Page 56 of Dreams Come True at the Fairytale Museu
‘Be the change you want to see in the world. Change the norm.’
‘You’re the type of person who can do that. I’m not. I’m just a shy bullied kid who goes through every week desperately trying to come out unscathed at the end of it, without having to explain intensely personal things about myself to strangers who would undoubtedly feel entitled to ask.’ He sits back and looks over at me. ‘I appreciate you trying to help, but we’re from different worlds, and mine isn’t like yours.’
No wonder he’s struggling to find any meaning in life. He sounds so defeated, completely and utterly fed up of every little thing, and the urge to hug him is unreal.
‘I’m sure they make incredibly discreet ones these days. Technology has advanced so much that they’re no longer the squealing brown things that everyone’s granddad was always fiddling with.’ I know I’m probably pushing too hard, but this feels like something that would make his life so much better if he was open to it. ‘If you wanted to try it while you’re here, while you don’t have to go into the office and face your horrible “opponents”…’ I do the air quotes because, admittedly, I don’t know much about his job, but it soundsawful. ‘If you could get fitted for a hearing aid, being here could be an opportunity to try it out and see how much it would help… No one on Ever After Street would think less of you. If they knew you like I know you, they’d like you for exactly who you are, and there is nothing in your ear that would make the slightest difference to that.’
‘I believe that.’ He pushes a hand through his hair, looking like even the thought has made him nervous. ‘I already have one but I’ve never been brave enough to wear it. Maybe I’ll give it some thought.’
‘And if anyone was to say anything, they’ll have me to deal with. I have Rapunzel’s frying pan and I’m not afraid to use it.’
He laughs so hard that he throws his head back against the bench, the lines around his eyes crinkling up as he rolls his head to look at me. ‘I think you might be the most wonderful person I’ve ever met.’
I expect him to turn serious and sit up, but he stays as he is, holding my gaze, and instead holds the hot chocolate cup up and examines the writing on the side. ‘Are we sure this hot chocolate isn’t spiked with alcohol? I didn’t mean to say that. I meant, um… I’m going to have to watchTanglednow, aren’t I?’
‘One of my favourites. We could watch it together…’
There’s something about his smile when it’s so completely unfiltered, spontaneous, and like a burst of sunshine on a dark autumn night, and I wring my empty cup between my fingers to keep them occupied, which might be the only thing preventing me from reaching over and dragging his lips to mine.
Eventually, the chill of the night air gets to both of us and when we get up, he leans over and brushes my hair aside, and then ducks down until he can touch his lips to my forehead. ‘Thank you for not making me feel like there’s something wrong with me.’
‘I’m so sorry there’s anyone in your life who ever has. Every part of you isyou, Warren. No one should be picking and choosing which bits to love. Everything about you makes youyou, andyouare… not a bad person to know.’
I hear his breath catch and he pushes it out shakily, and the atmosphere feels charged, like he wants to say something but can’t find the right words.
We throw our cups in a nearby bin and when he holds his arm out to me, I can’t resist slipping my hand through the crook of his elbow and tugging him close to me, and not another word needs to be said, because I think he might be the most wonderful person I’ve ever met too, and there is no ability, disability, or otherwise that could change that.
19
‘Liss, I hate to state the obvious, but are you aware that you’re drilling a hole into the ceiling?’
From halfway up the stepladder, I lift my safety goggles and turn around to face Warren where he’s standing in the doorway of the Fairytale Homes hall. ‘Oh my God, am I really? How did I get up here?’
He laughs as he comes over and reaches up to put a steadying hand on my lower back as I push myself upwards to inspect the hole. It’s gone all the way through and into the floor cavity of the landing above, so I start to climb down and he holds a hand out to help me. I slide my wood-dusty hand into his, even though I’ve managed to get down off many, many ladders without assistance before now.
‘I’m trying to work and all I can hear is this burring vibration coming from below.’
‘Oh, sorry. I didn’t think it would disturb you on the third floor.’ It’s after closing time and I assumed he’d be going home soon anyway, but I’ve got a project planned for tonight so I’m not going anywhere yet.
‘No worries. Your burring vibration is more interesting than my work.’
It’s not the first time I’ve heard little throwaway comments like that, but it’s the first time that quite so much contempt has laced his voice when talking about it.
‘Dare I ask what you’re doing?’ He lets go of my hand and brushes wood dust from his, and I take my goggles off and shake my hair out.
‘I’m building a beanstalk.’
He laughs like he thinks I’m joking, but I get an idea. ‘Actually, seeing as you’re not busy now,we’rebuilding a beanstalk. I could do with the help.’
‘Do people not traditionally grow beanstalks?’
‘Not this kind.’ I can’t help grinning as I nod towards my boxes of craft materials. ‘This is a floor-to-ceiling beanstalk with a giant living at the top of it. The hole is so we’ve got something to attach it to, I’ve just got to go and take a landing floorboard up so I can put a hook in place.’
He glances between me, the hole in the ceiling, and the craft boxes with a look of both wonderandtrepidation. ‘I’ve never heard anything like the things you come out with. You never stop. You’ll never give up on this place, will you?’
‘No, of course I won’t.’
‘Neither will I, I promise you that.’ He takes a step closer and reaches over to brush a bit of wood dust out of my hair and then tucks it back with a wistful look in his eyes. ‘We’re in a good position now. You can pay the extra rent. The gift shop looks fantastic and every time I come downstairs, you’re running between that and the front desk. The interest in the escaped exhibits is increasing every day. My company can’t… I mean, theywon’t… want to change things now. We’re bringing in revenue and gaining fans left, right, and centre on the internet. That alone would create more backlash than they’d want to deal with. We’ve done what we set out to achieve.’
