All right! I'm so happy with how this chapter turned out. So to clarify on the Kiel part if any of you get confused, I originally dated Kiel...Then said "I love you" to Dylas for a joke and actually happened. So...Yeah accidentally fell for Dylas afterwards because he grew on me and...Poor Kiel.

Oh well, enjoy the story!

Enter the Bookworm (Memories)

Kiel, what book are you reading now?

Oh you know, just another book on magic.

You really like to read don't you?

Yeah. Forte worries for me because I read so much.

I think it's cute.

Ailan sat up breathlessly in cold sweat. She shook her head, trying to clear her mind. Kiel. What connection did she have with Kiel in her dream? It felt like more than just friends…But she couldn't figure it out. Doesn't matter though…Hey…Vishnal isn't in my room today.

Ailan peered around, and found the timid, blue haired boy not in her room. She shook her head, and proceeded to get changed. Looking at a clock, she realized it was 5 in the morning. She woke up early, but she did't feel like going back to sleep. Let's go look around I guess…Ailan walked out and into the dorms.

The deserted hallways felt weird to Ailan. She was used to the randomness of the school…And figured that someone would be out. Imagine her surprise when she did encounter someone.

"Oh Ailan!" Forte turned around, her long blonde ponytail swishing behind her. Ailan should've guessed really. Forte was formidable in the basketball games they played sometimes after school. It looked like she was heading out to practice right then actually.

"Hi Forte. I woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep. Why are you up this early?" Ailan asked with curiosity.

"Well I was going out to practice shooting hoops. You know at the school festival there will be a basketball tournament, yes?" Forte looked at Ailan.

"Really? Wow what other schools are going to be there?" Ailan asked. Forte shrugged.

"Local schools. This is Selphia. The others I've never considered. Kiel probably knows. You should ask him later," Forte smiled at the mention of her brother, "Anyways, care to join me?"

"Sure I mean, I have nothing better to do," Ailan nodded her head and followed Forte out to the courts. The air was crisp and clear, although Ailan could smell a bit of rain. Rain huh? That'll be interesting…Ailan wondered what they would do on rainy days. Ailan also felt herself wondering about the other schools at the fair. What were they like?

Forte started shooting baskets, making most of them. Ailan joined in, making less than Forte, but not doing too badly.

"So our team is going to be us two, Amber, Margaret, and Dolce?" Ailan asked Forte. Forte nodded her head, shooting another three-pointer.

"We have a pretty good basketball team for the girls. The boys normally never win. We used to have Clorica, but she quit after the last tournament. Decided that sleep was more important…" Forte rolled her eyes. Ailan laughed as well, knowing full well how much Clorica loved to sleep. After about 10 more minutes of shooting, Forte headed back inside with Ailan and the ate food with everyone else.

—

Ailan worked with Arthur again on their project. Bringing some sewing kits, she went to work at making the bag look better. In and out and in and out…Ailan was entranced by her work. Arthur was cleaning off the other silverware, knowing that they would need it to be nice and shiny. While Ailan was working though, Dylas managed to tap her shoulder.

"Ah!" Ailan jumped, accidentally poking the needle into her finger, "Ow! Owww…" Ailan watched a little pool of blood blossomed on her finger. Dylas shook his head.

"Clumsy you've done it again," Dylas stated in a matter of fact way. Ailan growled.

"Here then! You try sewing!" she shoved the sewing kit at Dylas. The blood on her finger accidentally smeared onto the needle, and Dylas looked at it.

"Not if your blood is on it…" Dylas handed them back. Ailan sighed frustratedly and went to wash the needle and her hand. Dylas smirked behind her back. Leon noticed this with interest.

"You know, Dylas, it's not nice to tease girls!" he whispered into his ear, "Just go tell her you like her already! Oh oh I know! I'll set you up on a wonderful date!" Dylas turned beat red.

"You what-!" Leon covered his mouth.

"Alright, lunch today you're going to go out to the basketball courts. I'm gonna send Ailan out there to help me practice shooting, but I won't show up so you can shoot together! Aren't I nice?" Dylas was about to protest when Ailan came back and continued her work. Dylas watched her…Then thought about it…Then silently agreed with Leon in his head. Leon knew the answer then.

—

"Oh Ailan! So glad I caught you!" Leon waltzed up to the green-haired girl.

"Oh Leon. What is it?" she asked curiously. Leon has never talked to me before…What could he want?

"I just realized I really need help in practicing shooting baskets. I wish I could join the team, but I'm really bad! Please help me!" Leon grabbed Ailan's hands and begged. Ailan was taken aback.

"O-Okay okay! I'll help you just let go of my hands!" Ailan agreed quickly.

"Great! Meet ya out there!" Leon ran quickly, gave Dylas a thumbs up and disappeared soon afterwards. Dylas nodded, and walked out to the basketball courts. He ate his lunch against the pole, waiting for Ailan to show up.

