I just wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone who reviewed...I really appreciate it and it has kept me going on this stupid thing. Ü And now, on with the show. Ha.

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It did not take long for Tulip and me to come to the conclusion that the ale was not going to come out of my dress. Tulip was consoled only by the fact that Garnet had unwittingly ruined her own dress, but relief washed over me. Ashamed of my behavior outside, there was nothing I wanted more than to discreetly disappear for the remainder of the night.

Unfortunately, Tulip would have none of it. "You are not, I repeat NOT, going home," she told me firmly. "Stay right here. I'll get you one of your dresses from the house and bring it back."

"What?" I asked. "No! I'm not wearing some old dress out there. If you make me stay, I'm not going to budge from this washroom."

"Fine. Suit yourself," replied Tulip, knowing very well that I was not going to hole myself up in a washroom, no matter how bad the situation. "But you're not leaving."

"Fine."

Tulip cast me a final exasperated look before rushing out the door. The washroom's lounge had a comfortable couch, and I sank down on it with a sigh, grateful for a place to rest. I was an idiot, making a scene on my first day back in Buckland. Feeling awkward just hadn't been enough for me; oh no, I needed to earn a reputation as - as some sort of dangerously violent menace to Bucklebury society. The town gossips would have a field day tomorrow. I wondered vaguely if it would be better to lock myself in my room for about a month or to go on a rampage so that my behavior would be dismissed as insanity, but decided that neither one was entirely desirable.

Another dress arrived with Garnet all too soon - she must have sprinted both ways - and she thrust one of my old but acceptable day dresses at me. I changed quickly, grimacing at the ale-soaked fabric as I peeled it off me and shoved it into Tulip's arms. "Go. Put it somewhere. March up to Garnet and present it to her. Anything. I'll be right behind you."

An expectant glance over her shoulder was Tulip's only answer before she was gone. I waited a few moments before cautiously pushing open the door; the hallway outside was deserted, though music and laughter drifted in from the main chamber.

With stealthy steps I headed in the opposite direction until a wall had the audacity to block my way. A few experimental jiggles of a window and a forcing of its lock quickly remedied that situation, and I furtively clambered through to land with a soft thump on the grass of the lawn. The lights of the pavilion lit only the trimmed fields behind the hall, so the orchards flanking either side were dim enough to obscure my movements. Within a few seconds, I had slipped through the trees and up the hill overlooking the main hall and, beyond it, the street; once at the top, I flopped down against a sturdy trunk and let out a long, drawn-out sigh.

"You are so stupid, Estella," I murmured in a low voice. "Really an idiot." For weeks, I had been worried about making a good impression on my new community, and what had I done? Humiliated myself. If Garnet had meant for me to make a fool out of myself, she had certainly succeeded. The image of a shrieking, ale-soaked Estella Bolger - clutching a fistful of some poor lass's hair - was probably permanently established in the mind of everyone who had seen me. And there had been quite a few onlookers, I remembered, cringing a little at the thought. And Meriadoc, who I'd wanted to get off on the right foot with: what must he have thought? To have to physically restrain me, only to get slapped in the face? He had seemed amiable enough, but even I could manage to put up a good-natured façade for the sake of appearances. Not that I'd been able to keep it up tonight.

I buried my face in my arms, furious with myself as tears began to prick at my eyes. "It doesn't matter what they think," I whispered fiercely. "You know what happened and why. Who cares about anyone's stupid expectations? You shouldn't let their opinions affect your feelings."

But even as I tried to cheer myself up, I knew that I had overreacted. Garnet had seen that I was nervous and uneasy, and she knew how to push me over the limit, even after all these years. I gave a weak, self-pitying sniff and drew a sleeve across my eyes as I sat up.

"Estella?"

I nearly leaped out of my skin at the sudden voice. My head snapped around, and I could barely make out the silhouette of a hobbit in the dim light. As he approached, I recognized Merry Brandybuck.

I hurriedly jumped to my feet. "Good evening, Master Merry. I was just leaving. Pardon me." I started to brush past him, but he reached out a hand as if to stop me and I paused. "What?"

He raised my eyebrows at my curt tone. "I don't - or won't - bite you, you know. I just wanted to see if you were all right."

"Yes, well, I'm fine, thank you," I replied brusquely.

