This chapter was sort of rushed, (if you can believe that, seeing it took me so long to write it), and I admit its not the best written chapter. But I don't have the time to re-write it, so it will have to do. Next chapter will be better, I swear!

Crazayladay: Thanks! You make me happy. Keep reading!

P.S. My birthday is on Friday, so I hope I get a few reviews! (Does that even relate to my birthday? Didn't think so.) Oh well. :D

Tarra

Chapter Eleven

Dancing

We stared at each other.

'What am I doing?'

I pulled away from Ethan.

"I... I have to dance."

He stared at me.

"Right now?"

"No—I have to get to my dance class. It's starting in two minutes."

"I thought you made it a habit of skipping your lessons."

I watched his face, unsure of an answer.

He stared at me for another minute and then nodded.

"It has been nice walking with you, Princess." He bowed and I curtsied.

Then I ran off.

'Whatin the worldwas that?' I thought to myself all the way out of the gardens. 'That was probably the closest I'll ever be to an intimate moment.'

I mentally slapped myself. Why would I want to kiss Ethan? Why would Ethan even want to kiss me? I just meet him—and besides, he's so stuck up. Suddenly I realized that I had come somewhat closer to kissing once before.

My mind played back to when I was in the wheat field with Ben. We made the agreement that if he won the wheat-chopping contest, I would kiss him. Technically, I was closer to kissing then when I almost lost.

I mentally slapped myself again. 'Why should I care about kissing? This is such a Marina thing to do. I'm 14, for pities sake. And anyway, I do not want to just give my kisses away like that.'

Before I could (mentally) slap myself for the third time, I was at the studio's door. Of course, I had forgotten that I needed to change into my dancing attire before I could actually practice. I groaned all the way up the stairs and into my room.

After closing the door (and unclothing myself), I pulled onlonger undergarmentsand the sleek silver gown that I was required to don. Afterbuttoning the back, I walked over to my dresser and got the soft ballet-like shoes I was also required to wear out of a drawer. I then quickly made my way to the studio once more.

Some classes I had with Millie and Marina, but since there was such a difference in ages, usually it was Millie and I in one class and Mark and Marina in a different class. The different balls we ettended required different dancing fashions, especially the ones orientated for the older citizens of Frell. I wondered if Ethan would partake in our classes. Dancecontained me, Marina, Millie, and occasionally Mark all together. Would Ethan be part of it now, too?

Surprisingly, no one had yet made it to class, and I was therefore not seen as late.

After greeting my instructor (one of the only teachers who always seemed to be in a good mood), I leaned against the marble wall closest to me. It waspleasing marble, with a light brownish tint that gave it a warm look. The room was large and spacey; a convenience that came with living in a castle- There where always rooms for just about any activity.

This one, reserved for dancing.

Most of the time we just learned how to slow dance, but usually it was anything related to dancing (from waltzes to group dances) that we might have to know when we attended all the differentfashions of balls.

At this moment my teacher, Miss Hart, walked up to me and pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Princess, dear, why don't you go ahead and practice what we studied last class while we wait for your sisters."

I nodded and started doing as I was told. Imagining a companion, I slowly waltzed back and forth toan imaginary tune. Step one-two-three, step one-two-three...

I liked dancing, (as I had stated earlier), but going to royal balls was usually unbearably boring—especially when mother and father secretly ran off for a few hours.

'I wonder how there doing?' I thought suddenly. I made a mental note to ask Mark if he had heard anything.

Right then I heard a commotion coming from the hallway outside of the studio. Turning around just in time I saw a group of people enter—Daisy and Marina, each holding one of Ethan's hands and giggling, (an utterly disgusting sight), Millie, who seemed to be enjoying any attention she could get, and, of course, Claire and Karisa, just happily being there. A quiet Mark walked a ways behind them.

He looked incredibly uncomfortable. I laughed quietly into my hand.

Poor Mark. I wondered what he thought of Ethan.

Seeing me, Mark took the opportunity to leave the giggling group and come across the room.

"I see at least someone is interested in our guest," I whispered quietly onceMark was in earshot. He made a exasperating noise and retorted,

"Looks to me like he's getting a little too much attention."

I smiled.

"Sounds to me like someone's jealous."

Mark faked an appalled face.

"Me...? I would never think of making our wonderful guest feel unwelcome!"

I shoved him teasingly. "I sure wouldn't mind if you did."

Mark looked at me seriously.

"Is there something you'd like to share...?"

Before I could talk, or even ask about mother and father, the giggle gang started coming our way.

"That's so amusing! I cannot believe you are really this enjoyable! I wish we could spent the whole day together."

It was said (or more screeched) by Daisy.

