chance she was hoping for to share a slightly angered laugh. Why was she still so upset at Catherine? Bea wanted this anger out of her thoughts so she could focus on what clearly needed her attention now.
Catherine continued by telling Bea and Curtis how Mrs. Royce had gotten the call yesterday that there seemed to be some problem since the trace for Catherine had gotten aggravated and was acting st
rangely.
"It must have been funny watching my little mark on the map running around all crazy in circles and then just stopping in the middle of the Edge," Catherine said, though it was clearly not funny to her at all as she sighed. "Then mother asked me if I had a problem with Veronica."
Bea laughed out loud at the obviousness of this question. "Yeah, I think it is safe to say that we do have a problem with her." Bea loved talking about how much she didn't like Veronica. It seemed she could safely redirect any anger about anything else into why she didn't like Veronica.
"Yeah, that's just the thing Bea; mother first asked me if I had a problem with Veronica. I told her that she liked to pick on us at school and had caused us some stress. Then she asked me if YOU had a problem with Veronica. It was so weird, because she actually specifically asked about you Bea. I told her that you two just never seemed to get along and that since Curtis and I were your friends we seemed to be targeted too," Catherine explained excitedly.
"I never really thought about it that way, but I think you are right, she does seem to hate Bea more than you or I," Curtis said in a quieter tone to Catherine.
Bea felt as though she was stuck in an incredibly awkward situation as she looked at her two friends staring at her now. "Sorry you guys get harassed since you're friends with me."
Curtis laughed. "Bea, I will stand by your side as your friend no matter how many losers like Veronica come along and try to attack us."
"Yeah, Bea, don't worry about it. I consider it a small side effect to an awesome friendship. Kind of like your brother too," Catherine added with a funny little smile.
Bea let out a genuine laugh at this comment. It was nice to find something so funny at a moment of such intense discussion. Bea's brother, Steven, had been a terror for her almost her entire life and she couldn't agree with Catherine more that he was a liability for her. Words could not express how happy she was that he was off at dust management training, as he had been for the past few years. To be honest she didn't miss her brother at all.
Catherine's eyes lit up again as she leaned in towards Bea and nudged, "So, don't you think it is strange that my mother asked why you and Veronica don't get along?"
"No. I mean, I think she just wanted to know where the real source of the conflict was, that's all. Don't you think, Curtis?” Bea looked at Catherine's brother for affirmation.
Curtis nodded his head and looked briefly at his sister who’s smiled faded as she found no one on her side on the matter. "Sorry sis, I just don't see the conspiracy. I mean, Veronica and Bea have been fighting since we all started basic. Plus, you know Veronica is mean to everyone."
"I guess so, but she wasn't always the leader. Remember how she took over the gang after she bloomed?" insisted Catherine.
"But I always thought that was just the thing, that after Veronica bloomed she started in on Bea and took over the gang of losers at school; I just assumed it was out of jealousy of Bea's wings," explained Curtis.
"Yeah, I guess maybe that is why . . ." Catherine's voice trailed off as she glanced to the ground.
Bea didn't even notice her friend's disappointment in the change of topic as she nearly shouted out, "So, we were some of the few to go all the way inside the Edge? I knew Steven hadn't ever done it!"
Curtis joined in with Bea as the two congratulated themselves once again for the brave feat they had achieved all those years ago and slowly their excited cheers brought a smile from Catherine as well.
Then it was Bea's turn to make a suggestion that was not meant with much interest as she mentioned the strange boy that helped them find Catherine.
"Had you seen him before when you went to the Edge ever?" Bea asked inquisitively.
"No. Can't say that I did. I don't even know who you are talking about." Catherine said rather casually.
Of course, Catherine didn't see him yesterday, he had just slipped away right when she and Catherine had met up with him and Curtis. Everyone was too excited to take any notice of him as he left. But that day, when they had all gone to the Edge, hadn't she see him then? Catherine still didn't know who they were talking about, but finally Curtis jumped into the conversation.
"I was with him while we searched for you up the other way along the Edge. He is real, even though you haven't had a chance to see him sis. He's super weird. He doesn't wear clothes like us; he wears robes. He doesn't go to school with us, that I know of at least. I would swear he is about the same age as us, but I have only seen him yesterday. He didn't speak a word to me though. Did you talk to him Bea?” Curtis turned to Bea with attentiveness.
Bea tried to recall all the details of the conversation to share with her friends. "Yeah, we spoke. I was looking for you," Bea motioned to Curtis, "And as I was waiting for any sign of you the boy just sorta appeared out of nowhere. He walked up to me and just said that Veronica had taken your bag out of the Edge as a marker and tossed it in the bushes."
The mention of Veronica taking Catherine's bag out of the Edge drew Catherine's interest. "Did he know Veronica's name?" Catherine's question seemed a little out of place.
"Yeah, I guess he did. Yeah, now that I think about it, he knew Veronica's name, he knew your name too. Strange, right? He was weird. Then the minute he asked and told me you would be in the Edge freaking out a bit, he got all scared and shy and quiet again and didn't speak to me again. We met up with Curtis and I didn't want to have to walk when I went down the Edge searching for you so I sent him after Curtis. So you didn't talk to him at all Curtis?" Bea asked.
Curtis laughed to himself as he replied, "Didn't even give him a thought really. I was so focused on finding you and he kind of kept a few paces behind me anyway."
"So, who is he? Does he live on this island, or was he just visiting?" Bea had so many more questions she wanted to ask, but she stopped herself.
Catherine shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know Bea. I always thought all kids on the island had to attend school. You think he is in a different grade than us and dresses normal when he goes to school?"
"Nah, he has that weird, dark hair too. I would have noticed him," Bea just didn't feel right about this strange boy with so many questions. "Maybe I'll ask my mom about him. While I am at it, is it OK to tell her the truth about yesterday? She probably knows anyway."
"Yeah, you might as well. I know you talk a lot with her, it would be better to keep things normal between you two." Catherine looked around her room at the chair that her mother had occupied just last night and sighed softly to herself.
Curtis suddenly broke the momentary silence that had filled the room as he said, "So, what should we do about Veronica?"
"Ooh, yeah, we have to be ready on Monday," Bea's eyes were filling with anger as she spoke and a strange smile had curled her lips.
"You guys need to stop planning and scheming. You know that she only bugs us because we let her get to us. We should really just ignore her as much as . . ." Catherine's sensible advice was interrupted as Bea and Curtis turned to each other and starting talking to one another about what they might say when they saw Veronica at school. Catherine turned to include herself in their newly formed circle and mechanically nodded her head at their suggestions while clearly her mind was somewhere else.
The True Stories of Dream Fairies: Bloom Page 7
