Hello hello, hope you all enjoy this chapter if you find it to your amusement go ahead and play First Date by Blink 182 once the date part starts :

"What're you talking about she's gorgeous."

"Yeah whatever you say mate." I rolled my eyes as he began flirting shamelessly with the poor girl checking our things out.

I don't know how he does it…Zahir got a new record today as he walked through the door of the market; he got three numbers.

I scowled thoughtfully at the picture in front of me. The eyes of my picture remained blank. I still have four days until my next art class with Professor Queenscove, of course maybe seeing Keladry would give me some inspiration I thought smiling. I laid the charcoal down by the easel and walked out of my meticulous room that would make a general in the army proud, but as soon as I went into the kitchen and living room a mess met my eyes.

I winced when I saw the spilled milk and cereal on the carpet,' this is why I never let Zahir get sugar cereal; at least I don't have to worry about him being hyper. The poor cross-country team will have to deal with him.' I chuckled at the thought, but frowned as I saw the mess he had made. How can someone just leave a mess behind? My whole life I had been taught to clean up after myself and if need be others. I guess my parents influenced me that much, I can't say it's a good thing though.

I looked up thoughtfully and saw that the television was on news broadcast. I watched for a moment as Raoul Malorie and his famous wife co-host, Buri, spoke about yet another celebrity break up between Shinkokami and Roald. Both had been introduced during a movie premier that Roald was starring in, the two had seemed to hit it off, but it looked like Roald was starting to get cold feet as questions of engagement kept popping up from the press.

I rolled my eyes in disgust, it's like the celebrities of Corus have nothing better to do than to grab attention from anyone who will listen…despicable. And yet here I am listening to it, I chuckled and switched the channel to sports and I heard and an announcer shout in the boxing match," It a KO! Alanna Trebond has knocked out Josianne-"

I flipped the channel bored and it flipped to an outdoor channel it seemed that someone was fishing and a slow monotone voice came on," So we are just going to put this worm on and cast it…ready? Here we go." I watched as the hook and worm fell into the water with a small plop and turned the channel back to the boxing.

It seemed the small fiery redheaded woman was bouncing around with her hands raised in the air, behind her a beautiful girl with dark crimson hair sported a bruise across her delicate cheekbone. My eyes widened in shock as she suddenly jumped the winner from behind and began landing punches on the smaller girl. I grinned, 'cat fight,' I watched in amusement as the shorter girl, her name was Alanna I believe, began to turn the small fight. Alanna skillfully got out of the other girl's hold and kicked her stomach. The girl Josianne staggered and Alanna again cut her punch across the same cheekbone and the girl blacked out. I grinned in spite of myself and saw the time on the clock and it slid the grin off my face. I ran to my room to get ready, but made sure I didn't step into the spilled milk.

((()))((()))((()))((())) Daine, Tobe, Numair ((()))((()))((()))((()))

I knocked smoothly on the door and whistled to myself as I waited for someone to answer. My whistling stopped as a man that looked to be the age of a teacher answered. He had raven colored hair and the darkest eyes I had ever seen, and to look into his eyes I had to crane my neck rather painfully." You must be here for Kel."

I growled under my breath as I heard Keladry's pet name. The man merely raised a brow at my behavior," Yes I am here to see Keladry." He nodded his head before yelling Kel over his shoulder, that cocky grin told me that the bugger was doing it on purpose. I could feel the hair on the back of my neck bristling as I tried to control my agitation. I heard laughter behind the door and eventually Keladry emerged from the dorm room with her friend Daine in tow.

In her hands appeared to be two cats as Daine held a small dog," Hello love." The mystery man said to Daine before giving her a light kiss.

"So you must be Tobe?" I attempted. The man chuckled deeply and I hoped Keladry didn't spend too much time with this man, I heard two answers come from Daine and Tobe, no and a yes. The girl glared at the man," Yes well it was nice to meet you…uh whoever you are." I looked over to Keladry," You ready?"

"Yes let's get this over with." She closed the door behind her and I smirked as I heard the couple inside begin to bicker.

"Oh this is for you, beautiful flower for a beautiful lady," I handed her the rose and I saw her eyes soften for a bit before they became neutral once more.

"And where am I supposed to put it?"

