-You know the drill, I don't own anything it's all Tamora Pierce's and I have no money so try and sue me-

The Many Things You Learn in Life
Chapter Two- Let's get cookin'!

Shara decided to return home and sent my regards to the family. Meanwhile I had no work to be done because Lord Raoul was on his honeymoon to the Yamani Islands. So I decided to spend some quality time with friends and purchase something to give to my parents for their wedding anniversary. I had no idea what to get for my parents, so I decided to ask someone to help me pick a gift out. Don't ask me why I picked Neal of all people, but I did.

" So why did you ask me to help you, again?" Neal asked.
" I don't know, for some odd reason you were the first person that came to my mind, I might be going insane after all!" I replied.

Neal just gave me a look and continued looking for a nice painting.

"You know Dom, you've been here for quite a while and I haven't seen you go and do anything fun for some time now." Neal told me.

" Yes, what is your point?" I asked.
" Why don't you go with Yuki, Kel, and me to go see the Players perform The Captain, tonight? I personally don't want to go, but you know women, very persistent, and I dare not say no to Yuki." Neal said somewhat sadly.
" Alright, I suppose I can go to keep you company, I heard the play was quite entertaining anyway."

Neal had walked away to a different part in the shop. I was thinking about how I was going to get the gift to my parents when Neal shouted:
"I found it, I found it!"
"Found what?"
" The perfect present."
Neal was beaming, he pointed to a painting that looked almost exactly like him. I just rolled my eyes and walked out of the store.

Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z

"This is the most, stupid thing I have ever seen." Whispered Neal to Dom.
" It's not that bad, I mean it could be worse you know." I replied.
Yuki heard Neal's comment, and decided to move and sit on the other side of Kel. Keladry thought that Neal and Yuki should talk about what's bothering Yuki.
"You know, this play is kind of boring me, Dom, would you like to go to the tavern and have a drink?" Keladry asked me.
"Oh okay, sure. I would love to." I said with a smile on my face.

So Kel and I made our way to the tavern. She found us a seat near the hearth.
"One cider please, and… Dom what would you like?"
" Make that two please. Thank you."
" So Keladry, what are your plans for Mid-winter?" I asked, trying to get a conversation running.
" Well I'm not too sure at the moment. I think I might go visit my family down at Mindelan. What about you?"
" I can't decide if I want to stay here or go and visit my family. I could stay here but if you go home, I wouldn't have anyone to chat with. If I go home I will have to many people asking me why I am not married yet and when I plan on it."
Kel laughed, Raoul had said the same thing to her only last year and she had suggested that Buri go and help him out as a friend. They ended up getting married.
" Well if I knew any eligible Lady's of the Court I would recommend you take them, but I don't know anyone. So sorry that I am not much help in that area." She said with a laugh.
In my mind I knew of someone who could help me, but I knew she never would think of it.

"Oh well, it was worth a try." I said, trying to sound rather gloomy.
"Wow, this is really good cider!" said Kel.
" I know, it really is. I wonder who makes it, do you know?"
" I actually think its George Cooper's own mother."

" You know what? I think you should go over and ask her for the recipe."
" What? Why?"
" It could come in handy some day you know."

Kel laughed.

" Right, and how could that come in handy Dom?"
" Well, you could be trapped in an underground jail cell and the only way for the guards to let you out was if you could make the most incredible cider anyone has ever had."

Keladry started laughing hysterically. We both had finished our drinks and were starting to head towards
the exit. We got outside and it was freezing. Kel started walking towards the palace.

" Dom, what are you doing? Come on!"
" Come over here."
" Where are you going? Dom… Dom?"

I had started walking in the opposite direction and Kel quickly followed.

" Dom, where are we going?"
" Just follow me."

" Dom!"

Z Z Z Z Z Z Z

"Dom, did you just pick a random house to go to or something?"
"No?"
"Oh…"

We were standing side by side on (in her mind) a random step leading into someone's house. Kel looked up at me. All I could see were her hazel brown eyes, and I couldn't look away. They were so alluring and mysterious. She was searching my face for any shown emotion. It looked as though she couldn't find any. I looked back towards the door and as I was right about to knock, the door swung open.

" I knew there was someone out here, how may I help you?" said Mrs. Cooper.
" Well, my friend Keladry here and I were just in the Dancing Dove and we had some very good cider and Kel said that she thought it was you who had made it. We were wondering if we could learn how to make it, or get a recipe or something?"
" Well, I wouldn't trust you guys to get it right by yourselves. I'll have to teach you and I'll give you the recipe anyway. Come by tomorrow, the both of you, at about half past noon. How does that sound?"
"Good." Said Kel and I simultaneously.
"Great, see you children tomorrow!"

We walked out of the house and as soon as we did, I got an earful.

" Dom, I cannot believe you just did that!" Kel said rather angrily.
" I didn't do anything! I just thought it would fun to know how to make incredibly good cider. I already told you how it would come in handy."
" Okay, whatever you want Dom. Meet me at the statue at the base of the palace stares, and do not be late, or I won't go at all."
" Alright, alright. See you tomorrow."
" Bye."
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Well there is number 2 for y'all. Tell me what y'all think!

-Gigi Ose