-A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.-

-Chinese Proverb-

Several hours later, Chris found himself at home with a very emotional mother. She was in the process of crying, hugging Chris, pushing him away, and yelling at him. Start cycle again.

"Christopher! You're home! Where were you? Don't you realize how worried I was? Couldn't you have called, at least?"

"Mum! Calm down! I'm fine. I was at a friend's house. Her telephone company is having a spat with her family at the moment and they shut it off temporarily. Something about them not paying such high prices and such. Really, there was no need to worry." Chris lied, hoping it was believable.

His mother, Arien Chant, stared at him for a moment before her eyes got wide.

"HER? HER! YOU WERE AT A GIRL'S HOUSE CHRISTOPHER? WHAT WERE YOU DOING AT A GIRL'S HOUSE? DO HER PARENT'S KNOW?" Her voice lowered, "You didn't have sex did you?"

"MOTHER! Of course I didn't! What do you take me as? No, her parents didn't and still do not know, seeing as how they are dead. Her father died just a few days before. I went to pay my respects and she was just so grief-stricken, I stayed. She needed a shoulder, Mum. How could I deny her?"

"Oh!" Lona gasped. "Poor child! Does she need a place to stay? I mean, you should not have skipped school for that, but it was a kind gesture. I just wish you had told me what you were planning to do. Come here." She motioned for him to come closer, and swept him into a bone-crushing hug.

"Mum!" Chris said, while pushing his mother away. "Stop!"

"Sorry, dear. Now, about this friend of yours…What's her name? Where does she live? Would you like to invite her for dinner? Does she have relatives? Should I go and talk to them, or her? Maybe I shou-"

"One question at a time! Her name is Clover Ashes; she lives across the park and towards town. Yes, I would like to invite her for dinner, but I do not know if that is possible at the moment. She has relatives, but I don't know how well she gets along with them. No, you definitely should not talk to them, Mum. You do not want to appear as a busybody. Correct?"

"Quite right. Now, about inviting your friend for dinner…How would you like to go about that?"

"Will you lend me the car? I know where her home is, so it shouldn't take me that long."

"This will be the last time for a month you get to use the car, Christopher. And don't say another word about it. I know you were good to this young girl, but honestly! You couldn't even tell me you went out! And you skipped school! I don't know how much I can trust you anymore!"

With a dejected look on his face, Chris apologized again, got the car keys from his mother, and stepped outside. A warm wind brushed across his face, lifting a few strands of hair up from his head as he walked to the car. He opened the door and hopped in, revving the engine a few times before putting it in drive and driving off.

A total of fifteen minutes later he was parked a block and a half from her house. The way he figured it, was that if Clover was up in the attic, and her room was void of furniture, and the way he had to sneak out earlier after everyone had left, then she wasn't much wanted and she wanted to stay in hiding. Therefore, he had to find a way in and a way to kidnap her for dinner. So he got out of the car and began his walk to her house.

Clover sat alone in the attic, pouring over the book she had found in the attic early this morning. It was a diary, if you wanted to call it that, but in essence, it was the thoughts and emotions of Clover's mother. Written to her, Clover, before she was born, and those few months after that led up to the fatal car accident.

(Inside front cover) Clover…my instincts tell me that this will be your name. Meadow Flower is what it means. I haven't found a middle name yet, although your father's attempts have been daunting. You might never have a middle name, considering he wants to name you 'Clover Regina' or 'Clover Ethel'. Honestly! What is that man thinking when he comes up with these? Anyway, I know you'll be gorgeous, all the young men will be chasing after you! And you'll be clever. Clever Clover. I'm smiling now, and your father is asking me what I'm smiling about. I answer that I'm smiling about you, Clover. Smiling about you. You're probably wondering, as you continue to read this note, what this book is for, what it's about. It's for you, and will be everything that I feel like telling you in the months before you are born. You should be fifteen now…that's when I wanted to give this to you. Oh! I felt a kick! You'll be a strong one. I can't wait until your born so we can spend all the time in the world together…not that we're not doing that now…but I want to hold you in my arms, kiss your little head, tickle your feet. I can't very well bend my head to kiss my stomach!

Until I write again (which will be tomorrow!)

Your loving mother,

Lila Belle Rosehall

P.S. What were my parents thinking when they named me?!

Clover finished reading that passage for the fifth time, not quite ready to move on. She set the book under her makeshift bed and sat there for some time.

Tap tap tap.

Clover looked around. Was that Cinder's just playing somewhere?

Tap tap tap.

It was coming from the window…is it a bird? Clover scooted closer to the window and opened it. Chris' head was in it, hanging upside-down.

"Hi, Clover."

"Chris, what're you doing?"

"I am rescuing you for dinner, my -err- not so fair maiden! Besides that, I am laying on my stomach on top of your roof. Very unpleasant this is, so if you'd kindly squeeze your butt out of the window and onto the roof, I would very much appreciate it." Chris said softly, his face turning red as the blood rushed to it.

Then, his face disappeared and Clover climbed onto the window frame and skillfully hoisted her self onto the roof.

"Ok, genius, where do we go now?" Clover asked, quirking her eyebrow.

"Down the drainpipe, onto a second floor windowsill, and down a tree. Then we walk a block and a half to my car and we go to my house and eat."

"Ok. Lead the way."

Chris crept across the roof, stopped at the edge, and climbed over. Clover followed and they shimmied down the drainpipe, edged across a windowsill, and climbed down the tree. When they got to the bottom, Clover broke out in a run and dashed onto the street.

"Catch me if you can, Chris!" She laughed. Chris ran after her until they got to the end of the block where Chris tackled her into someone's front yard. She was lying on her back and Chris was propped up above her, looking down into her eyes.

"Oh." Clover breathed. "Hello."

"Hi." Chris replied, his smile fading into a look of intensity.

Slowly, Chris leaned down, until Clover could feel his warm breath on her cheek.

Chris opened his mouth to speak, "Can I k-," and abruptly fell. On top of Clover, of course. Quickly he stood, brushing his clothes off, and giving Clover a hand up, all the while apologizing profusely. "Um…terribly sorry, there, Clover…err…let's go to the now car. Err…the car now. It's right that down way. Down that way." He said, stumbling over his words.

Clover's face was a bright pink and she suddenly seemed very interested with her shoes. "That's ok. Yes, let's go to the cow nar. Um…car now."

They walked in an awkward silence to the car, got in, and started the short drive to Chris' house, both hoping that the embarrassment and awkwardness would somehow vanish when they began dinner.

I know, it's late. I'm terribly sorry! Can you ever forgive me? *Grovels at the feet of readers* Well, I'm hoping to get more up soon. Like in the next week. Well, review I guess. Thanks for sticking with me. It means a lot.

-Ciara

P.S. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE REVIEWED!