A/N: hey y'all! sup? hehe. its...RESPONSE TO REVIEW TIME! ok, thanx to singinstrawberry again for her review (keep it up, i LOVE yours). i wasn't going for a whole "you come from there, you look like this" thing with the Ayorthans, i just figured it'd be a country of lots of different people (ie: Jem has red hair, Emily has dark skin, etc.). i'll try to put in a few little habits, that's an awesome idea. as for what El thinks of Jem...is someone eager to know whether El has a cruuuuuuuuush??? lol just kidding. but keep reading and u might learn a few things...thanks to EllaFreak (awesome name) for her review. you find out why she takes "vitamins" instead of "tonic" later. i feel EXACTLY the same about you with the names in the ella movie, it's somewhat comforting to know the producers read THAT much of the book. thanx to my good friend duchess strawberry for her...interesting review. if you want a good laugh, read her suggestions for this story. well, c iao and enjoy chapter 9!

Chapter 9

The next morning was stormy again. Lightning flashed in the distance.

Aunt Areida owned an inn with her husband Tye and their daughter Emily. Emily and I were as good of friends with each other as mother and Aunt Areida were.

I went down for breakfast to hear the noise of people on the floor beneath us.

"We're going to town to get Emily's outfit, your mother said you were all set for tonight."

"Yes," I replied. "I would have worn my riding gown, but apparently it's 'not suitable in public.'" I made a sour face as I quoted my mother.

"Ah, El, you're more like her every day," Emily laughed. "Now, seriously, what color of dress should I buy?"

Emily had her mother's complexion, dark skin and beautiful eyes.

"Yellow," I said. "A buttery yellow color. Maybe with embroidery. "

"We'll see when we get there," Aunt Areida replied.

Suddenly I remembered.

"Will we be back by four?" I asked.

"Most likely," she said. "Around half past three, why?"

"Jem and I are going riding."

"I'm sure we'll be back by then, but I doubt you'll get much riding done, that's quite a storm out there."

After a few hours of shopping we found the perfect outfit for Emily. It was yellow, with fairies embroidered in dark green along the hem of the shirt and neckline. She got a pair of yellow satin slippers and a silver chain with small pieces of emerald woven into it.

Jem was early. When the carriage pulled up he opened the door before the coachman could come down and ran to the house.

"A little early," I said disapprovingly. His eyes lit up.

"You're not the only one who misses their love when they're gone!" he said, referring to my old joke. I laughed, but my stomach flipped at the same time.

I ran inside and got changed for the ride.

"Hopefully we meet no ogres this time," I said as we slipped into a canter.