Mrs. Trence smiled at Aja. "You heard me. Don't you remember what guardian angels do? You scored particularly well on that section of the test."

"Of COURSE I know what a guardian angel does, I'm not STUPID," Aja snapped. She looked over at Jashe, who shrugged. "How can I protect someone like that? You know, be there, watch their every move?? What about up here?"

"You'll have to figure that out yourself, Aja," Mrs. Trence said softly. With that, she disappeared into the clouds.

*****************

A few minutes later, Aja was all alone with Jashe. She looked at him, her eyes full of wonder. "Jashe-- please tell me what to do!" she cried.

"I can't, Aja, I don't know," he replied sadly. "You'll have to do this one by yourself."

"But- " Aja started to protest. But then, to her and Jashe's amazement, she felt something growing, truely growing, out of her back. She looked behind her, and--

"Wings!!" Aja cried. "Real wings!!!!!!"

Jashe looked at Aja. He would miss her, he knew that already.

Almost as if she had read his mind, Aja looked at Jashe, teary eyed. "Jashe, I'll really miss you," she whispered. She walked closer to him, and, finally, ran and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. Jashe hugged her back, burrying his head deep into her neck. He could smell her hair, it smelled like roses. Sadly, he knew this was the last time he's ever smell that hair again.

"Jashe," Aja said softly, pulling away. Her image began to fade as she descended to Earth.

"Have faith in me."