"Uh well…I guess I hadn't thought that far…"

"I'll be right back." The confounded girl opened the door once more and I heard a snicker when the door opened and Keladry yelled," Shut up Numair you're not helping." 'Well at least I know the guy's name…but why would Daine be with someone so old when she has that lad Tobe? Well Kel did say they were best friends and what if Numair was actually a teacher here…?' My thinking got interrupted as Keladry came back out with a scowl on her face," So where are we going?"

"I told you it's a surprise."

She glared at me," I told you that I hated surprises."

'Does this girl not have a soft spot in her body?' "Well that's just too bad isn't it? Here put this blindfold on."

I held out a navy blue cloth and she began to backup," Oh no you don't, I don't trust you that much, or for that matter at all."

"But it'll ruin the surprise…" I tried to put a pouty face on, but it didn't seem to make her even waver.

"Well it's a good thing I don't like surprises then, huh?"

"Fine."

"Fine."

"Let's go."

"Fine." I walked off and followed behind me.' This isn't exactly how I had pictured this going. Of course I had thought that when I gave her flowers she would have fallen for the old Stone charm but apparently that was just a day dream I had also imagined us walking there holding hands and now we aren't even hardly walking together. Perfect…'

The girl followed behind me and without conversation we briskly made our way out of the building. I held the door open with a charming smile, but it was met with Keladry rolling her eyes at me. The bitter cold air made me shudder, but Keladry just looked as impassive as usual," Which way?"

"Oh, well this way," and that's when our conversation ended. I tried unsuccessfully to start a conversation about the weather, but her response was a cold shoulder. Ouch. I sighed with relief as I saw our destination coming into view. The uncomfortable silence was unnerving. I was used to dates being filled with talking especially from the side of the girl I was dating. Honestly I rarely had to initiate anything except insert little responses every now and then. I wasn't too open of a person so it's not like I could really start the conversations. Well I could but uh my attempts are very good, I seem to always start rambling about the weather or some other rubbish.

I looked over at the formidable girl that I was on a date with. She wore baggy jeans and a black hoodie sweatshirt. Around the top of her honey colored tresses was a black beanie with a small rim in the front. Her cheeks were flushed, from the cold I assume, and her brilliant hazel eyes were dull with no emotion. The bright lights glistened over the frozen ice rink and I saw her eyes widen when she realized where we are going," You have got to be joking…" she scoffed and I couldn't help but wince.

I had taken quite a few girls to ice skating rinks back in high school and it had always been a success, apparently she was again different," C'mon give it a chance."

"I don't skate," she replied with a dark scowl.

"Well neither do I, you'll be able to laugh at me if you come."

I smiled innocently and Keladry seemed to contemplate this until saying," I can watch from the outside. That way I can see you fall and I don't embarrass myself."

"But there is hardly anyone here; you'll never see those people again."

"So they'll still get a laugh."

"But you can laugh when they fall."

"Keladry glared," You don't know when to give up do you?"

I smiled charmingly," Failure is not an option."

She threw hands up in disgust," Fine, fine I'll go, but if I fall I'm taking you down with me."

I held out my hand for her to take, but all she did was scowl thoughtfully. For a second I thought she would spit on my hand, but she began to walk towards the window where we would rent our skates. Keladry reached the see-through window and smiled kindly to the woman. Keladry opened her mouth to speak, but I interrupted her to say," Two ice skates please." I saw at the corner of my eye that Keladry's hazel eyes had narrowed and I glanced at her nervously," Something wrong love?"

Her nostrils flared.

Was she going to explode?

"You…you…-"

"-Kind gentleman?" I attempted.

She shook her head and it seemed as if some anger had left her," One I'm paying for myself and two don't ever call me love again. My name is Keladry."

"Well I'm sorry I was trying to be a good guy and pay for you. Its tradition."

"Well I don't follow tradition, I pay for myself." Her voice remained calm, but her eyes showed the unseen anger. She turned to the woman who looked confused and said curtly," One pair of skates."

I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes and got my own, a size twelve," You know what they say about men with big feet don't you?"

I grinned trying to lighten the mood. Keladry snorted at my attempt," They have big toes."

"Well there's that too…" I swiped my hair out of my eyes and gestured that we sit on a bench. Without conversing we simultaneously sipped on our ice skates," You ready?"

"Just as ready as I am to see my funeral happen," was the drawled response. We wobbled over to the rink and she tentatively took a step on the ice, and with more confidence hit the ice," So what are you waiting for Mr. Stone." Her voice was filled with mocking at my hesitance. I suppressed the urge to glare at the girl who was watching me, waiting for me to slip up, quite literally really. I struck the ice and looked like a newborn foal that had just taken his first steps," What's this, the almighty Joren Stone cannot skate?"

