Once I was certain Kindle was asleep, I slipped off the bed and retrieved my pajamas from the dresser. As I worked the zipper of my gown open, I realized my hands were shaking. It makes sense, I noted, a lot has happened tonight. I pulled my pajamas on, heaving a sigh. The dress was beautiful, sure, but it was so heavy. After that many hours of wearing it, it became extremely uncomfortable.

I climbed back into the bed, sitting silently. When I'd first returned from the ball, I'd wanted nothing more than to curl up under the blankets and sleep. Now sleep was an impossibility. I sat on my side of the bed with my knees pulled close to my chest as I watched the uneven rise and fall of Kindle's breaths as he slept. He was in pain; probably having horrible nightmares. I reached out a still-shaking hand and carefully pushed Kindle's hair out of his eyes. His eyebrows were furrowed; he was frowning in his sleep.

"One kiss does not give you the right to be a creep, you know."

I jumped, shooting a glare at Carlyle, who had materialized in the chair on the other side of the room. "You were watching?" I asked, my face heating up.

Carlyle smiled slyly. "No, I just had a suspicion," He chuckled, "Thanks for confirming it."

"Being irritating is your only source of amusement, isn't it?"

"Of course not," Carlyle replied, sounding offended. "I also enjoy relaxing with a good book, but alas I no longer have the ability to turn a page." He wiggled his pale fingers at me.

I rolled my eyes at him before looking back at Kindle again, falling silent. "What does it give me then?" I asked after a moment, replying to Carlyle's original remark. "Or does nothing change?"

Carlyle shrugged, "That depends on you, Maggie. Do you want it to change?"

I bit my lip, shaking my head. "I don't know. Yes, I think. I just..." I trailed off for a moment and ran a hand through my curls. They were more like waves now, most of Serpina's work having faded. "I can't, I'm not even sure how to word it, date? Kindle and I... there's no way we can be together, I can't stay in this world, and I'm sure Kindle knows that."

Carlyle nodded thoughtfully, "I think he does. I also think he wants you to go back to your world, it would be safer for you there."

"Then why is he making me so unsure?" I sighed, falling back on the pillows with my eyes closed. "When I first got here, all I wanted was to go home. Now... I think it will hurt just as much leaving as it would staying, maybe even more."

"Are you sure Kindle's really to blame for that?" Carlyle asked.

I shook my head, my eyes stinging. "No, it's also you. And Faye, and Serpina, and now Cas." I rolled onto my side so that I could see Carlyle. "I'm going to lose more than I'll be getting back when I leave here." All I had waiting for me was Elle and her parents. Jackie and Magnus certainly wouldn't care one way or another if I came back. And at school, I really only talked to three or four people— not including Elle— on a regular basis. "I'm so scared that when the time comes for me to go back to my realm, I won't be able to."

"You've already decided that you're going back."

I nodded.

Carlyle shrugged, "Well then there's nothing you can do but make the best of your time here, is there? And how you go about doing that is entirely up to you."

I smiled wryly. "You should be a therapist, you know that?"

"Eh, I don't know." Carlyle sighed, "seems like it would get depressing after a while."

"Good point," I laughed, but the laugh turned into a yawn.

"You really should get to sleep, Maggie. You've had a long evening," Carlyle pointed out.

"What time is it, anyway?" I asked.

"Last time I passed a clock it was nearly half-past three AM," Carlyle informed me. Oh wow, I really did need to get some sleep. This was the latest I'd ever stayed up in my month here.

"Alright, goodnight Carlyle." I smiled, closing my eyes.

~*~

When I awoke the next morning, Kindle wasn't there. I was filled with a brief moment of anxiety. Where did he go? Usually if he had a job to do for Seraphim, he would tell me before he left. And I highly doubted he would go anywhere Seraphim wanted today, not after what happened last night. Not willingly, anyway, my mind added.

What if Seraphim took him? What if Kindle's going to be executed for threatening both the king and the queen? What if... In a panic, I leapt out of bed. My feet were tangled in the sheets, so what was meant to be a graceful but quick jump to the floor turned into what I imagine it would look like if a mermaid tried to walk on land with her tail instead of legs. I hit the ground with a thud and a squeal.

At that moment, Kindle opened the door, whistling casually. He was holding two bowls, a carton of milk, and he had a box of Casimir Candy Crisps under his arm. He froze in the doorway, staring at me with raised eyebrows but an otherwise expressionless face.

