Marie eventually drifted off to help the others by the barn, leaving Luc to secure the corn field by herself. She finished and began the trek back toward the others to say goodbye when a car pulled into the driveway.

  The Barnes were home.

  She wasn’t the only one to notice, and the group of them began making their way over to the house. Luc slowed, but it wasn’t enough to let them catch up before she reached her car, leaving her alone with Tobias’s parents and making it impossible to leave.

  “Oh, Luc!” Mama Barnes exclaimed, stopping what she was doing. The trunk sat open before her, filled with tables and stands and a crate full of baked goods that must not have sold at the farmer’s market. “What are you doing here? Is everything all right?”

  “Everything is fine,” she assured the woman. “I just came over to help fix some things up.” She jerked her head toward the barn, despite the fact that she hadn’t laid a finger on anything near it. That was easier to explain than what she’d done to set up an alarm system.

  “That’s awfully sweet of you,” Mama Barnes said, and smiled like Luc was the most kind person she’d ever seen. Luc squirmed, unable to meet the woman’s eyes. She’d just helped to get out of Tobias’s debt; that didn’t make her a good person.

  “Can I help you with any of this?” Luc asked, motioning toward the trunk. Helping her unload the car would be better than just standing around awkwardly, waiting for an excuse to leave or chance to slip away.

  “That would be lovely,” Mama Barnes said, and grabbed a small shelf. “Would you carry this right inside? Just leave it in the entryway, Bob will put it away later.”

  Luc nodded and grabbed the shelf, carrying it across the lawn and up onto the front porch. Bob had to be Mr. Barnes, who met her at the door and opened it for her.

  She gave him a grateful nod, and he grunted in return before moving down the front stairs without a word. She breathed out a sigh of relief. That was one less person she had to talk to, at least.

  By the time walked back out the front door, the others had joined her. Everyone, including Marie, jumped in to help unload the car, leaving Luc free to slip away.

  “Thank you for the help,” Mama Barnes said as Tobias slammed the trunk of their van closed. “Let me make you some lemonade!”

  …Or not.

  She shuffled to the side on the porch, holding the front door open as everyone made their way inside. Marie was last, awkwardly carrying a large wooden shelf.

  Marie stopped at the open door, frowning at the doorway as she tried to tuck her wings in closer to her sides.

  “Can you help?” Marie asked, turning to Luc with an apologetic look. “My wings are too big to fit through the door.”

  Luc opened her mouth, ready to fire off a snide remark before catching herself. This had more to do with the Barnes than it did Marie, and they’d been nothing but kind to her.

  She shut her mouth and nodded.

  Luc squeezed past the girl, brushing against her wings as she got in front of the shelf and helped lift it inside. Marie stayed outside as Luc carefully shifted it into the corner of the entryway, doing her best not to scrape the floor as she pushed it against the wall.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Hold on,” Marie said, letting the door fall closed.

  Luc should have left, retreated further inside for a cup of lemonade and polite conversation, but found she couldn’t move her feet as Marie began to transform.

  It wasn’t as bright or grand as her transformation into a magical girl, a change that was already more flashy than Luc’s own, and yet she couldn’t look away.

  Magic swirled around her, depositing her wings back into holding and replacing her outfit, even changing her hair. It went from long, loose curls pulled back from her face to elegant braids with gold and silver highlights falling down her back, delicately framing her heart shaped face. A white dress replaced her pink skirt and unitard, somehow making her look even more like a swan despite the missing wings. It was all ruffles and white beading, the low cut top hugging her chest in a way that made it impossible for Luc to look away.

  Marie glanced up as Luc stared, unable to snap her gaze away in time.

  The girl shuffled, glancing down at her feet. “I didn’t really think about my outfit when I got ready this morning.”

  Luc raised both eyebrows, staring at her in disbelief. Luc’s idea of a casual, mindless outfit were jeans and a t-shirt, not a dress, make-up, and heels. “This is a casual outfit to you?”

  “Yes?”

  “God.”

  “What?”

  “Nothing.” Luc turned away, stalking into the kitchen and forcing herself not to look back at or acknowledge the taller girl. It would have worked, if there was more room in the doorway and she wasn’t brushing up against her as they stood there.

  “Sorry,” Marie whispered.

  “It’s fine,” Luc said, crossing her arms over her chest as he eyes darted up at the girl’s face of their own accord. Silver glitter covered her eyelids, standing out against her dark skin, practically glowing even in the low lighting.

  She rolled her eyes. If Marie was any less perfect without her magic, Luc couldn’t tell, and that only made it more infuriating.

  “Lemonade?” Mama Barnes asked.

  Luc jumped at the chance to get away from Marie, moving deeper into the kitchen and accepting a cup. It was ice cold, already building condensation slick against her fingers as she took a sip.

  It was so sour her lips puckered at the taste, but she took another sip before the feel faded, thankful for the distraction.

  “Thank you,” Marie said graciously, and Luc realized the girl was beside her again, holding her own glass of lemonade.

  “You really are obsessed with me,” Luc muttered into her cup.

  Marie slipped around in front of her, leaning against the kitchen island. “What was that?” she asked, the corners of her lips curling upward.

  Luc glared. She had to have heard, and Luc wasn’t about to repeat it. “Nothing.”

  Marie smirked. “I had a good time today,” she said, the smile dancing across her lips. “When do you think I’ll get to see you again?”

  “That desperate to see me again already? I haven’t even left yet.” Luc’s heartbeat sped up as she spoke, the words leaving her mouth before she could even think about them. What was she doing? This wasn’t supposed to be a part of the game.

  “Is that such a bad thing? I want to be around you.”

  I need to snap out of this.

  “Yeah, well, I have work and school so you’re out of luck,” Luc said, looking away. “Probably won’t have much time for magical girl work for the next few days.”

  “Too bad we go to different schools,” Marie murmured.

  “Awe,” Mama Barnes said from the other side of the kitchen, nudging Mr. Barnes with her elbow. “Aren’t they just so cute? Reminds me of us when we were younger. How long have you two been together?”

  Luc reacted immediately, taking a huge step away from the girl, something she should have done far earlier. “You’ve got the wrong idea,” Luc said, not looking at Marie. “And I have to get to work. Thanks for the lemonade.”

  She set the cup on the counter, rushing out before anyone could stop her. Being at work would be better than anyone insinuating she was dating Marie Blanchet. What could even make somebody think that?