New Boys Can't Date The Snow Queen, Part 8

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7

Friday

“How can I help you?” the woman behind the Lost Property desk asked cheerfully.

“Has anyone left a comb in here?” Normally I wouldn’t have left two days before asking, but I was feeling rather proud of myself. Only one more session, then the mirror would be complete.

She frowned. “I’m afraid we haven’t. Did you lose one?”

Did it really matter?

“Actually, don’t worry about it. Sorry to have wasted your time.” I turned and walked towards the door.

“Did you lose a comb?”

I looked back over my shoulder. “It’s fine. It wasn’t expensive.”

****

My insides tingled as I drove up to the garden centre. I wore my smartest winter jumper and nicest black jeans under my dark blue coat. Even though Blake wouldn’t be seeing the whole outfit, I knew I looked nice and that made me stand and move confidently. He would notice that.

I found myself hoping that it was a date.

Blake stood in the entrance; the tiny lights above looked like little stars. “Hi. Shall we?” He gestured for me to walk in ahead of him.

I stole little glances at him the whole time we were walking through the centre. Once or twice, I caught him doing the same thing; every time that happened, we both blushed and exchanged smiles.

“Sorry,” he said. “This dating thing is kind of new to me.”

“It’s new to me too.”

We selected boxes of baubles, some lights, silver tinsel, and blue and silver velvet bows, and put them in baskets.

“Hey, Claire, look at this.” Blake held out a string with little crystalline decorations attached to it. They looked like chips of ice. “Remember that aesthetic?”

The one with the makeshift door? “Yes. That’s perfect. We’ll get those too.”

Blake must have told Miss Emmons about our plans, because he took out a wad of cash and paid for the decorations using that. Then he wrote down the amount they had cost, slipped the change and receipt into the envelope and sealed it shut.

“My car’s over there,” he said as we left.

“Oh. I brought my own.”

He nodded. “Do you want to take the decorations or should I?”

Were all first dates this shy and awkward? Maybe they were. I didn’t have any experiences of my own to compare with this one. “I’ll take half, you take the other and we’ll take them into college on Monday. Want to meet at the market entrance?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

I forced myself to keep my eyes on the road as I followed his car. When was the last time I’d felt so excited and alive? I could hardly keep still in the car seat.

Finally, the warm glow of the Christmas market appeared around the corner. Blake and I found spaces right next to each other and walked in side by side. The cold air bit at my hands, and I rubbed them together to try and keep the sensation away.

“Don’t you have any gloves?” Blake asked.

Embarrassed, I put my hands in my pockets. “I forgot to take them out of my other coat. There’s bound to be some at the market.”

Blake stopped walking. “May I?”

He held out his hands. “This won’t hurt you. I promise.”

After a moment, I placed my hands in his and suddenly they were warm, as if I’d never left the house.

“Better?” he asked.

It was so much better. “I didn’t know fire magic could do that. Thanks.”

There were a lot of things I didn’t know about him; maybe tonight would be a good time to start learning.

Soft music played over the talk and laughter of the crowd, and something delicious was cooking in the distance. All the festive chalets were crowned with greenery and golden lights, and the air was alive with anticipation and joy.

“A Reyes family tradition is to get everyone at least one present from the markets,” Blake told me. “Maybe I should ask Mum and Dad if we can do the same thing. I know Ethan wants to buy his girlfriend something from here.”

“What’s she like?” If the gossip I’d heard was right, she was the girl the Thorns had treated like an unpaid servant instead of family.

“A little shy at first, but she’s blossomed a lot since she left that family. Ethan’s very protective of her, and they’re good for each other.”

I stopped and pointed at the closest chalet. “Mind if I look at that one?”

“Sure. I think I’ll check out that ceramics chalet, see if there’s anything for my aunt there.”

The chalet held a selection of upmarket winter wear. I carefully ran my hands over a ‘one-size fits all’ red jumper; the material was so soft. “I think my dad would like this. How much is it?”

“That’ll be twenty-five pounds,” replied the vendor.

I bought it and put it into a bag I’d brought with me just in case. “Thank you.”

“Have a good Christmas, love!”

For the first time this year, I thought maybe I would.

Blake strode out of the ceramics chalet, triumphantly holding up a tiny package. “Found something!”

“What is it?”