"Amazing how those girls can get access to just about any room in the palace without lifting a finger." Mark muttered.

I elbowed him. "Be nice. After all, they are Marina's friends. And he is our guest... even if he is a stuck up one."

Mark looked at me again with a what-are-you-hiding look on his face. I just smiled, basking in the idea of for once being on the I-know-something-you-don't-know side.

Finally looking Ethan in the eye, I realized that he was not enjoying nor disliking the attention. Well, obviously enjoying, up until he saw me in the room. After that he tried terribly hard to pretend he was in distress. I went mad wanting to yell at him that I had absolutely no interest in him what so ever.

Of course, saying it would only make me look stupid and like I had feelings for him. Not that I cared either way.

"Girls! Stop that insane racket this instant! I'm so sorry, Milord. Please, take a seat while we begin our class." I thought of all the ways I could thank miss Hart for breaking up the fan club.

"Girls, would you please go sit somewhere so we can begin?" Claire, Daisy and Karisa quietly obliged, walking over to where some chairs where set up. Of course, Daisy got her way (as always) and got to sit by Ethan. Not that I had a problem with it.

"Now, before we have any more interruptions, lets start. Today you three girls will have to share your brother by taking turns practicing, since those other boys...what where their names? Anyway, since they're absent, you three will just have to work with each other. Can you do that?"

We all gingerly nodded and Millie took her place at the opposite side of the room.

"Now, Mark, I want you to walk up to Princess Millie and bow. Then you, Millie, will curtsy—yes, that's nice—and Mark, take her out to the dance floor, like so..."

The minutes dragged on. Normally this was fun, but with Ethan and the girls all watching, it was far from enjoyable. I did choose, however, to try and ignore them. Soon it was my turn.

"Just as they have done, Princess. Go to that side, and Mark will come to you."

I guessed that this particular instructor did not know of our parents' absence, and that Mark was currently the ruler until mother and father returned. He was, after all, almost 19, since his birthday was just a few weeks or so away.

Mark walked over and swept down into a low bow. I curtsied, as instructed, and he took my arm. Here is where it got tricky. In this particular dance, Mark was required to spin me around, and I was to land right back in his arms. Although it sounds easy, it was far from it. No matter how hard Mark tried, I was too tall to fit under his arm and we always got stuck.

Miss Hart sighed loudly. Looking around the room, she stopped her gaze on Ethan.

'No. No, no, please Miss Hart. Don't-'

"Ah! Prince Ethan sir—would you mind dancing just this once with Princess Tarra? It seems she is a bit tall for it to work with Mark—no offence, your highness."

Mark didn't seem to take any offence at all—on the contrary. He seemed delighted to put me through the humiliating experience of dancing with Ethan.

'I will get you back for this one, dear brother...mark my words...' I whispered coldly as Ethan took Marks place. Mark seemed happy to sit back down.

Ethan smiled at me. I didn't mean to, but I ignored him and turned away. Ok, maybe I did mean to.

"Now, do just as they just did. Tarra...? If you would..." I walked back over to where I was to enter. Ethan seemed far too familiar with everything and bowed even lower than Mark had. I wanted to push him out of my comfort zone.

I curtsied.

Taking my hand, Ethan gently walked me to the dance floor.

"Princess, please do try to look a little happier. You look as if you're out for the kill..." Miss Hart mumbled. I grudgingly obliged, and tried my best to look happy while dancing.

As I had guessed, Ethan's towering figure stood tall above me, and I spun with ease. He seemed to know the song well, and with Miss Hart's guidance, I wasn't doing that badly myself.

The song seemed to repeat most of the same moves, and soon Ethan and I where dancing as if we had practiced and memorized the entire thing. I soon forgot my embarrassment I had and the glares I was receiving from Daisy and her friends, and I started enjoying myself. Going along with the tune Miss Hart was happily humming, I twirled and danced to my hearts delight.

After a while, we finished the song, and everyone clapped. I came back to the embarrassment of it all and quickly let go of him.

Ethan, on the other hand, seemed quite proud of himself an acted as if he had just done some wondrous deed that only Ethan himself could accomplish. I felt sick.

For the minutes we where dancing, I had actually thought differently of him. He had seemed like a nice guy to get to know, maybe like in time. But the second it was over, I was pulled out of that delusion and again realized that he was just a big headed prince who was used to getting his own way. A real shame, I thought to myself.

'Why do the cute ones always have to be jerks?'

Actually, I think the question is: 'why do the cute guys always abuse their power of being cute?' Oh well, I guess its just me. I hope you liked this one, even if it wasn't the best. It was a tad longer than usual (mostly because eating 4 Butterfingers made me type a the speed of light). Remember: No reviews, no new chapter! "grin grin, cackle cackle"