New Girl Page 4

Thank you for reading my short story! I hope that you enjoyed “New Girl,” the first of the Tales from Seelie High collection. If you did, please tell your friends about it or leave a review at your favorite retailer or on Goodreads.com.

  Thanks!

  Aubrey Fredrickson

  Interview with Kira

  The following items were taken from the notes of Greer Douglas, a student reporter for Seelie High’s Druid Chronicles, and from the transcripts of an interview conducted by Ms. Douglas on September 3, 2014. The interview was published in the Druid Chronicles on September 7th.

  [Excerpt from Greer’s notes]

  After all the rumors that have been flying around about Kira and the strange things she did on her first day of school, I was surprised that she looked so ordinary. I’d guess she’s about 5’3”—not tall and not short, but just kind of average. Her long hair is a sort of brownish blond; her eyes a greenish brown. In fact, I think she’s just kind of an “ish” sort of person all around. Not really one thing or the other. Her clothes were in style, but not trendy. She wasn’t wearing makeup and had her hair pulled back in a ponytail. If I had to guess, I’d say she was the sort of person who doesn’t like to get noticed. Too bad for her that opening a magical portal is exactly the sort of thing that gets a girl noticed.

  [Interview Transcript]

  Greer: Let’s start with some basics, okay? What’s your name?

  Kira: Kira Nichols.

  Greer: Where are you from?

  Kira: I was born in Denver, but my family moves around a lot. The last place we lived was Portland.

  Greer: That’s interesting. Most of the kids at Seelie High have lived here in New Elphame their whole lives. What’s it like to live in different places?

  Kira: Uh...I don’t know...Okay, I guess.

  Greer: So do you think you’ll stay very long in New Elphame?

  Kira: I guess so. We only moved around so much because of my dad’s job, but my parents got divorced and now Mom says she wants to put down some roots. I guess that means we’re staying.

  Greer: Divorce, huh? That’s too bad. Was it because of your dad’s job and all the moving around?

  Ms. Brannon: Greer, I don’t think Kira wants to talk about that. Let’s move on.

  Greer: Oh, right...Sorry. Why did you and your mom move here? Do you have family around here or something?

  Kira: Not that I know of. My mom was a teacher before I was born, but it was too hard to find jobs when we were moving so much, so she didn’t work. But when Dad moved out, she started applying to schools all over. I thought we were going to move back to Denver, but then she got a call from the elementary school here and the next thing I knew we were moving to Michigan.

  Greer: That sucks.

  Ms. Brannon: Remember how we talked about retaining our professionalism, Greer.

  Greer: Sorry, Ms. B. I meant...it must be hard to move so much. Do you miss your friends in Portland?

  Kira: I wasn’t really there long enough to make friends.

  Greer: Oh...What do you think of New Elphame so far?

  Kira: It’s okay, I guess. Kind of...different.

  Greer: What about school? Have you made any friends here yet?

  Kira: Um...Mostly everyone’s been avoiding me. Daphne and Aislin have been nice, I guess. And Finn, but he never talks, so...you know...

  Greer: That would be Aislin Donaghue, correct? There have been some strange rumors floating around about her for years, but I heard that yesterday—

  Ms. Brannon: Why don’t we move on, Greer? Let’s get back to your note cards.

  Greer: Oh...okay. So, Kira...Do you know anything about New Elphame’s history?

  Kira: Yeah, I read The Annals of the Blessed.

  Greer: That’s right! I heard you stole the original from the library.

  Kira: I didn’t steal it! The case it was in fell over during that earthquake on Monday and I just picked it up. Then everything went crazy and I didn’t get a chance to return it until the next day.

  Greer: Yeah, that was pretty crazy. Especially what happened in the courtyard. I know everyone’s dying to hear your version of what took place there. Why don’t you tell us in your own words?

  [Several minutes of the interview appear to be missing from the transcript at this point.]

  Greer: Wow...I wish I had been there. Have you heard that people all over town are reporting strange occurrences since then?

  Kira: Um...I’ve heard a few things.

  Greer: Some people are claiming that everything that’s happening is your fault. Would you like to comment on that?

  Kira: Not really...I didn’t really do anything, you know? It just...sort of happened.

  Greer: So, you did not intentionally open the door?

  Kira: Well, not exactly. I mean Aislin told me to, so I did.

  Greer: So it was Aislin Donaghue’s idea to open the door?

  Kira: No! I mean...I don’t think she knew what she was saying. I mean...I don’t think she could help it.

  Greer: People are suggesting that the best thing to do would be to knock the door down. What do you say about that?

  Kira: I...I don’t know. I don’t know anything about it. Um...Can I go back to Biology now?

  About the Author

  Aubrey Fredrickson lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with a landlubbing pirate, an amateur train enthusiast, and a baby boy who may turn out to be a piranha in disguise. She is a full-time stay-at-home mom, a part-time freelance writer, and an in-between-time crafter of stories.

  About Tales from Seelie High

  This collection, and particularly the short story New Girl, began many years ago and has undergone many transformations as I sought to find just right format in which to tell the story of Seelie High. At first I thought it was going to be a novel, but in the fall of 2014 I wrote the first draft of New Girl and realized it was a collection of short stories. I intend to self-publish at least one new Seelie High short story each month. The second story, Leena and the Giant, was published May 2015. You can watch for details about upcoming stories by visiting my website at https://aubreyfredricksonauthor.wordpress.com.

  The Prologue and the Interview with Kira included in this ebook were originally published on my website. From time to time, I will be posting additional smaller pieces, or mini-stories as I like to think of them, relating to the world of Seelie High.

  Connect with the Author

  If you would like to connect with me on social media or keep up on the latest Seelie High news, you can

  Visit my website at https://aubreyfredricksonauthor.wordpress.com

  Like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tales-from-Seelie-High/822673714447178

  Follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/anfredrickson

  Check out my blog for writers at https://incitetowrite.blogspot.com

  Discover other titles by Aubrey Fredrickson

  Leena and the Giant: Tales from Seelie High #2

  When Leena shows up to the not-at-all-official town meeting organized by her mother to discuss the recent events that have turned New Elphame on its head, she has no idea what surprises the night will hold for her. Will she get her first kiss? Will someone dare to cross through the mysterious door to discover what really lays beyond? And what secrets lie with the gruesome Giant in the town pub?

  Sophie and the Flash Mob Santa

  When Sophie's best friend takes her to New York to participate in a Christmas flash mob, she has no idea that her whole world is about to be turned upside down by one very attractive Santa Claus.