I walked around aimlessly, the ball was just inside. I had enough of it though. My feet hurt from all the dancing, and all the body heat made it impossible to breath, but of course the corset didn't help. I was in Mrs. Kent's garden, Mrs. Kent was a friend of a friend that knew my mother, or something like that. I was on leave from school for a week due to Christmas. It wasn't too cold in London with my shaw wrapped around my dress. I should go back to the party, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. No one allows me to talk unless I am spoken to, and when I am spoken to it's about school or what i think of a little piece of meaningless gossip that will just hurt some poor girl. I walk by a rose bush and I soon feel a pull on my arm and I'm behind the bushes out of site from the party.

"Nice evenin' for a stroll in'it?" I scruffy man asks me that smells like ail.

My eyes are wide with fright. What do I do, scream...no one can hear me from all the music. Fight, probably wouldn't work, but it's worth a try. I struggle to get free, but he just holds tighter and comes closer planting his lips on my neck, he moves up to my chin. Now I am truely frightened. Most of the people in society try to shield us, meaning young girls of rich desent, away from these kind of things, not even mention this kind of situation. But, it's not like I hadn't heard of it. I mean I do go to school with a bunch of girls. One of them is bound to know something and tell all of us.

I decide that fighting is no longer going to work. So, I build up a good scream as he pushes my dress sleves down a little and kisses my shoulder. But, as soon as I'm about to let it out, a dark shadow comes up behind the man and taps him on the shoulder. For a minute I am relieved, but then i think what if it's a trap, what if this person is just like him and wants a turn. But, the shadow punches the guy as he turns around, the punch was so forcefull that the guy fell to the ground bringing me down with him. I decide to just lay there with my face in the grass. I figure it's probably best not to get in the way.

I hear silence and figure that the two people have left, but I feel a tap on my shoulder, I look up and there's a new man near me. He is very handsome. His blond hair falls into his gold eyes as he leans over me. His skin somewhat glows in the moonlight, yet I don't know how that's possible. He has a concerned smile on his lips. "Are you alright Miss?"

I am at a loss for words. I open and close my mouth for what seems a hundred times. Finally I say a feeble "Yes." He offers his hand and I take it shyly as he helps me up. He brings me back on to the pathway in the garden, no one still has noticed my absense which given the sircumstance, is probably good. my reputation would be ruined and I would destroy my family's along with it.

"May I ask why a young girl such as yourself is doing out here all alone with out a governess?" He says with a condescending smile.

I knew it was wrong for me to be alone without a chaperone because something like what just happened could happen, and it did. "I'm a rebel." This makes him laugh. "Truethfully?" I pause. "My governess is easily swayed and I said I would only be gone a minute, that I wanted to get a bit of fresh air."

"Ah, I kind of liked the rebel idea." He laughs. I blush for him to be so bold as this. If anyone saw us, god knows what kind of gossip would come from it. "Well, would you like to go for a walk with me." He says offering his arm for me to take. I pause unsure. "Only around the garden." He says reassuring me that he will not do the same as what the other man did to me.

I look back at the party. "I should really be getting back."

"Oh, come on, what happened to the rebel." I look at his arm once more.

"Alright."

"I am pleased to have you Miss..."

"Oh," I say startled, "How rude of me. I am Miss. Talia Young." I say curtsying. As soon as I'm down I feel his finger under my chin, he lifts my face up towards him and I straighten back out into a standing position.

"You don't have to do that for me." He says laughing. "I'm not royalty."

"But, it's ladylike and polite."

"Alright well if it's polite then I sall do it." He curtsys himself and I have to hold back the hysterics. "I am Mr. Chase Cullen." When he comes back up I can no longer hold the laughter. I laugh louder and longer than is accepted in society, but I can't help it, this new stranger that I've met is so funny, and queer, and mysterious, and ever so fasinating. I finally take his arm, but we don't walk far because a few yards away is a bench that we decide to sit on.

"So, Mr. Cullen, I don't believe I have ever seen you around."

"You most likely haven't my family and I have just moved here."

"Is your family here tonight?"

"No, just me, my parents would have come, but they were busy, but they told me to come. To socialize and let the fine people of London," He pauses and looks at me and of course i have to turn away to hide my blush, "know we can't wait to be a part of their parties and gossip."

"How old are you Mr. Cullen?"

"Eighteen."

"Ah, so you should have someone with you. Even though you are an adult, eighteen is a questionable age in society and is considered still too young to be without a chaperone." I chide jokingly.

"O really." He challenges, "and how old are you Miss. Young."

I have gotten myself into a trap here. "Fourteen." I mumble, hoping he doesn't hear me.

I look up when he hasn't responded. He has a confused smirk on his face. "What?" I ask.

"Well, first of all, you have no place telling me that I need a chaperone, for you are still just a child." That's a bit of a slap in the face to me, but he goes on. "But, I was for sure you were easily sixteen." He seems a little disapointed that I am not.

"Really, I look sixteen?" I'll take it as a very nice compliment. "And I am not a child." I say.

"yes you are, you're acting like one right now." He laughs, his laugh is so intriging even if he is laughing at my expense. "You are pouting." He points to my jutted out bottom lip, his finger grazes it and my mouth parts a bit from shock, but he being so bold does not pull away, he moves his hand across my cheek and down my neck. I shiver, but it is not from the cold or fright. He leans in closer, and my eyes instictively close.

"Talia!" I pull away quickly as does he. We sit as far apart as the bench will allow. "Talia where are you? It's time to go!" It is my governess Brigid.

I stand up to leave and Chase gets up as well. He takes my hand. "Well, it was nice meeting you Miss. Young, I hope to be seeing you again soon." He plants a light kiss on my hand and walks away. I am left in a daze and can't seem to find my bearings and move. I just met the funniest, most charming, and some what mysterious man in the world. And, he wants to see me again.

"TALIA!!!" I am pulled out of my thoughts and run off to my governess and family. I am scolded the whole way home by mother for running off like that, but I am not listening, i am remembering Chase Cullen and smile. I dress into my nightgown and slip into bed, but I cannot sleep, he is on my mind, and when I finally slip in to unconsciousness, he is in my dreams.