Hugh

I sat with my back to a tree, my bees humming around me, and saw Iris walk out of the house. The new girl was pretty- short brown hair, pale green eyes, round cheeks. I was a bit disappointed at her dislike of the bees. I watched, lost in thought, as she headed over to Millard where he was reading and started up an easy conversation. I sighed and then shook myself; what am I doing? I just met the girl. Looking away, I saw one of my bees land on my arm and smiled at it. Just then, a tiny clay figure came up and swatted at the bee. I opened my mouth quickly and all the bees darted into the safety of my insides, and I glared at Enoch as he stepped out.

“He was just having a bit of fun,” Enoch said defensively, lifting the figure.

I continued to glare. “You’re just lucky bees can’t sting clay. Don’t forget they can sting you, though.”

Enoch scoffed. “What’s got you off your rocker?”

I just shook my head and pulled myself to my feet. “Nothing,” I grumbled, starting to walk off. Enoch just shrugged, returning to playing with his clay figure, and I soon found myself a bit closer to Millard and Iris than I meant to be, which of course drew their attention.

“Hugh! Come over here with us!” Millard called out. I waved him off, and he called again, “Ah, come on- make the new girl feel a bit more welcome!”

With a sigh, I stepped over, rather reluctant to see her freak over my bees again. I stood above them and she offered a shy smile.

“Sorry about earlier- I have a bit of a fear of bees,” said Iris, offering a tiny smile. I mustered a smile back, but it was more plastered on than sincere.

“It’s fine.” The words came out curtly and her smile faded a bit. Millard sighed and closed his book, standing.

“Well, I’ll leave you two to it then.”

If she hadn’t been sitting right there I’d have glared at him as Millard strode off cheerily. As it was, Iris stood up and sighed a bit. “You don’t have to accompany me if you’d rather not. I can see it must be offensive for me to insult your bees.”

I felt my cheeks redden a bit and shrugged. “’s alright.”

She continued. “I wouldn’t want anyone to insult Hutch- speaking of which, where is that little devil… Could you help me find him?”

“I don’t have anything better to do,” I said and the two of us started off. “I’m assuming that’s your cat?”

Iris nodded. “Big brown tabby, fluffy tail, short fur, yellow-green eyes.”

“Is he your favorite pet or something?”

She shrugged. “He’s my best friend, actually, and finds the term ‘pet’ to be offensive. Hutch!”

She’d spotted the cat sniffing about a topiary of a dragon, and she took off running after it. I ran after her, but just as she was about to reach the cat it took off, and the girl herself tripped. I lunged for her, catching her by the back of her dress and pulling her up. I barely caught my balance myself, and stood for a moment with one arm around her and one hand on her arm. Breathless, I stood there for a second, and then realized our proximity about the same time she did. Both of us reddened and stepped away.

“Rotten cat,” she muttered. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s alright. If you’d like, I can send my bees to look for him- they won’t sting, I promise,” I offered.

“I’d very much appreciate it,” she said, still looking around for the cat. I opened my mouth and the bees flew, and she gasped and stepped back. Of course, she’s still scared of me, I thought pessimistically, and the bees scattered. Iris cleared her throat and I glanced at her as she took a deep breath. “Okay, so it’s a bit more than a small fear of bees, but I’m trying.”

I sighed. “I can tell you’re trying very hard.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I’m trying to be tolerant, but if you had a fear of heights and I could randomly make the ground under you sprout up into the sky, wouldn’t you have to take some time to adjust? At least give me a chance.”

Was I being unfair? I couldn’t decide, but luckily didn’t have to, as her precious cat came running forward and leapt into her arms. It meowed quickly and she hugged it, saying, “Sh, Hutch, it’s okay. The bees aren’t going to bother you.”

Oh, joy, even her cat’s afraid of bees.

~*~

Lunch rolled around and we all sat down to eat. Miss P introduced everyone to Iris, and Iris to everyone. The girl looked around in wonder as each peculiar showed off their talents- Emma lit each candle and allowed a tendril of flame to curl around her fingers before extinguishing it to eat. Bronwyn moved a bookshelf. Olive floated up to the ceiling, and Millard had to pull her back down to eat. She’d already seen my bees, but Enoch made a show of revealing his talent, which disgusted her. Claire’s talent was only explained, as she was too shy to show the mouth on the back of her head. Horace’s was explained as well- the prophetic nightmares couldn’t be called upon.

“And there you have it- my peculiar wards.”

Iris nodded and gave a few compliments, her eyes shining with fascination. She looked around at each of us from her spot between Millard and Emma, and her eyes stopped randomly on me. They lingered for a moment and then she turned away.

“You fancy her,” Horace whispered once the meal had begun. I elbowed him.

“Do not.”

“Do to! You couldn’t take your eyes off the girl!”

“I was curious, that’s all.”

Horace still stared at me for a moment, and then turned away, muttering something about how I still like Iris, even if I don’t admit to it. Iris was oblivious, however, listening to Olive jabber away about life here. Iris told them a bit about her and I listened in to the questions.

“Are you in love with a normal?”

“No, but my mother wants me to marry one. She doesn’t think of me as peculiar.”

“Ooh, what’s he like?”

“Irish, rich, probably not my type. It’s arranged.”

“Got something against rich people?”

“Not at all, just most of the ones I know are snobs.”

“What is your type?”

“I- I’m not sure. I was never asked, really.”

“What about a peculiar? Sometimes peculiars fall in love with each other.”

“Well, I’ve only just met you all, and I’ve only a week to get to know you.”

“Now, now, children- don’t pester her, let the poor girl eat. She’s taken in a lot of information today, and I’m sure she’d like a moment’s rest.”

Iris smiled, but said, “Thank you, but it’s quite alright. I’d be curious if I were them, too- and I’d say my mental stamina is exceptional.”

A/N: My apologies on taking so long to update. I did Camp NaNoWriMo, and it occupied my time extensively. Happy May, everyone- I wrote a book and here's the next chapter of Honeybee. Hope you enjoy! <3