“It’s a plate in her favourite colours and – get this – it’s got a grater.”

“Really?”

His smile widened. “Aunt Elena was saying she needed a new garlic grater. This’ll be perfect.”

Somewhere, a choir was singing “Silent Night”. The words sounded hauntingly beautiful in the air.

“Anything else you want to have a look at right now, or shall we keep going?” asked Blake.

“Let’s keep going and stop at stalls we like.”

We passed chalets and traders selling homemade decorations, wooden and metal windchimes, scented candles, board games, beautiful chopping-boards made from wood and resin, handknitted scarves and gloves, perfumes, jewellery and accessories. I bought a matching pendant and bracelet made from jade for Larisa, while Blake carefully chose presents for each member of his family, including his parents.

“They’re coming down to spend Christmas with us, so I can give them the presents then,” he explained as he slipped them into his bag. “It’ll be good to see them in person instead of just talking online and on the phone.”

I was about to ask why he had come to Topaz Coast in the first place when a familiar voice called: “Hey, Blake! Didn’t know you’d be coming here.”

It was Ethan; with him was a girl in a light blue coat and a purple scarf. I remembered seeing her around the college a couple of times. With her bright eyes and radiant face, she looked a lot happier now than the pale ghost she’d almost seemed to be.

“You doing some Christmas shopping as well?” asked Ethan. Then he saw me. “Hi, Claire.”

“I think they’re here for the same reason we are,” the girl said, holding out a gloved hand. “Hi, Claire; I don’t think I’ve ever actually met you. I’m Mina Asher.”

I shook her hand. “Hi, Mina.”

Ethan glanced from his cousin to me, then back again. “Are you both getting something to eat here?”

“Yeah,” Blake answered. “I checked with your mum, she said that was OK.”

“Good. See you back at the house.” Ethan nodded at me. “Good to see you, Claire.”

He and Mina walked away, his arm around her shoulders.

“I’d like to look at this one.” I pointed towards the closest chalet on our right; inside was a variety of glass decorations. They glinted warmly, reflecting the light from the chalet’s interior.

“Wonder how long it took to make them,” Blake mused as we stepped inside.

“They’re all handmade,” the vendor announced, “and we’re proud of all of them.”

Hanging from small metallic trees was a selection of baubles; they felt light and delicate against my fingers. Some were made from clear, iridescent glass, others crafted from a patchwork of colour such as amber, amethyst, aqua and forest.

Then I saw it: a glass angel with frosted wings and a long, light blue skirt. Her hands were together in prayer and a tiny clear halo was on her head.

“That’s one of our masterpieces,” the vendor told me. “She’s made from handcrafted crystal, and she’s been enchanted not to break.”

“How much is she?” I asked. I hadn’t wanted anything so much for a long time.

“Forty-five pounds.”

That wasn’t cheap, but… “Done.”

Smiling, the vendor wrapped the angel in tissue paper and placed her inside a little bag.

“I’ll pay for it.” Blake took out his wallet and rummaged around for his card.

“What? But…”

He’d already tapped his card to the machine, leaving me stunned and bewildered.

“I…Thank you, Blake.” I didn’t know what else to say.

“My, I love seeing spontaneous giving like that!” the vendor said, winking at Blake, “Especially when it’s couples giving to each other. Have a lovely Christmas, both of you!”

We stepped out into the cold again. I held the handles of the bag carefully, as if it could break at any moment.

“I’m sorry if that was too…” Blake cleared his throat. “You looked so happy when you saw the angel. I just wanted to do something nice for you.”

“No, it’s…it was lovely. Thank you.” I meant it. Suddenly I wanted to see if there was anything he liked here and get it for him. I didn’t care that we hardly knew each other; I wanted to know him and be as close as the vendor thought we were.

“But you have to let me pay for the food,” I told him firmly.

He laughed, shaking his head. “Oh, no. That’s not going to happen.”

“You paid for the pie and hot chocolate, and you bought this for me.” I held up the little blue bag. “It’s only fair that I treat you. What would you like?”

Both of us ended up going for hog roast burgers and a drink made from rosemary and pomegranates. We found an empty bench and sat down, placing our bags on the seat beside us.

Blake bit into his burger. “That’s perfect.”

