"GET BACK HERE, RAT!"

I ducked into the hallway, heart pounding, and my hands empty. My face was hidden, but I can't be sure that he couldn't identify me. How could I have been so careless? Right in the middle of swiping chocolate, I had let my thoughts distract me. BIG MISTAKE. Now I was going to suffer because of it. The cook had wanted the thief's HEAD for stealing, and now he knows which neck to aim for.

After I knew I'd lost him, I ran back to the girl's quarters and found a hiding place. If I could turn back time, I would have never tried to steal in the first place. It just reminded me of him, of when we met. He was leaving today, I knew. Everything's going so wrong today. It just hurt to think about it all.

I sat that way for a couple hours, until I heard Lauren's voice. "Dako, I know you're there. Tin Man wants to see you." Panic seized me. Tin Man wasn't cruel, but the General would be out for my blood knowing I had acted out of line. Believe me, he knew now.

Slowly, I crawled out of my hiding place and I ventured to the main hall, where I knew I'd meet him.

Surprisingly, the look on Tin Man's face told me I wasn't in any trouble, and Scarecrow was with him. He looked stressed, though what for? I noticed I was staring, and I switched my gaze back at Tin Man. "Am I in trouble?" I asked.

"No, no trouble. My friend here just wants to ask you something."

The room was silent for a moment, then Tin Man spoke.

"I'll leave you two alone for a bit." He headed to the door.

….

I panicked when Tin Man left us. Why did I have to do this alone? It was going to go wrong somehow, I just knew it. I anxiously glanced up at Dakota, and took a tentative step forward. Almost immediately, I tripped over my feet. Luckily, Dakota caught me just in time, saving me from falling flat on my face.

I hadn't stumbled like this ever since Dorothy was here.

"Are you okay?" Dakota asked. I nodded bleakly, not meeting her gaze. Silently, she helped me stand.

"Tin Man said you were here to ask me something. What was it?"

"Um..." I looked up, and met her eyes. Instead of mint, they now seemed to glow like emeralds. The sight filled me with courage.

"I remember you said you always wanted to see the Emerald City. In honor of Oz's 100th birthday, Ozma is holding a celebratory ball. Since I'm attending, maybe you could come along with me?"

Dakota lit up. "Really?"

I smiled.

"Thank you so much!" Then her face fell. "Though I can't go. The General wouldn't want me away for so long."

"Nick's already discussed it with him. You're free to go, if you want."

"Of COURSE I'd love to go. I can't believe I'll finally get to see the Emerald City!"

"Well, you'd better start packing, we're leaving in a couple of hours."

We hugged, and Dakota ran off. For the rest of the day, I had a spring in my step. Later on, in the evening, we boarded the train for the Emerald City.

After all the good byes, we got to our seats, and the train rumbled to life, carrying us to our destination.

"When you said Nick had discussed it with the General, who was Nick?" Dakota inquired. "The Tin Man. Before he was tin, he was a man named Nick Chopper."

"Really? I never knew. I just assumed he was named that. Did you ever have a name?"

"Nope."

"Oh."

Gradually, she rested her head on my shoulder, and I felt my heart move to my throat.

"I can't wait to see the city. It's going to be so amazing. Thank you for inviting me."

"No problem."

We stayed like that for a while, until Dakota slumped against the window, sound asleep. Now that she was sound asleep, I could look at her and not worry about staring at her. It was odd, seeing her in traveling clothes and not a Winkie uniform. She still had the braid in her hair, as if she had never left the castle. Still, she looked beautiful. Some part of me wished her head was still on my shoulder. I sighed, and brushed a stray wisp of hair out of her face. Finally, I slid the brim of my hat over my eyes, and I fell asleep.

That night, I dreamed of emerald green eyes.

I'm baaaaack! Please read and review.