"Dylas?" Ailan walked up with her lunch. She was surprised to see him there.

"Where's Leon?" she asked. Dylas shrugged his shoulders, knowing full well where the troublemaker was. Ailan just sighed and sat down next to Dylas. She took out her sandwich and started to eat. Dylas ate his sashimi silently as well. When she finished, Ailan stood up. Dylas followed her, picking up a basketball.

"Want to 1v1?" Dylas asked with his head turned away.

"Sure," Ailan nodded her head. And thus, it begun. Dylas started with the ball. This time intending to actually pull off the move like he wanted to last time. Ailan watched and watch, and clumsiness kicked in again. She lunged for it, unbalanced Dylas, and the two went down again.

"Ow…Deja vu…Ha ha ha…" Ailan nervously giggled. Dylas was beat red. How had she managed that again?! Was she seriously this clumsy?! But she was so close…So…Close…Dylas suddenly lost all train of thought as he leaned forward and kissed her. Ailan was taken aback. Her eyes went open in shock as a crimson color flooded across her face. When the kiss broke off Dylas quickly looked downward and helped Ailan up.

"S-Sorry I…" Dylas muttered and then turn and fled.

"Wait!" Ailan called but Dylas was already too far. Ailan touched her lips gently with her hand, a smile suddenly forming on them. He's so awkward…But so cute…

—

Porcoline had them cooking again in class. Dylas wouldn't make eye contact with Ailan. Every time she accidentally bumped shoulders or touched him he would blush red and jerk away. Ailan found it so fun to "accidentally" bump him just to get a reaction out of him. Leon watched from his station with Kiel, and fist pumped, knowing that he had done it.

"Dylas, do you think you could hand me that whisk so I can make the whip cream?" Ailan asked. Dylas nodded, and quietly handed her the whisk. Ailan was whisking so hard that she accidentally got some on her nose. She was going to wipe it off when Dylas stopped her. Without another word, he gently leaned in and licked it off, then turned away and said nothing else. Ailan also quietly went back to her work, and surprisingly, they made a perfect banana split without any screw-ups.

—

"Okay class! Today we're going to solve the mysteries of the past with a partner! Ailan you're with Kiel…" As Illuminata listed off more pairs. Xender ended up with Amber. The little green haired girl bounced around while still reading her textbook. Ailan laughed and went to go find Kiel.

"So we have to find clues for something?" she asked. Kiel nodded, showing her the assignment. It was a simple worksheet asking simple questions. Kiel and Ailan finished it in a second. It wasn't hard at all. So Ailan played with her pencil while Kiel read a little more. When she dropped it, she reached for it. Kiel noticing it too, bent down as well. The two accidentally brushed hands.

Kiel…I love you…

Ailan's head was splitting with pain. Kiel also clutched his head.

And I love you lots as well! Ailan!

Do you really love me Ailan?

Of course Kiel!

A wave of emotions washed over Ailan. Happiness. Sadness. Anger. Remorse. Kiel must've been feeling the same thing because both were crying now. Tears rolled down their faces as they looked at one another. Nothing need to be said. There was much more behind everything than Ailan could even imagine. And yet, she still forgot the next moment after, her hands touching her wet cheeks.

"Kiel…Why was I crying?"

"Ailan…Why was I crying?"

"I don't know…"

"I don't know…"

Ailan and Kiel reached a stalemate, only able to sit and wonder about what had transpired between them.

—

After school, Ailan joined the others to play basketball again. With the festival only a day away, it only gave them two more practices times. Today and tomorrow. Ailan was just worried about doing well. According to Kiel, all the other school's teams were just as good. Especially the Sharance School Team. They were amazing. Ailan hoped that she would be able to match all of the great talent.

"Alright! We're creaming the boys again!" Forte smiled. 72 - 0. Literally they were creaming the boys. Doug was again trying to understand why their team wasn't winning.

"SERIOUSLY? DO YOU GUYS LIKE THEM THAT MUCH?" Doug sighed. They all thought for a moment.

"Yep," Dylas responded without hesitation.

"Uh-huh," Xender soon followed afterwards.

"Amber's cute…" Kiel smiled.

"Doug maybe you should give up on this one…" Vishnal rubbed the back of his head nervously.

"Fine. FINE! If you want then just go ask them out to the festival already!" he turned his back on them. Dylas, Xender, Kiel, and Vishnal looked at one another, then separated easily.

—

Dylas walked up to Ailan, a grin on his face. Ailan was curious. He was grinning? His grin was scary but that's okay. He was cute.

"Hey."

"Hey. Are we still playing or-"

"Wanna go out with me on the day of the festival…You know…hang out?" Ailan was taken aback. He was so sure this time, not blushing.

