Flunked: Chapters 5–10

She hands me a heavy stack of papers. The Fairy Tale Reform School insignia is embossed on the top one.

She hands me a heavy stack of papers. The Fairy Tale Reform School insignia is embossed on the top one.

“How about Tara? Her roommate will be in the infirmary all semester because that illegal spell she cast went awry.”

“How about Tara? Her roommate will be in the infirmary all semester because that illegal spell she cast went awry.”

Flora fiddles with the large brooch on her tailored dress and stares at me doubtfully.

Some say Harlow still dabbles in witchcraft, but Flora says that’s nonsense.

“If it weren’t for your new roomie here, I’d be doing the waltz this afternoon with Madame Crazy. Thankfully, this one can spin a good yarn.” Jax high-fives me, and I blush. No one usually compliments me on my lying skills, even if they are stellar.

I’ve only practiced fencing with our fireplace poker, but Mother said I have a knack.

Almost every student dutifully brought the Evil Queen a bright red or green apple that looks as if it has been polished with shoe lacquer.

The Evil Queen’s hand slips, and lotion gets all over the bodice of her dress.

“I’m not canceling classes for a paint session!” Harlow says incredulously. “They’ll have to paint around us!”

“You’ve got an hour til the Royal Ladies-in-Waiting Club comes for their afternoon fly over the princesses’ castle.” Double eww. I read about this school club. Their sole purpose is to dote on the princesses.

The black-and-white-speckled hair and prim clothes definitely remind me of the woman I met yesterday.

Underneath the purple calligraphy and hearts, castles, and flowers that adorn every headline on Happily Ever After Scrolls is a much darker story.

Strengths: Lightning fast on two or four feet, keen sense of smell, bronze medal in the Enchantasia Olympics for long jump

“I went canoeing down Quarry Cannon,” says a gnome in a pointy hat that has funny fake ogre ears glued to the sides.

Wolfington straightens Helmut’s hat on the way out. “Good luck, Helmut. So, anchors. I mean figurative ones, Ollie.”

Somehow, I don’t think you can pull one over on the wolf man like you can on mousy Professor Grimes from our recent assembly, “Your Life, Your Career in Enchantasia: How to Find a Noble Profession That Is Legal.”

“Interesting sentiment, Mr. Jax.” Professor Wolfington strokes his beard.

Some friends I’ve made, leaving me to fend for myself in this empty room.

“Zeus, geez! Chill!” Azalea reprimands the troll.

It’s hot, and I’m starting to feel claustrophobic.

I’ve done a lot of things to pull off a job before. Crawling through an air vent is not one of them. I’m about to whisper just that when Jax stops near a large shaft of light above his head.

The gargoyle’s face is so close I can smell its rancid breath.

“Yes, Headmistress Flora,” Jax and I say dejectedly.