A New Journey (Part 2)

Finally, part two is out! Sorry for the delay. This part is packed with adventure (kind of), crazy opportunities, and… a new friend, maybe? Read it all to find out!

“Okay, Clara,” Samantha said. “Where are we going to hang out?”

Clara laughed. “We’re going to the new food stall that opened. Heads up, it may be bad for the coffee shop you work at,” she said.

“Whatever,” Sam smiled. She walked up to the man at the stall. “Um… we’ll have some lemonade with a side of… spinach salad, I guess.”

“Yes ma’am,” said the vendor and started cooking. 

Of course, life is not all rainbows, unicorns, and perfection. So, they saw… Jack. He had just returned from a battle. They could tell by his tattered clothes. 

“Hello, freaks,” he said. “What’cha doing?”

“Waiting for our food,” Clara answered.

That afternoon, Clara and Sam happily gulped down their lunch. When it was time to go home, Clara wanted to pay Jack a surprise visit at his secret lair, which isn’t that secret. 

She burst open the door. “Hey Jack,” she sighed.

Jack looked up, shocked. “What do you want?”

“I need your help. Will you?” 

Jack started laughing. “Of course not!”

“Please. It’s an opportunity for you.”

“Oh, really?” Jack said, curious. “Fine, then. Tell me.”

Clara cleared her throat. “I… um, I need help stealing the… pink crystal… and I’ll become queen… and, er, you’ll become king…” she stammered. 

Jack grunted. “Sit,” he said. “Let’s sketch a plan.”

They spent the entire evening planning.

“Okay,” he said. “Here’s what we’ll do. First, we need to take two things from the Forest Fairies: an artificial noisemaker and a magic bubble. Then, we’ll arrest ourselves next time someone is accused of a crime. You getting this so far?”

“Yes,” Clara nodded. “And after that, we’ll use the noisemaker to make the sound of a bomb. While everyone gets distracted, we can quickly take the Forest Fairies’ time machine. We’ll go to the hiding place of the Pink Crystal: in the Crystal Cave. We’ll then take it, and go back in time right before we turned ourselves in. Then, we will quickly rush to the Blue Cove and place the pink crystal in the pedstal.”

Jack grinned. “I didn’t think you were this smart,” he teased.

“Well then,” said Clara. “Now you do.”

“It wasn’t supposed to be a compliment,” he replied. “You’re still not that smart.” He paused and sighed. “Meet me here at five tomorrow, okay?”

“Yes,” Clara said. She knew this was also an opportunity to become his friend. “Do… do you want to go to the coffee shop with me? Maybe we can eat a donut or something.”

Jack nodded. “All right,” he said, “but I only have thirty minutes.”

They walked outside. Jack’s lair was in such a steep mountain that it was almost impossible to walk without slipping. Clara held Jack’s hand to keep her balance. Soon, they made it down and ran to the coffee shop.

When they walked in, Sam gasped so that the whole shop could hear her. She was staring at Jack and Clara. “You’re dreaming,” she whispered to herself. That’s when Jack and Clara remembered they were still holding hands. Clara’s cheeks turned rosy red as she slowly put her hand into her pocket. Jack was embarrassed, too. But was Clara feeling the same… or did her cheeks turn red because of… another feeling?

They sat down and Clara went over to Sam. “Can-can we please have a cranberry donut each, please?” she stammered.

“What? Are you crazy? Why are you sitting with him? He’s your enemy, remember?”

“I know… but he was nice to me.”

“WHAT?” Sam yelled. Some people shot her nasty looks. “Oh, sorry,” she said and quieted down. “Um… he’s not your friend, is he? Or, even worse, your boyfriend?” 

“What the-” Clara said. “No way! I mean, maybe we could be friends, but still. That’s not happening anytime soon, I’m sure.”

Sam nodded and walked to the kitchen to make the donuts. Clara went to sit down. Jack smiled, “So, Miss Clara,” he said. “What did you get me?”

Clara laughed. No one has ever called her ‘Miss Clara.’ “Cranberry donuts,” she said.

“Yum,” Jack said, licking his lips. “What a treat. Just like… the crystal.”

“Jack,” Clara snapped. “Don’t tell anyone about it! Everybody can hear you.”

“Don’t worry, Clara,” Jack said, then let out an evil laugh. “We’re going to get that crystal. Oh yes, we are.”