Innocent Times

Innocent Times.
By
Gemma Owen-Kendall


Message from the author.
First, I would just like to say thank you for taking the time to read my debut book, I hope you enjoy my collection of YA Short Stories. I have been reading YA fiction since the age of fourteen and have always wanted to write my own stories under this category. I always loved writing stories when I was in primary school then continued with this into secondary school, one of my favourite subjects in school was English. My primary school teacher Mrs June Evans (who I have dedicated this book to) said to me, I had such a wild imagination, she always loved to read my stories. The royalties I receive from this anthology, I will make a donation in December to the Book Trust Charity.
In loving memory of my Nana, Patricia Jacqueline Turner, it is thanks to you why I love to read books.
In loving memory of my Primary School Teacher, Mrs June Evans, it is thanks to you why I have chosen to have a hobby in writing


Contents.
Girl With The Unicorn Hair
The Imposter
Him
The Text Message
Witch
Spaceman Came Travelling
Feel The Thunder
The Eve Of Christmas
Her: A Vigilante in the Making
Red
Barge and the fly
My First
Isolation


Girl with the Unicorn Hair
Grace.
The night started off so well; I was on a night out with my best friend Charlie, there was a warm feeling in the air as it had been a hot summers day, England was having a forever feeling heat wave that had no intention of ending soon. Not even my magical Parma violets gin and lemonade on the rocks was cooling me down. However, I admired the colour of my drink, it was like a lilac potion complimenting the run-down looking bar table. The drink also suited my unicorn hair colours of pink, blue, purple and silver, everyone always stopped me and asked how I get my unicorn hair so perfect. What nobody realises is that my hair is real, I live in a secret realm on Earth with my race who are known as The Unicorn People. The females are all born with the colours of the unicorn hair, but the males are all born with pure white hair. Our enemies were the Demon People but the Demon King and my father of the Unicorn People have a peaceful treaty that we live in harmony but our races are to never mate with each other. The kings allow our races to live in the realm of the mortals just as long as the enchanted realm is never revealed to the humans.
I gazed down at the table and saw how various markings appeared on the stained wood; I brushed my middle finger nail over one marking, curious to know whether if it was a scratch mark or chip or maybe both but I thought these tables at the bar could do with a makeover and some TLC. I reached for my drink again and the cool liquid soothed my dry throat but only for a moment as that dry tickly feeling soon came rushing back again. My eyes glanced over to the girl sat on the same table as me, her left arm has the beautiful colours of purple and turquoise; I watched the colours and noticed they are two wonderful tattoos of butterflies. Previously I have never noticed them properly until this very day, as I stared down at her tattoos I noticed the music in the background change to some keyboards, guitars and chimes which caused me to go into a daze of imaging I am a butterfly fluttering about in a haze to the rhythm of the music.
“Grace don’t, not here as the humans will see.” I came to my senses as the girl next to me was in fact my best friend and guardian, Charlie. I hadn’t realised my powers had created the butterflies. It is often hard as the princess of the Unicorn People mixing into the mortal realm. Before I fully come to my senses Charlie slapped me. It worked as the butterflies soon vanished and luckily nobody had seen a thing. However, a throbbing to my left cheek shot straight through me. “Ouch you bitch.” Was all I could say to her, but I also just nearly jeopardised the existence of the Unicorn People. “I think a thank you is in order. What would your father say if he knew what you just did?”
I was grateful my father had requested Charlie to be my protector. She was strong and fearless but also so kind and caring. Charlie had trained up to be a guardian for the royal family of the Unicorn People and was given the honour to be my personal protector. Her job was to accompany me every time I entered the mortal realm, this was often on nights out as I loved to go drinking in bars and enjoying a good dance in the clubs, I was eighteen years old so it was natural for me to be out enjoying myself a lot. Charlie loved our nights out, but she was often worried we were always being watched by someone so her guard was always up if anyone approached me or came near me. I can recall on one of the last times we were out two lads about my age approached me and to scare them off as she feared they would be no good for me, she kissed me passionately. Well, I appreciated all she did for me but sometimes I wished I could have gone off with a human boy for a moment or two. But because I am different to humans, things would never work out further than a kiss as I would jeopardise who I truly am.
Suddenly, this particular night out changed rapidly.He came and took