Faire Exchange: Chapter 15
Zoe gets a new do.
A shorter chapter this time, so I didn’t see a need to put it behind a paywall.
Previously:
Zoe hardly had to explain what Paul had done, since the evidence was right there on her head. Now he was stuck in his room, banned from any TV, Internet, or video games until his next report card. Served the little twerp right.
Now Zoe sat in a chair in the kitchen, with a sheet fastened around her neck, and her mom snipping at her hair. Mom was sure Zoe would look perfectly beautiful without her ponytail, it just needed to be evened out. Zoe would believe it when she saw it.
Daddy's footsteps climbed the stairs up to Paul's room. Good, now the twerp was really going to get it. Even Melanie had yelled at him already, and she hardly ever raised her voice.
"I'll be done in just a minute," Mom said. "Don't be too mad at Paul. You know how boys are."
She would definitely be singing a different tune if it were her hair. "What's Rina's excuse?" Zoe said.
Mom stopped clipping for a moment. "You know what I mean. I think maybe he's just gotten sweet on her, and isn't sure how to process it."
"I don't know about that." Paul had acted less like a little boy with puppy love and more like a fanatic enamored with a celebrity. Zoe let her head sink. As angry as she was at her little brother, he wasn't the one she really hated. "Why did she have to come? Why'd it have to be our school? Why did they even start this stupid exchange in the first place?"
Mom sighed and clipped along the back of Zoe's head. "I wish I knew, Sweetie. I've heard the elves at other schools are pretty nice."
Sure, Zoe thought, but that didn't help her. She couldn't shake the feeling that somehow Rina's arrival at Northpoint Elementary was Phase One in a plan to take over the world. "This isn't gonna stop," she moaned. "Rina's just gonna keep doing whatever she wants, and the teachers won't be able to do anything."
"I know it's tough," Mom said. "When I was in school, there were these boys who smoked and cursed and beat up the littler kids. If they'd had powers like this elf girl, no one would have gotten near them. It's not fair to make you put up with her." Mom bent down close to Zoe's ear. "If you want, I can call you out sick tomorrow."
Zoe twisted her head around. "You'd do that?" A day without Rina… it was too good to pass up. Zoe could relax on the couch, watch some movies and soccer videos, and not have to worry about anything being cut off or cast on her.
But eventually Zoe would have to go back. She would have to deal with Rina again. And either way, her friends and classmates would still be in trouble. Zoe couldn't leave them behind.
She wasn't about to let herself get chased out of her own school.
"Actually, I think I'd rather go," Zoe said. "Somebody's gotta make sure Paul stays out of trouble."
"Suit yourself." Mom made one last snip. "That should do it. Here, tell me what you think." She handed Zoe one mirror and held another up behind her.
Zoe was sad that it was still short, as if she expected the ponytail to grow back as magically as it had flown away. But the result wasn't half bad. It struck Zoe as more defiant, maybe punkish. Even that dork Jeremy Vlachos would have to turn his head at this. "It looks great, Mom. Thanks."
"Not bad, right? Considering I haven't done this since Paulie was in diapers." Mom got a brush and swept what she could from Zoe's shoulders, then unfastened the sheet from her neck. Zoe hopped out of the chair feeling a little lighter.
The floor was covered with little gold hair trimmings. "Need help cleaning up?" Zoe said.
"No, I've got it. You still have homework to do, if you're planning on showing up tomorrow." Mom grabbed the broom. "Somebody should really speak to that other girl Paul was playing with… Halley?"
"Don't ask me," Zoe said. "I don't care who he plays with, as long as they don't bug me."
And Zoe headed upstairs to her room, knowing exactly what she needed after this. She just didn't know how to get it yet.
Revenge.