"Who ya taking to the 8th grade formal?" Liza yelled from the kitchen.

Peep was busy killing virtual zombies during a "Call of Duty" marathon in the living room. He never even heard his mother speak.

Liza wiped her hands on her Halloween themed dishtowel and walked into the living room. Standing in front of the television she asked again, "Peep, who are you taking to the 8th Grade Dance?"

Oskar yelled, "Peep look out there's a zombie behind the —"

Peep threw down the controller. "It got me."

"Do you guys see me standing here? Or has your mom suddenly gone invisible?"

Peep looked up. "Sorry mom. I'm not going to some stupid dance. Dancing is stupid."

Liza objected. "You didn't think so when you were younger."

Peep groaned. "Ma I was 4. I'm over it!"

Oskar began wrestling with Peep on the well worn green sofa. "Yeah, Peep's too cool for school!"

Liza felt like the sofa: worn out and frazzled.

Peep rolled on top of Oskar and pinned him to the cushion. "Oh yeah, what's your girlfriend's name? (Dramatic pause) You don't remember? Maybe it's cuz you don't have one!"

Oskar knocked Peep off the couch onto the mottled Berber carpeting. "At least I've had a girlfriend. You'll be 13 tonight and never been kissed." Oskar made smoochie kissing noises at Peep.

Peep yelled, "Ma!"

Ma yelled, "Oskar!"

Oskar yelled, "Dweeb!"

Liza entered and broke up the match, "Enough boys! My nerves are shot! Each of you to your corners to cool off!"

The doorbell rang.

Oskar yelled, "Not it!"

Peep repeated, "Not it!"

Liza grumbled. "You know when I was a kid my sisters and I would fight over who got to answer the door!"

Peep teased, "They had doors back then?"

Liza sighed, "Funny Peep. We rolled stones in front of our caves."

The doorbell rang again.

"I'll get it." Liza opened the door and saw a beautiful petite teenage girl standing there. "Hello... May I help you?"

The girl smiled showing a dazzling set of white teeth. "Is Peep at home?" Her lips were pouty pink and yet she didn't seem to be wearing any makeup at all.

"Certainly." Liza opened the door and the girl stepped inside." "Peep there's a pretty girl here to see you."

Oskar jumped in front of Peep. When he noticed the girl's trendy blue bob, super pale skin with flushed pink cheeks all he could do was stammer. "I... uh.... me Oskar... You?"

Peep pushed past his brother. The girl looked strangely familiar. "Hello... it's nice to see you—"

Locket took his hand. "—I'm Emma, remember? You still need to formally ask me to tonight's dance."

Oskar fell back onto the sofa. Emma was the prettiest girl he'd ever seen. He wondered how Peep managed to meet such an angel.

Liza interrupted. "So you are going to the dance! Wonderful!" She asked Emma, "How did you and Peep meet?"

Locket pushed her side bangs out of her eyes revealing the brightest clear blue eyes Liza had ever seen. "Years ago I was an exchange student for a couple of semesters."

Liza looked perplexed. "I'm sure I would remember seeing you—you're stunning!"

Locket laughed softly. "I'm a couple grades ahead of Peep. I was much smaller than, perhaps I 'glowed up?'" She blinked showing off her full thick eye lashes.

Oskar blurted, "I'll say!"

When it dawned on Peep that Emma was actually his former fairy friend he wiggled his way in the middle of Locket and his mom. Peep smiled through gritted teeth. "Emma where have you been? You left without saying goodbye."

"I'm sorry friend." My host family whisked me off to the airport without a moment's notice."

Peep asked, "Don't they have phones where you're from?"

"Hardly..." Locket continued her ruse. "There are only 2 cell towers in all of New Zealand. I suppose I could've sent a messenger sheep?" Locket snorted at her own joke.

Liza tried breaking the ice. "Well she's back now! Peep isn't it wonderful? And she looks pretty as a picture!" Locked wore a fuzzy blue sweater, matching plaid pleated skirt and a small golden purse slung across her shoulder. "Emma, Where did you get your outfit?"

"I made it myself." Locket meant she conjured it up herself.

"You're certainly talented," Liza gushed. "Did you design your blue flats with all those tiny crystals too? The pattern is lovely."

"Yes ma'am," Locket replied. "I'm a bit crafty."

"I'll say..." Peep rolled his eyes.

Liza corrected him, "Peep don't be rude." She tugged on Oskar's arm. Let's go into the kitchen and give these two some privacy.

As soon as Liza and Oskar had left the room Locket snuggled close to Peep. He pulled away. "What are you up to Locket?"

"Call me Emma." Locket blushed.

"Come on EMMA! I don't see you for over three years and you waltz in here looking like this!"

"I did not waltz in here Peep. I walked in like any normal human teenager."

"You are nothing like a normal teenage girl!"

Locket began crying.

Peep rushed over and began comforting her. "Okay, okay you are somewhat like a normal teenage girl. But I gotta admit you're much too pretty." He dabbed her tears with the bottom of his black tee shirt.

Locket sniffed and looked up at him. "I am? You really think I'm much too pretty?"

"Well yeah... look at you! Your long black eyelashes, your full pink lips... You're as pretty as a picture!"

Locket giggled. "I'm prettier than any picture silly. I'm real!" She threw her arms around Peep's neck and looked at him lovingly.

Peep was momentarily mesmerized by Locket's round azure blue eyes. He shook himself free of her gaze. "Whoa there lil' missy. I haven't seen you in three years. What if I have a girlfriend?"

Locket smiled broadly. "You do, silly." She gave him a sweet peck on the lips. "I'm your girlfriend."

Peep kissed her back. It wasn't a sloppy Hollywood kiss. It was a pure precious kiss of innocence and true love.

Peep stammered. "So...uh... Emma, are you human now?"

Locket explained, "I'm human for now. But let's not spoil things by talking about spells and potions. Do you have a sky blue to match my dress?"

"What dress?" Peep was still reeling from his first kiss.

"The dress for the 8th grade formal tonigh. Will you teach me how to dance?"

-End of Chapter 46-

Author's note: Oooooooooo I'm almost finished! The ending in my mind is wonderful! Tee hee. Thanks for voting and such!!! 😍🥰😍🥰😍🥰😍🥰😍🥰😍🤩🤩🤩