I blinked up at him from my spot on the floor.

"I was gone for ten minutes, Blondie. Ten. And I'm pretty sure you were asleep for at least the first six." The corner of Kindle's mouth twitched as he spoke. "How is it that in the remaining four of those minutes you managed to get yourself in this..." He gestured to the tangle of blankets that hung half off the bed, the rest of which were bound awkwardly around my legs. "situation?"

"Pure talent," I replied simply.

"Clearly," Kindle stated calmly, though his face was red. He was obviously trying hard not to laugh. "Anyway, let's get you out of there so we can eat. I decided to change it up today, so we're eating in here." He set the bowls, cereal, and milk on the dresser before walking over to me and extending a hand.

I kicked myself free of the sheets as he pulled me up off the ground. "Thanks," I replied, looking up at him. I froze, and so did Kindle. We were standing so close. "When I wake up, I think we need a redo of that kiss." Kindle's words repeated in my thoughts.

Kindle released my hand and moved his arms around me, leaning slowly towards me.

Blushing deeply, I averted my eyes, catching sight of the cereal on the dresser. "Wow, I'm hungry!" I announced, unwinding myself from his grasp and hurrying over to the dresser. Smooth, Mags. Real smooth. I blushed even deeper and bit my lip, worried that I may have hurt his feelings.

I wasn't rejecting him, I just... wanted to think more. I really really wanted to kiss him again, but I was still so worried about my inevitable departure. Carlyle said to enjoy my time here while I could, but I still wasn't sure if I wanted to do that to Kindle. Or if he would even want to be with me knowing that I'll leave.

Thankfully, Kindle didn't seem hurt. But I didn't fool him either. "You know you can just talk to me, right? You don't have to run to the cereal for protection."

I nodded silently, pouring each of us a bowl. I walked over to the bed and sat down, holding Kindle's bowl out to him.

He sat down next to me and took the bowl, pulling two spoons out of his pocket.

After what felt like an eternity of silence, I finally spoke up. "I um... Yesterday." I stammered nervously, "When we were talking during breakfast I said something stupid and..."

Kindle shook his head. "It's fine. You have a right to feel how you want about me, I overreacted."

"No, Kindle, what I'm trying to say is that I didn't say what I really wanted to and now--"

Kindle interrupted, "It's fine, really. If you only want us to be friends I get it..."

"Kindle—"

"I kissed you yesterday to take the venom, and I wouldn't be hurt if you said that was your only reason for wanting to kiss me."

"Kindle," I repeated. Was he rambling?

He continued, speaking quickly. "I am completely capable of just being friends. In fact, I'd prefer that to whatever you would call our uncomfortable silence during the carriage ride to the ball. And..."

With an exasperated sigh I turned on the bed so that I was facing him and quickly pressed my lips against his. After a moment, I pulled back to look at him. "Stop talking," I said pointedly.

Kindle blinked. "I'm not so sure I want to if that's your method of shutting me up."

"I was trying to tell you that what I said yesterday during breakfast was stupid and not at all correct. What I really wanted to say is that you're not a good friend. Well, you are, but I don't want you to be." Oh great, now I was the one rambling. I was beginning to remember why exactly I hadn't had a boyfriend since 8th grade.

Kindle furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "So you're saying you don't want to be friends?"

"No!" I shook my head furiously, "I mean, yes, but no! I want... um well... I..." What did I want? I could say that I wanted him to be my boyfriend, but that word didn't feel accurate. I couldn't even really say I wanted us to be a couple, because sooner or later I would have to leave. With a heavy sigh, I rushed out the words "I want... us. If that makes sense. I just..." I looked up at Kindle with a pained expression, "I can't do the romance thing, if you haven't noticed."

"Oh I've noticed," Kindle laughed. He took the cereal bowl from my hands and set it along with his on the floor, before straightening up and cupping my face in his hands. "And I want us too, Maggie," He said. It was only the second time ever that he'd called me by my real name and for some reason that gave it more meaning.

This time when Kindle moved in to kiss me, I didn't pull away. In fact, I leaned closer and brought my lips to his. I could get used to this, I thought as I scooted myself closer to him, and for right now, that's okay.