"No one leaves the largest social event Bucklebury's seen all year, and hides under a tree in the dark, unless something's wrong," he pointed out.

I shook my head and again began to push past him, but he called after me, "I'm not stupid, and I'm not going to pretend that I believe you when you say you don't care, so you might as well talk. I don't know Garnet personally, but from what I've heard, she was probably asking for what she got."

Turning, I glared at him. "Of all the arrogance!" I exclaimed. "One, I've already told you: I am fine. Please accept that you were wrong and leave me alone. Two, I really don't care if you think I'm lying, and if you assume that I'm going to pour my heart out to a stranger just because they act understanding, you're sadly mistaken. Three -" I paused. "Well, you were right on that count, at least. Garnet was asking for it, although that doesn't mean that I should have given it to her. And now, if you will kindly excuse me." I whirled back around but had not taken two steps before Merry spoke up again.

"I'm not trying to bother you. I just wanted to see if I could help."

I halted a second time and let out an exaggerated sigh, tilting my head back in exasperation. "You can't. In fact, you're only making it worse."

Merry circled in front of me. "I'm sorry you can't accept help from anyone. You're in for a lonely existence. But for the time being, why are you going back inside? You obviously loathe the idea."

"To get away from you!" I exploded, unable to contain my temper any longer. "You're no different from when I left: a rude, nosy, and altogether irritating hobbit whose only aim in life seems to be to annoy others at their own expense! I, however, HAVE matured in the past ten years, and I'm not stupid enough to put up with you anymore!"

Surprised, Merry looked taken aback for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "Personally, I wouldn't consider becoming short-tempered and disrespectful 'maturing.' And as for rude and nosy, the last time I checked, it was polite and thoughtful to try to help someone."

"Even when they've asked you repeatedly to stop?" I shot back, eyes flashing. "Master Brandybuck, make no mistake, I appreciate your concern. But it is completely unnecessary in this case; I don't need your help, or your advice, or your - or anything! I know it must seem strange for a lass my age not to throw herself at you, but however lordly you consider yourself, there are some lasses here in Buckland who have enough brains to look past an impressive reputation and a smiling face!"

"I'm sure those lasses - wherever they are," Merry said quietly, emphasizing the second part of his sentence, "would also have enough brains and little enough pride to recognize common courtesy when they saw it."

"I'm sure they would," I retorted. "But there isn't any to see here."

"No, none at all, from anyone present," Merry agreed. "In fact, I am appalled by it."

"Don't act all high-and-mighty with me!" I snapped. "I was civil for as long as I could stand your prying!"

"Oh, I see now." His expression was infuriatingly calm. "This is just a problem of you having a short attention span."

By this time, I was considerably flustered. I was used to keeping the upper hand in verbal battles, but Merry was sidestepping everything I threw at him, and I was steadily losing ground. I decided that it would be best to back out before I was forced to give in.

"I don't have time for this," I informed Merry curtly. "For the last time, I hope, please excuse me."

"Oh? And where might you be going? I can see you'd rather die than show your face back at the hall," he sneered.

"I'm going HOME!" I cried, my last shreds of patience gone. Close to tears, I bit my lip and turned my head away from Merry so he wouldn't catch my eyes beginning to water.

He sighed, then spoke in a much softer tone. "I'm sorry, Miss Bolger." I glanced at him, surprised by the courtesy. He went on in a weary voice, "I didn't mean for it to blow up like that, I really didn't. I only wanted to make sure you were all right. I could tell you were upset."

I opened my mouth, shut it, opened it again, paused, and finally replied carefully, "I accept your apology, Master Brandybuck. I apologize for any feelings I may have hurt. But I repeat for the last time: I am tired and I am going home now. Your assistance is not needed."

Merry shut his eyes in what looked like a moment of frustration, but spoke mildly. "If you are sure, Miss Bolger, then I bid you good night."

"Thank you. Good night."

He bowed slightly; I gave a little curtsy, and he disappeared into the shadows under the trees as I hurried toward the street. Once out of eyesight of the hall, I broke into a dead run, burst into my uncle's house - my house - and into my room.

Collapsing across the bed, I stifled my scream in a pillow.
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I know it was short. I'm sorry. Stupid schoolwork! Chapter five coming soon! (I hope.) In the meantime, plz review...if it's not too much trouble. Ü