God talked to J. God told J he was on the right path.The basement of J's house was a crazy mix of b equipment and scattered papers. His parents called it 'the b', but after his most recent failed experiment a few months ago, he found himself using it more and more as a pce of solitude, to pray. He knelt at his desk, beside his chair, and pced his csped hand onto the table.Dear God, J asked his lord, Am I destined to be with Faith Ealdrice?J imagined that made God stroke his chin, and think for a moment, Of course, my child. One of my creations as beautiful as herself is truly destined to make you a dutiful housewife, in the end. Seek her out, and have her attend a service, and she will no doubt change her mind about you. Make her yours, my son.J thanked God and finished his prayer. With a nod to the sky, he skipped happily out of the b, then caught himself and strolled normally, with the bravado he knew was expected of a teenage b-man. His father was upstairs in the kitchen watching a video from Andy Bte, who was promoting a new business idea."Hey dad," J said, "What's the new Bte video like?""Ughh, you know," His dad replied, "He's saying I should start doing more online promo stuff, says it's a good idea to get into the online industry space. I'm too old for that though. You could if you wanted to, son."J ughed, "Maybe, but I'm not really good with computers.""What are all those machines you've got down in the b for then, son? Spending all your time pying computer games? Gotta start investing. Be like Bte, son, be a bona fide Corporate Blue Shark, not a Rotten Nest Egg."J nodded, "Yeah, you're right dad. Maybe after Church tomorrow we can start making pns. I gotta go now though, I'm gonna ask Faith out.""Women love it when you don't take no for an answer, son!"

  Faith sat at the counter of The Locked Tome, her family's bookshop, casually reading Virginia Woolf's Orndo as customers walked in and out of the store at their leisure. Rarely did many people ever actually buy anything, but there were a handful of regurs who came in once every few days, and occasionally you'd spot the overly excited person who'd just found an obscure copy of something expensive. J, dressed in his smartest bow-tie and cardigan, walked into the bookshop and pretended to peruse the Feminism section for a moment, watching Faith's elegant body as she made casually turning the page of a book into an art form. Eventually she noticed him and he quickly changed tactics, plucking a book from the shelf and walking up to the counter."Heya," He said, plonking the book down, "How's your day going.""J." Faith replied, "It was good... until you walked in.""I'm sure I just made it better."Faith ughed as she looked at the book he'd pced on the counter, "You certainly did. Sexed Up by Julia Serano?"J looked at it and forced a smile, "Uh, yep! That's the one.""Didn't know you were into that. Well, that'll be-""Wait!" J yelled, holding his hands up, "I'm here for another reason!"Faith rolled her eyes, "Not again, guy...""Faith Ealdrice. I know I have tried many, many times. But this time for sure, I know that you will say yes. I have the power of God on my side."Faith sighed, "You're not going to buy this book, are you?""Faith! Would you do me the honour of joining me at Church this Sunday?""Nope."J paused, "... really?""I don't to Church.""God told me you will, someday! He said you will make me a dutiful housewife!""I'm not going to crap over your religion, guy, but if God's telling you things that are just pinly untrue and honestly fucking sexist, that's probably just you talking to yourself and not realising it.""Bsphemer! I will show you the light!""You're actually standing in my light right now, if you don't mind."J stomped his feet, furious, and then pointed a finger at her."You know, only the hand of a God could have made a beauty as delicate as you! You should accept his will into your heart, or you will burn in hell for eternity!"Faith gritted her teeth, and drummed her fingers on the table."Are you going to buy the book or not, J?"J muttered a curse under his breath before storming out. Faith, on the other hand, went back to reading her book.

  Kiera's car pulled up to the bus stop where Heidi was waiting, and she got in and sat in the back beside Alicia."Hi..." Alicia said, nervously. Heidi smiled."Hey Alicia! How's the arm?"Alicia looked down at her cast and nodded, "Uh... yeah, it's okay... Pain's mostly gone... Are you guys really sure this is okay?"He stared through the window at them as Eliza groaned, "For the st time, Alicia, yes! We want you here. And yes, Faith also said it was fine.""I just wanted to make sure. It's okay if you need to leave me on the side of the road, I can still walk home."Kiera ughed, "This is your first time going to Faith's house, right?"Alicia nodded, "Yeah? Anything I should be aware of?""Don't talk to her parents," Heidi said, "It's like her main rule. Other rules are don't eat any food you're offered, don't tell them your name, don't thank them for anything, just don't talk to them at all if they try to talk to you."Eliza nodded, "Faith's family are fey.""There's no such thing as fey, Eliza!" Heidi yelled, "She's just a little... well she's not weird, she's just different."Alicia raised an eyebrow, "Fey? What's that?""They're like, fairies," Kiera said, "Eliza thinks that they're some magical woodnd elven tricksters.""BECAUSE THEY ARE, KIERA!" Eliza yelled, "THEY CAN CONTROL PEOPLE IF THEY GIVE THEM GIFTS!""Stop it, Eliza!" Heidi said, "We'd know if there was such a thing as magic. You're disrespecting her culture!"The car continued off of the main road and onto a gravel path through the woods. They grew denser and denser, to the point where Alicia thought they were lost, and then suddenly the trees opened up to reveal a scene out of a book. The gentle glow of old garden nterns lit up the small cottage, and as the four of them got out of the car, Alicia felt butterflies in her stomach."Faith's house is so cool," Heidi said, "I can't believe how lucky she is.""Because she lives in the feywild, Heidi." Eliza said. Kiera shot her a look and she bowed her head, "Okay fine, I'll stop.""So..." Alicia said, "Do we knock, or...?"The door creaked open, and Faith walked out in a billowing top, smiling with her arms outstretched toward Alicia."So good to see you guys!" Faith said, hugging her, "It's been some week. Heidi, your brother stopped by the shop again."Heidi groaned, "Ugghhh, sorry. Thanks for not telling him you know me. He's so stuck-up.""He told me god said I would go out with him. To church.""Aaaah!" Heidi screamed, "Shut up! Nooooo!"Everyone ughed and started to go inside. Alicia paused for a moment at the door and looked back, but couldn't spot him.