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--- Author's Note ---

Fourth part is here. Pleaz review.

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Sora

"Come on," Matt said, grabbing my hand. He pulled me through the noisy crowd of kids hanging out in the front area of the Palace.

"It's quieter back here," he explained, leading us to a booth in the far back corner.

A thrill of excitement rushed through me. It's not like this is an actual rule or anything, but the booths in the back were pretty much for couples only.

Maybe Mimi is right, I thought. Maybe this is a date.

"What? Is something funny?" Matt asked, when we sat down.

I realized I was grinning like an idiot. "Uh- no, nothing," I said quickly, my cheeks burning.

"You've got such a great smile," Matt said, titling his head slightly as he focused his gaze on mine.

"Thanks," I said. I glanced down at the table, running my hands along the edge nervously.

Matt cleared his throat. "Do you know I can read palms?" he asked. He reached out and took my right hand in his, pulling it towards him.

I gulped, hoping my fingers weren't as clammy as they felt. Matt turned over my hand and studied it closely. He ran one finger down my palm and I felt my whole body temperature jump.

"Let's see," he began. "This line says you'll have a long and successful life."

"Really?" I asked him in amusement.

He traced another line with his finger. "And this one says your favorite pizza toppings are butterscotch and marshmallows."

I laughed, as I realized he was only goofing around.

Matt glanced up and pretended to frown. "No? Wait, that's the ice-cream hand- I forgot. Let me try the other hand."

I giggled, then withdrew my right hand and held out the left one. He took it and examined my palm.

"Okay, I've got it now," he said. "Could it be..." Matt squinted, then opened his eyes wide and smiled. "Mushrooms and green peppers?"

"Hey!" I pulled away my hand, surprised. I don't think I ever told him what my favorite pizza topping was. "How'd you know that?"

Matt just grinned at me. "I told you. I can read palms."

Just then, Tara, the waitress at the Palace, approached us with her pad and pen poised to take our order. "So, what are you having?" she asked. That's Tara- she always gets right to the point.

Matt answered before I could say anything. "We'll have a medium pizza with mushrooms and green peppers," he said smoothly.

"Are you sure?" I asked. "Are there any other toppings you'd rather get?"

Matt just smiled and shook his head. Tara shrugged and hurried off to place in our order.

"So, how was tennis practice?" Matt asked, leaning back against the red vinyl booth.

"It was okay, I guess," I replied. "Coach Robins cut it early." I blushed and purposely didn't tell him that I asked Coach Robins if I could leave early.

Matt paused. "Don't take this the wrong way," he said. "But, I think you were much better at soccer then at tennis."

I frowned. Was he saying I wasn't good at tennis?

"It's not that you don't play great," he rushed to add. "You're a really good tennis player. It's just that you played soccer better."

I sighed and stretched my legs out under the table. "Well, I guess," I admitted. "But I only started tennis this year. I've played soccer since I was about seven."

"Well, if that's all, then-" Matt stopped and got this strange, serious expression on his face. "Hold still," he instructed.

I froze, watching as he reached out and pressed his finger to my cheek, right beneath my eye. He pulled his hand back slightly, holding his finger in front of my face. "Make a wish," he said.

I glanced down. My eyelash was resting on his finger tip. Smiling, I closed my eyes and made a silent wish. Then I opened my eyes again and gently blew the eyelash off his finger.

"What'd you wish for?" Matt asked softly.

I stared into his amazing azure eyes, feeling my heart pound against my chest. "If I tell you, it won't come true," I answered.