"I can too," I muttered crossly as I clung onto the outside wall of the rink.

"Let's go then." I glared as she skated off appearing to be a natural and I was stuck hanging onto a wall.

"This isn't going how I planned it at all." I had ice skated before numerous times, but I had never ice skated in these girl skates. I need my manly hockey skates without this confounded toe stop. The damn thing kept tripping me up once I got the confidence to let go of the wall. I scowled thoughtfully at the skates and watched as Keladry started her third lap. Blasted girl…not having had made much progress I turned back and went to the girl we had gotten our skates from," Do you by chance have hockey blades?"

"Yeah we do, all you had to do was ask. That way you wouldn't have embarrassed yourself in front of your girlfriend."

"Well you see she's not really my girlfriend, well yet."

"Really? I swear you act like an old married couple. Well good luck anyways." She handed the blades to me.

"Thanks-" I looked on her name tag," Lalasa." I stopped momentarily to pull on the new skates and went to the ice with new found confidence.

"You finally ready Stone?" In response I stepped onto the ice and skated towards her," Very impressive," she drawled.

"So where did you learn to skate?" My older brother Anders taught me, since we had an old pond by our farm."

"Country girl eh?"

"I guess you could say that."

"So what are you doing here?"

Keladry grimaced, and skated for awhile without responding," Well I was one of the lucky ones to get out." She stopped and I followed suit making a cutting motion.

"What do you mean by that?" The girl fidgeted on the ice, seeming to forget where she was and it seemed in slow motion she lost her balance. I blinked and leapt to try and save her. I barely caught her arms and saved Keladry from her humiliating fall. I pulled the girl up and her shaky legs just barely kept her body up. Her arms hung around my neck just trying to keep herself from falling," You okay?"

I tried to control my breath, but I couldn't suppress how high it had gotten. If a beautiful girl dropped into your arms and was hanging on you, what would you do? Let's just say I'm happy I wore layers or else this could have been a very embarrassing situation.

"Thank you." She said quietly, it seemed her breath was just as shaky as mine, but hers was probably for the reason of almost falling.

"Are we done with skating then?"

"No let's keep going. I haven't seen you fall yet." She seemed to realize she was still holding onto me and let go rather quickly.

I chuckled," You can't say you weren't comfortable." I smirked as she blushed, we began to skate again and I wisely dropped the topic of her family situation," So what are you majoring in?"

"Literature."

"Bookworm?"

"You could say that." I heard Keladry squeak as two show offs raced by us.

"Did you just squeak?" I asked laughing in mirth.

She glared at me, if looks could kill I would be dead," I did not."

"Did too," I replied sticking out my tongue.

"That was childish," I looked over at her about to give her a smart retort, but my eyes couldn't look away. Her vibrant hazel eyes looked more alive than they ever had. Her flushed cheeks looked good against her tan complexion, probably from working at her family's farm. The shy smile across her full lips made me think that maybe this night would turn out- my thoughts were cut off by my blade hitting a rough patch of ice. I heard Keladry take a sharp intake of breath, and I made sure to stop my rough impact with my hands. The collision knocked the wind out of me.

"Joren? Joren are you alright?" I pushed myself off the ground and stood up, brushing the ice off of my long sleeved shirt

"Just peachy." I glared as a couple of teenagers snickered at the sight. Their chuckling quickly ended when Keladry turned to glare as well.

"But Joren are you alright?" I broke into a large grin that would be more suitable on a clown," Why do you have that goofy smile on your face?" she asked slowly.

"I just realized you said my name. Three times might I add."

"Well it is your name."

"Then why not use it? It sounds delicious on your lips. Say it again…"

Keladry stopped and gaped at me," What…?" My deep chuckle did little to soothe her," Maybe we should call it a night."

"But the night is still young." I pouted," Unless you had other ideas," I attempted to wiggle my eyebrows suggestively but it only made her laugh.

"You're too much," she playfully punched my arm.

"You wound me Keladry."

"Then get tougher, wimp." That struck a cord.

"You did not just call me a wimp." I glared venomously and her eyes widened in shock.

"Well sorry I was just teasing you know."

"Yeah whatever." Maybe I was taking this too seriously, but she didn't have any right. It's not like I hadn't heard it before from my mother and father no less. Constantly hearing that I needed to toughen up and quit being such a wimp. I scowled as I stepped off the ice and began to take my blades off.

