"Zan, Zan are you out here?" Queen Elaina yelled.

Zan pulled back from Ava and turned toward where the voice came from, "I'll be right up, mother." Zan then pulled Ava into a dark crevice between two hedges.

"Zan, you have to..."

"Shhh..." Zan said placing a finger on Ava's lips quieting her. "Meet me tomorrow at our spot near the lake, 1:00," Zan whispered. Zan then reached out and gave Ava another kiss,"1:00, and don't be late." Zan then left before his mother could come down looking for him.

Ava watched as Zan walked off, a huge smiled graced her face, " 1:00, won't come soon enough." Ava then went back to join the party, her mood tremendously lifted.

"Yes, mother you were calling for me," Zan replied walking towards his mother.

"Do you have any idea how rude it is to ignore your guests," Queen Elaina questioned. Zan smiled a little as he thought about what his mother would say if he told her he hadn't been completely ignoring all the guests. "Do you find something amusing, Zan?" Elaina asked noticing the look on her son's face. Something told her that Zan hadn't been outside alone and she was going to find out what was going on.

"Nope, well if you are done giving me the 3rd degree may I go mingle with our guests," Zan asked.

Elaina smiled, her son was good at avoiding questions, very good. "That sounds like a good idea," Elaina replied. She then watched as her son disappeared into the crowds of people. Elaina smiled, then she turned around and came to face with Ava.
-

"Hey Zan," Vilandra yelled spotting her brother. Zan walked over to his sister. "So, you having a good time, anything unexpected happen," Vilandra asked.

Zan chuckled, he figured his sister knew about Ava and was trying to get something out of him, but he was going to play with her, just for a little while. "Nope, nothing out of the ordinary, why do you ask?" Zan watched as Vilandra tried to pick her next words carefully.

Vilandra looked at her brother, she could tell something was up, he was way too happy. "Oh I don't know, I figured it was a party something was bound to happen." Vilandra replied.

"Nope, well I will let you get back to Rath, I have to mingle." Zan said trying his best not to laugh.

Vilandra watched as her brother walked away, she knew she had just been dismissed, "You little sneak," Vilandra said with a smile. She turned back to find Rath.

-
"Ava, darling what are you doing here?" Elaina asked going over to hug Ava.

Ava smiled and returned the hug. "I was able to come home early, and Vilandra talked me into coming."

Elaina smiled Ava had turned out as beautiful as she had thought. Ava had always been very close to her heart, she was not only her daughter's best friend but her son's soul mate, although he was having trouble realizing it, Elaina loved Ava as one of her own. "Did you have a good time at school, your mother told me you were doing excellent?"

"I loved it, and I did do well, but I missed home, I missed everyone." Ava replied.

"So Vilandra knows you're home, how about..." Elaina asked casually.

"Yes, Elaina Zan knows I am back, we saw each other," Ava left it at that she wasn't about to give details away, not until she was sure Zan wanted to and she still had to deal with that little problem called Elizabeth.

Elaina smiled and thought to herself, "So this is why my son is in such a good mood."

"Well, I need to find Vilandra so I will talk to you soon," Ava said giving Elaina a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Of course darling I want all the details about school," Elaina replied. Ava then quickly left to find Vilandra.

-

Zan was scanning the crowd hoping to get a quick glance at Ava. He had no idea that she could still make him feel that way. In that one kiss was more feeling than in his entire relationship with any other girl.

"Any other girl..oh no...Elizabeth," Zan thought to himself. Elizabeth and Zan were pretty serious, everyone in the kingdom thought that they would be married. Well almost everyone...Vilandra, Rath,...even his mother...didn't think she was the one. Zan himself now knew she wasn't the one.

"How in the world am I going to break it to her?" Zan said out loud.

"Break what to who?" a familiar voice behind him asked.

Zan turned around and came face to face with Elizabeth. "Elizabeth, what are you doing here?" Zan asked a little too harsh.

Elizabeth seemed taken back, "We just returned from our trip, so I figured I would come down and join my prince at his party." Elizabeth then grabbed Zan's arm, "Let's dance, honey."

Zan didn't know what to do, he didn't want to dance with her, what if Ava saw them, but he didn't want to humiliate Elizabeth either. "Actually why don't we go outside and talk for awhile," Zan figured he needed to get this over with as soon as possible.

"Okay, that sounds like a wonderful idea, it is so beautiful outside tonight, it will be romantic," Elizabeth said clinging to Zan's arm.

Zan cringed, he really didn't want to do anything romantic with Liz, especially when he had just been outside with Ava.
-
"Uh-oh," Vilandra replied.

"What?" Ava asked. She had finally been able to find Vilandra. Vilandra had completely bombarded her with questions and Ava finally gave in and told her she had been with Zan.

"You see that brunette hanging helplessly on Zan's arm." Vilandra asked pointing towards Zan.

"Yeah..."Ava replied getting a sinking feeling in her stomach.

"That is Elizabeth," Vilandra replied. Ava watched as Zan escorted Elizabeth outside, her only comfort being the look of dread that graced Zan's face.

Ava then turned to look at Vilandra, "Let the fireworks begin."