Hailey was at her dad's wrestling arena, tapping her foot impatiently. She needed to see her friend and make sure he was okay. Plus, she needed to stop by Hobby Lobby to get some supplies for Isaac. She would have to teach him a lot in order to get him caught up with the world and it's events. Although, not too much. She didn't want him to lose his faith in humanity even more. Hailey had been spacing out, staring at the place where she had found Isaac, when Ross--her dad's coach, if you recall--shouted for a five minute break. Instead of going to his office, like usual, Sam climbed up the stairs and went to Hailey.

"Hi, Hailey! We haven't talked in awhile, huh?" He beamed.

"Hm? Oh, nah, not really." Hailey grinned back, not suspecting anything out of the ordinary.

"How's it been?"

"Not bad. You?"

"Not bad, either." He leaned against one of the chairs casually. He wore jeans and a logoed T-shirt, his dark brown--almost black--hair shiny from the lights. He had brown eyes, and had a birthmark or mole on his left cheek. His smile never wavered. "I got a promotion at my second job, so I'd say I'm doing pretty great."

"Oh, that's good! I'm happy for you."

"Why thank you." He sat on the chair's arm. "Listen, Hailey. I've got something rather strange to ask you." He chuckled when he said the word 'rather'.

"What... kind of strange?"

"You know that little creature that lived in the hallway over there?" He pointed to where she had found the fairy.

Hailey swallowed as her stomach dropped to the floor. "N-No."

"Haha! Hailey, Hailey, Hailey... Don't lie to me. I watched you go in there the other day. After that, I haven't seen the creature since. So I was wondering: what did you do with him?"

"Nothing. I have no idea what you're talking about." She flushed. Why does Ross want to know about Isaac?! Everything Isaac had ever told me never mentioned him! Then again... he didn't tell me much...

"You know, it's kinda funny," he chuckled, "how people can keep lying even though they know they've been discovered." He became serious, his smile wiping off his face, and then almost angry. "Now tell me everything you know about this little goblin-thing."

She glared back at him. After refusing an answer, Ross snapped and slammed his foot against the ground.

"Tell me, God damn it!" He barked, fire in his eyes.

Hailey jumped, and Ross recollected himself quickly, laughing pleasantly.

"Sorry, I kind of have a short fuse. Like your new friend, I suppose... Here, let me ask a few simple questions, first: what's his name?"

"I'm not telling you anything." Hailey glared. "I don't even know what you're talking about."

He tisked. "Come, now. Let's not be so feisty, eh? How old is he?"

Her lips were sealed.

"... Okay. Does he have a favorite color?"

Not a peep.

"Hmm... What about food, what's his favorite?"

Zilch.

"You know, I have a funny story for this. The first few weeks I knew he was here, I would try to find something he would eat and stick it under the vending machines. He lived in them, F.Y.I.. Clever rascal. I noticed he was attracted to sweet things, such as candy and soda, and sometimes when people bought food or drinks, they'd be surprised that it was empty. Naturally I left a trail of M&M's to a trap under that machine so that I could--well, I suppose you're not interested in my ways of getting rid of this particular pest. But, anyway, the scamp had broken the trap! Can you believe that?"

She crossed her arms.

He nodded. "Well, when I checked the trap, he had left me baffled! How could he brake a steel trap? Then, from inside the vending machine, I could hear a little voice cursing at me and laughing at my failed efforts... He's such an annoying, adorable punk, isn't he?"

She frowned.

"Ah, well..." Ross looked at his feet, then stood up. "Just take care of that little prick, for now. This is our little secret, you hear?" He held up a finger to his lips, smiling, then walked down the stairs and disappeared.

When practice was over, they drove home, the ride being really quiet. Usually, her mom would have sparked up a conversation, but ever since she... no one's talked during a car ride ever since. It stung, like a million wasps striking at her heart, but she covered it up with the silence. When they got home, Hailey zoomed upstairs, her dad watching her go.

"Isaac!" She swung open the door.

"Yes, lass?" He was in her rug, walking around as if it were some massive grasslands. Ever since he was on his good side, she had let him wander around when she was away, locking the door so Roscoe couldn't enter. "Did you get the shtuff we need for the thing-a-ma-bob?"

Hailey blanked, then slapped her forehead. "That's what I was forgetting!"

He smiled. "It's alright! Maybe next time?" He waddled out of the rug. "So what's up?"

"Something major!" She closed the door and knelt before Isaac. "Someone knows I'm taking care of you."

His eyes widened. "Oh, this is bad! Who is it? Tell me, tell me, tell me!"

"You probably won't know him by name, but his name's Ross. He's got dark, dark brown hair, brown eyes, mole-thing on his left cheek..."

"Oh, him! That guy from the Arena?" He climbed onto her hand.

"Yes, him. He knows I'm taking care of you."

"What did he say? How do you know?"

She stood. "He just came over to me when I was there and started making smalltalk. 'How are you?', 'How's it going?', blah blah blah. Then he asked if I knew about you."

"Well, what did you say?"

"I said no, of course. But he just kept going! When I didn't say anything, he lost his temper a little."

"How?" He was glaring now, clearly agitated, and his voice had gone down an octave or two.

"He slammed his foot on the ground and told me to tell him. He tried to play it cool after that, obviously."

Isaac huffed. "Oohoohoo! He is neck deep into trouble with me! Messin' with me girl... Mm-mm! Nope! I tell ya what, Ima beat the shite out of him for ya, boo."

She laughed at his sudden sassy southern behavior mixed in with his Irishness.

"I'm serious! He thinks he's the dog's ballex or somethin', but nu-huh. He isn't that suave with anyone!"

"I hardly ever talk to him..." She shrugged. "How would I know?"

"Hailey, please, when you go to the Arena with your daddy, be careful, alright? I don't want that man to hurt you." His tone had become gentle, and he sounded genuinely sincere.

"Alright. I promise."

He frowned, seeming sad in a way.

"Right, you don't believe in promises. I forgot. I'll be careful, okay? Don't worry."

"There's nothing in the world that will make me stop worrying about you. So, I can't not worry." He smiled lightly. "However, I'll take your word for it."

And so it begins...