Part II

I was seventeen before most of us were all reunited together. Over the years, we had visits but it wasn't the same.

Adam came over at least once a month to spend the night before disappearing with a kiss in the morning. Although we couldn't see each other daily, we spoke on the phone whenever possible. It was a long-distance relationship that worked.

Lucia spent time over and bashfully told me of her milestones with Wyatt. Lucas stayed the same and mainly came to see the cats who made him a great-granddad. Unfortunately, I didn't see Sunny or Sonja again, but I know Sunny stopped by Grandpa Evan's grave. She left the snack that only the two could enjoy by his headstone. A lot of good her action did.

It wasn't enough.

Mary, of course, wanted to take me off the property and bring me to her home. I fought tooth and nail. And I won. I was fifteen and, according to the law, could inherit the family assets and be my own person. Yay for small-town rules in a book world.

It hurt that I spent what little time I could have with Grandpa Evans distant from him. This further cemented the realization that my mistakes seemed to cost those around me. I needed to be more careful and less selfish.

And it especially hurt that his death timed so well with my fifteenth birthday. Maybe the loss of Grandpa Evans happened because he was created by my family's magic. And once Wendy no longer needed a guardian... let's just say it was too coincidental that he left this world.

We were mere months away from the end of this world, as everyone knew it. The meteor that was going to change this world would strike this summer.

I spent most of my nights watching the stars, and tonight was no different. I hadn't really taken the time lately to look up. I was so busy zeroing in on the present and the future I didn't have time to add to my plate.

The pitch-black sky was lit up with bright stars. I didn't recognize most of the alignments from my world, but I knew they were native to this one. The lazy world creator of this book kept the same planets but was liberal with the stars. It was strange to see alignments like the squirrel.

"Wendy." Adam's voice reminded me I wasn't alone tonight, and I turned my head to smile at him.

We were up on the roof, lying down and star gazing. It was a rather romantic way to spend a rare evening together.

"You have leaves in your hair," Adam said before reaching over to pluck them out.

Okay, it was supposed to be a romantic evening for us. I played in the forest and clearly missed some of the leaves that the trees rained down on me.

"Were you playing in the woods again?" Adam said with a hint of a laugh in his voice.

I made a face and nodded. "I wanted to try something new before you came over." And I failed. I've read time after time that people with plant manipulation can grow plants on their bodies as weapons to swing around.

I could still turn on the same vibration as plants, connect with them, and sprout seeds into plants, but not make them a weapon out of them.

I think I lack the conviction to hurt someone.

I remember all those years ago when I used to worry about eating plants that I grew. The impressions I picked up from them turned into something more substantial. Given their process, it made sense that plants wanted to be eaten. They had millennia of evolution that liked to be sprouted in poop.

On the other hand, encouraging them to smack someone in the head while I had it wrapped around my arm was proving a bit more difficult hurdle. It seemed to be against both our natures.

"What's wrong?" Adam said. His hand went to the back of my neck and rubbed it gently. He started this a year ago; this coaxing method was my favorite.

"I don't think I can be violent," I said. I should be able to just command the plants, but I didn't have the heart to, and they weren't particularly violent, at least the ones I tried urging. Should I just go for the plants that ate bugs? Where would I find those?

Adam laughed and pulled away to cover his mouth. He'd grown so handsome over the years, and this moment was ruining that.

Adam was wearing black slacks and a black shirt with gold buttons. He had on bronze gold line emerald cufflinks and the watch I'd given him. The clothing sparkled, and although simple, you could see the quality from a mile away. He had grown taller over the years. I miss the days when he was at my eye level. I had to go on my tiptoes to muss his hair or kiss him now. Speaking of his hair, it was still thick, lush brown, and it was slicked back, but I'd grown to love that style. I had a reason to muss it and touch it every time I saw it.

"I'm being serious!" I said, pouting, reaching over to muss up said hair. Adam laughed harder at my actions, and I ended up locked into his arms as he avoided my wrath.

