Chapter 17: Gone.

I woke up at noon to find Chewy by my side. I hadn't realized I had been crying and tears had stained my cheeks.

"You ok?" She asked me putting her hand on my shoulder. I gave her a weak smile and nodded my head yes.

"Where are the boys?" I asked desperately, I had wanted to see Race…

"Their…out…" She said slowly. I looked at her with a blank expression on my face.

"Out…where?" I said. She sighed. "What are you hiding?" I asked knowingly.

"Its about Denton…" She started. I waited for her to go on. "Well…he…fled…" I breathed loudly. "Fled where?" I asked sitting up.

"I don't know, but he knew we had him and so he left somewhere and I'm really, really sorry but they couldn't find him and now we don't know what to do and we didn't know who should tell you and I hope it doesn't hurt too much we just wanted you to know." She said extremely fast.

I shook my head and laughed. "At least he's gone…" I mumbled. She smiled at me. There was an awkward silence.

"Food!" She yelled. The sound of her voice scared me and I jumped up hitting my head.

"What?" I said confused. She reached behind her. "I have food! Race told me to give it to you, said you'd be hungry." She laughed. I took the bag of food.

"Want some?" I asked her, she shook her head no and went to take a shower. She came out a half-hour later and I told her I wanted to leave. She agreed with me and we left to go to Tibby's.

Ponine rushed up to me excitedly. "Guess what?!" She screamed. Chewy rolled her eyes as if she heard the news a million times before.

"Huh?" I asked her.

"Medda wants you to sing!" She yelled. I stared at her dumbly. "Huh?" I repeated. Spot laughed at me.

"Medda remembered seeing you perform at the Star and she wants you to sing this Friday!"

"Great…" I said. "Aren't you happy?" She asked, slightly disappointed at my reaction.

"Yea, I am, really, I'm just worried, I haven't performed in like, forever." She laughed at me. "I'm bringing you over there so you can practice."

I sighed, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go through with it. But I shrugged it off and sat next to Race.

"So, ya hoid da news right?" He asked uncertainly. "Uh huh." I told him, "I'm just glad he's gone." He smiled at me and then started eating. I looked around and realized that I was glad that my family had been murdered. I wouldn't have these great friends, and I wouldn't have Race…

"Whatcha thinkin about?" He asked me. "Myself." I said grinning.

"Well that's selfish…" Spot joked. I hit him lightly. "I'm just kinda glad my family…isn't here…" I started, trying to get them to understand. "Hmm…" Chewy said confusedly. I laughed at her.

"See, I wouldn't be where I am now, and I love it here…do you get it?" I asked them. They nodded.

"So you aint upset Denton got away?" Race asked me. "Nah." I stated grabbing one of his fries.

"C'mon…" Ponine said urging me to go to Medda's and practice with her. I nodded and went to Ivering Hall with her.

"Is it like, a duet? Or like, a solo?" I asked her nervously. "I dunno, it depends on what song is gonna be sung." She explained. She took me backstage to see Medda.

"Hi Medda, you remember Stormy?" She asked her. "Of course darling!" She said, pulling me into a light hug. I awkwardly put my hands on her back and would have hugged her back but she pulled away from me and looked at me from an arms length away.

"Now, what song shall you sing?" Medda asked me. I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm…not sure." I answered.

"I know! Some like it Hot!" Ponine said. I looked at her confused. "Wonderful!" Medda said clapping her hands together. "Now, lets get you practicing, Ponine, could you be a dear and tell the boys she won't be home until late?"

"Sure."

'Don't go!' I mouthed to Ponine, but she didn't see me, she was already on her way to find Race.

"Now, we only have 2 days to practice, since I would love to have you in this Fridays show…what do you think of this?" She asked, holding a dress up to me.

"I love it!" I said. It was a light blue with a lacy trim. Usually I hated lace, but not on this dress. She explained that it I was to twirl onstage that the bottoms of the dress would twirl also, like what you see in the old movies, and I fell in love with it.

"Hmm, I think you'll fit it just fine, do you know the works to the song?"

"Um…No, I don't." I said, my eyes still on the dress.

She had started teaching me the lyrics, and I almost had them all when Ponine came backstage telling me that everyone but Race knew.

"What?" I asked her.

"I wanted you to be able to surprise him, like I surprised Itey, so I told him that this Friday was filled, so you couldn't sing, but you could be a backup dancer. And you still had to get there early." I stared at her.

"Your Brilliant!" I finally said excitedly.

It had been a few hours and it was now getting dark when I stepped outside to see Race. Ponine had left earlier when it was still light out.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" I asked him. He slid his arm around my waist. "Just making sure ya don't get hoit on ya way to da lodgin House." He answered. I kissed him lightly and we walked back talking.

*~*Ponine The Nesiwe: I own you for that song.lol. *shouts loudly* IT WAS HER IDEA TO SING THAT SOONNNGGG!!!!!!!! *calms down* Gracias! Lol.*~*