Fu stood looking at him. "I suppose you're right Gramps, but I still think he has the right to know."
"Perhaps it would be for the best, never the less, I have made my decision. He is not to know."
Jake slowly rode his board down the sidewalk. His mind remained on the dragon of the night before. He was so lost in his thoughts that he never noticed the person he was about to run into.
"Ugh, ow."
"Oh, hey Jake. Are you okay?"
Jake groaned under his breath. "Yeah Rose, I'm fine." Jake couldn't just leave, he'd run into her after all. "So, how are things going?"
"Fine, look, I'm really sorry that we didn't get the chance to hang on the ski trip. But it wasn't my fault. Why are you avoiding me?"
"Look, Rose. I've had a lot on my mind, It's nothing against you. Really." Jake looked up for the first time since they started talking. Rose's eyes didn't hold their usual spark. "Hey, Rose, are you okay?"
"Yeah, you didn't do any damage."
"No, I mean you don't look that good. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I was up late last night."
Jake stared at her. "I bet, hope you didn't hurt any of my friends." "What, have an assignment due?"
"No, just couldn't sleep. One of those nights you know?"
"What happened?"
"Like I said, it was just a bad night."
Jake looked a her for a moment, he could sense that something wasn't right. And though he knew that there could never be anything between them, he couldn't help but worry.
"Look, I'm your friend. And I hope you know that you can always trust me."
Rose looked at him sadly. "No. I can't trust anyone anymore."
Jake watched in mixed horror and surprise as she turned and walked away. "No way, it can't be."
Jake came running through the door of the small shop. "Yo, Gramps, I need to talk to you!"
"What is it Jake?"
"I think I found her. I'm pretty sure I know who it is."
"A fortunate break young dragon. What is her name?"
"I can't tell you."
"Jake, need I remind you how much danger she is in. If we don't act quickly, we may be too late."
Jake dropped his head. "Look, I know she's in trouble, but confronting her is going to put her in even more danger. Just tell me, is there any way I can find out for sure without her knowing?"
"Hmm, it is hard to say. There are ways for you to force a change, but I can't think of anything."
"Hey Gramps, let me take care of this. Okay Jake, Today's your lucky day. I just got a new spell book that has the solution to your problem. Just follow me and we'll get you set up." Fu led the way to the small workroom he always made his potions in. He checked his book and started pulling ingredients over to him. "Let's see, a little bit of this, a smidge of that, and the hair of a sphinx. Okay, we're all done. Pour this on her and if it turns pink, she's a dragon."
"Thanks Fu. I owe you one."
"No problem kid, get out there and make your dreams come true."
"What?"
"Eh, nothing. hurry up kid, you haven't got much time. It's only good for two hours after it's made. Move it!"
"Right, thanks Fu." Jake ran out of the shop and jumped on his skateboard.
Lao She gave Fu a harsh look. "It was an accident. Relax, he doesn't know."
Lao Shi went into the back shaking his head.
Jake rode down the sidewalk. He kept his speed up as high as he could. He never knew where Rose could have turned off, but he continued in the direction she'd been walking in.
Finally he saw her walking ahead of him. "Hey Rose!"
She turned around and waved a half-hearted hello. Jake was too distracted to notice the small curb that separated them. His balance caused him to go flying as soon as he hit the small jump. Jake landed and skidded across the asphalt. "Ow." Jake raised his head to look into the concerned eyes of a very wet, and very pink faced Rose.