Okay, so first of all: Sorry that it's taken me so long to update. I was very sick and wasn't able to write. I'm feeling better recently, and I hope it stays that way, so I can update more regularly.

Enjoy the story.

The next time I saw Dustfinger, it was me who avoided him. He wanted to talk to me after breakfast, but I told him that I had a lot of studying to do. The truth was I didn't want to hear him tell me the truth. That he loved my mother.

Dustfinger looked at me as if he knew. I bet he probably did. He knew I was running from him, and I knew he wasn't going to let me run for too long. So I quickly went back to my room, picking up my math book from the floor and letting myself fall on my bed.

I opened it, slowly flipping through the pages, looking for something that I could study. Or at least pretend to study. My thoughts were all circling around Dustfinger. I had never felt this stupid.

But what if I was wrong? What if I was just being paranoid, and childish? Maybe he had just realized that it wasn't the time. Or he just didn't like me in that way.

A knock on the door let me snap back into the real world. I knew who it was. Who else could it be? I could almost picture Dustfinger standing on the other side of the door, his head slightly bowed, unsure of what he was supposed to do or say.

After a deep breath, I said "Come in." I watched as the door slowly opened, before Dustfinger slipped in and closed it behind himself.

"Hey." he said, an awkward smile on his face. He was uncomfortable, I could tell by the way he had his hands buried in his pockets.

"Hey." I answered, slowly closing the book lying in front of me.

"Meggie... I'm sorry." he said, sitting down on my bed. I didn't know why, but I felt like scooting away from him. It was weird, normally I wanted to be as close to him as I could, but right now it felt wrong.

"About what?" I asked, my voice high and pressed. "For running out on me or using me as an replacement for my mom?"

Dustfinger's face froze. "You think that's the reason I ran?" he asked, his voice so cold it sent chills up my back. He slowly stood up, and I wanted to pull him back. But I couldn't. Somehow my body didn't move.

"Is there another explanation?" I asked, surprised at how mean my voice sounded. I didn't know I could sound so... malicious.

Dustfinger didn't turn to look at me. He didn't speak. He starred at the door. Maybe he was thinking about leaving. Run from me as he ran from everything in life that was too complicated. I watched his back, waiting to see what he would do.

Prove yourself. Prove you love me. Stay, and put up with me.

Dustfinger stood there for another minute before he turned around and looked at me. I felt triumph. I had made him do something that was against his nature. I had the power to make him stay.

I'm a horrible person. The thought shot through my head before I could stop it. Was I really such a beast? Trying to control him? Show how much power I had over him, and hurting him in the progress, just to prove to myself that he really cared?

"You've got it all wrong Meggie." he finally said, running his slender fingers through his hair. "Of course you're not the replacement for your mother. I love you, and you alone."

His words were like magic, healing an aching wound that had hurt my heart all along. I hadn't even noticed it until he had healed it. I had been blind.

But still I couldn't bring myself to forgive him, not just yet. I had to hear one more thing.

"Then why did you run?" Dustfinger gave a bitter laugh, and I looked at him puzzled. Had I said something funny?

"Meggie, it's so obvious I can't blame you for not seeing." he said, sitting down on the bed again, and this time I moved towards him. I wanted to know what I didn't see.

"Tell me." I demanded, and stared at him.

"Oh Meggie. You are so... naive." he sighted. "It's nothing bad. It's just... I'm an old man, and you are such a pure little girl. I don't want to take your innocence. It's just not right. And when you stand there, undressed... I just can't do that to you Meggie."

It took me a few seconds to understand what he was saying. It made me happy. Very happy.

"I love you." I simply said, giving him a sweet kiss. He was being so sweet, thinking about nobody but me. He loved me. He had proved it.

"I love you too." he answered, a little surprised by my reaction. "I hope you can somehow... understand."

"I can. I'll be good and wait until I'm 18 if you want me to." I said, leaning against his chest. "But you don't have to hold back because of me." I could feel myself blush. When had I started being so blunt?

"Meggie..." was all Dustfinger said, before he gently wrapped his arm around my shoulder, holding me close.

I giggled a little, and looked up at Dustfinger. He was smiling, and his smile made me smile. I had never been this happy, in my whole life.