"Didn't you chuck a pie at Wyatt last week?" Adam said when he finally stopped laughing.

I hiccuped in surprise. "Wyatt told you? Well, did he tell you he said my pie was too dense and needed to be fluffy and airy?"

"So you threw it?" Adam said with a smile.

"He said it needed air," I muttered into Adam's chest. It had grown broad and defined, and I could feel my heart race for entirely different reasons. Adam's heart was calm and steady against my cheek. Unfair.

Adam reached out to pat my head. His hand traveled from my forehead to the back of my neck, and he started kneading it again. Against my will, I was calmed.

I wanted to sound as calm as possible, but my voice gave away my fear when I said, "How much time do you have left?"

"I can stay the night," Adam said.

It had been a while since he had. The older we got, the more bold we became regarding our affection. We had done almost everything but the actual deed by this point. I wanted this to be the night we finally connected, but Adam was holding back for some reason. He wasn't alone; part of me was hesitant, too.

"In my bed?" I said, my green eyes connected with his brown. Adam had taken to staying in Grandpa Evans' room after our teenage moments became too much. Enough time had passed, and it didn't rip the breath out of me to have someone in there, and it was across from my own room.

"Wendy," Adam said, but there was something turbulent in his voice, and he was unsure. His expression was neutral, and he wore what I affectionately called his Zeno look. Like the father of stoicism, Adam removed emotion from his expression. His body had grown tense, and his heart was pumping wildly.

My boyfriend wasn't as unaffected as he wanted me to believe he was.

"A girl had to try right," I said, laying my head on his chest. For now, this would do. Part of me wanted to wait until this body was even older. Adam was already eighteen, and the time we would spend apart would only grow. There was no telling what would happen when the world started to end.

I would be satisfied with this, though. I'd rather have him in my life than push him away forever like Grandpa Evans.

"Your birthday is next week, and we can spend time together then. I have something for you." Adam said, and my head jerked up at that concession.

"Lucia is bringing Wyatt and Lucas over, though," I said, trying to stop my stupid lips from grinning.

"I'll be coming over before they do. You're not going to be alone that week."

I let my smile loose as I wrapped my arms around his neck and said. "I love you so much. Have I told you that recently?"

"Only every day since we started dating," Adam said with a chuckle.

Adam ended up leaving that night to deal with an issue his father was having. Although he was barely done with school and his family wanted him to reach for higher education, he still worked at two companies.

I watched him grab his stuff, trying not to sulk. It was weird how they placed so many burdens on him when he was still so young.

I walked him to the door, trying not to drag my feet. I didn't need to walk him through the forest; he knew his way around by now. I loved to do it to spend as much time as possible with him, but he always turned me down so that I wouldn't get cold in the woods.

Adam spoiled me beautifully.

He leaned down to kiss me at the door, and I reached for his head to pull him closer. One of Adam's hands cupped my cheek while the other covered the back of my neck.

I deepened the kiss, and he made a noise as our bodies plastered to each other. It was wicked, but I wanted to make it as difficult as possible for him to walk away. He said my name with a hoarse voice, and I felt a twinge first in my heart and then in the parts where our bodies rubbed.

"You are trouble," Adam said when he finally pulled away and tweaked my nose.

"You knew what you were getting yourself into," I said with a smirk.

He smiled fully then, and it was so beautiful and unguarded. Adam took my breath away all over again. The butt then disappeared into the woods while I was collecting my brain, which popped into pieces at my feet.

How did I get someone so amazing?

I took time to savor that moment with him, but then I had to shelf it.

I had my own trip to plan. I was going to spend time at Alcom's Cove to see Lucia. Wyatt and Lucas would be coming over to make sure the homestead was good during that time and help out those in town. There were no longer orphans that the church housed, so they stayed at an apartment they saved to get in Alcom's or my place when they came by. Both locations were used differently throughout the year to pick up different jobs. Growing up helping the farms in town led to experiences that aided them as adults. Maybe that was the church's plan, but I doubted it.

