Flunked (Fairy Tale Reform School, #1)(17)

“I have never seen this memo before!” Harlow is yelling. “Flora canceled today’s classes to paint the castle? That’s ridiculous!”

“What’s ridiculous is that we haven’t done it already,” Miri tells her. “The princesses have agreed to Royal Day happening in less than two weeks, and there is a lot to prepare before their arrival.”

“I’m not canceling classes for a paint session!” Harlow says incredulously. “They’ll have to paint around us!”

We put our heads back down to write, but the banging only gets louder. It’s hard to concentrate. I see the mer-boy’s water quill fly out of his hand at the hammering, which must be amplified in his tank. Then there is a knock at the door.

“’Scuse me, ma’am?” A peasant in paint-splattered clothes and a cap stands in the doorway with a brush and a bucket. The smell of the paint hits my nose almost instantly. “We need to get started in this room.” He looks around. “Wow, Murray, get in here,” he calls to someone. “This room is the worst yet!”

I hear Miri muffle a laugh.

“Do you mind?” Harlow says, and with a flick of her wrist, the door slams in the peasant’s face. She sighs. “Children, it seems that our time together needs to come to an end.”

A small cheer is quickly extinguished as Aldo nosedives at the boy who is the loudest.

“But,” Professor Harlow says, letting the word linger in the air, “I expect this paper on my desk tomorrow.” Everyone groans. “Enjoy your afternoon, class.” She opens the door again and Murray enters slowly.

I gather my things and think about how I’m going to use my time now that there is no class and I can’t go back to our room. I guess I could practice fencing near the woods. Sounds like I’ll be dueling Jocelyn in our classroom soon enough.

“Hi, Gilly.” Maxine is waiting for me. “Thanks for sticking up for me back there. No one ever does that.” She looks down at her huge shoes. Father would have a hard time making boots for those clonkers.

“That’s what friends are for,” I say automatically. Maybe Miri will notice and mark me down for good behavior. Maxine’s smile widens. Her teeth are a little green.

“Are you doing anything right now?” Maxine asks. “Want me to show you around? I mean, I’m sure you have loads of people who want to show you around, but I would if you wanted. I’ve been here a year, so I know every room in the joint.”

I want to work the “So what are you in for?” question into our conversation, but I can’t figure out how to do it without offending her. For some reason, I suspect it has something to do with jewelry. She’s wearing at least a half a dozen shiny necklaces.

Jocelyn walks by Maxine with a friend and whispers something. The two burst out laughing and Maxine looks down, embarrassed.

“I mean, if you don’t mind being seen with me.” Maxine’s eye droops again.

I stare defiantly at Jocelyn. There’s nothing I hate more than bullies (and royals, but bullies more so). “Of course I want to hang out with you. Let’s go.” I brush past Jocelyn, taking Maxine by the hand. “Any suggestions on what to do?”

The two of us leave the dungeon-classroom behind, and the light shining through the hallway windows makes me feel brighter. Painters are painting the trim along the windows while cleaners wipe down the statues and gargoyles. A tarp is being hung in the central hallway that says “Fairy Tale Reform School” in large, gold script. Fresh flowers are in vases everywhere I look. Anna would love all this preparation for the princesses. I know it’s only been a day, but I thought she’d write right away.

“Have you tried Pegasus flying yet?” Maxine asks. “There’s free time right now.”

I’ve never flown before. Now is as good a time as any to start. A paper for the Evil Queen can definitely wait. I smile. “That sounds up my alley. Let’s go.”





CHAPTER 7


    Flying Lessons


Thanks to a new hallway that appears when we leave class, we make it to the stables in no time.

“You guys here for a ride?” asks a stable boy who’s raking hay. “I’ll tell you what I told the girl that just left—the woods are off-limits to students and Pegasi. The last thing we need is to lose another Pegasus to a giant. Pegasi are their favorite snack.”

Eww.

“Should I suit up two beauties for you?” The boy heads to the stalls. I can hear the Pegasi munching on hay and neighing. I’ve never been this close to them before—other than the time I snuck into the stables in the village to steal a gold harness some foolish stable boy left hanging on a wall. “You’ve got an hour ’til the Royal Ladies-in-Waiting Club comes for their afternoon fly over the princesses’ castle.”

Double eww. I read about this school club. Their sole purpose is to dote on the princesses. No thank you!

“Yes, we’d like a ride,” I say, getting excited.

He looks at me skeptically. “You’re new here. You’ve ridden before, right?”

“Of course,” I lie. I mean, how hard can it be?

The boy heads off to grab me some gear.

“Gilly? I think I’ve changed my mind about the flying.” Maxine sounds jittery. Her good eye stares at the stalls. “I was trying to impress you by asking, but to be honest, when I get in the air, I feel dizzy. It’s hard to fly with just one good eye.” Her bad one spins in its socket.