Fourteen year old Ella rushed across the room with a tray of drinks balanced on her right hand. The restaurant was filled with people talking about life, the weather, their children or anything else that came to mind. It was one of their busiest times of the day. Ella regretting taking the job when this time of day arrived. She hurried over to her table and brought her tray down in front of her.

"Sorry for the wait, terribly sorry!" She quickly set the mugs of drink on the wooden table. The customers took their drinks right away, shooting her glances that sent shivers up her spine before shaking their heads and taking a sip of the liquids. She rolled the tray under her arm and walked back to the kitchen. She leaned against the wall and sighed to the heavens. She gave the cook several pieces of parchment filled with orders and she walked back outside to survey her other tables. When she saw that one family had left, she pulled out a rag from her apron, dipped it in a bucket close by and began to wipe it off. When she finished, she turned back again, but someone grabbed her shoulders. She turned around flinging her right hand to her left hip realizing that there wasn't a sword there and that it was only Payton.

"You know I hate it when you do that!"

"That's the reason I do it, Ella."

"Naturally." Ella started to untie her apron from around her dress. "Are you here to kidnap me and take me home?" Payton was silent. "PAYTON!"

"Yes! Calm down, Ella. Let's get out of here. Mother and father are probably just leaving Dr. Redders's office, and if we don't get home before they do…" Ella and Payton widened their eyes and stepped back a bit without losing their gaze with each other.

"Never mind! Let's Go!" they shouted in unison, but over the noise of the other customers, they weren't heard as much as they would in the middle of town. Payton and Ella giggled as they quoted their grandpa Will from a story they had heard. Ella pushed the door to the kitchen open before throwing her apron to her night shift girl and running out the door with Payton.

The sun was setting over the sea as they walked down the street. Payton's skirt dragged on the dirt road but she didn't care. She was thinking about what had happened earlier that day. She had been walking to get Ella from work when she saw Thomas, the boy who had been on her mind since she was 10 years old. He was the son of a Navy officer so his clothes were always neat, along with his dashing blond hair, which was parted on the side. He was tall, about 6 ft, but only about 4 inches taller than herself and Ella. Payton never talked to him but that all changed that day.

That night at dinner, Ella spoke up since no one else did.

"Mr. Gillette stopped in today, mama." Brianna looked up from her plate.

"Oh really? What is he doing at Robin's?"

"He just wanted to talk for a bit and have a bit of tea."

"I had no idea that Robin's restaurant sold tea!"

"Well now you know, mama! He came in and I don't even think he knew I worked there." Ella's voice was high pitched and almost baby-like when she got excited. Payton looked at her with disinterest. Most of the time, around her family, Payton didn't smile or show much emotion. It was almost like she was concentrating on something even time she was with her parents.

Ella and Payton laid in Ella bed with a vibrantly colored quilt over them. A single candle sat on the nightstand, illuminating that corner of the room. The quilt was stitched by Grandma Elizabeth when they were fist born as their baby quilt, yet it was big enough to cover the full sized beds they had. Since they didn't want to get into a conflict, the quilt didn't remain in Ella's or Payton's bedroom. It was stored on a shelf down the hall and was only pulled out at night when the girls did their night talks.

Payton was half asleep.

"Thomas is just what a young man ought to be…sensible…good humored…"

"Handsome…conveniently rich!" Ella added smiling.

"You know very well I don't believe dating should be driven by lots of money!"

"I agree entirely!" Ella said in the middle of Payton's objection. "Only the deepest love will persuade me into dating and matrimony which is why I will end up an old maid."

"Do you really think he liked me, Ella?"

"Payton, from what you told me, he probably danced with you most of the day and stared at you for the rest of it." Payton smiled. "But I give you leave to like him, you could like many a stupider person. Now you're a great deal too apt to like people in general you know. You need to like people that no one else sees."

"Naturally, but that's probably because I'm different."

"I swear Payton, in the centuries to come I bet there will only be a handful of girls like you."

"I would guess so."

"If you could name that group of people, what would you call them, Tonboys?"

"No…" Payton said smiling and letting out a sigh. "Tomboys."