"You want me to get you a what?" I had difficulty keeping up with the current conversation because my brain was blank. There was no way Lucia was asking me for this. We were sitting in a diner by the ocean. It wasn't a normal one because they primarily served fish. I really wanted a big juicy hamburger and settled for a peanut butter milkshake and fries.

"Please, Wendy," Lucia said, her eyes pleading to me like a lost puppy. She'd grown into one of the most beautiful women I'd ever know, but the girl was still as delicate as always. Her fluffy hair and quivering eyes made her look like Nips. The same breaker of hearts that Wyatt took with him to Alcom's Cove.

"I've never done that before," I said, fiddling with my straw in my drink. "I don't even know what brand to buy or what's the best one to get."

Lucia grabbed my hands and squeezed them tightly. "Pretty much no one in Alcom knows you. You can slip in. If I go in, everyone will know I think I'm…" Her caramel skin turned red, and I watched, fascinated at the change.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"If you're pregnant, you need to be comfortable saying it," I said. I wanted to pet Lucia's head, but she was surprisingly strong. She had my hands in a grasp so tight her knuckles were turning white.

I looked down, wondering how I was going to finish my drink.

"I'm sorry!" Lucia said, letting go of me. Her eyes scanned my hands, probably assuming she hurt me in some way, the gentle soul, and I noticed the way they lingered on the scar on my right hand. That weird wishing tree had burned me all those years ago, and the scar had never really gone away.

"I'll do it," I said. Lucia did need to know in the end. And how fun it would be to hoard it over Wyatt's head that I have a secret I can't tell him. I hide my grin in my cup. Of course, I wouldn't actually tell him, but messing with Wyatt was always fun.

Of course, it was a lovely daydream that couldn't come true. Everything went off without a hitch until I was in the store. The feminine health products were numerous, and I blinked at the wide array of things.

How was I to know what was the best product when they all claimed to be? One of them, if not all, had to be lying.

I picked the one that was the most expensive. Horrible logic, but it was probably the best one I would get right now. I should have walked out, but I decided to stay.

I walked around idly, going up and down the aisle as I checked out things they had for display. There was more than just the tampons, pads, and pregnancy tests. There were things like heating cream and lube.

When Adam touched me, I hadn't had an issue with becoming ready, but maybe a little something more would be a good idea. I noticed the condoms as well, but how big was Adam? There weren't actual sizes shown, just labels that were inconvenient. If I bought the wrong size, I could be back here buying my own pregnancy test.

I held out my free hand as I tried to imagine his length and the corresponding condom when I saw someone I never should have seen at that moment: Adam's uncle.

I don't think Mr. Dickham knew it was me because he barely glanced in my direction before he kept walking. I hadn't seen him since I was a child, and it wasn't a particularly memorable meeting either; it was just unpleasant for both of us. So, like me, he'd want to forget all about it.

Besides, why was this rich dude even buying his stuff in the store? These were horrible odds for me.

Nonetheless, I shoved the box of condoms I was considering back and ran to purchase the pregnancy test. As much as I wanted to just leave, I didn't come this far to go back empty-handed.

As cruel fate would have it, I ran into him at the checkout line. It was strangely packed, and I tried hard to cover the labeling of the box in my arms covertly. If I had known I would be standing in a room full of strangers, I would have grabbed more things to cover up the tests.

Mr. Dickam's eyes narrowed on me, and I could sense some glimmer of recognition in his harsh eyes. Crap, the longer I was exposed to him, the faster he was going to put the pieces together.

"You're Adam's friend, Wendall, right?" Mr Dickham said, earning even more explosive adjectives in my head.

He didn't even try to get my name right.

"Next!" The cashier said with a bored tone, and I took that cue to ignore Mr. Dickam and buy Lucia's pregnancy tests. I clutched the cloth shopping bag to my chest and sprinted over to Lucia's.

She was in the doorway, unable to wait, and ushered me in like we were trying to commit a crime.

