A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn Read Free Book Online

me.
    This girls pretty full of herself, but its not far from the truth. Well, not You fell in love with me, and you leaned over and kissed me. Loves first kiss. And when
     you kissed me, I woke immediately. Is that true?
    Yeah.
    And suddenly, she begins to cry. Oh, no. Oh, no. I am a fool. Old pudding-faced Lady
     Brooke was right. I am a stupid girl and ought never have been trusted for even a minute
     on my own.
    What are you talking about? I want to put my arm around her or something, but I get the
     feeling that wouldnt be a good idea.
    The curse, stupid!
    Now Im stupid? What happened to you being stupid, and what curse?
    The curse. The curse. Everyone knows about Malvolias curse. Oh, my father will kill me.
     They will probably lock me up in a convent! She begins to sob again, and then see- ing
     that I am still not with the program, she says, Before her sixteenth birthday, the
     princess shall prick her finger on a spindle and die. But youre not dead.
    No. The fairy Flavia changed it so I would merely sleep. The whole kingdom would sleep, to
     wake only when I was wakened by true loves first kiss.
    Uh-huh. Shes nuts.
    The old lady was Malvolia, do you not see? She came with the dresses, gained my trust. She
     had probably been watching me all my life. She brought with her a spindle. She knew I
     would make a wish, and when I did . . .
    Youre saying she stabbed you with that spindle thing?
    Exactly. It is the curse. I have made the curse come true.
    And she starts blubbering harder. Hey, calm down, I say. Its going to be okay. Now she
     stands and begins pacing. They warned me so many times. It is practically the only subject upon which I conversed with my parents.
     It was their worst fear, and it has come true.
    I try to think of what my parents worst fear isme not getting into college, maybe. Or
     having to go to one of those community colleges thats near a good school, so they could
     just tell everyone Jack went to Boston or whatever. Theyd die.
    But I say, Exactly. Its over. You went to sleep, and youre awake now because of me and my
     magical kiss. Your parents will probably be so happy youre okay that they wont even be mad. Do you really think that?
    Sure. Its like this one time I totaled my car. My mom was driving by, and she saw the
     wreck. She was so happy I wasnt dead that she didnt even . . . I stop. The princess is
     staring at me like Im speaking in tongues. Anyway, Im sure theyll just be okay with it.
     Youre their little princess, right?
    Shes stopped crying, and now she nods. Perhaps you are right.
    I know I am. What is the date? I need to know how long I have slept. I check my watchs
     date feature. Its June twenty-third. Oh, that is not so bad then. A month. I missed my birthday party, which is a shame, and they will need to explain to the guests, but still .
     . .
    Her eyes fall on my watch. What is that? A watch. She picks up my wrist, examines it, then
     holds it to her ear. A clock? On your wrist? How strange. She pulls back from me and examines my clothes,
     the flag T-shirt.
    What is that? She points to the numbers on the shirt.
    The year. Old Navy puts the year on all their flag T-shirts. Its sort of a racket, I
     guessyou have to buy a new one every year.
    That . . . is . . . the . . . year? She looks sort of sick. Her face is suddenly almost
     the same color green as her eyes.
    Well, I got it last year. We always get them for when we go watch fireworks. But I probably wont get one this year, come to think of it, because That is the year? The year! Well, last year. She begins to shake. Oh, my . . . oh, no. She
     crumples back onto the floor, as she was when I first saw her. It can- not be true. It cannot.
    I kneel beside her. Whats the matter now? I thought you were fine.
    She looks at me, then starts screaming. Fine? Fine? I have been asleep nearly three
     hundred years!
    Outside on the stairs, I hear a commotion, people run- ning, then yelling.
    Stop! Thief!
    Travis