"So, the prom is this Friday, right?" Dustfinger asked, not looking so happy anymore.

"Yeah." I answered, giving him a small kiss. I had to calm him down... I hated it when he was so upset. "But I promise, nothing will happen."

Dustfinger gave a slight nod, and then slowly and unwillingly let go of me.

"What are you doing?" I asked, pouting a little. Dustfinger gave me one of his crooked smiles, that made me feel like I was 10 again, and had no idea what the hell was going on.

"I better get going now. Your parents are waiting for me downstairs. They'll get suspicious if I stay up here for too long." I knew he was right.

"I hate that we have to keep this a secret." I said, sighting and laying down on my bed again.

"So do I, but until you are off age, we don't have a choice." he answered, kneeling down beside me. He slowly took my hand into his, and placed a soft kiss on the back of my hand. "And then, who knows..."

I felt like I had a heart attack. Was he actually implying what I though he was?! There was no way.

Dustfinger gave a small chuckle, noticing my confusion, and then stood up.

"I will see you soon princess." he said, and then left. I looked after him for a while, sighting heavily. Everything was such a secret... suddenly my cell rang. Quickly jumping up I had it in my hands only seconds later, and answered.

"Hello?"

"Meggie, do you think I should dye my hair?" Alice asked. I blinked.

"Why would you want to do that?" I slowly sat back down on my bed.

"Well, you know... I want to look special for the prom. And I've always had black hair So maybe, I thought, I could dye it blond. You know, like yours?"

There it was. The prom. The source of all evil. At least, that was my opinion.

"Alice, look. I love your black hair. It's shiny and beautiful, and it looks really good with your eyes. You know black and blue look awesome together. And if you died it blond, your skin would look weird, because your so pale. Plus, you'd have to bleach your hair, and that would just break it."

"Hm. Maybe your right." she said, sighting a little. "Soo, how's it going with our best friend?"

"...Tell me the truth, that's why you called, didn't you?" I asked, slightly frowning.

"Hell yeah. So, give me all the details."

So, I told her about the fight, and that we made up.

"So much drama." she said, and I could practically see her shaking her head.

"And you love it, admit it." I answered, grinning a little.

"It's oh so beautiful." she answered, laughing. "You think he'll follow you to the prom?"

I hadn't even thought of that.

"I don't think so. It's not like he could watch me, he can't get inside." I said, trying to get rid of the worry I now felt.

"We're talking about Dustfinger, remember? The guy that appears out of nowhere, walks so fast and so quiet that nobody ever notices, and disappears into thin air when there's danger." Alice threw in.

...Damn, I was screwed.

"You really think he'd follow me?" I asked.

"I really think I will." Dustfinger suddenly said, his face right next to mine.

He caught me off guard, I screamed, and dropped my cell. But even with the cell lying on the floor, I could still hear Alice scream.

Dustfinger starred at me, and then at the phone, before bursting into laughter.

"You'd think you two would have gotten used to that now." he snickered, slowly sitting down on my bed.

"Oh you are such a showoff." I mumbled, picking up the phone and sitting down next to him. "Okay Alice. I'll call you later about the prom-stuff."

"Okay. Have fun with loverboy." then she hung up.

"One day..." I mumbled, looking back at him "I'm going to kill both of you. Stop sneaking up on me like that! I'm gonna die of a heart attack if you keep going like this."

"Naw, you're young. You'll make it." he said, winking at me. I rolled my eye's, and then snuggled up to his chest. "I'll try not to do it again. But I was already being loud."

"Oh sush. Don't show off. Kiss me." I said, giving him a cheeky smile. He gently brought his lips to mine, kissing me softly. I gave a sigh, and snuggled up against him.

"I missed you." I said, smiling a little.

"I wasn't even gone 15 minutes." he answered, laughing.

"I don't care. I missed you."

He smiled.

"I missed you too. You feel like going on an adventure tonight?" he then asked. "I promise you'll like it."

I gave a huge smile.

"Sure! When?"

"I'll pick you up at midnight princess. Until then, I've got some things too do. I'll see you then." and with that, once again, he disappeared.