"Ta-dah!" I said as I brandished the box. "Now go pee!"

Lucia tripped a couple of times to the bathroom, and I helped her. I wouldn't help her do the peeing, but I sat outside the door and listened in.

It gave me time to admire the three-bedroom apartment they owned. It was close to the water, so they had a fantastic view, and the expansive windows displayed the ocean's full bounty.

"I saw Adam's uncle at the store," I said conversationally.

There was a clanging noise in the bathroom. "I'm okay!" Lucia said before I could ask. "Did Adam's uncle see you with the pregnancy test?"

After that, there was a noise from Wyatt's room, and I furrowed my brows. "Yes, but I don't think Mr. Dickham would recognize me. Wyatt is gone, right?" I got up, thinking I should check, but again, there was another clanging noise from the bathroom.

"Yeah. I saw Wyatt leave on the ship this morning with Lucas and Nips." Another clang from the bathroom.

"Lucia, maybe you should just pee in a cup and stick the thing in there," I said, torn on which door I should open. I either imagined something coming from Wyatt's room due to guilt of what we were hiding, or something fell over on Lucia.

"I did it." She said, and I could hear her washing her hands and coming out with the pee stick. "Now we wait."

We sat down awkwardly in the living room. "Is it possible you're pregnant?" Lucia said as she played with her hair.

I made a face as I stretched out my legs on the couch I took over. "I'm still a virgin," I said. "You should know this, Lucia."

Lucia turned red and gave a jerky nod. "I just thought how affectionate you both are…"

You and me both, sister. We explored each other thoroughly but still needed to complete our union.

"Adam is Adam," I said with a laugh. I wasn't sure why he held himself back, but he did. "And it's probably for the best that we haven't gotten that far. I can't risk getting pregnant."

Lucia furrowed her brow at me, and I felt compelled to explain, "It's a shifting world, Lucia."

"You'd make a great mom," Lucia said as the timer ticked.

"Adam would make an even better dad," I said. "Kids tie a piece of you forever with another. That might not be in the cards for us. His uncle called me Adam's friend Wendall. Adam probably hasn't told his family, which means we're not really dating." I said this in a rush, knowing I had to get it off my chest. With how much Adam did for his family and the weight on his shoulders put by them, their approval was ultimately what he was after. He was slated to take over two companies and would need someone special to stand next to him. "I'm not his life partner. I'm not enough for him; he needs someone else." It was a fear I hadn't wanted to voice out loud. I would have to be completely insane, though, to ignore the social distance of our worlds forever. His uncle's scathing, dismissive look boiled my blood, but it also hurt me. It didn't matter how unique my true lineage was; I was just a mountain orphan in this world.

I couldn't be a partner his family could be proud of with my current background. I rubbed my chest and rolled over on the couch to hide my face. These apathetic thoughts sucked. Being in love sucked when it made you only more vulnerable. His smile from the other night flashed in my head, giving me enough hope to dash these surmounting thoughts. That happenchance with his uncle crushed my hope into oblivion.

"Wendy, what do you mean by--" The sharp, shrill beep of the timer went off, and we both rushed forward to read the results. Our heads bonked, and we laughed nervously as our eyes stayed on the stick.

"It's negative," Lucia said. The air went out of her sails, and I hugged her.

"You and Wyatt are long-term. Just give it time, and you'll have beautiful blue-eyed babies."

Like Nips with Wyatt's socks, Lucia looked at me with pure determination, "You and Adam are too. Just talk to him so you two can build a beautiful family together. What's stopping you?" She was prompting me to not give up.

Lucia underestimated my selfishness. I knew my faults, but I wouldn't let Adam go. I loved him too much. I may not be the perfect partner, but he was stuck with me until he grew sick of me and disappeared forever. And if a better woman appeared for him, I'd fight her too. I just needed someone, anyone, to tell my woes. For now, my biggest obstacle was clearly "Time." I told her with a half snort. "We might run out of time soon."

