Installment 43

We found the entrance and wandered through, the high hedges blocking out the world. It felt strangely nice to have that barrier between us and all the problems and confusion outside. I was still half-running, dragging a slightly reluctant Janet behind me. After a few minutes, some of my enthusiasm seemed to rub off on her. She let go of my hand and set off at a faster pace.
"Race you," she called, when she was already a few metres ahead of me.
"No fair," I called after her, trying to catch up, but already out of breath.
I had to stop briefly, putting my hands on my knees to catch my breath, then set off again, but I'd lost sight of her. I slowed to a fast walk and called her name, then gasped as she reached out from a path off to the left, where the branches of the hedge had started to grow over and reclaim as some secret hideaway. Janet fell against the hedgerow and I fell against her, both laughing. The hedge began to disappear around me, and Janet's face began slowly to change, freckles appearing and her hair growing long.
"No," I told her, and the world stopped bending and returned to how it was, "You don't need to be her."
She stared at me confused.
"I... I want you to be you," I said, then kissed her lightly on the cheek.
"Are you sure?"
I nodded. I couldn't say why, but I felt so happy at that moment and I just wanted to share it with her. For the first time since I'd left London, I didn't want Kelly beside me. I kissed her again and this time she kissed me back, the leaves of the hedge almost swallowing us into the walls of the maze.

"Janet! Fiona!" Gwendolyn's voice came clearly through the crisp air.
I took a step back, pulling Janet with me. We were both trying not to giggle and probably looking slightly guilty as we wandered round a corner of the maze to where she was standing.
Gwendolyn smiled, "So you found our maze then? You want to be careful in there. We've had folks lost for days."
I tried, but failed to stifle my laughter. It wasn't that what she'd said was funny; more that I felt like I was 16 again and nearly getting caught by my mother kissing a friend in my bedroom.

"We have made a meal!" she said, looking very pleased with herself.
I nodded, "Cool, I'm famished."
Janet looked wary, "What have you made?"
"Rabbits!" Gwendolyn exclaimed.
"You know she's vegetarian?"
Gwendolyn stared blankly at Janet, still grinning.
"She doesn't eat animals."
I ran my hand down Janet's arm, "It's ok, I'll just eat the veg."
Gwendolyn still looked blank, but her smile had faded somewhat.
"It's just rabbit, isn't it?" Janet asked her.
"Well... yes."
Janet nodded and sighed.
"We'll go into the village and get some food there, shall we?" I asked, not wanting to cause a fuss.
"No," Gwendolyn told us, "You won't do that."
"It's fine, I don't mind," I told her.
"What Gwendolyn means," Janet replied, "Is that we are not allowed to leave the grounds of the castle. Arianwen's orders."