Flunked (Fairy Tale Reform School, #1)(18)

Poor girl. “It’s okay,” I say, trying not to sound disappointed. I can’t just ditch her. Can I? “We can do something else.”

Maxine twirls her green gem necklace. “No, you go! You can tell me about your flight at dinner. I could sit at your table. I mean, if you have room?” she asks hopefully.

I smile. “Of course, there’s room. I’ll see you tonight.”

Maxine heads off, leaving me alone to explore the gleaming white-and-gold stables. Photos of students in the Pegasus Flying Club at championship races line the walls near the entrance, along with various ribbons and trophies in a shiny, silver case. Beyond me are the stalls and gear, which are much nicer than at the dwarf squad stables. (I’ve, um, seen those a few times when I’ve been hauled in.) Those stables have a roof, but the Pegasus stables don’t. When I look up, I can see Pegasi flying high above, never veering far from sight.

“If you don’t have a roof, how do you keep the Pegasi from flying away?” I ask as the stable boy comes back with two helmets and saddles.

“Magic,” he says, looking at me like this should be obvious. “The roof closes at night, but during the day, we like these beauties to have their freedom when they’re not needed for lessons.” He hands me a helmet. “This should fit. Hey, where’s your friend?”

“She bailed,” I say.

The stable boy sighs. “I already told Mighty and Macho you were taking them.”

I laugh. “Like they understand you!”

He doesn’t look amused. “Of course they do! Pegasi can’t talk, but they can understand human thoughts. You should know that if you’ve ridden before.” He takes the helmet from me suspiciously, and I start to protest.

“I’ll go up with her.”

I turn around. Jax is leaning on the open stable doors.

“What are you doing here?” I ask him.

Jax takes the helmet from the boy and hands it back to me. “I ran into Maxine and she said where you were.” He grins mischievously. “So you’re an expert Pegasus flyer, huh?”

I jut out my chin. “Is that so hard to believe?”

“Yes,” the stable boy and Jax say at the same time.

“I’ll take Mighty and she can take Macho,” Jax tells the boy. “She’ll be fine with me.” The stable boy nods and heads to the stalls.

Jax motions for me to join them, but suddenly my feet don’t want to comply. Flying sounded like a good idea ’til I was actually about to do it. I don’t know how to hold the reins or what to say to a Pegasus to give directions! What if I fall off? I’ll wind up as flat as a gingerbread man.

Jax takes my arm. “Relax. You can’t imagine how easy this is. And the rush of being in the sky and seeing the freedom outside these walls can’t be beat.”

The stable boy opens a large stall, and I hear neighs. “Mighty and Macho, they’re ready for you. These boys are twins,” he tells me.

I peek my head inside and inhale sharply. The Pegasi are majestic. And huge. Their white coats nearly glow, they’re so bright, and their wings are nearly double the size of their body, even if they are currently folded down at their sides. The Pegasi neigh softly as we approach.

The stable boy pets the bridge of their noses. “Hop on. They’ll take you up and around the grounds.”

I watch Jax stick his foot in the foothold and easily pull himself up. I walk over to Macho. “Hey, boy,” I say softly. “Think you can help me out? I’m not that good at this.” The Pegasus blinks his bright blue eyes and nudges me as if to say “no problem.” I do like Jax does and am amazed when I’m able to pull myself right up. Awesome.

“Keep an eye on the time,” the stable boy tells us, pointing to the clock on the Pegasus’s harness. “Don’t leave the grounds since you aren’t with an instructor—or you’ll get detention—and don’t go into the Hollow Woods.” He says sharply, “Got it?”

“Got it,” we say, and then without warning, the Pegasi’s wings begin to expand and we’re rising slowly out of the stables and into the sky. My stomach feels like it might fall out as the stable below gets farther and farther away. The wind begins to blow my hair away from my face, and I hold on to the reins tightly as the Pegasus begins to flap its wings faster and takes me high above the grounds.

I’m flying!

I start to laugh out of both fear and excitement. I’ve never been on a Pegasus before. In the village, they were always for the rich or the royals, and yet here at FTRS, flying is a regular privilege. I have to admit, it’s a pretty nice student perk to have.

“Just hang on. I’ll tell them where to go,” Jax says as his Pegasus flaps next to mine.

I look down and see we’re over the school now. Below, I can make out students on the lawns fencing or playing dodgeball or just lounging on the grass. I’m afraid to turn my head, but I do, ever so slightly, and can just make out the village of Enchantasia in the distance. I’d give anything to fly over my boot right now and talk to my siblings, but I don’t want to extend my stay at FTRS any longer than I have to. In the opposite direction, the Hollow Woods loom darkly.

Jax pulls alongside me, looking completely at ease. I’m still fighting the urge to close my eyes. “Pretty cool, huh?” he says.