The Exception

Chapter 14

Once Glenda reached James's shoulders, Crystal stopped her. She floated in the air, not rising or sinking. Crystal was grateful that she didn't have to concentrate anymore, because Glenda was already in the air. James rolled his eyes at Crystal, and grabbed Glenda's foot, trying to navigate her outside. He wasn't used to anything like this, and bumped her into a few trees. Crystal just watched from behind him. Finally, once Glenda was over a small patch of grass, Crystal lowered her down. When she was about a foot from the ground, an acorn dropped from a tree, which startled Crystal and made her lose focus, so Glenda landed hard on the ground. James glared at her.

"Sorry."

James didn't respond.

"Let's get started then," Crystal said

"This better work." Crystal could tell he wanted to argue with her plan, but he kept his mouth shut.

"I'll be over here," Crystal said, hiding behind a thick bush. James made sure she was hidden well enough, unlike last time.

After about five minutes, Glenda opened her eyes.

"Glenda!" James said before Glenda could figure out where she was. He walked up to her from a short distance, so it looked like he found her there. "Are you okay?"

"What happened?" she asked.

"What do you remember?"

"Well, I was walking home from..." Glenda trailed off. "...something important," she finished, after a short pause. "I was just walking, then I ended up here."

"That's all you remember?"

"Yeah."

"Oh," James said. "Well I saw this huge stick fall from that tree-," he pointed at a large tree behind her- "and hit you on the head. I'm surprised you don't remember."

"That's weird," was all Glenda could say.

James didn't respond, but grabbed her by the hand and helped her stand.

"Why were you in the woods?" she asked.

"Oh..." James said, dragging the word out. He hadn't prepared for her to ask that. "I was just walking."

"Walking?"

"Yeah."

"You've never done that before."

"Yeah I have," James lied. "Sometimes I just take a stroll. It's relaxing."

"Well, good thing you found me here," Glenda laughed.

"Yeah."

Glenda started to walk away, but James stopped her. "Are you sure you can make it back on your own?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," Glenda said, and walked into the forest. James didn't move until he couldn't see her anymore, then walked over to the bush Crystal was hiding behind.

"You can come out now," he said.

"Awesome," Crystal said, standing up and stretching. "That was very uncomfortable. I bet you feel more uncomfortable though."

"Why?" James regretting the word as soon as it slipped out of his mouth.

"Because I was right and you were wrong," Crystal teased. "My magic worked. The memories you wanted to leave are gone and the others aren't. Now she can just live the rest of her life lying to you about wherever she went, and we can all move on."

"Just because your magic worked doesn't mean we're going to do this again. Ever."

"Okay, okay." Crystal laughed.

"You're right though. She is lying," James said.

"Well, duh."

"I wonder where she went."

"I seriously doubt it matters."

"I bet it does," James responded.

"Whatever," Crystal said and walked into the house. The second she stepped foot in the house she stopped, remembering what she had to do. She would have to lie to James, but had to think of a lie that would actually work. She had to think of it fast though, because time was running out. She had to get there.

To Edward.