Previously in Needle in the hay: "A gift?" "Yep, come back here when you're done, one of my guards will be waiting for you here." Then she stormed off some were. I looked down at the invitations. "What now?"

I wonder who I should invite to the ball. I could invite Allen to the ball I mean he is my friend after all. Also so Cathy can get a chance to meet him. Now that I think about it there kind of alike. Who know maybe they'll get along? I smiled to myself. That leaves two more, but who do I give them to. Should I invite Zeno? After all he did help me a lot, but I don't know if I'll be able to look at him in the face after, that. I was already half way to the hideout. I really am too nervous to see him; maybe I'll go see Al-Mualim first. After all I have to talk to him. Alright then I'll go see him first.

FF

It took me a couple of tries before I found Al-Mualim's chamber. I even ran into Allen with no shirt on. That was awkward especially when he tried to hug me. I let out a long sigh before I entered. Well if I could, I mean these doors are huge. Can I open them by myself? I puffed out my chest, and then grabbed one of the handles of the door. I pulled as hard as I could, but the doors didn't even move. I exhaled then pulled again. But this time even harder. I felt the doors move, but there was something wrong. I was being pulled in! I must have been pulling the wrong way. I felt myself literally flying in. I close my eyes ready to receive the impact, but instead of falling on the hard floor I fell on something soft. Next thing I heard was a 'thump' and someone grunt. I opened my eyes and found myself on top of a man, an assassin to be precise. I gasped and quickly climbed off him.

"I'm sorry really I didn't mean to fall on you." I said bowing. The man sat up and rubbed the back of his head.

"Tsk, be more careful girl I don't appreciate you falling on me." Then he stood up. He had short, messy, dark hair. His face was good looking, but looked mean. I gulped at his gaze.

"Are you alright young lady?" Another voice said it was smoother and a little friendlier. Wait, I recognize this voice. I looked up to see none other than Altair himself. He had his hand stretched out for me to take. I put my hand on top of his.

"Yes I'm fine." Then he pulled me up with ease.

"Th-thank you." As you can imagine I was blushing, but it was dark in the room so I don't think anyone saw. I heard someone clear there throat. I turned to see Al-Mualim standing in the middle of the room looking annoyed.

"Oh, I'm sorry for all the noise I just wanted to speak to you is all." I said with a low bow.

"Altair, Malik leave me alone with Ela." He said firmly.

"Yes, master as you wish." They both said at the same time, then left. I guess having a conversation with Altair here wouldn't be wise. I turned to face Al-Mualim.

"Allen has told me about your friend"

"Her name is Catherin. I told her mostly of what happen, but not about you, of course."

"Good it would not be wise of you to tell her about me."

"Um, I wanted to ask something of you." I said shyly.

"Tell me I'll do my best to make you happy."

"Um, I was wondering if I could move in with Cathy. She has a home not too far from here. She wants me to go live with her, but I think it's only right to ask you."

"Hmmm, I'm not too sure about having you live outside of the hideout, but seeing as this girl is important to you I see nothing wrong with it. You may stay with her under one condition one of my men will be going to check on you daily." My face lit up.

"Thank you very much sir." I was so happy I ran up to him and hugged him.

"I'm sorry to be so hasty but there's something else I have to do so if you please excuse me!" I bowed to him and ran out the door. This great I get to move in with Cathy. I ran to my room. I should start packing up to go with Cathy. I was so happy now. I took out a box to put my stuff in. I took all the clothes I had in the small closet and put it on the bed.

"Ela…?" My body froze, but I managed to turn my head towards the door.

"Zeno!" He was standing in the door way with his gaze focused on me. I could look him in the eyes so I looked down on the floor.

"I was just . . ."

"What are you doing? Where are you going? Tell me are you leaving because of what happened yesterday, and if you are then don't leave. I'll leave and I promise that I'll never touch you again and if you don't want to see me again I promise you I'll stay away from you. Just please don't go. I leave right now and leave you alone." He turned around and started to walk away. My heart stopped, No he can leave I don't want that. Even if what he did was out of line I don't want him to leave out of my life. I don't want to lose him again. Tears ran down my face.

(Two young children sat outside watching the snow gently fall from the sky. "Zeno will you be with me forever." A small girl said to the boy holding her hand. "Only if you wish for me to stay." The boy looked down at the small girl attached to his hand. The girl smiled at him. "Of course you the most important person to me." she answer with a giggle. "Ok then I'll stay with you until you want." "You promise me Zeno." "Yeah, I promise." The boy extended his pinky finger out to her. The small 3 year old wrapped her tiny pinky around his. "Forever. . ." "Forever. . .")

I ran after him as fast as I could. I Have to stop him before he's no longer in my reach.

"Zeno!" I stretched out my arms to him. He turned around and I hugged him as hard as I could. I buried my face on his chest and sobbed loudly.

"I don't want you to leave me. I want to stay with you forever just like when we were little. You can't leave me you promised!"

"Then why are you leaving?"

"I was only going to stay with Cathy. She asked me to go live with her. I don't feel right here so i was going with her instead. She has a house nearby so I. . ."

"Why didn't you tell me that then? Where you even planning to tell me?"

"Of course I was. It's just that I . . ." I let go of him and looked over to the wall.

"I was too nervous to talk to you" A light blush dance on my face. He placed his hand on my cheek then placed his forehead on my own and squeezed his eyes shut.

"I'm sorry Ela, that day I shouldn't have done what I did. That wasn't fair to you, but I'll start over. We can forget what happened that day and well go back to the thing were. Is that alright with you?"

"Yes, I would like that." I said smiling to him. He pulled himself away from me.

"Come on I'll help you pack." We walked back to my room.

"Um, Zeno I have something to give you." I took out the invitation and handed it to him.

"There's gonna be a ball and I wanted you to go with us. That is me, Allen and Cathy.

"I would be honored." He said politely. I giggled and he gave me one of his super rare smiles.

FF

Ok now that I gave Zeno his invitation I'll give Allen his. I walked over to his room and gently knocked on his door.

"Allen are you in?"

"Coming princess!" The opened the door and tackled me with a hug.

"Ah, Allen I have to ask you something. Would you like to go to the ball wit-

"Of course I'll go with you princess!"

"Great, but it not just with me Zeno and Cathy are going."

". . . Cathy?"

"Yup, my friend from earlier."

". . . I think I'll pass."

"Eh, why?"

"She might throw another rock at me." He said in a really childish voice."

"Haha, no I promise she won't she only did that because she though you were some type of perv, but I told her everything."

"Alright then I'll defiantly go."

"Yay it's gonna be so much fun!"

"Well I'm off then I have something I have to do." I waved to him and then walked down the hall. I have one left. One invitation to give and I know exactly who to give I to. The person I love, Altair. I smiled to myself I hope he accepts. I wonder if he still here. I walk into what to be the center of the Hide-out. There was a nice red carpet on the floor and bookshelves stuffed with books. There also was a man sitting on a table in the center of the room. He seemed too deep on thought to notice me or maybe he did but didn't care. Wait I recognize that man he's the one who was with Altair. What was his name,
Malik?

.

Malik! Finally he comes in my story. Ok so he's not all that hot in the game but as an anime character his izzz.