by Sarah Noffke
She wheeled around not to find the refined figure she expected of the headmistress. Instead, Paris found herself face to face with a small Asian woman with short black hair, dressed in plain gray clothes.
“Hi!” Paris squeaked, but the woman didn’t respond.
Instead, she pointed at the cat. “Out of here, Casanova. No spying for you today.”
The orange cat unhurriedly stretched to a standing position on the sofa.
“Now!” the small woman snapped, suddenly displaying great authority.
That put some fire under the feline’s butt, and he bounded off the sofa and scurried through the open doors. When he was gone, the woman closed them at once and whipped around to face Paris, her eyes serious although kind.
“We don’t have long,” she began while glancing over her shoulder and peering through the glass panes on the door. “Listen to what I have to say before the headmistress gets here. It’s imperative that you do exactly what I tell you.”
Chapter Fourteen
“You’re not the headmistress?” Paris asked, then felt dumb for it. She consoled herself with the fact that there was no way for her to know. She’d never met a fairy godmother, let alone the headmistress for the college that churned them out. How was she supposed to know what they looked like? Uncle John had said they wore gowns like those in the black and white photographs on the wall.
Paris had to admit the unprepossessing woman standing before her didn’t look like a headmistress or a fairy godmother. She seemed unnerved as she vied for Paris’ attention.
The woman shook her head. “My name is Mae Ling, and I’m here to tell you something before your adventure starts.”
“That I put my underwear on backward? Because that’s how this whole thing is starting to feel,” Paris joked and tugged on her pants, although they didn’t at all feel uncomfortable. It was the whole meeting a talking squirrel, a pretentious butler, and an antsy woman that made her feel like she’d woken up on the wrong side of the planet.
“Your underwear is fine,” Mae Ling stated. “Although you’re probably old enough to graduate from Spider-Man undies.”
Paris’ eyes widened as she looked down and back up, then down again. “How do you know I’m wearing Spider-Man underwear?”
Mae Ling waved her off dismissively. “I know things. It’s what I do. That’s why I’m here.”
Paris pointed at herself self-consciously. “You know something about me?”
The wise woman, who was both young and old in a mysterious way, stated, “Yes, I know that no matter what, you need to be exactly who you are here at Happily Ever After College.”
Paris couldn’t help but laugh, although she did feel rude about it and covered her mouth. “I’m sorry, but that seems unwise since who I am is an uneducated, unmannered heathen who is only here so I can stay out of jail.” She waved her arms at the shelf of knickknacks made of porcelain and hand-painted with beautiful delicacy. “You all, the fairy godmothers, are refined and poised and educated and everything that I’m not.”
“Don’t let appearances deceive you, Paris. We don’t know everything, and there’s much we can learn.”
“Not from me,” Paris retorted.
“My point,” Mae Ling’s voice shifted to a subtler tone, “is that it’s crucial that you be you while here at Happily Ever After College. If you don’t agree with something, say so or don’t do it. Rebel. Whatever it is that you feel. No matter what.”
Paris scratched her head, not believing that things could be more confusing, and yet they were increasingly so. “I don’t understand—”
Mae Ling whipped her head over her shoulder, her eyes going wide at the sounds of heels echoing down the long hallway outside the sitting room. “No matter what,” she insisted in a rush. “You must be you. Don’t conform to our ways if they don’t feel right to you.”
“But I’m here because I’m a troublemaker,” Paris argued, wondering if she could trust this harmless-looking woman. Maybe Mae Ling was trying to sabotage Paris. “I’m here to learn your ways, not to rebel against them.”
The fairy godmother sighed. “I realize that what I’m telling you sounds strange—”
“It sounds like a fast way to get me booted out of here, to be honest,” Paris interrupted, deciding to be bold and truthful. She didn’t have time for games.
“That won’t happen,” Mae Ling countered. “I’ll see to it. Still, it’s critical that you do as I say, which shouldn’t be hard. Just be you.”
