The next morning I wake up from a series of vivid dreams and wonder why I feel so conflicted inside. I sit up and remember. On one hand the really hot guy from Coltbridge noticed me enough to want to learn my name. On the other hand, I have a green clay mask stuck to my face that’s resisting all my attempts to remove it. I peer at myself in the mirror. My smooth bright green face, framed by my red hair, peers back at me. I shower again, but once again, the mask does not budge. I’m going to have to get back to Ulnula to ask how to take it off. I look in the mirror again, deep in thought. In the meantime, I do want to try out another look. I put the black false eyebrows and eyelashes on. They stick to my green mask very easily. I always wanted a slightly longer nose. I look in the mirror and squeeze my shiny green nose a little. There, it’s lengthened just a bit. Now I squeeze my dark green lips and they bulge very slightly, becoming a little plumper. Then I carefully knead my green cheeks with my fingertips and my cheekbones are now a little more defined. I pinch at my brows and my false eyebrows become arched slightly.

I put on my purple top complete with hood and then go downstairs for breakfast.

Mum came back from her evening shift after I had gone to bed last night. Now she looks up when I come in.

“Carly, why are you wearing a green mask?”

I force myself to sound carefree and nonchalant. “My mask, yes… do you like it? It goes well with my hood. Purple and green together you know. And I like having a longer nose.”

“You never needed a mask to look pretty, honey,” says Mum.

I hug her. “Aw. Love you.”

At school I take a seat at the front of the Literature classroom. I hear rumbling laughter sound over the general hubbub and look up to see Gabe and the two other handsome guys from Coltbridge stride into the room. I gaze at them and think that the three of them deserve a title. Something like “The Handsome Coltbridge Trio” but alliterative. All the other girls are gazing at them as well.

“How are you this fair morn, Miss Blake?” says Urorin inclining his head in the formal Coltbridge fashion. It’s cute the way they all talk. The three of them are Gabe himself, Urorin, and Emenar. Emenar is a hunk, with curly black hair and the body of an athlete, although he doesn’t have quite such a gorgeous face as Gabe does.

Urorin and Emenar make for the back row, but Gabe hangs back and his gaze falls on me.

Oh gosh, my palms are sweaty and my heart is beating a little faster. Why does he have that affect on me? I fiddle with the sleeves of my purple tracksuit top and look at the desk.

Then Gabe surprises everyone by sitting right next to me! I look up at him and my eyes are anchored by his sculpted, freckled face, his deep blue eyes... “H-Hi Gabe.”

“How good it is to see you again so soon, Carly. And I must say, you manage to wear a different face every time.”

He’s noticed that I’ve lengthened my nose, made my cheekbones more defined and my lips plumper.

“Well spotted.” I grin weakly.

Emenar and Urorin look on in puzzlement.

“Why pray, do you wish to sit next to the girl with a green face?” says Emenar.

“Mind your manners,” Gabe tells him.

“Perchance he does not wish to be stuck with you,” says Urorin, prodding Emenar.

“Boys, boys…” says Gabe as the two of them sit down at a desk near us.

People are filing into the classroom. Some are baffled about why Gabe is sitting next to me. Their eyes flicker between the handsome Coltbridge guy and me. I bet I’m blushing underneath my green mask. Is Gabe going to sit next to me all term? That’s really going to distract me. He has a distinctive scent. Kind of like raspberries and cream. Am I going to be able to focus on literature? And I might accidentally touch his hand. I’m feeling jittery at the thought. Am I nervous, or am I thrilled?

“Little Maya likes you a lot better than her other babysitters,” says Gabe.

I grin up at him. “She’s so sweet.” I want to think of something interesting to say. “Um… how do you guys all find Starfields? What’s it like compared to Coltbridge.”

“A major difference lies in the values of Starfields,” says Gabe.

His Coltbridge accent delivered in his low even voice… it makes me melt!

“Coltbridge is militaristic, masked maiden,” interjects Urorin.

“You called me Masked Maiden? Nice alliteration,” I reply.

“It suits you well as a title,” says Gabe. “I would add ‘Maiden of Mystery’ as a second best title.”

I glance at Urorin and then settle my gaze on Gabe’s face again.

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“So guys… Coltbridge is militaristic? What does that look like?”

“The code of the warrior is revered,” says Gabe.

“That’s glory achieved with honour, masked one,” says Urorin.

“And the chance to die in battle,” Emenar interjects. “What do you think, Gabe? Will you jump at the chance to die on the battlefield?”

I feel queasy at the thought. “That’s not funny!” I glare at Emenar.

“The Coltbridge maidens would admire anyone ready to give his life on the battlefield, masked one,” says Urorin.

“I am not a Coltbridge maiden,” I say.

I’m trembling. I look up at Gabe’s face – his flawless freckled face. “If you died on the battlefield… think – think of the people who love you, your mum, your little sister… and … and…”

He gently touches my chin with the tip of his finger. What strong, manly looking hands he has. “Don’t make the mistake of taking Emenar too seriously, Carly. Or may I call you ‘masked one?’ You are the sort of girl who merits a title.”

Emenar sniggers audibly.

I won’t be distracted with titles. “Fighting is just stupid.” My voice is quivering. The bare idea of Gabe being killed or maimed on a battlefield makes me sick. “Why’d you want to be in a battle?”

