Christmas break came surprisingly quickly. During that time, Hailey, Isaac, and their dad worked on trying to rebuild the fairy's home. On Christmas Eve, they went over and visited Hailey's dad's parents and spent the night there with the other cousins, all of them heading to bed after watching The Nightmare Before Christmas. Hailey had her own little room all to herself--which meant Isaac was obviously there too--while the others slept in the living room or in other rooms. Isaac slept in a fuzzy Christmas sock, resting his head on a folded up washcloth. Hailey made sure he was comfy, putting a small pillow under the sock like a mattress. In the morning, they opened presents and ate the cookies Santa didn't finish.

Hailey was munching on a red cookie in the shape of a bell when she noticed all the adults standing in the kitchen, talking in hushed, frantic voices. Curious, she quietly stepped into the room, Isaac in her pocket as always.

She picked up the conversation from her aunt Cassidy as she said, "... and the entire thing's been on reruns or updates on the news for the past few days."

"Yeah," agreed her uncle Jesse, "I'm still surprised it's been up for this long. And to think that that kid is from Hailey's school!"

"That's crazy!" Hailey's dad exclaimed. "Who'd they say that kid was again?"

"Argon Clantnie, I think." Shrugged her grandpa.

"What's going on?" Hailey asked, making all the adults turn their heads.

"You don't know?" Asked her grandma. "A kid from your school named Argon Clantnie ran away from home, sweetheart."

Hailey gaped.

"But that's not all!" Said uncle Jesse. "He started a high-speed chase with the cops on foot on the highway, and then got caught around four hours later. When he got caught, he was acting like a wild animal, growling and bitting and hissing... It was insane!"

"Here, I've got the video." Her grandma said, handing Hailey her phone. She watched the news clip of Argon, the person she asked about fairies, jumping over cars and helicopters on the highway at speeds a cheetah would envy. It said at the time of the clip that he was in Texas.

"Whoa..." Was all she could say when it was over.

"How did you not know about this?" Her uncle Michael questioned.

"I dunno." She shrugged. "I mean, I knew Rachel and Anden and all their friends were upset over something, and Argon wasn't at school for awhile, but I didn't know it was because of that. I guess that would explain a lot, then."

"I still think he's a freak." Said aunt Mandy. She crossed her arms and scowled slightly. "That's not natural, and if it were up to me, he wouldn't be allowed to go back into that school."

"Why?" Hailey's dad gave her a questioning look.

"You saw how strong that kid is! Even when he's exhausted, he can outrun cars on the highway! Just imagine how dangerous he could be to the children!"

"But I know him, and he's a sweet guy!" Protested the girl. "He's never really hurt anyone, and he's never talked about doing anything harmful to anyone. He's super nice!"

"What if that's just a cover-up for something?"

Hailey sighed dramatically. "No, it's not. He wouldn't hurt a fly."

"I still don't believe it."

"Well," her grandpa said, "at least we know that he's back with his family and he's happy and safe again."

"Yeah," agreed her grandma. "He's right. Everything will be okay."

*〰✳〰*

"You okay, big guy?" Hailey asked.

Winter break had ended, and everyone was on edge. Argon had come back to school, but was being messed with all day. Usually, he was a beacon of glee, but right now, he looked completely miserable. They were at lunch now, and Hailey and her friends were sitting with Argon and his group, trying to cheer him up in any way they could.

Argon looked up at her. He was slouched over, his arms folded as he rested his head in the center of them. One of his arms was covering his mouth, but she could see his cheeks lift as if he smiled.

"I'm just tired. Really." He said in a hopeful voice, as if he were praying that they'd buy what he was selling.

"You're lying." Chastised Rachel, who sat by his side.

"Maybe," he shrugged, staring at the food he hadn't touched since he got it. "But it's fine, don't worry about it."

"It's not that bad," Hunter, another one of their friends, tried. "Now if anyone wants to mess with you, all you gotta do is hold up a fist and then they'll take off running."

Anden laughed. "Shut up, you Chinese weirdo!"

"I'll have you know I'm sixty-two percent Asian, thank you very much!" Hunter was grinning wide.

No one took the comment as offensive. It was simply just one of their inside jokes.

Argon shrugged again. "Maybe..."

Isaac began to wiggle around in Hailey's pocket, then his little head poked out of it. Panicked, Hailey tried to hide him by covering her hand over her pocket, but Isaac slipped through her fingers, and then jumping onto the table. Isaac glanced nervously at everyone who was staring at him, seeing what they'd do before he continued doing whatever he was thinking about.

At first, Hailey had lost her words from the shock of him doing something like that, but when she gained control of herself again, she whisper-shouted, "Isaac, come back here," as she gave him a sharp look.

The wee folk looked back at her, a twinkle in his eye, before he began to walk backwards towards Argon. He remained eye contact with her as he disobeyed her, almost like her were saying, "What are you gonna do about it?"

"Isaac!" Hailey tried to pick him up, but he dodged her and darted across the table to the on looking boy who was having the worst day possible. He didn't seem remotely surprised or even taken aback.

Hailey, Ava and Justin tensed as Isaac slowed to a stop in front of Argon, staring up at him. The boy simply stared back, slight curiosity in his features. Then Isaac reached up his tiny arm and patted Argon's nose.

"It's okay!" Isaac chirped. "People are idiots."

Argon's cheeks rose again. "Yes, I know, fairy. They are idiots."

Isaac smirked and put his little hands on his hips, looking proud of himself. "Yeah..."

Leo, yet another one of their friends, asked, "Where are your wings?"

Isaac turned to him. "Born without 'em."

"Sorry about Isaac," Hailey apologized quickly, embarrassed, "he needs to learn some manners." The last word she said was harsh, and she gave him a face that said, "You're in so much trouble when we get home."

Isaac seemed to get a bit of a kick out of that. "Yes I do, Hailey. Yes. I. Do."

He finally walked back to Hailey, letting her pick him up and place him in the safety of her pocket. He poked his head out of the pocket again to see.

"I'm surprised you guys didn't freak out," admitted Hailey, giving Isaac a blueberry from her lunch. "Justin, Ava and my dad did when they met Isaac."

To Hailey and her friends' surprise, Runora--Argon's falcon--said to everyone, "Don't worry, we're used to weird stuff."

"She can talk?!" Justin blurted. Hailey and Ava were gaping, while Isaac continued to eat his blueberry.

"Yep." Everyone agreed, as if it were the most normal thing in their lives.

"That's not all I can do." Said Runora, letting a puff of smoke escape her beak.

Isaac giggled psychoticaly. "Fire! Yes! Burn them all! I dare you! Do it!"

"Nah, I kinda like them. I think I'll keep them around a little longer."

"Awe..."

"Sorry."

As Isaac happily ate his blueberry, the groups exchanged questions and answers from each other. Hailey's group mainly asked Runora and Argon questions, and the other group usually asked Hailey and Isaac questions, but it was actually kinda fun answering the questions and finding out more about her friends. When the bell rang, the questions and answers ceased, and they all went to their next classes.

... Enough of this light-hearted nonsense, let's get back to the real story.