After a moment— or maybe longer I may have lost –Kindle drew himself away. "While this is great, and really it is, we should probably start your training."

"Training?" I asked, "You already taught me how to dance..."

"And next week you'll be going to a banquet. While no dancing is required, you will have to learn exactly what for to use for each course, and you'll also need to learn how to converse."

"I can converse just fine!" I announced defensively, putting my hands on my hips.

Kindle raised an eyebrow at me and I deflated.

"Alright, fine, teach me to talk better," I mumbled.

"That should be an easy enough lesson," Kindle shrugged, "we just have to carry on a conversation. For starters, what's your favorite color?"

"No no no," I shook my head, "We are not playing the Twilight get-to-know-each-other game."

"What?" Kindle asked.

"Twilight. A book everyone was obsessed with when I was in elementary school." I waved it off, "Basically, the author felt like dumping a bunch of useless character facts on us and she did it in the form of the two main characters asking..." I sighed, "you know what? This is pointless, let's just move on."

"Okay?" Kindle replied, obviously confused. I wondered what kind of books they had here in the Shadow Realm. "Let's keep you in character as Jacintha then." He stood from the bed and bowed gracefully to me. "Welcome, Lady Jacintha. I trust your ride to Lumina was a comfortable one?" Kindle was actually really good at playing the role of a prince.

I stood as well and curtsied, holding the sides of an imaginary skirt. "Indeed it would have been, if not for the annoying person riding with me." I said, smiling.

Kindle dropped his façade to roll his eyes at me. "Haha, very funny, Blondie. Be serious, please."

"Yes sir," I saluted him, before straightening up and continuing.

We went back and forth for nearly an hour, carrying on small-talk as Kindle impersonated Cas, until I once again derailed the conversation.

"Why did you have the fridge open?" I mused, thinking out loud.

"I'm sorry, what?" Kindle blinked, caught off guard by the sudden change in topic.

"Back when you first took me form Elle's house," I continued. "I heard a noise downstairs, which I assume was you coming into the house, and when I went into the kitchen the refrigerator was open. I thought it was Elle's cat that opened it, but you announced that it was you."

Kindle scratched his head, "Why were you thinking of that?"

I shrugged, "Just thinking of how you went from being my least favorite person to my favorite in the course of a month."

Kindle smiled slyly and nudged my shoulder, "Aw, I'm your favorite person? That's cute, Blondie."

"Oh hush, don't avoid the question." I said, nudging him back. "Why were you snooping in Elle's fridge?"

"This is going to sound really stupid," Kindle laughed nervously, "you know how Faye is horrible at remembering to buy groceries?"

I nodded, "Yeah, she only went once the whole time I've been here."

"Well, I um..." Kindle mumbled, "I was planning to steal their milk."

I burst into a fit of laughter, clamping a hand over my mouth to hold it back. "Wow," I said after a moment, my eyes watering. "That's pretty low, Kindle. Kidnapping girls is one thing, but stealing milk... I'm shocked and appalled."

Kindle's lips quirked upward a bit. "The only thing that stopped me was that their milk was that awkward soy junk."

I nodded, still laughing slightly. "That's why I only drink soda or juice when I'm there."

"I'm coming in, be clothed!" Carlyle shouted, appearing in his usual spot by the chair.

"I know being dead for five years may have messed with your mind, but for the millionth time, we will always be clothed." I said slowly, articulating the words.

Carlyle shrugged, smiling cheerfully. "One can never be too careful now that you two are acknowledging your feelings."

"What do you want?" Kindle sighed.

Carlyle frowned, "Well apparently visiting my dear friends is not a valid reason."

"You 'visit' every day." Kindle replied with a roll of his eyes.

"Be that as it may," Carlyle defended. "I was just thinking you two should go kiss in front of Faye. She'd have a heart attack."

"One ghost is enough," Kindle said, but he offered me his hand anyway. "We should go see her though. She'll probably want to know what color dress you want for the dinner."

"Okay," I smiled, threading my fingers with his and allowing him to lead me out of the room.

Carlyle followed behind us. "I'm serious about the kiss thing though. I really want to see her reaction."

I shook my head, smiling. This was good. Nearly perfect, even— or at least as perfect as a day as a captive of the Abandoned Order can be— and I wanted it to last forever.

Because as I'd learned in my month here, happiness can only last for so long until something goes wrong.