“I don’t think I can do that,” Paris said in a rush, sensing Mae Ling’s nervousness about someone approaching in the hallway. “This is my last chance to make things right, or I’m going to jail. My uncle will be in trouble. I can’t risk that.”
Mae Ling shook her head, a deadly serious look on her face. “What we have to lose if you don’t do as I’ve instructed is much bigger than your uncle and you. It will have far-reaching effects for the world at large.”
“But—”
“If you see something you don’t like, say so,” Mae Ling cut in, again jerking her head to glance over her shoulder at the hallway. The sounds of footsteps were right outside the door, but Paris didn’t see anyone yet through the glass-paneled panes. “If you don’t want to do something, don’t, Paris. This is very, very important.”
It was all starting to sound much more ominous than Paris ever imagined. She thought she was going to a stupid matchmaker school. How could what she did affect the world at large? “Why?” she argued, giving the fairy godmother a pleading expression, needing answers.
“You will see—” Mae Ling stated definitively as a figure materialized on the other side of the door and entered at once, interrupting their conversation and Paris’ opportunity to get information.
Chapter Fifteen
A woman who resembled much more of what Paris pictured a fairy godmother looking like entered the sitting room. She wore a long blue silk gown with a thick pink ribbon around the collar and a hood in the back. Her hair was grayish-blue and tied up in a neat bun. Like Mae Ling, this made her look old and young at the same time.
“Hello, Paris Westbridge,” the woman said in a welcoming tone with a sincere smile on her face. “I’m Willow Starr, the headmistress for Happily Ever After College.” She gestured at the black-haired woman. “I see that you’ve already met our head professor, Mae Ling.”
Paris was suddenly speechless, something that was rare for her. Mae Ling wasn’t only a fairy godmother or a professor, but the head professor for the college. That seemed like someone she could trust. Someone that she should. Yet, her instructions to “Be yourself” were so strange.
That had always gotten Paris into fistfights when she saw something she disagreed with. Employers passed over her for jobs more times than she could count because of her rebellious appearance and tendency to speak her mind.
Uncle John had often encouraged her simply to think things instead of blasting her opinion. Like when she called out the guy who cut off an elderly lady so he could get out of the elevator first. Or like the crowd of gnomes who simply strolled by, watching as an elderly elf struggled to carry his heavy packages. Paris still had the burn mark from the fireball one of the gnomes threw at her. It was worth it to call out the inconsiderate behavior.
As if it ran in her blood, Paris felt compelled to fight and speak out about injustices in the world. She thought she’d put that tendency to bed when she stepped through the portal to Happily Ever After College. However, it appeared that she hadn’t, or she shouldn’t.
Maybe sensing Paris’ nervousness or the tension between her and Mae Ling, Willow glanced between the pair. “Well, I guess that you’ve been orienting Paris, Professor?”
The small woman shook her head. “Not too much. Only introductions.”
“Very good,” Willow stated cheerfully. She had a broad smile and bright red lipstick that contrasted with her blue eyes. “Introductions are a great place to start.”
She sat on
the tufted couch and gestured at the armchair opposite it. “Please have a seat, and I’ll tell you about the college.”
Paris eyed the chair covered in white fabric as if she’d been asked to sit on a pile of rocks.
Sensing her apprehension, Willow’s smile dropped. “Or you can sit wherever you like.” She indicated the other chairs in the room, which were all white too.
Swallowing her hesitation, Paris took a seat, her black jacket contrasting boldly against the seat.
“Very good,” Willow chirped. “Now, I’m not sure what all you know about Happily Ever After College, but it’s been educating fairy godmothers for centuries. The Saint Valentine govern it at Matter of the Heart and assignments are made by Fairy Godmother Agency.” She waved her hand. “That’s the boring stuff that I’m sure you don’t care about. What you need to know is that we teach our students how to foster love connections between two people.”
