This chapter is dedicated to Pink-Pencil-Girl303, for giving me the idea of writing a prologue to Tintin and the Prophecy Stone to sort of explain it all :)

"You can dream, create and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it takes PEOPLE to make that dream a reality." ~Walt Disney

Prologue
Through The Eyes of Tintin

"Hey," I looked up to see my best friend, Nollie, standing in the door to my office.

"Oh, hello there, Noll. Is everything al right?"

"Charlotte sent me another letter." Her face fell.

"More gloating? Nollie, why do you even like that girl? All she does is make fun of you and brag about how rich she is!"

"I know, but when she's not bragging or teasing me, she's really fun to be around. She took me to see my first movie."

"What's the letter say?" She handed the letter to me and I read it.

Dear Nollie,

I am in Tokyo with my Father. This trip is strictly business for him, but all fun for me. I've met so many new friends, and, of course, boys! A French boy named Philippe is here so, as they say in France, he's my new 'beau'!

When I come back in June you can meet him—if you're not too poor for him!

Maybe I'll bring you something back—if you can pay me in Japanese money! …Oh, what a shame. You're not rich. Sorry about that. Looks like you can't have any Japanese couture.

Love,

Charlotte E. Blakesfield

"What that rich snob," I muttered, handing it back to her. She sniffed and wiped a tear from her cheek. "Oh, Nollie, don't cry," I got up and hugged her with one arm, "Just forget about it. You don't need a friend like her, someone who makes fun of you day in and day out, who gloats about how amazing their life is—you don't need it."

"I know, but that means I only have one friend," she said slowly.

"Snowy's your friend, too," I put in. She smiled and looked down at the little terrier.

"Oh yes he is," she cooed, getting down at his level. I chuckled.

"Come on, I'll have Emilie make us some coffee." I led her downstairs and into the parlor. She turned on the radio and a slow jazz song was playing. She picked up Snowy and danced him around the room.

I brought out the tray holding the two coffee cups and stopped. My heart pounded as I watched her dancing with Snowy, her cheek against his white head, swaying to the music. She looked beautiful.

But wait, beautiful? Something wasn't right here. I put the coffee tray down and went upstairs. I stood there in my office, confused. I thought about Nollie and butterflies fluttered in my stomach. I never had felt this way about anyone before… I didn't understand it at all.

I was so consumed from my confused feelings I knocked over a lamp, whacking it to the floor with a loud crash. I hurried to pick it up, hoping that Nollie didn't hear it—

"What was that?" I heard a small voice from behind me and I didn't answer her. "Tintin, is everything okay?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't it be?" I answered loudly, and I saw her pull back from my tone. She hated being yelled at because of her aunt, I remembered. "Sorry," I said, facing her, "Everything's fine, Noll. Go back downstairs." She nodded, and I saw her eyes flicker. What was that—disbelief? Fear? I couldn't tell.

After she was gone, I scrambled over to the window. So I was in love with Nollie now. All right, I could live with that. But it would have to be a solo feeling, a crush almost… Like Nollie could ever love me in return. She was too good for me and I knew it. She deserved someone better, someone who didn't know how to use every weapon in the book, someone who would become a lawyer someday and could support her.

But with Nollie being my best friend… I knew it would be hard to hide from her.