“Have you guys had much of a chance yet to actually check out the other stalls?” Taylor looked between the two mystical beings disguised as humans who were her colleagues.

  “I’ve seen it all before,” Chaos said with a wave of his hand. “There’s nothing new for me.”

  “I actually haven’t had much of a chance to visit the other stalls while they’re operating,” Ever said.

  “I thought not.” Taylor looked at Chaos. “Could you go ahead and man the stall first? I’ll join you soon.”

  Something barely perceptible flickered across Chaos’ face. He nodded, his mustache twitching slightly and left the store.

  Moments later, Taylor went to the door and flipped the sign on the glass from “Open” to “Closed”. She turned around and leaned back on her hands, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

  “Aren’t we meant to be leaving the main store open?” Ever asked.

  “There have barely been any customers coming by, they’ve all gone to the street stall.”

  “Oh OK.”

  In one quick movement, she stepped towards him, grabbing him by the wrist. “Come on, let’s go check out the stalls. I’m going to buy you something.” She dragged him out the door, pulled it shut and locked it.

  “We don’t have much time, let’s see what this lame festival has to offer!” Taylor grabbed a map and looked at it. “There’s us,” she said, stabbing at their stall, “what do you need?” She drew her figure in random squiggles across the page.

  Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

  “What do I need?” He echoed. “I don’t need anything.”

  She crossed her arms disapprovingly. “You’re not making this easy, bud.”

  “Actually, I need a tote bag.”

  “Really?” Taylor laughed, genuinely surprised. “What do you need a tote bag for?”

  Ever tried to not look too guilty. If she’s asking, that means she hasn’t found my cash bag… right?

  “You know what,” she said, raising her hands, “forget I asked. You’re a secret squirrel, it’s for storing all your nuts for the winter.” They looked at the map together, flipping to the side that had the directory of all the vendors.

  “We’ve got to get to the other side, away from all the street food. That’s where the artsy fartsy things and gifts are. Let’s go!” She charged ahead, with Ever jogging behind her. She was looking between the stalls and the map, eyes wide like one of the children who see all the ice cream flavors in their store.

  “What you looking at?” She asked heatedly.

  “What happened to no ‘jewellery whilst working’?” Ever said, gesturing at the bracelet on her wrist.

  “We’re not working right now, are we?” She retorted. Her face softened slightly as they walked together. “I don’t need to know about your second job, but I do have to give you something back. Otherwise I’ll feel like I owe you something.”

  “I told you,” Ever said, “the bracelet was for the cupcakes.”

  “And the bracelet was worth 100 times more than the cupcakes.”

  “Do humans have to always repay a debt in kind?”

  Taylor stopped walking, a flummoxed expression on her face. “Whoa Shakespeare, chillax.”

  “Sorry,” Ever apologized, rubbing the back of his neck. He didn’t really want the tote bag anymore. The only thing he wanted was the opportunity to tell her why he really was here.