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think you should allow her.”
    Though she would deny it if challenged, Dana’s appearance was a silent protest against her life. The dark and bulky clothes cocooned her from the world around her. On the other side, in Faerie, she emerged like a butterfly, resplendent with fairy glamour. But the moment she returned to the Earthworld, she hid away again.
    Head down, shoulders slumped, Dana shuffled through the long corridors. Lockers clanged. Friends hailed each other noisily. Squeals of excitement pierced the air. Forcing herself to stay calm, resisting the urge to flee, Dana located the classroom assigned to her on orientation day.
    There were already a number of students there, most of them seated and talking quietly. Some were strangers, enrolled from other neighborhoods. With a sinking heart, Dana recognized the small group of girls who gathered near the door. Fashionably dressed, loud and pretty, they were a notorious clique from her old school. One of them raised an eyebrow as she passed by. The remarks were meant to be overhead.
    “What’s with all the black?”
    “Is she a Goth?”
    “Hardly. That would make her interesting.”
    Dana cringed, but told herself she didn’t care. These were not people she envied or admired. Janis, the leader, was popular but not very bright. She had barely managed to pass grade eight. The other two were her lackeys, incapable of independent thought or action. While they had ruled the small kingdom of junior high, they were now little fish in a much bigger pond. Dana saw through their show of bravado. They were just as nervous and anxious as she.
    Moving to the back of the room, she chose a desk in the last row. In her old school she had been known as a quiet girl, a loner without the protection of a circle or best friend. She had grown used to standing by herself at recess, leaning against the fence, usually lost in daydreams. She didn’t want to mix with others and had rebuffed the few who tried to make friends with her. Unless specifically asked, she didn’t participate in class, nor did she join in school activities, sports, or clubs. She resisted all efforts by her father and teachers to encourage her out of her shell. She did not want to be part of this world; she did not want to make friends.
    “Some children are solitary,” the principal had finally conceded to Gabriel. “You can either accept that or consider a psychologist.”
    Gabriel had decided to accept it, for now.
    It helped that Dana did well at school. She liked to study, and her projects were always well researched and presented. With tutors and hard work she had caught up on Canadian subjects to earn high marks. The French language was still a weak point. Her father wanted her to learn it to be fully Canadian, but she had yet to reach the level of those who had begun the stream in earlier grades. Since she was already bilingual, being fluent in Irish, she was confident she could.
    It was only when she had settled into her seat that Dana noticed the other student in the back, a few rows over. Now she understood why Janis and her coterie were making such a fuss. Here was surely the one whom they hoped to attract. Even Dana, who had no interest in boys, was not unaffected.
    His raven-black hair fell loosely around his face. The narrow cheekbones and firm jaw hinted of strong character. His clothes jarred in the urban classroom but seemed to suit him: an outdoors look of rugged denim, dark-green shirt, and brown leather boots. He appeared older than the class average, but perhaps it was just his self-assured air. He did not look around, but sat relaxed at his desk, reading a book. Dana tried to catch a glimpse of the title. She was surprised at herself. There had been cute boys in her class before, and she had never paid them any attention. But this one was different. There was something about him …
    Dana caught her breath. He had looked up suddenly to catch her gaze. His eyes were startling, a cool