"Welcome! We shall now commence tonight's ceremony," Maebel hollers not really to me, but the crowd of other faeries watching.

The pairs are already lined up waiting for their numbers to be called by one of the Jesters. At my end of the line stands Kaden. He's Crantz's younger brother, a much louder and obnoxious version of Crantz that is. Numbers begin to get called and the line gets shorter and shorter. The newly paired wait at the maypole for us all to finish getting paired.

"One hundred fifty-two..." Mavice calls out.

Nate steps forward snuffing out the tiny fraction of hope I had. However, his parents hold up their hands signaling their rejection of him. 

A pink-haired faery girl steps up next to him and I glance sideways at Kaden knowing he'll be my pair because everyone else has already been paired off.

"One hundred ninety-nine and one hundred eighty-seven, please come forward," Mavice calls out next. 

Kaden steps forward.

I remain in my place counting on my 'guardian' to speak up for me. However, I don't hear him speaking out against my would-be pair and my blood boils. I look up from the ground glaring over at my brother who seems content by Kaden being my pair. After all, Crantz is one of his closest friends and also happens to be sitting right beside him looking proud of his brother.

Our seed count doesn't match, but that isn't too unusual. Normally when this happens they just pair the individuals with numbers closest to each other or whoever ends up being left.

Finally, my brother stands up, but instead of backing my rejection of Kaden he starts clapping for the two of us. I don't have a choice now, I guess I never did. Just wanting the day to end, I step forward feeling Kaden's hand clutch my own. We walk together over to the maypole while I start counting down the hours until I'm forced to move in with this stranger.

"Why aren't you smiling?" Kaden asks me with concern. 

I look up at him unsure of his true feelings for me.

He seems sincere, but I don't have the energy to explain to him how I basically want to run away from him this very moment so I remain silent and force a smile. Nate rejected his pair earlier and is still arguing over it with his pair's parents. He's lucky his family is so supportive. The other newly paired couples have already flocked to their families and intermingle.

Kaden's family approaches us with my brother striding up alongside Crantz. Frittle and Ivan make their way over to us too, but one of the Jesters pulls them to the side. I can't even manage the courage to look my best friend in the eye. Can I really even call her my best friend when I've avoided telling her about my true feelings about this place? Nate is the only one here who I've really confided in and now because of Shurik I've let him down. Shurik could have at least spoke up for me and gave me a chance to be with Nate.

Since Crantz is one of his many buddies he just couldn't have that.

Kaden turns to his family. "She's kind of cute, you know, like a little cup of pudding. Who knew we would be meant to be?" 

I don't really know whether he really believes what he says or if he's trying to convince himself or his family by saying it.

Kaden's family is polite, but most of them I think were expecting him to be with someone more compatible. Probably a taller faery woman who would be nearer to him in height and stamina. Crantz's family is famous for making their strawberry bread which is why Shurik probably thought I would be delighted to know Crantz actually enjoyed my version of it the other day.

Kaden's really not that much taller than me though. I think he may have even matured a little since I last saw him which would have been years ago. Once we started working, I grew apart from other fae my age except for the few who live around my food stand like Frittle and Nate.

Maybe Shurik knew Kaden would be my pair all along and thought I wouldn't mind. Well, I certainly still do mind even if Kaden doesn't seem that bad to live with.

"Shurik, I've never seen you so at a loss for words! Come, let's celebrate!" Crantz yells.

Kaden swings our clasped hands back and forth. "That's because I'm taking his little sister away. He'll finally be forced to move on. I'm sure she was a handful," Kaden says loudly.

I roll my eyes hating how they speak like I'm not even here.

I march away from my pair hearing the sound of my brother laughing. My face reddens and my heart races feeling like I'm trapped in some nightmare. A hand grips my shoulder tightly and I turn around finding my new pair looking not so happy anymore.

"Where are you going? Are you seriously leaving when I've accepted you?" Kaden asks me in a peeved voice.

He squeezes my shoulder tighter and I cower away from him seeing something menacing cross his face.

Nate comes up to us and Kaden finally withdraws his hand.

"Well, congrats. I didn't think Shurik would let you go so soon. No offense...?" Nate draws out while watching Kaden.

"Kaden and none taken. I'm sure Shurik already has someone in mind to settle down with. By the way, did you know Marvin selected him to be Jester in his place?" 

Nate holds his chin tilting his head to the side. "No. Could I have a moment with Sadie?"

Kaden nods his head and then quickly vanishes into the crowd.

"It's good Shurik didn't argue against it. Kaden doesn't love you so he'll eventually let you go," Nate says in a detached voice.

I laugh a little. "Way to put it lightly. Want to get out of here?" I ask him with hope.

"You bet I do."

We start to head for the gap in the tent of the market square leading out onto the rest of the fairgrounds. I spot Frittle standing a ways away by a cookie vendor with Ivan. I'll have to talk to her later because I have a feeling if I stay more trouble will result. Nate and I fly across the fair all the way back over to our own tents. We decide to hang out in mine and talk about the day. I sit on the edge my bed. Nate paces back and forth, our conversation already turning to escaping this place.

I don't know how long it's been since we left the market square, but I'm very tired and the lights above me start to glow. It must be late evening already. I rather not fly around at night, but we may not get another chance.

I glance at the wall of the tent on my side of the room. It's already stitched so fine I can barely tell I cut it open. Shurik must have asked one of his friends to fix it. Tonight will be my last night here. I don't see my scissors anywhere. I wonder if my brother hid them.

The sound of voices comes from overhead.

I hug my arms imagining being found here by Kaden or my brother. I can hear at least five different people talking. Their loud hearty laughter makes me shudder when I think about what may come being seen here with Nate.

"We should talk with them. We could get them to understand," Nate tells me.

I don't know how he can be so calm though. It's considered a disgrace to be abandoned by your pair especially before the ceremony even concludes. After tonight though, both Kaden and my brother let me down. So let them be mad for leaving the pairing party early for all I care. I'll be leaving them both behind for the same reason.

I'm so glad Nate rejected his pair, but that has consequences too and I'm not sure yet about how I really feel about him. I've always considered us as friends. At the same time, I'm kind of wishing he doesn't want to be anything more. I don't think I'm ready for a pair yet or sprout. I don't know if I can really think any more about it right now though because it sounds like the guys are already coming inside the kitchen.

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