“Can’t people fall for each other without your help?” Paris asked before she could stop the words.
Willow smiled politely, not at all off-put by the brazen question. “Of course, but fairy godmothers simply nudge connections that might not happen if not for our help.”
“Why?” Paris questioned again. “Why not let two people do their own thing?”
Willow nodded thoughtfully. “Love is important in this world. I dare say that it’s what makes the world go round. The more love we have, the better our planet. So it’s our job to help two people to fall in love, creating positive feelings that resonate globally.”
Paris tilted her head back and forth, not finding anything to argue with regarding the sentiment. “Okay, so we stick two people together and hope they fall for each other. That sounds easy enough.”
Willow glanced at Mae Ling, who had remained standing by the door, before returning her gaze to Paris. “It’s a little more complicated than that. Our primary focus is to guide our Cinderellas to help them land the perfect Prince Charming.”
“Do you mean help debutantes land rich husbands?” Paris asked.
Willow pushed back on the sofa, her patience starting to wear thin with these types of questions. However, Paris could have sworn that a small smile flickered to Mae Ling’s face briefly before her neutral expression replaced it. “I understand that you’re not the overly romantic type.” She snapped her fingers, and a thick file materialized in her hand. Willow opened the pink folder, combing through the pages. “I’ve had a chance to review your file.”
Paris slumped. “I didn’t do most of that stuff.”
Willow pressed the folder closed and looked directly at Paris. “How about this? How about you use this to make a fresh start? I won’t think of you as your past misdeeds, and you simply keep an open mind to what we do here at Happily Ever After College.”
A fresh start… That’s what Paris had thought this was all about. Instead, Mae Ling was asking her to be her usual rebellious self, which would no doubt create problems, as she always did.
Gulping down the tension in her throat, Paris nodded. “Yes, I’ll keep an open mind.”
The file disappeared from Willow’s hand. “Lovely. Now, I must warn you that although I’m willing to give you a fair chance, there will be others here who may not understand your involvement with the college.”
“Because my uncle pulled strings to get me in here,” Paris guessed.
Willow offered her a polite smile. “In the past, it’s been quite difficult to get into Happily Ever After College. With enrollment what it is and your predicament, I allowed you here. Detective Nicholson has helped me out a time or two. However, I’ll warn you that this isn’t a free ride and you’ll have to earn your place here.”
“I’ll be tested?” Paris asked.
Another pursed smile. “There will be an evaluation, and yes, you’ll have to pass to stay. That’s all I require, but others might be a little less accepting. Give them time, and hopefully, they’ll come around.”
When Paris didn’t say anything in response, Willow stood, her elegant gown brushing the floor. “Well, if there are no further questions, I think a tour is in order, but first we should get you settled in.” She glanced around. “Did Wilfred already take up your things?”
Paris shrugged. “I didn’t bring anything. Well, I have my toothbrush in my jacket pocket.” She pulled out the blue toothbrush. “Uncle John said that you provide all that I require.”
Willow nodded, studying the toothbrush curiously. “Yes, but usually students have keepsakes or personal things they bring along.”
Paris thought of the heart-shaped locket in her other pocket. “I don’t really have that type of stuff.”
“Very well.” Willow snapped her fingers. “Wilfred, if you’d join us please.”
To Paris’ surprise, the butler simply materialized in the middle of the room like an AI paged on a spaceship. So that’s what he meant when he said that all Paris needed to do was call him and he’d help her.
“Yes, Headmistress?” Wilfred said in his regal tone.
“Would you please take Paris to her room?” Willow asked.
“Of course.” He nodded, opened the double doors, and stood by.
“In your room,” Willow glanced at Paris. “You’ll find a blue gown like this.” She indicated the one she was wearing. “Please wear it, although you’ll notice there’s no pink sash on yours. Students must earn those when they graduate.”
It was difficult for Paris to hide the grimace at the thought of putting on the powder blue gown.
