The Faire--Chapter Eight Posted

Chapter 2
The Faire, Chapter Two

Cassidy groaned in frustration.

When she left for university, her parents had assured her that her room would still be her room. The good news was, they were at least honest in regards to Audrey not moving in to enjoy the more spacious room for the rest of her high school career. The bad news was, her sacred space didn’t seem to have been given a lot of privacy in her absence. 

For starters, the room had been spotless when she returned home for summer break. Her bed was made, there was nothing on the floor, and apparently her closet had been rearranged and also used as storage for a number of mismatched boxes. It definitely wasn’t the way she left it when waking up early to fly out of state last fall. When she complained to her parents about it, however, they weren’t particularly apologetic. All they did was tidy things up a little bit in her absence, and they’d be happy to remove the boxes now that she was back home again. And that was the end of that.

Because Cassidy’s mother had done so much cleaning and rearranging, it had been easy for Audrey to sneak in and make a few changes of her own without anyone suspecting her. Their parents wouldn’t remember every single little change from months ago, and Cassidy already thought she knew who to blame. 

“Hey, Cass?” Audrey’s voice sounded from behind her. 

Cassidy whipped around from her hunt through the walk-in closet, scowling both from her missing things and from the sudden intrusion. “Audrey!” she exclaimed, “You have to knock. I could have been changing.”

“But you weren’t. Besides, we’re both girls. And sisters. What’s the big deal?”

“Forget it. Where’s my costume box?”

“How should I know?”

Cassidy just bit her tongue. Now that she was an adult–Audrey too, for that matter–she couldn’t be as moody or cliché about telling her sister to get out of her room. Bedrooms were supposed to be private, but adults were supposed to be mature. Maybe she’d give Audrey a mini lecture about it later, but right now Cassidy was too focused on figuring out a makeshift costume to wear to the Renaissance Faire. 

At this point, it was pretty clear that the box she needed wasn’t in the closet. Maybe it had been relocated to the basement. If their parents had donated it, or any of her things for that matter, then there was going to be a problem. “What do you want, Audrey?” Cassidy asked. Amidst her annoyance at the rude entry to her room, she had forgotten that there was probably a reason her sister had come there in the first place.

“Well, umm . . .” Audrey began. She averted her gaze and fidgeted for a few seconds before glancing back towards Cassidy, “Never mind. It’s stupid.”

Typical. Cassidy just rolled her eyes. “God, Audrey, what is it?”

“It’s just- I kind of had an idea to save you some money when we get there,” Audrey said, “But I don’t think you’re going to like it.” 

“Just spit it out, sis.”

“Okay, look. I promise I’m not making fun of you. But you know how you’re, well, pretty small? I was thinking . . . I mean, they sent the wrong costume, and the damage is already done . . .”

“Audrey,” Cassidy said. She placed a hand on her hip, “Get to the fucking point.”

“What if we, umm, leaned into your size? Like, you could put on the costume, and I could work a little magic with your hair and make-up. Tickets are way cheaper for kids, and they might buy it if you really look the part.”

Was she serious? Cassidy didn’t know if she was more insulted or shocked that her sister would suggest something like that. She was nineteen! There’s no way anyone would believe that she was a child, not even if she was pretending. And to presume that she could pull that off? Yep, definitely more insulting.

Crossing her arms, Cassidy tried her best to look serious, rather than flat-out annoyed. “That wouldn’t work at all, Audrey. I’m not that small. And that costume is disgusting.” 

“You are that small,” Audrey said, “Twelve and under get the better prices. And real talk, Cassidy, you could pass as a tween if you let me do my thing. Besides, it’s not like they’re looking that closely. Look, do you want to save a bunch of money, or not?”

Audrey was referring to the fact that she was a goddess with hair and make-up. She primarily used her gifts on herself and her closest friends, but occasionally Cassidy reaped the benefits of having a talented sister for things like Prom and her graduation party. Only on special occasions, because she could only bear the indignity of asking her younger sister for help so often. 

This, however, would be the reverse. Audrey would be undoing all the elements that usually added to Cassidy’s maturity. Instead of perfect hair and make-up, she’d have to suffer through whatever childish look Audrey decided would pair best with the pink fairy costume. And for what? Fifteen or twenty dollars? That wasn’t the most tempting trade. 

“No, I don’t,” Cassidy said, ultimately deciding against it, “I’m not walking around like that all day. It’s embarrassing.”

“Oh, not all day!” Audrey immediately replied, “I mean, just wear it through the main gate. You know, like sneaking candy into the movies. We’ll pack a change of clothes for you.”

“Why do you even care, Audrey?”

“Because you got screwed over by that stupid company! The least I can do is help you have a little extra to spend once we’re there. And, you know, because we’re sisters. Duh. We have to look out for each other!”

“Fine,” Cassidy said. Under normal circumstances, she would outright refuse, but Audrey made some good points. It was just tricking a few strangers in order to save money. Besides, it’s not like they would run into anyone they knew. As long as Audrey didn’t take any pictures, and as long as she could change the minute they made it inside, then it would be worth the temporary embarrassment.

“Let’s do it, then!” Audrey smiled, “You can change in my room.”

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