AN: I'm SO sorry this has taken me so long... I'm not feeling very inspired... if any one's still actually reading this.. here's the next chapter...

DISCLAIMER: yet again I state... I DON"T OWN TORTALL!!!! (duh)

~*~Chapter Nine~*~

That night at dinner Josh and some of his friends joined the group who Yali had had breakfast with. To Yali's frustration Josh sat right next to her. Yali had found Josh rather infuriating at their first meeting and did not like the idea of having to talk to him over dinner. Although she thought she had had complete control over her expression Evelyn, who was sitting across from her, obviously noticed Yali's apprehension because she smiled wryly at her.

"My apologies, Yali, for my brother's behavior earlier. He was very rude to you. He's not usually that bad. He obviously really likes you. Don't worry though. He's learnt to deal with rejection in the past. You don't need to pretend you like him just to spare his feelings. I just hope he didn't upset you too much. I'm sure you'll thrash him in the courts. That should make you feel better."

Josh looked up at his sister. "I'm glad you have such faith in me, my dear sister. I'm also glad to hear that you are so concerned for my emotional welfare. But do not worry, Yali doesn't have to pretend to like me, she already does. Don't you Yali?" He asked, turning with a confident and slightly mocking smile to her.

"To tell you the truth. No." Yali answered blatantly. Evelyn and some of the others who had been listening burst out laughing.

"Ouch. That gotta hurt." Said Evan, who was sitting next to Josh on his other side. He patted his shoulder in mock consolation. Yali grinned, mischievously at him. "Not nearly as much as I'm going to hurt him on the courts." That made them all laugh even more.

Josh mocked glared at them all. "You're all traitors you know that? You're supposed to be on my team!"

"Says who?" some one asked, laughing.

Josh got up in mock fury. "That's it! I'm leaving. I will not stay to have my name slandered anymore!" As he picked up his empty dishes he winked at Yali. He then turned and stormed to the servery where he gave his dishes to a servant then proceeded to storm out of the mess.

His friends watched him go, then cracked up laughing again. Despite her best efforts Yali felt her mouth twitch into a smile.

"Don't worry, you'll get used to him." Yali turned to look at the boy who had spoken; he was tall with a rather muscled build. He had green-hazel eyes and light brown hair, Yali thought his name was Edward, but with all the other introductions that day she couldn't be sure. She smiled, replying. "Don't worry, I can handle him, he reminds me a lot of my father."

At this Edward? grinned, "I'm sure he'd love to hear that." He replied laughingly.

~*~

The next day classes started. Yali awoke to loud knocking on her door. She opened her eyes blearily; Yali was not a morning person. "Wha-at?" whined at the intrusion, she did not appreciate being woken up. "Just a minute!" She yelled as her mind began to clear and she remembered where she was. With the memory of where she was came the realization of what day it was. Today was Yali's first day of page training!

~*~

AN: Sorry this is so short.. and so bad... as I said before... I'm not feeling very inspired at the moment. ( So anyway.... There it is; another chapter.