Transitions

  Alden sat outside on the library steps with Hailey. The rest of the group was still inside going over the specific logistics of where everyone was headed, spearheaded by Boris and Jackie. Boris, in addition to his other many talents, was also apparently quite skilled in disguises and forgery.

  "Guess you don't really need to worry about hiding, huh?" Hailey said, nudging him.

  Alden shook his head. "Just going right back home. No one really knew I was here besides my little sister. Going home's the only way I'm ever gonna get Meg to shut up about that video."

  "What are you gonna tell her?"

  "...The truth?" Alden shrugged. "She can keep a secret, and it's not like I can awaken her, so we don't have to worry about that. Plus, I'm a terrible liar. This'll be way easier than trying to explain away all of this somehow and getting her to keep it quiet."

  "Think that'll work?" Hailey asked skeptically.

  "I know Meg. She loves secrets. Getting to keep one this big will make her happy."

  Hailey shrugged. "I never had any real siblings. Just my parents, and we weren't close. I doubt they'll even notice I'm gone." Seeing his expression, she quickly added, "Don't worry. I really don't mind. I'm glad you have a good family though."

  Alden shook his head. "'Good' might be stretching it. My parents and I don't talk much either. Meg and me are solid though. She'll get it. Only thing I might worry about is her trying to drag magic out of me somehow. Like I could just teach it to her."

  "Well, if you need me to come talk some sense into her, just say the word."

  "You two'd get along great." Alden paused. "How am I gonna get in touch with you though? You have to ditch your number and stay low key."

  She rolled her eyes. "I'm not planning to leave the state or anything. I'll stop by after I settle in. I'm gonna need something to do, if I'm gonna be out there living alone. I can get around pretty quick, you know." Her eyes twinkled. "Maybe you can teach me your time travel tricks sometime, too. If you ever figure it out for real."

  "Time magic from you?" Alden mock-shuddered. "The world would never survive."

  "You're just jealous of how much better I'll be at it."

  "No kidding." Alden looked around. "What about Jessica?"

  "She's still inside with her parents. She wanted to be alone with them for a bit." Hailey shrugged. "I don't know what she's gonna do."

  "She'll be okay. Jessica's probably the strongest person in the building except for Grey-eyes, remember?"

  "That doesn't really help her stay hidden though," Hailey sighed. "I love her like a sister, but if we're going back to the real world this is gonna be rough."

  "Like we weren't already in the real world?"

  "Not to play the 'one week' card again, but you really were only here for less than a week. Living in a town this small screws with your perception. Honestly, it felt like the rest of the world just wasn't there half the time." Hailey leaned back and stared up at the sky, which was finally clear of smoke and drifting into night. The stars filled the sky, and the arm of the galaxy twirled away above them. "I'm not gonna miss a lot from this place, but I will miss that view."

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  A commotion behind them drew their attention. Hailey was on her feet in an instant, fists at the ready, but she dropped them immediately as Jessica emerged from the structure. Her parents followed a moment later, calling after her.

  "Jessie, come back!"

  Jessica found her place at Hailey's side, taking her hand firmly. She chirped something at her parents, shaking her head emphatically. She pointed at herself, then at Hailey, then drew out the shape of a house in midair with a tiny flame—a simple square with a triangle on top. She dissipated it a moment later.

  "You'd rather live with her?" her mother asked, sounding more confused than appalled. She pointed at Hailey to try and get her point across. Jessica nodded.

  "Who are you, again?" Malcolm asked, catching up to his wife. "Are you her… uhh… her girlfriend?" He said it like he was still trying to get his mind around the concept—like he'd never heard of the possibility in his life.

  Hailey shook her head, vaguely amused. "Just her best friend. Jess never actually went out with anyone."

  "Oh." Her father still looked confused. "I'm sorry, I just assumed."

  "It's okay." Hailey shrugged. "I didn't think you even knew who she preferred."

  "We guessed," Beth explained. "I never had the courage to ask her, then we fought and she left and now…" Beth looked at her daughter in dismay. "It was such a stupid fight and I can't ever apologize now. I don't know what to do for her anymore."

  Hailey sighed. "She's the same Jess in there, you know. She can't speak, but she still knows what's going on and she's just as smart as she always was. You'll figure it out."

  "Will you…" Beth started, but trailed off. She glanced at her daughter again. "Do you want to come with us?"

  "Huh?"

  "You were going to live on your own, right?" Hailey nodded slowly, not following Beth's train of thought. "Well I thought, we're supposed to seem like a different family. Two children throws it off more, and I know Jessie would want you there."

  Hailey smiled. "You know I don't look anything like you guys, right?"

  Jessica's parents looked taken aback. Apparently that hadn't even crossed their minds. Alden was resisting the urge to laugh. Malcolm was the first to speak up. "Can't we work around that somehow? Maybe you were adopted or something."

  Hailey frowned. "That sounds boring."

  She took a second to consider. Alden noticed her hand flex slightly, fingers flicking a pattern and curling inward. A moment later, her hair shifted to the exact same shade of brown as Beth and Jessica.

  "Yeah, I guess we can make it work," Hailey added with barely suppressed glee, as Beth's jaw fell open.

  Jessica looked up at Hailey curiously. Hailey pointed at her parents, then back at them and drew a circle in midair, followed by the same house symbol Jessica had used.

  Jessica cocked her head to the side. She made a vague disgusted face for a half-second, prompting Malcolm to start to object. Jessica smiled, and Hailey grinned back.

  "Looks like we're in."

  Jessica nodded. Her parents looked about to raise another question, but before they could speak any further, she pulled them away, leaving Hailey and Alden alone again.

  As soon as they were out of earshot, Hailey burst out laughing. Alden grinned. "Worth it?"

  "Not even slightly, but that was still fun," Hailey said, calming herself down. She released the spell and let her hair shift back to its usual yellow-blonde. "Looks like I'm going to have a new family after all. Yay me."

  "Can't be all bad. Jess'll be there, and you can always just fly away if they really piss you off, right?"

  "Yeah. I'm gonna have to get them to stop calling her 'Jessie', though. She hates that." Hailey smiled. "I'll see you around, Alden."

  She took a few steps away from him, then without warning, she leapt into the air. It took her a few hard wingbeats, but she was soon perched on top of the closest turret of the library. She waved at him, her legs dangling over the side.

  "Don't get hit by any phones!" she shouted down.

  He waved back, then he turned and walked inside. Hailey could get to where she was going easily on her own, but the rest of them had to form a makeshift convoy to leave Rallsburg, to make sure they weren't spotted on their way out.

  They weren't quite out of the woods yet.