"Stone what is wrong with you?" I laughed bitterly.

"Back to Stone is it?"

"Well I realized how little I actually know you."

"Maybe its better that way," The girl looked impassive, but I could tell she wanted to say something," you never even wanted to come anyways. So how about we call it a night. I'll leave you alone now."

The girl stuttered and I couldn't help but smirk when I saw her stunned face. Yes it was harsh, but I had to get the last word over her. I turned to walk away and was surprised to find a hand gripping my bicep. The hand whirled me around and I was met with those angry hazel eyes," You bastard. Don't you dare walk away. You will not get the last word." I couldn't help but gape. I had never, and I mean never been talked to this way by a mere girl. Some of her hair had tugged loose of her beanie and gave her an erotic look about her," Well?"

"Well what?"

"Aren't you going to explain why you did all this? Who put you through it? Who told you to go after the girl who does nude modeling?"

It seems this is the first time I have ever seen her without her entire mask on. Her face was contorted with anger, pain, and embarrassment," It was never a bet?" I replied quietly.

"Wh-What?" she seemed to not want to believe me," couldn't you have just said it was a bet. It would have made it so much simpler." She got up and turned so she could return the skates. I rushed to catch up with her forgetting his anger.

"So that's it then? You'll walk away from me and never think of me again?

"Yes," she replied gruffly.

"But I don't want this to be over." Oh gods I sound like such a poof, but it is the truth. She's different from any other girl I've ever met or talked to.

The girl gave me an exasperated look," This will never work out. I'm too stubborn and you're…you're perfect. You should find a short dainty girl with blonde hair and blue eyes."

"Is it so hard to believe that you're the one that beautiful? You're different from anyone I have ever met, you were made to stand out not be a classic beauty. You're…you." ((n/a that kinda speech would totally get a guy laid :D))

I inched forward and lowered my head closer to hers. For a moment I thought I was going to get lucky, but when I found a punch going across my cheekbone I knew that she was still mad at me. I staggered backwards," What the hell was that for?" I tested out my jawbone and winced in pain.

"You were going to kiss me I could let that happen."

"You really don't have a romantic bone in your body."

"Good job Stone you're finally catching on, maybe you should be punched more often."

Keladry walked away but before she got out of hearing range I shouted," When can I see you again?"

"Stone can't you take a hint?"

"No I'm stubborn like you."

"You're impossible."

I turned around to give Lalasa my blades and asked with a cheeky grin," So do you think I have a chance?"

Sorry it has taken so long my duckies, but this chapter was incredibly long to make up for it. Thank you to my dear reviewers I love you all:

Allimba- sorry it took so long, but I just haven't had the time

Erytha- sorry it took so long, Daine will pop up more in the next chapter

truffletruffle01- I love Zahir's character in this fic I'm glad you like him too

Mercury-Shadowfeather- yeah I always see Neal as a sarcastic teacher, he would so ramble on and on. And well the bit with Numair, Daine, and Tobe…I hope it makes a bit more sense if doesn't I'll clear it all up next chapter

NealsChick- hope you enjoyed the little boxing match :

MysticMoonEmpress- sorry it took so long

Helkardowen- well this chapter was longer so I hope you liked it.and no worries theres nothing there, but you'll see the connection next chapter

Tarrenys- hope you enjoyed the chapter

Imperfectionist ;D- KAT! Darling, I hope you have had a fabulous summer, I haven't talked to you in ages it seems like. So hun when are you updating? Hmm? Because the internet has been deprived of your work. Looking forward to talking to you

music nerd- they are mixed a little but not really, Neal is a young professor the only ones who are really out of their generation are Tobe and Daine

KeeperofthePineNeedles- hope you enjoyed the chapter

Drop Your Oboe- heh glad you enjoyed that :

Contessa Natasha- I'm sorry it took so long, but I hope you enjoyed the chapter

w1cked angel- omg Kaddar awwww I love him I should have had him in this somewhere…what a pity :(

SarahE7191- you'll find out why Kel was modeling next chapter hope some questions were answered

DarkSummerNights- sorry it took so long

Jjinks- well there you go hope you enjoyed the date

Dances With Waves- hope you enjoyed the update

So probably two to three chapters left in this fic. I have them all written out I just need to type them. So next chapter is Joren moping. And no worries you will find out why Kel models sooo yeah. Review review