FABLE

Chapter Forty

I scrutinise our surroundings but there's nothing there, just an army of moss-encrusted tree trunks, and thick vegetation stretching out into the late afternoon shade.

"You have two choices," Felix says, stepping forward and getting way too close to me again. His breath is hot against my ear. "First option - let me walk with you back to your place. Second option - return with me to the cabin. What are you going to do?"

Without even thinking, I place both of my hands on his chest and push him away roughly. He barely budges, and instead I go stumbling backwards, and land on my butt in a bed of ferns.

I expect him to laugh, but he just stares down at me, like I'm the stupidist girl in the world.

I immediately spring to my feet and begin dusting myself off, hanging my head low to hide the deep blush burning on my cheeks.

"Fine, I give up," I say. "Walk me home. Whatever."

And with that I charge past him, through the trees and into the dark forest.

*****

The sunlight is almost gone by the time we reach the quiet maple-lined streets of my suburb. We walked in silence the whole way, not a single word passing between us.

If it was anyone else, I'd be worrying that maybe they're upset with me. But this is Felix Lockhart - world-renowned jerk, arrogant elitist and the guy who made an E! Entertainment host cry live on TV one time. I haven't seen the video clip, but I heard that she asked a question he thought was stupid, and he ripped her to shreds. It went viral, and cemented his reputation as meanest guy alive, which actually just helped his popularity with his masochistic fangirls.

Yup. Probably better that we don't try to make small talk.

As we turn the corner into my road, I realise that a few of my neighbours are out and about. Mrs. Peters is poking around with a trowel in the soil under her bay tree, and she raises her hand in greeting as I walk past. I wave back, and she goes back to her gardening, oblivious to the fact that I'm walking alongside one of the most famous people on the planet.

Even if she did know who he was - which is likely, even though she's pushing seventy - she probably wouldn't recognise him, with his hoodie pulled down low and dark glasses hiding his face.

I guess he doesn't want a repeat of what happened the first time he came to visit.

Still, he's risking a lot coming out on the open like this. The hoodie and shades routine might fool Mrs. Peters, but it wouldn't work on my younger neighbours if they were to spot him.

Tammy and Sam from across the road recognised him the moment they saw him. Even with his face hidden, they'll know.

His height, the dark messy hair peeping out from under the hoodie, his stride, the stiff yet graceful posture, and the air of cool, predatory confidence he seems to radiate.

Felix Lockhart is unmistakable.

This is stupid. Someone's going to recognise him. The band's cover is going to get blown. We need to get out of sight, stat.

I quicken my pace, hurrying along the sidewalk towards my driveway, ready to pull Felix into the bushes at the first sign of a potential Fable fan.

Felix is right next to me, sticking to my side like a shadow.

Stepping into my driveway, I notice Jamie's sixteenth birthday present, the brand new Volvo she got last month, parked next my mom's Kia. More surprisingly, there's a white station wagon parked next to it.

It takes me a moment to click.

That's Grace's mom's car. What on earth is she doing here?

The front door is slightly ajar, which is totally normal for my house - but I can't hold back the rush of foreboding that trickles over me.

I try not to let the worry show on my face, but somehow, Felix knows.

He stops me a moment before I walk through the front door.

"Wait for me here," Felix says.

I watch him disappear through the door, and I stand fidgeting on the front porch, fighting the urge to burst in after him.

It's my house after all. Why's he calling the shots?

After only a few seconds of waiting, I decide to follow him.

As I walk through the front door, high-pitched screaming tears through the house.

It's coming from the kitchen.

I run.