He lightly touches the tip of my nose with a finger. “We are not in Coltbridge now, and there are outlets for a warrior that do not involve bloodshed. To fight in an arena where there can be no killing is my rule when in Starfields. It’s a battle with no bloodshed. Do you wish to know more?”

I do, but now it’s time for the literature class to begin and we all have to keep quiet and pay attention. I keep stealing sideways glances at Gabe’s face. Just as I thought, he is a distraction. My mind is racing. I want to know what he was talking about the battle with no bloodshed. It’s a relief that he’s not going to fight in a real bloody battle, but does he need to fight at all? What was he talking about? He should tell me.

But at the end of the class, Emenar is badgering the other Coltbridge guys to hurry up and get out of the room.

“Til we meet again, masked one,” says Gabe, giving me a slight nod before following Emenar and Urorin out of the room.

Great. He just cleared off without telling me.

I make my way to the canteen. The canteen is circular, and has different ring shaped levels that rise conically to meet at the highest point. The more popular you are, the higher you sit. The hierarchy of cliques is plain to see. I catch sight of Emma waving at me. She could sit high up in the hierarchy, but she wants to sit with me, which means she must stay with me at the lowest level.

I place my food tray on the table and smile with the lips of my mask at Emma as we take our seats. She’s staring at me wide eyed. “Carly… why in the name of the Stars are you wearing a green mask?”

“Um… it’s an experiment. For my new job.”

She raises her eyebrows. “What sort of job has you wearing a mask?”

“It’s an experimental treatment for people with facial injuries. It does pretty amazing things. Look.”

I squeeze my lips and they become much plumper. I pull on my nose so it extends to six inches long. “A whole new look as easily as that.”

Emma folds her arms. “I like your real face. Take the mask off.”

Taking the mask off is something I don’t know how to do. I’m about to admit as much, when Emma’s expertly lined eyes flicker to something behind me. I feel a presence and I turn round and see Gabe looking down at me, a small smile playing around his perfect lips. His deep blue eyes shine with amusement that makes them look like sapphires. I’m gazing at him with such rapt attention, that I barely notice Emenar beside him.

Emenar points at my masked face, with my elongated green nose and protruding lips. “The Masked Maiden has completely reinvented herself.”

“She does that every time I see her,” says Gabe. “You are full of surprises, masked one. Sorry I can’t stop to talk, but here.” He hands me a folded up note. “Now come Emenar, look lively.”

They turn and go.

It dawns on my that Gabe just saw me with a six inch nose. I sheepishly push and prod my face back to its usual size.

“That’s better,” says Emma. “Now why may I ask is Gabrith from Coltbridge passing you notes?” She stirs her soup pensively. “That guy is as pretty as the stars. Hasn’t picked out a girlfriend yet though, however much we all stare at him.”

She’s right about Gabe’s face. All the girls want to stare at it.

“I’m babysitting Gabe’s little sister.”

“Since when?”

“Since yesterday.”

“So that’s two jobs you haven’t told me about.”

“I only got them both yesterday. Mum and I need extra cash. Gabe’s sister is so sweet. It was a pleasure to babysit her.”

“This other job that has you wearing a green mask is super-bizarre.”

I touch my cheek and feel the cool, smooth surface of the mask. “I am well aware of it.”

My friend takes a spoonful of soup and then changes the topic. “So how are your applications coming along?”

“They’re coming along alright, but I don’t know if I’ve done enough community service to really impress them.”

“Why not tutoring? The school’s looking for volunteers.”

I smile at her with the lips of my mask. “Great idea, hon.”

Emma smirks. “What would you do without me? Now why are you getting notes from super-handsome guys?”

I’m curious about the note too, so I unfold it.

It’s in Gabe’s handwriting. (I saw him write stuff in the literature class. I felt the need to keep glancing at him. Are you going to blame me?)

Masked Maiden,

If you wish it, do me the honour of meeting me by the citadel on the stroke of four, tomorrow afternoon.

Sincerely,

Gabe.

Emma’s mouth hangs open slightly. “He wants to date you? That’s amazing. I mean - I mean… that shows he has good taste in girls, but, but….”

She drops her gaze.

I gently touch the back of her hand. “It’s OK. The note doesn’t say it’s a date. Maybe he just wants to vent about something, or ask for help with homework.”

It would be silly to be optimistic. It would be setting myself up for disappointment. But my mouth is dry and I’m feeling butterflies in my stomach. Am I a fool to hope that there’s a chance…?

00O00

I’m eager to meet with Ulnula after school and ask questions about the mask.

I march down the alleyway. The moon faces on the sign above the strange clinic look a little different. Their smiles are somehow blurred as they look down at me. Like they’re smirking. Weird.

I push through the door and there is a tinkle in the barely lit room beyond.

“I knew you were coming.” Ulnula’s voice sounds right behind me and I spin round.

“Hi there.”

She clasps my left hand in both of hers. “So warm. So full of life. A perfect test subject. Tell me, how do you find wearing your new face?”

“That’s what I’ve come to ask you about. How do I take the mask off? I can’t take it off. I’ve had to wear it all day.”

“It is not time to take it off? Remember our deal? You were to test the mask’s capabilities and receive the fees for your university of choice in return. To really test the mask, you have to wear it and go about your day to day life. Do you not want the deal anymore?”

Wait a minute, she wants me to keep wearing the mask? But she’s holding the university fees over my head, so what can I say?