"Oh well…Hmm…I don't think I'm going with anyone yet…" Dylas was now blushing at this point, Ailan pushing all the right buttons.

"Just get to the point! Will you or-"

"Of course I will," Ailan smiled. Dylas looked at her for a moment, then the same grin appeared on his face. Ailan laughed, and pounced on him, kissing him again. Dylas blushed, but let it happen, his eyes closing as he savored it.

—

Xender went up to Dolce, and gently tapped her shoulder.

"Hmm? Yes?" Dolce looked at him. Xender gave a small smile.

"Care to join me in the festival?" Xender asked. Dolce also smiled a little, blushing a bit.

"I would love to…But not because I like you or anything," Dolce added with a wink. Xender returned the wink as the two started to walk off and make plans.

—

"Hey Amber!" Kiel called to the cheery girl. She turned and tilted her head.

"Hi Kiel! What is it?" Amber asked.

"Wanna go to the festival and hang out with me?" Kiel asked with a childish smile.

"Going to a festival? Sounds fun already! Yay~!" Amber hopped up and down in happiness. Kiel, feeling the same, hopped up and down as well. Together they sang off key tunes and spun around like there was no tomorrow.

—

"Hey…Clorica…" Vishnal walked up to his sleeping companion. Clorica barely woke up when she heard Vishnal though.

"Mm…hmm?" she muttered sleepily.

"Wanna go to the festival together?" he asked hopefully.

"Uh…*snore*…" Clorica slept. Vishnal sighed, and shook her awake again.

"CLORICA WILL YOU GO WITH ME OR NOT?" he tried yelling to get her awake.

"Ah! Of course!" Clorica regained consciousness and nodded her head vigorously. Vishnal then smiled, and Clorica fell asleep again, resting on Vishnal's shoulder.

—

Arthur looked out the window thoughtfully as he worked through papers in the library. He wasn't entirely sure what everyone was doing, but it looked like they were asking people to the festival. Too bad he would be too busy to hang out.

Xiao Pai was in one corner of the room putting books away. She was doing fine until she slipped, and went crashing down with a ton of books.

"Ah! My clumsiness got to me again!" Xiao Pai rubbed the back of her head. Arthur quickly hurried over to see if she was okay.

"Xiao Pai, are you all right?" Arthur asked. Xiao Pai nodded her head, still wincing a bit at the fall. Then she suddenly jumped up.

"Oh oh! I was going to ask, Arthur, if you wanted to go to the festival tomorrow with me. Mama says that it would be nice to go with someone else, especially because there are fireworks and all. So what do you say?" Xiao Pai looked at him. Arthur was stunned. He didn't think that anyone would ask him, let alone a girl ask him.

"I…Uh…Sure," Arthur finally replied. Xiao Pai smiled.

"Great! Now if you could help me put all these books away…" Xiao Pai motioned to the clutter of books at her feet. Arthur nodded, and the two put by books together.

—

"Forte," Leon called to the blonde. She turned around, huffing at the sight of him.

"Oh it's you, Troublemaker. Taught any more bad habits to my brother yet?" Forte crossed her arms.

"Nope. Not besides the 'How to Get a Girl' lessons, which he now has a date for the festival," Leon replied indifferently.

"You did what?! And Kiel has a what?!" Forte yelled at Leon.

"Hey hey take it easy. Just look at him," Leon pointed to Amber and Kiel dancing around still. Forte watched them, and small smile forming on her lips when she saw her brother happy.

"Aww…You care for your brother so much…" Leon winked. Forte blushed.

"I just worry about him!" she said defensively. Leon laughed at this.

"All right, all right. On that note, since he's got a date…Wanna go to the festival with me?" Leon's tail flicked a bit.

"Huh? Why should I go with you! You insolent, annoying troublemaker!"

"I'm taking that as a yes. See you at the festival around…10 after we sell all our items," Leon then walked off with a wave of his hand.

"WAIT! I'M NOT FINISHED WITH YOU!" Forte yelled after him.

—

Doug gave a depressed sigh. Margaret walked over to him to see what was wrong.

"Hi Doug. Why so down?" Margaret asked.

"All the guys are getting so lovey-dovey with the girls…" Doug frowned. Margaret laughed.

"Boys will be boys you know that much, and hey, maybe going to the festival with someone isn't that bad of an idea," Margaret tried to reason with Doug. Doug thought about it for a moment, and nodded his head.

"Maybe you're right…Oh are you going to the festival with anyone?" Doug asked. Margaret blushed.

"M-Me? N-No…"

"Great! We can go together!" Doug grinned. Margaret smiled as well, glad that Doug was happy about it.

—

With all the dates settled and done, everyone went to their rooms feeling happy and excited for the day after tomorrow, where they could have fun with their friends and dates.