. . .And every time I am on stage I feel happy.

I know it's a stupid simile, but I feel as free as a bird.

I have never had so much fun in my life, not at parties or cotillions.

Bobby has really opened my eyes. I'm afraid it will be very hard to close them again.

-June 15th, from the Diary of Dylan Marvil

X. Lost Dream

Dylan was sweating in the high buttoned black dress that she was required to wear as her role of "Mistress of the Orphanage" a evil, greedy lady in the play they were performing that afternoon.

Dylan still couldn't believe what she was doing. She had done a pretty good job in her first acting job and Bobby had convinced her to take the missing actress's place all week.

So far she had played a teacher, a poor flower seller, a housewife, and now a mistress of the orphanage.

The hours were long and tiring and the pay very small (not that Dylan needed it) but in the end it was very satisfying. Her heart seemed to jump every time she stepped on stage, she had earned the nickname among the actors and the crowd as "the little Irish girl" because of her bright red hair even though Dylan wasn't of Irish descent.

"Out you say!" Dylan said her lines. "And don't come back!"

The play ended and Dylan and the other actors gave one last curtsy before retreating backstage which really was only one small cramped room where the costumes were kept.

"You were really good today," Bobby said, almost shyly. "The crowd loves you."

"Really?" she blushed, uncertain. "I didn't read my lines too fast?"

"No." he said. "The crowd loved you."

Dylan couldn't hide her smile. Bobby opened her mouth to tell her something but then Dylan heard a very familiar shrieked. "DYLAN!"

Dylan turned around slowly, visibly paling. Bobby merely looked confused.

"Mother. . .sisters." she said faintly as she watched Merri Lee, Ryan, and Jamie approach the crowded room visibly avoiding looking at the others as if to avoid their germs.

"We were on our way to visit Mrs. Taylor to get our new hair ribbons." Jamie informed loving the shock look on Dylan's face.

"Nice dress, Dylan." Ryan sneered eyeing Dylan's black dress. "If you love old clothes so much I'm sure the maid would lend you one."

"Dylan, how could you?" Merri Lee was visibly shaking with anger. "Do you know what shame you could have cost me? What if someone saw?"

"Hardly anyone comes here, Mother." Dylan said quietly.

Merri Lee ignored her. " . ..and you in that dress, shouting nonsense." she glared at her youngest daughter. "How could you have embarrassed your mother like this?"

"I," her voice broke. "I didn't mean to embarrass you." Since when had her mother cared what she did? She cared more about gossip and her life than her daughter.

"Mrs. Marvil." Bobby interrupted. "I'm Bobby, I'm mighty sorry I asked Dylan to take the place-"

"You shut up!" Merri Lee snarled. Dylan squeezed one of Bobby's fingers to tell him to keep quiet. "You don't know a thing." she grabbed Dylan's wrist. "And let me make something perfectly clear young man, Miss Marvil wont be returning to your little theater not now, not ever. That is my final word."

"Are you sure you're not tired?" Dempsey asked not entirely convince. Kristen was a society girl after all, he knew she wasn't used to working at all. She had insisted in volunteering all week even though Dempsey had assured her it wasn't necessary and by Friday she knew most of the names of the children and even had given her old dolls to the little orphan girls.

Kristen forced a smile. She was tired, her whole body ached. But happy. "A little, but I'm fine."

Dempsey took his coat and wrapped it around Kristen's shoulders. "Here," he said gruffly. "You'll catch a cold."

"Thanks," she said tightening the coat around her shoulders. "I don't know why my mom was so worried about me marrying you-" Kristen gasped. She was so incredibly stupid.

Dempsey frowned, looking serious. "What?"

"Nothing." she said quickly. "Forget it."

"No, you said something about marrying." he said frowning. "We're not even courting, why would I marry you?"

"I-"

"Kristen, tell me." he insisted as he squeezed her hand. "I will understand."

Kristen nodded as she told him about how her father had lost their fortune and how marriage was the only option and how he was involved. Dempsey's frown seemed to deepened.

"So you were using me," he said coldly. "All this time? You never really cared about what I was teaching you about how we must share our wealth with everyone, you never really cared did you?"

"No, I did care!" she pleaded, the tears returning to her blue eyes. "I did, it's just a big misunderstanding. I really care about you Dempsey about the children as well."

"Well, I'm sorry Miss Gregory," he said coldly as he stood up. "But I frankly don't believe you anymore."

"Everyone, please listen I, actually my son Derrick has an announcement to make." Mr. Harrington cleared his throat happily as he raised his champagne glass. The dining room table was filled with a small amount of guests for the small dinner party the Harrigtons - Riveras had planned.

Derrick stood up moodily while Alicia glared at him unexpectedly as if threatening to hurt him if he didn't change his mood.

Derrick smiled a small, tight smile. "May I please have your attention? I would like to announced that as of today I have proposed marriage to Miss Alicia Catalina Rivera and she has accepted. We are engaged to be married."

Alicia sat a little proudly in her seat. Derrick looked crestfallen.

Meanwhile while the other guests offered their congratulations Massie excused herself so that they wouldn't see her tears. She would not give Alicia the satisfaction.

"It's occupied!" she nearly shrieked when someone tried to entered the bathroom.

"It's just me." Claire whispered as she closed the door behind her. She was wearing one of her Florida dresses and looked out of place. "Are you ok?"

"No." she snapped using her handkerchief. "I hate my life. I hate Alicia. And I hate that Alicia is going to marry Derrick. He's suppose to marry me."

"We will figure something out," Claire comforted her.

Massie whined. "How?"

Claire looked at her seriously. "We'll think of a plan."

"You want to get married in two weeks?" Mrs. Rivera exclaimed. "Why? We can't possibly have everything prepared by then."

"Because." Alicia snapped fixing her hair in her vanity mirror. Yes, she had Derrick wrapped around her little finger now, but how long would that last? She couldn't risk him crawling back to Massie. Besides Massie wasn't getting married until September there was still plenty of chances for them to get together. "I want to be a June bride and I don't want to wait until next year. I want to be Mrs. Harrington for the rest of the summer season, or let's forget that I just want to leave New York. I think Spain is perfect right now for our honeymoon."

Mrs. Rivera looked at her daughter wearily. "Don't you want to think this through? Marrying in haste-"

"Mother!" she said exasperated. "I want to get married in two weeks." she said firmly. "And that's final."

-End of Chapter Ten-