"And just what is so funny?" an irritated Rosethorn snapped from where she
sat at the table.
Stopping abruptly, Sandry and Briar looked at the group of people who
stared back at them.
Lark and Rosethorn sat at either end of the table, Tris and Daja across
from one another on the benches. Niko had joined them for supper as well,
and was seated on a stool.
Daja was the first to notice that Sandry and Briar were holding hands, but
did not say anything.
Tris didn't show as much discretion.
"Why are you two holding hands?" she asked knowingly, "Were you having
another one of your little conversations?"
"Conversations?" Niko's brows drew into a frown. "What kind of
conversations?"
Briar and Sandry quickly let go of each other.
Lark and Rosethorn exchanged a look, then both stood.
"Briar, Sandry, would you two please come with us." Lark said as the
dedicates headed out the back door.
"What have you been up to?" asked a rather confused Daja, "Will somebody
please tell me what's going on?"
"Sandry, Briar, if you please."
Slowly, Sandry walked to the door where Lark was waiting. Briar followed.
Once outside, Lark closed the door, then turned to the teenagers who stood
looking guilty in the garden.
"Where were you?" Rosethorn crossly questioned, "Why didn't you come back
when you heard the supper bell? I know neither of you are deaf, so don't
say that you didn't hear it."
Sandry stood her ground.
"We were only up on the wall. We had permission."
Remembering something, Briar took the coin that Lark had given him and
handed it back. Lark took it with out saying anything.
"I find it very hard to believe that Lark would give you permission to run
about Winding Circle until supper time and past!"
Stubbornly sticking out her chin, Sandry refused to back down.
"We had permission." She repeated.
"Sandry," Briar had moved closer and put a hand on her shoulder, "Just let
it go."
Shaking his hand off, she turned to glare at him.
"You're taking sides with her? I thought that you had more backbone. I'm
really very ashamed of you Briar. I thought I meant something to you,
especially after you kissed me!"
There was a gasp, then a crash, followed by the sound of laughing.
Briar looked stunned, and Sandry blushed a deep crimson.
She turned to find Lark looking like she'd swallowed a fly, and Rosethorn
holding her side from laughing so hard.
Briar glanced at the doorway when Tris, Daja and Niko came out into the
garden.
"Well, I see we'll have to have Miss fa Toren chaperoned from now on." Said
a sarcastic Niko.
"Maybe we'll have to chaperone Briar instead." Quipped Daja, wearing an
evil grin.
Rosethorn was now crying she was laughing so hard, then fell over and
started coughing.
Lark ran to the well and brought back a dipper full of water.
Rosethorn stopped coughing long enough to drink, then said in a raspy
voice,
"If that's all you were doing, why on Earth didn't you just say so from the
beginning?"
"Now, Rosie, the children are entitled to their secrets." Lark scolded,
then turned to Briar and Sandry who were still standing together,
"Of course, you could have told me. I would have not been as angry or
worried if I had known that that was what you two were going to do."
Startled, Tris looked at the two dedicates in green.
"You mean, you're okay with this?"
Nodding, Rosethorn stood up, "As long as it doesn't distract them from
their responsibilities, Sandry and Briar may kiss whomever they please."
"It won't distract me." Briar quickly assured them.
"Me either. We'll stay on task." Sandry echoed.
"Briar, might I have a word with you?" Niko turned to the rest of the group
and looked expectantly at the back door. Taking the hint, they moved
inside.
Just as Tris was closing the door, Niko called out,
"Shut it all the way, Tris. No more listening at key holes!"
"How does he always know it's me?" she asked as they moved into the main
room of the house.
Daja and Sandry laughed. Lark and Rosethorn just smiled.