"There's plenty of time for a family. Just imagine what that would look like." Lucia said, clasping her hands at her heart and letting her blue eyes twinkle like stars.

I tried to imagine a son or a daughter with Adam's smile or eyes, and I could feel wetness in my eyes. "Maybe if I'm lucky." I'd have to be very lucky to make that happen. Lucia was sweet and blessed; she fell in love with an uncomplicated guy like Wyatt.

I left Alcom's Cove shortly after. I should have waited for the proper train but hitched a ride with a friendly lady truck driver. I couldn't tell Lucia this and left a note as I slunk into the night. I was wearing an overpriced Alcom's Cove Sweater plastered with the ugliest fish I've ever seen, which was the main export of this small town. Whoever first thought to eat the Glutt fish was one crazy mofo. It was purplish black with the biggest ugliest eyes I've ever seen before. It dripped and smelled something fierce. It ended up as one of the tastiest fish in the world, though, and it was in abundance here. It proved to be the exception not the rule for what lies under the surface and Alcom's Cove was rightfully obsessed with plastering the ugly bastard everywhere.

The ride was mostly uneventful except when we were about to reach Green's Mountain. I could feel something urging me to get out of the truck and run into the woods, and I gave in to the impulse, much to the driver's confusion.

I jumped out of the truck, using the lush greenery to cushion the blow. I took half a heartbeat to caress the plants, thank them, and give them energy.

The lady driver's cries were soon drowned out by the huffs of my breath as I ran deeper and deeper into the woods. This wasn't the Unruly Forest; this was a pure forest that belonged only to nature. Yet I saw the floating glowing specks I had somehow managed to put out of my mind. They had slowly taken over most of Green's Mountain, so it wasn't surprising they were also here.

What was shocking was the feeling that they were drawing me to something, urging me to follow.

And I did.

The trees broke up to show a clearing that smacked of summer. The cold night had shifted into a hot, balmy breeze. The glowing fungi went from pale blues and greens to oranges and reds. They floated like dandelion puffs that sparked and twisted in the air as if alive. This is the first time I've seen them do this.

I blinked and turned around to blink at the thick trees behind me. They were still there, as were the paler, inanimate spores. The clearing was still before me when I whipped my head around to double-check.

I was ready to turn back into the trees to take off, but my exit was cut off when a voice called out, "Wait and stay around before you miss the chance of a lifetime." The voice was familiar, and I whipped again to look.

A table had appeared in the middle of the clearing. A familiar face sat at the table, and I blinked, confused. It was Sunny. She had dropped all the baby weight, and her hair was cropped to her ears. It curled around her face in wild spirals that looked more like a pasta bowl with mixed noodles than a head of hair. She was wearing a black tuxedo with no adornment.

This was a dream, right? As I blinked, an older man appeared behind her wearing a matching tuxedo. He stood behind her and looked like a butler escorting a young lady.

Sunny wasn't a young lady; she was a brute of a cousin. What kind of dream was this?

"I'm hungry, let's have some meat!" Sunny clapped her hands, and the middle of the table became a grill. I watched, perplexed beyond belief, as she started grilling meat.

"We're just waiting for one more," Sunny said, stuffing her face. It was reminiscent of the way the Sunny I knew ate. This was not her, though. There was something off about her, and I took a step back. I wanted to run away after all.

When I took that step back, I fell into a rigid body. Familiar hands steadied me, and I saw Wyatt looming behind me. His perpetual smile was missing from his face, and I hiccuped sharply with shock at seeing his true nature so openly displayed. No longer carefree, his sharp jaw was fierce and hostile. He looked ready to fight, but he wasn't looking at me. He was glaring at Sunny. This was the Wyatt I got a glimpse of in my library all those years ago.

Wyatt was well over six feet by this point. His blonde hair was long and usually tied back, but it was now loose and wild. He was wearing only boxers and looked like he had been sleeping. Still, I could feel my shoulders relax at the sight of him.

