Page 30 of Switched

Jax’s eyes spark with a look I don’t understand. “Where? When? How does he know it’s actually Anna? And what makes him think she’s changed her mind about being in the Stiltskin Squad? You keep forgetting she left you standing here crying while she jumped on his magic cooking ladle and flew out of here.”

I smart at the reminder. “Maybe she’s realized she was wrong to trust him. Jack said Anna tried to stop Stiltskin from imprisoning his mom.”

“And he just happens to know this girl was your sister?” Jax snorts. “How would he remember her name? He’s lying!”

“He’s not,” I say, flustered. “Why would he lie about that? I need to rescue her. Now.”

Jax doesn’t look moved at all. “So let me guess.” He folds his arms across his chest. “You’re going to bust out of school with your new best friend, Jack, on a hunch and attempt to save everyone even though I’ve told you it’s a bad idea because you have no idea where the troll is and what he’s capable of. Am I right?”

Now I fold my arms across my chest too. “No.” Jax looks at me as lightning lights up the alcove. “Okay, yes, but we haven’t figured out the details yet.”

“Gilly!” Jax throws his hands up. “This is a bad idea, and you know it. You have nothing to go on, and you’re trusting this total stranger. I won’t let you do this.”

“Won’t let me? Well, excuse me, Your Royal Highness.” Jax narrows his eyes at me. “But I didn’t ask the royal court’s permission. I’m my own person, and if I want to go after Anna with Jack, I will. You don’t control me.”

“I’m not trying to control you! I’m just saying that this is a fool’s errand, and you could screw things up for the whole investigation the royal court has going. My sister didn’t see me for years when I went undercover, but even now, she wouldn’t put FTRS before the needs of the whole kingdom.” He stares fiercely at me. “Something isn’t right with that kid. You are falling for his charade because he somehow knows Anna’s name. It makes me wonder whether I should even trust you anymore.”

I wince. Somehow our fight just went from kind of bad to really bad. “I’m not sure I trust you either.” People in the nearby hall stop and stare at us as I blink back hot tears.

“Fine!” Jax shouts over the thunder. “But you’re on your own! I’m not coming with you!”

“Fine!” I snap.

Jax is already walking toward a winding staircase that appears in front of where we’re standing. I watch the staircase till it disappears and wonder if my friendship with Jax just went along with it.

“Show’s over,” I say and push through the students who stopped to watch our fight.

I walk quickly to the library and bite back tears. How could I have forgotten about the whole Jax-being-separated-from-his-family-because-he-went-undercover thing? Even so, Jax doesn’t understand what I’m going through. He and Rapunzel are royals. The royal court would never have let them run off with a villain. Anna is a cobbler’s daughter and an FTRS dropout. Jack’s mom is a commoner. The royal court doesn’t care about them. The only ones who do are us.

I push open the library doors.

“Gilly!” Beauty says, greeting me warmly. “Back to do more research on your school project? Sebastian told me they’re due next week.”

Spoken like a true mother.

“Yes.” I try to hide the unhappiness in my voice. I glance up at the darkened top floor of the library and the atrium ceiling, which is almost pitch-black with the storm whipping up outside. “I had some time between classes, so I thought I’d look around.”

Beauty hugs the books she’s holding to her chest and smiles. “Wonderful! A rainy afternoon is the perfect time to cozy up in the library. I could read for hours in this weather. I’m sure Sebastian told you what we discussed,” she adds. “Under the circumstances, gaining an interview with Anna for your project is not possible, and it won’t affect your grade.” I feel momentarily hopeful again. “As for the rest of your family, since you haven’t gotten a weekend pass yet, you may have to interview them through Miri. We can send a mirror to their boot so you can converse. Isn’t that great?”

I know the princess went to bat for me, and I’m grateful. I just still can’t believe the Beast won’t let me go home for a weekend.

Beauty leads me to one of the magical librarian stations as a clap of thunder rattles the windows. “This is Helga.” She motions to the aging fairy with the white hair and the scowl. “She can help you find anything you need. Have fun!” Beauty delicately picks up the bottom of her skirt so it doesn’t trail and heads into a library stack.

“Thanks!” I say and approach Helga. The fairy is considerably older than Kayla’s family and her wings are a bit droopy—like her skin, which looks like a dried-up prune. She’s going to be tough to crack. “Hi there. My professor told me to find a book on”—I lower my voice so Beauty can’t hear me—“Rumpelstiltskin and his origin story. Could you help me find some titles?”

Helga purses her withered lips. “Rumpelstiltskin?” She lets his name hang there.

“Yes. It’s for a history assignment from Professor Wolfington,” I lie. “‘Knowing a villain is the best way not to become a villain,’ he always says.” I laugh nervously.

Helga wands the scroll in front of her, and a glittery list of books pops up. I strain to see the names, but she turns the scroll away so I can’t see.

“I’ve got one on Enchantasia history.” She lifts a large dark-green book titled A Kingdom United from below the counter. The front page flies open and a small weed begins to grow out of the pages. She taps her wand again quickly, and the weed disappears. “Forgot to disarm this book before I showed it to you.” She whispers a few words that I can’t quite make out. “There! Now you can take this one out and not have it growing in your dorm room. Enchantasia is famed for its ivy growing.”

“I didn’t know that.” I’m trying to make conversation. (I really didn’t know that.)

Helga shakes her head. “Fast-growing ivy is a nasty problem to have. A child last week almost got choked by her own book vines.” She goes to hand me the book, then takes it back. “Name?”

I smile again. “Gillian Cobbler.”