“I know.” Judging from the magic I could taste in the drink, the pomegranates had been grown on Greenfield Farm. “And if your food gets cold, you could always use your magic to warm it up.”

Blake shook his head, his mouth still full. “Doesn’t work that way. Every time I try to do that, it catches on fire.”

He opened his palm, and small white flames flickered over his skin. I drew in my breath slowly, entranced by how fire danced without harming him.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Now you know how my family got the name Starfyre.”

It seemed like the perfect time to ask him. “Why did you come down to Topaz Coast?”

Blake shifted around on the bench. “Well, it’s…it’s complicated. My dad’s been concentrating on his work a lot and my mum wasn’t very happy about that. Things have been tense at home for a while now.” He seemed unable to look me in the face. “So one day Dad suggested he take a sabbatical so that he and Mum can work things out, and I decided I’d…give them some space.”

“And they were OK with that?”

“Not at first. I talked to Aunt Elena about it, and she talked to Mum, saying I could transfer colleges and take my final year here at Topaz Coast. I’ve always got on with Ethan and Brendan, and it might be easier for my parents to work on things if I wasn’t there.” He took another bite of his burger. “So far, the plan’s going great. From what I can see on the video calls, Mum and Dad are talking to each other a lot better now and it’s only been about two months.”

Now he did look right at me. “And for the record, I’m really glad I came down here.”

“I’m glad you came down here too.” Even if that meant he’d be moving back after his exams, I was happy he’d be here until the summer.

Suddenly he jumped up. “Hey!”

I whirled around. A tiny figure sprinted away from the bench, a little bag in its hand.

“That’s mine!” I shouted. “Stop!”

Immediately, a much taller figure intercepted the fleeing one and grabbed it by the arm.

“What have I told you?”

They came marching towards us, the larger tugging the smaller behind it.

“Please excuse my daughter.” It was a tall woman with a shock of dark, spiky hair. “She seems to think stealing other people’s belongings is funny.” She pulled the bag out of her daughter’s grasp and handed it to me. “Apologise to the lady, Sally.”

Sally mumbled something.

“Properly.”

“’m sorry.” Sally rubbed her shoe back and forth against the ground.

“That’s OK,” I replied.

Sally’s mother nodded at me. “I apologise as well; she should know better than to go around stealing. If you’ll excuse me, I believe our trip here is over.”

With another nod, she moved briskly away while firmly holding her daughter’s hand.

“You should be more careful.”

My whole body turned to ice. Slowly, I turned my head to see a figure standing in the shadow of a Christmas tree.

No. It couldn’t be. Not now.

“You never know who might be lurking in the shadows.” He grinned, eyes glinting like a hobgoblin’s. “See you around, Claire.”

I watched him leave, fists clenched at my side.

“Who was that?” Blake asked.

“Nobody. Just someone my dad met once.”

I could feel the warmth of Blake’s presence beside me. “Do you want to leave?”

“Yeah. That sounds good.”

All the magic of the evening had gone.

****

Downstairs, the clock struck ten. Only two pieces were left.

Blake and I had driven away separately, and I was grateful that all he’d done was hug me goodbye. Maybe he’d sensed I was feeling a little shaken by the encounter with him.

This was it; I was almost done. Then all I had to do was wait for a text and reply that the mirror was complete. He’d leave us alone after that.

I hoped he would leave us alone.

Slowly, hands trembling, I placed the last two pieces into the mirror and stepped back.

Nothing happened. The jagged shards didn’t melt into one smooth, unbroken surface.

What was wrong? Had I put together pieces incorrectly?

I stepped up to the mirror again, peering closer at it. Everything looked in place, except…

…for one tiny gap.

I looked around on the floor. Had I dropped it, or kicked it aside by accident? All I could see was the dark wooden floor. I moved around on my hands and knees, desperately searching for the wicked glint of glass.

In the corner was the bag that had held the shards. I went over and rummaged around, but there was nothing. No shard had been caught in the material.

As fast as I could, I hurried downstairs and grabbed a broom and a dustpan and brush from the kitchen. I spent ages sweeping and brushing the room, paying special attention to the edges, hoping the shard would be tangled up in the bristles.

Nothing.

“No.” I knelt on the floor, the wood hard and cold against my knees. “No, no, NO!”

What was I going to do? I’d lost the final piece. What was I going to do?