“Where’s Dad?” Laurel asked, surveying the living room.

“He had to work late tonight. But I promised him tons of pictures. So come on, smile!”

She took about fifty pictures before David’s mom finally honked for them.

Laurel pulled David along behind her as her mom called out to them to have a good time. David’s mom gushed over them too, but she’d already gotten pictures of David, so they got off the hook with only five or six more of the two of them together.

By the time they were done, Laurel had almost changed her mind. “It’s too attention-getting,” she whispered to David in the back of his mom’s car.

“Someone’s going to figure it out.”

David laughed. “No one’s going to figure it out,” he assured her. “I promise.”

“You better be right,” Laurel grumbled as they pulled into the high school parking lot.

“Look at you!” Chelsea squealed when she and David walked into the decorated gymnasium. “David said the wings were going to be awesome, but I had no idea they would be this good.” She made Laurel turn a full circle. “You know, it kind of looks more like a flower than wings, don’t you think?”

“They’re like, flower-wings, I guess,” Laurel responded nervously.

But Chelsea just shrugged. “They’re totally gorgeous. David, you’re a genius,”

she said, touching his shoulder.

Laurel stifled a grin. David would get most of the credit for her flower tonight, but that was fine with her. Especially when the other option was everyone finding out she’d grown it!

Chelsea sniffed at her shoulder and Laurel stiffened. “Wow,” Chelsea said, sniffing openly now. “What did you spray on these? I’d totally pay for whatever you used.”

Laurel was stuck for just a second, then she said “Actually, it’s just this old perfume I’ve had forever. I don’t even remember what it’s called.”

“If you ever don’t want it, I do. Mmmm.”

Laurel smiled and looked meaningfully at David as she inclined her head toward the other side of the room. Away from Chelsea’s nose.

“We’re going to go get something to drink,” David said, taking Laurel’s hand.

Luckily, Ryan walked up and Chelsea was distracted enough that she didn’t follow them.

Laurel left her hand in David’s. He hadn’t exactly said this was a date, but he hadn’t said it wasn’t, either. She preferred to think it was. Despite her hesitance to call him her boyfriend, she wasn’t completely sure that wasn’t what she wanted. What else could she want in a guy? He was sweet, patient, smart, fun, and he made no secret that he adored her. She smiled as she followed him.

Walking hand in hand might start a few rumors, but she didn’t mind.

As she walked, everyone made way for her “wings.” People who’d never spoken to her before sought her out to tell her how cool her costume was.

Everywhere she looked people were watching her. But it didn’t make her nervous tonight. She knew what they were seeing—she’d seen it herself in the mirror earlier. She looked magical; there was no other word for it.

A slow song started at about eleven thirty and David finally claimed her for his first dance of the night. He’d hung back, chatting with his friends and watching her most of the evening as several other guys had asked her for dances.

“So tell me,” he said, drawing her close, “was it all that bad?”

She smiled up at him as she placed her arms around his neck. “Not at all. You were totally right.”

David laughed. “About what?”

The smile remained on her face, but her words were serious. “Everyone can see me for what I am, and no one’s afraid or freaked out. No one’s calling wacko scientists or anything. They just think it’s cool.” She hesitated then added, “I think it’s kind of cool.”

“It is cool. It’s awesome.” He grinned. “You’re awesome.”

Laurel’s gaze dropped to his shoulder, but a tingly warmth spread through her.

“So how does it feel to be a faerie?”

Laurel shrugged. “Not so bad. Of course, it wouldn’t be like this every day.”

“No, but if you can just get used to the idea, then maybe you can start thinking about whether it’s true.”

Laurel stared at him in amusement. “You want it to be true!”

“What if I do?”

“Why?”

“Because being mythical by association is as close as I’m ever going to come.”

“What do you mean? You’re Prince Charming.”

“Yeah, but—you know—not really. But you? Laurel, I think it’s true. And it’s awesome. Who else is best friends with a faerie? No one!”

Laurel smiled. “Am I really your best friend?”

He looked down at her with serious eyes. “For now.”

She stepped in closer, laying her head against David’s shoulder for the last half of the song. When it was over, she pulled him in closer for a hug. “Thanks,” she whispered in his ear.

He grinned and offered her his arm dramatically. “Shall we?”

He led her back to the table where most of their friends were sitting and Laurel dropped into a seat. “I have to say, I’m totally exhausted.”

David leaned close to her ear. “What do you expect? The sun’s been down for hours. All good faeries should be home tucked into their flower beds.”