“When you’ve settled in,” Willow continued, “please meet Mae Ling and me in the conservatory at the back of the house. Wilfred will show you where that is.”
Paris simply nodded, wondering what the hell a conservatory was and if she’d get hives when she put on the gown.
Chapter Sixteen
“What’s a conservatory?” Paris asked as she followed Wilfred up the stairs to the second floor. The fairy godmother manor seemed to go on for ages and Paris thought it would take her a while to get a lay of the land.
“A conservatory is a building or room having glass or tarpaulin roofing and walls used as a greenhouse or a sunroom,” the butler said in a robotic voice. “If within a residence, it’s typically attached to the house on only one side. Conservatories originated in the sixteenth century when wealthy landowners sought to cultivate citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges that began to appear on their dinner tables brought by traders from warmer regions of the Mediterranean.”
Paris gave Wilfred a sideways look. “Why does it sound like you’re reading from Wikipedia?”
“Because I am,” he answered as they arrived at the second-floor landing and held out a white-gloved hand to show her the way.
“Because you have it memorized?” she questioned. “All of the internet?”
He tapped the side of his head. “I have it downloaded.”
“I’m going to need an explanation.” Paris strode down the long hallway of rich wood walls and floors, similar to the one on the first floor, lined with doors.
“I’m not a fairy,” he answered. “Well, not entirely.”
That made Paris tense. She always recognized her own. “You aren’t? I thought only fairies were here.”
He nodded while walking slightly in front of her. “I’m a magitech fairy, created to serve the college.”
“You’re an artificial intelligence.” She gasped, having wondered that earlier.
“Correct. Although I’m much more. Anyway, yes, I’m the AI for FGE, serving all the students, professors, and staff. You can call on me from anywhere in the manor, and I’ll show up. I have the entire Internet at my disposal so I can find most information for you.”
“Much better than having an Alexa,” she joked. Paris paused, raising a cautious eyebrow at the butler. “Wait, you’re not annoying like Alexa and show up when I say something close to your name like, will you blah blah whatever?”
He shook his head. “You have to say my name
and a request, like Wilfred, will you join me, or Wilfred, can you help me, or Wilfred, I need—”
Paris nodded. “Okay, I got it. I like it. Very handy, although it’s weird to think that I was talking to a human earlier who isn’t one.”
“As far as I’m aware, I’m as human as you or anyone else,” Wilfred corrected. “I feel, think, and have judgment.”
“Of course the fairy godmothers have a sentient AI butler,” Paris teased. “I’d expect nothing less.”
“I’m not sure what you would have expected,” he said smugly and suddenly stopped at a door. “I simply am what I am despite your expectations.”
“We’re going to work on your sense of humor, Wil.” Paris pointed at the door where they’d paused. “Is this my room?”
“Yes, madam. I hope you find it comfortable.” He opened it and pushed it back to reveal a small but elegantly appointed room.
Paris’ feet brought her forward as her mouth fell open. The bed was something out of a fairy tale—a sweet pink canopy style with fluffy bedding. There was everything that she could need: a dresser, bedside table, lamp, and a giant teddy bear.
She restrained the smile seeking to unfold on her face. “This is…it’s nice…thank you.”
He nodded and backed up. “Make yourself at home and remember, I’m always here if you need anything.”
With that the butler pulled the door closed, making Paris realize that she might have it all here at Happily Ever After College. The question was, did she want it all?
Chapter Seventeen
The bedroom was small, with little room to maneuver because of all the furniture, but it was also perfect. It had everything that Paris could need, well, besides the giant teddy bear. She was pretty sure that would disappear under the bed at some point.
Bright sunlight shimmered through the only window in the room, which was half open, the pink curtains blowing in the breeze. Paris also didn’t know how she felt about all this pink business, although she did like the canopy bed. It felt like something out of a movie—the type that some rich girl slept in at night.
