16. Catching Up

"We need a talking stick, duh!" Jocelyn jives with a small smile, responding to Kayla. "You go first." She hands the mascara to Maxine.

"Ooh, fun! Ok, I'll go first!" Maxine says, "Hi everyone, my name is Maxine Hockler-"

"You don't have to introduce yourself, we all know you." Jocelyn cuts her off.

"Okay. Yeah, I guess we're not Happily Ever After Scrolls." Maxine giggles, and picks up the mascara again. "Anyways, I've been living in my oak tree like I used to before FTRS. Kinda boring, but nice I guess. I'm just really glad I get to come here and spend a week with you guys. And since there was nothing better to do, I spent an entire day searching for gingerroot in the Tailsmen Forest where I live. I was outside from dawn until dusk! And guess what, I found ten flowers!!"

"WHAT!?" The rest of us stammer.

"Maxine, that's more than anyone has ever found at once!" Jocelyn adds.

"I know! And since I have so much..." Maxine reaches into her bag and grabs a few tiny purple drawstring bags. "You each get some!" She walks around and hands them out to all of us. Small purple drawstring bags are what most people use to carry gingerroot( if they even get any, because gingerroot is super rare).

"Thank you, Maxine!" AG says.

"Yeah, thanks!" Kayla and Jocelyn say.

"That was really nice of you." I respond.

"Of course! I figured it would be a good idea to share. Who wants to go next?" Maxine asks.

"I will!" AG says. "Everyone come sit on my bed." We all do what we're told.

"Good idea." Kayla says.

"Alright. I've missed you guys a lot! And even though I haven't been taking classes for the past month, I've been staying on FTRS grounds at my pop-up castle, of course. I watched a few rugby matches, attended some tea parties, and came here to Royal Manor with my family to have tea with the Royal Court! And since Kayla's fairy house is right by my pop-up castle, I hung out with her a lot."

"Yes we did!" Kayla recalls.

"That's basically it! Oh, and I worked on training Butterscotch to do some cool new tricks." AG adds. "Who wants to go next?"

"I will! Kayla says, and AG hands her the talking stick. "Ok. My turn! During the past month, I've been at FTRS of course, because my mom and sisters work there. No classes like AG said. And again, like AG said, I spent time with her family and she spent time with mine. Jocelyn also tried teaching me how to conjure up some beauty potions... let's just say that they didn't turn out quite right."

Jocelyn snickers. "She turned Harlow's entire outfit pink and her face green!"

"Sorry Harlow! I mean, it was kinda funny. I'm a lot better at fairy magic than witch potions." Kayla admits.

We all laugh. "I'd love to see Harlow like that!"

"Anyways, Jocelyn, wanna go next?" Kayla asks.

"Might as well get it over with." Jocelyn says, and Maxine gives her a look. "To be honest, I have missed you guys a little. This past month at FTRS, I learned new curses and spells, enhanced my magic skills, and concocted a lot of potions in the expanded potions lab. I tried teaching Kayla some potion recipes, but she couldn't get them. So, yeah."

"Is that all? Magic, spells, and potions?" I ask.

"Basically. Spriggins asked me out. Of course I said no, because that's disgusting. Now I know that he likes me." Jocelyn does a fake barf.

All of our faces either go blank, shocked, or confused.

"JACK asked you OUT?" I ask. "I never knew he liked you. Eww!"

"Yeah, it's funny business. Whatever. Gilly, here." Jocelyn hands me the talking stick, and I take it.

"Okay... I really haven't done much this past month. I did a lot of walking around in the village and looking around in shops. I worked at my Father's shoe shop for a few shifts, ate some divine breakfasts at the Three Little Pigs restaurant, and that's about it. To be honest, it's been a little boring, which is why I was especially excited to come here!" I say.

"Same with me." Maxine agrees.

"And also, my family is going to the Enchantasia Village Shoemakers' Ball this week, and I was supposed to go too, but I convinced them to let me come here, which I'm really glad about." I finish.

"Right, I would be too, because that sounds kinda lame." Jocelyn says, and I nod.

"Well, it was nice hearing about everyone's June!" AG says.

"It was!" Maxine says. "I missed you guys."

Knock! Knock!

"It's Emmerlyn and Annalyse!" Emmerlyn says and opens the door.

"Hey!" We say.

"Hey! I just wanted to let you know that the dinner meeting is in fifteen minutes. If all of you are ready, you can follow me to the dining room. There's no need to dress up. The simple dresses that you all are wearing are perfect, since it's a casual dinner tonight."

"I think we are ready!" Kayla says. She looks at each of us, and we all nod.

"Alright! Follow me!" Emmerlyn says, and we walk out the doors.