"This is your last cologne?" Tegwen asked quietly, inspecting the bottle. It was plain, just solid blue glass. But something about the way the design curled up from its base, a lot like a wisp of fire, held Tegwen in awe.

"Yes," Nickole confirmed. "That's duCK1 . . . That's what it's called." Reluctantly, Tegwen spritzed it in the air. It seemed to hang there indefinitely, glittering on the beam of light from a modest blue-white table lamp. Tegwen sniffed the air cautiously, closing her eyes. " . . . You know, there are 2,647 little sequin-things on your dress."

She nearly screamed, her eyes flying open and looking around the department store frantically. "Who said that?!"

Nickole frowned, her little nose twitching slightly. "Who said what?"

Tegwen felt like she was choking suddenly.

"Are you okay, Miss?" Nickole asked, reaching out to Tegwen slowly.

Tegwen drew in a deep breath, feeling the cologne waft across her bill. Slowly, she broke into a grin.

I knew I could never forget that smell . . . I just didn't think it would be so vivid!

"This is it. This is what I was looking for!" Tegwen held the container to her chest.

"Well, um, that's our only sample of it, Miss," Nickole said gently. "If you'd like to purchase it, I'll go get you a fresh bottle."

"Oh, yes!" Tegwen sheepishly handed the bottle back to Nickole. "Thank you so very much!" Nickole grinned at Tegwen, her black eyes sparkling. "I'll be right back." A few minutes after leaving for the stock room, Nickole returned with a box, a tiny logo on its side that looked a lot like the sample bottle Tegwen had held a few moments before.

"Will this be all for you?" Nickole asked, setting it on the counter beside Tegwen's purse.

"Oh, yes, this will be everything for me."

"Okay . . . Your total is ten dollars, even."

Tegwen nodded, sifting through her purse and producing a fifty dollar bill. It was the smallest she had.

As Nickole fought with the old cash register, she attempted to make conversation. "So . . . Is that for your boyfriend?"

Tegwen smiled at first at the thought, then frowned, feeling her eyes growing hot. "No . . . Well, yes, it is." In a way, it is.

"Oh how sweet." Nickole handed Tegwen her change. "I hope he'll enjoy it."

Tegwen smiled, stuffing her change into her purse. "Thank you."

"Have a nice day!" Nickole called as Tegwen walked off.

I will, Tegwen smiled to herself. Today's my sixteenth hatchday. I have a new car from Mom and I got my driver's license with a perfect score on my driver's test. And now . . . Tegwen pulled the cologne bottle out of its box and inspected it, her smile breaking into a wide grin. And now, I have "bottled Fenton." I can make his jacket smell like him again! My life is complete! She glanced around The Shops at St. Canard, feeling satisfied for the first time in two years. The world almost feels . . . Right . . . Again . . .



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