"Come and sit down Gwendolyn and Wyatt," Sunny said with a smirk that carried knives as she gestured to two chairs that appeared at the table. The voice was friendly, but there wasn't anything nice about Sunny knowing my true name. My legs moved against my will, and I sat at the table. Wyatt was right behind me, guiding me with a hand on the small of my back. It was strangely comforting that I wasn't alone in this moment.

The haggard old man moved over to scoot my chair in. I was able to get a better look at him. His skin was like pale cream. His eyes sparkled, and it was hard to gauge their color. Why were they seethrough like stained glass? Was there glass in them? His hair was the color of snow, and it was hard to tell how old he was. But he had to be someone's grandpa with snowy hair like that!

His suspiciously smooth hands lingered, and I kept my face neutral as I felt something fall into my sweater's hood. What had he put there? "Careful." The man's words were barely above a whisper, and I gulped. I could feel Wyatt stiffen on the other side of me. With his superior hearing, he may have heard more than I did.

The old man seemed less scary than Sunny at the moment, so it may be okay to leave it be for now.

It also didn't hurt that Sunny's eyes had narrowed speculatively, and I felt cornered like prey. He wouldn't have been so secretive if it hadn't been a secret from her, right? Maybe the man was on our side?

"John!" Sunny said sharply, and he all but ran to stand behind her again. The snarl disappeared from her face, and she looked me over as if trying to figure out what John had been up to.

She opened her mouth, and I felt my shoulders grow tense. However, a loud crack of glass cut her off from speaking. Everyone but Wyatt turned to see him holding half a plate. The other half was on the grill sizzling.

"Oops," Wyatt said with an unconvincing shrug.

With an impatient wave of her hand, this strange Sunny made the mess disappear, and an elaborate tea party was in its place.

Despite the seriousness, strangeness, and overall scary moment, I could feel myself drool as my fingers itched to try the lemon tarts and cute flower cheesecake slices.

I didn't realize I had reached for one until Wyatt smacked it out of my hand. I almost thanked him, but he was staring at Sunny.

"What do you want?" Wyatt's deep rumble voice was free from the lightness he often infused it with.

"Is that any way to treat me?" Sunny said with a chipper laugh. "You're acting like you're meeting the undertaker and not the granter of wishes." She lifted a teacup that seemingly filled itself.

I wrinkled my nose at the strong scent of booze that wafted off it.

"What do you want?" Wyatt said again, and he smacked my hand, which had, by itself, I swear, picked up a treat and was inching it towards my mouth.

"I'm bored," Sunny said mournfully as she clacked the cup down. "I thought things would go faster, but you're all boring me."

Wyatt grabbed my disobedient right hand, which was reaching again for a lemon tart, and held it tight. He clearly no longer trusted me not to eat the possibly dangerous food. I just wanted a taste. Some of my favorite treats were on this table. Grateful, regardless of the possible loss of free food, I squeezed his hand, still unable to find my voice for some reason.

"What do you want?" Wyatt said through gritted teeth, and I gulped. There was fear laced in his stern tone. Was Wyatt scared?

"I want to play a game!" Sunny said, clapping her hands. She didn't seem to mind that I was mute, and Wyatt only asked the same thing repeatedly. Her lips curved mischievously while her eyes squeezed into happy crescents. "So I've summoned my two wishers to play a game with me."

I looked at the table; there was only food on the table. Was it a food-eating contest? I must have said that part out loud because Sunny laughed at me, and Wyatt gave me a quick look of disbelief.

"Eating could be involved, my dear Gwendolyn," Sunny said.

"How…How do you know my real name?" I said. This was starting to feel too real to be a dream. Wyatt's tight grip on my hand, the mixed scent of sweets and booze, and let's not forget the chilly air that banished into a warm summer breeze.

"We are family, after all, Gwendolyn Girru. I know everything about you." Sunny said, but I hiccuped in surprise as I saw her eyes open slowly to reveal glowing, hot-like, flickering embers as her pupils.

"You're not alone in this world." My grandmother's previous words came back to haunt me yet again.