-Chapter 4, An Item-

I woke up the next morning with the worst pain in my side. I could barley sit up, but I knew I had to or else my parents would worry. I sat up, grabbing on to anything I could for balance. I looked up at my dresser and saw it, the little black box sitting there.

"Yesterday, it was all real," I told myself. Everything was sorta a big blur for me. The attack,
running away, Kyle just suddenly being there. I smiled. Kyle, that wizard dude, save me. I gasped.

"OH MY GOSH!,"I shouted,"He's coming over for dinner tonight!" I shot up out of bed, holding on to my bruised side. I snatched the black box off my dresser and opened it. The little silver star caught the light and twinkled in my eye. I pulled it out and walked to my door, where my mirror hung. I opened the clasp on the necklace and closed it on the metal loop. I let the star fall on my chest and admired it in the mirror. I felt like it belonged there. I smiled and the pain on my side seemed to fade away. Then something weird happened. The little star on my necklace started to glow. My mirror cracked into thousands of tiny pieces. I screamed and fell to the floor.

"What's going on?,"I screamed. I heard my parents running up the stairs. They opened the door and gasped when they saw the glass on the carpet and me on the floor.

WHAT'S GOING ON IN HERE RIMA?,my father asked. I looked down at the necklace, it had stopped glowing. I looked back up to my parents. They were still waiting for an answer.

"I...uh,"I started,"Had an...accident."
I'll get the vacuum,my mother said.
They both walked back down stairs. I ran to my closet and grabbed the dress my mom made me wear for the dinner. It was red and sparkly with ruffled sleeves. I had only wore it once for a Christmas show at my old school. I quickly got changed into it and put on my silver flats. I ran out the house before my parents saw me.

"Kyle is sooo gunna hear from me!,I said to myself. As I walked to his house, I saw Fanboy and Chum Chum giving each other piggy-back rides. They spotted me and ran my way.

RIMA! RIMA,WAIT UP!,Fanboy shouted. Chum Chum saved his breath and was focused more on the piggy-back ride HE was giving. I stopped and waited for them to catch up to me.
Fanboy gazed. "Rima, you look...whoa!" I looked down. I forgot I was wearing the dress. I didn't think I looked my best though because my hair was in an untidy ponytail.

"Thanks,"I replied,"but I really have to go."
"Where are you going?,"Chum Chum asked.
Yeah, and are you okay?,We heard about your encounter with...BOOG! I sighed.

"I'm going to Kyle's house,"I told them,"And yes, I'm okay." They smiled at me.

"HEY! WHAT DO YOU KNOW?,Chum Chum and I were just on our way to Kyle's house right now!", Fanboy smiled. I gasped. I really wanted to see Kyle, alone, without the boys tagging along. We walked along until we reached Kyle's house. I rang his doorbell.

"You don't have to do all that," Chum Chum said,"Fanboy and I usually just climb through the-" The door opened and Kyle stood at the doorway with that signature serious expression. Then his eyes fell on me. He instantly smiled.

"Rima," he said,"Your...your wearing a dress?" Then he noticed the costumed boys behind me and his expression returned.
"HI KYLE!,"Fanboy waved. Before Kyle could insult him, I grabbed onto his shirt.
"We need to talk, NOW!,"I whispered. Kyle removed my hands and fixed his shirt.

"Do we?,"he asked. I nodded.
"About this," I replied as I pointed to the necklace. We looked over at Fanboy and Chum Chum who were having a burping contest. Kyle flinched and ached to insult them. I turned his head towards me.

"How are we gonna get them to leave?,"I asked him. He shrugged.

"Those are YOUR idiot friends,"he answered,"You figure it out!"
"There your friends too!,"I replied. I noticed Fanboy and Chum Chum were watching us.

"What's going on?,"Chum Chum asked. Kyle and I thought for something to say.
"Nothing,"he replied,"We just...uh-"
"Heard there was a new flavor of Frosty Freezy Freeze out today!,"I added. Fanboy and Chum Chum squealed and smiled at eachother. They rushed out of Kyle's house, to the Frosty Mart. Kyle laughed and locked his door.

"Ninnies,"he said to himself. I cleared my throut to get his attention.

"Kyle,"I started,"This necklace broke my mirror this morning!" Kyle's face turned bright red.

"Did it really?," he asked me. I was confused. The tone in his voice almost sounded...happy.
"What's going on?,"I asked him. He played with his fingers. I grabbed his hands and stared at him "KYLE?"

"Well...you see,"he started,"That 'necklace' I gave you isn't really a necklace." My eyes grew. I looked down at the little star.

"What is it then?,"I shouted. Kyle swallowed down hard. He started sweating a little too. I paniced. Was it something bad?
"Well, us wizards have our own way of finding out if someone...likes them." I thought for a second.
"So you mean...,the more I like you, the more it GLOWS?," I asked.

"Mostly,"he replied,"You must like me quite alot, hence the mirror incident." My face turned pale. I hid behind my hair. I ran towards the door and onto the street. I couldn't belive it. He knew one of my biggest secrets!

"RIMA, WAIT!,"he shouted. I turned around as I ran and noticed he was chasing after me, his cape flying behind his as he ran. It was getting dark out. I knew my parents would have noticed I was gone. I rushed up the stairs to my house and knocked on the door. I had left my key in my room. Kyle caught up to me.
"Rima, I'm terribly sorry! Ever so sorry!"

My mother opened the door. She had a confused look on her face when she noticed me wearing my dress.
"There you are!,"she said,"And just in time for dinner too!" She smiled at Kyle and walked us inside. Instead of three chairs at the table, there was an extra for him. There was a nice red table cloth and my mother used the fancy china. The napkins were folded and there were three gold candles lit. I sat down and Kyle sat next to me.
"Your father and I will be out in a minute,"my mother told me. She left us alone in the dining room. Kyle played with his fingers. I hid behind my hair. It was soo quiet. The lack of noise was becoming unbearable. I had something I wanted to say to him, but I was too afraid to ask. I looked over at Kyle. His hair covered his face. Under the low light, the different tones and shades of red really came through. He suddenly turned and faced me. I lost my breath. I decided to ask my question.

"Kyle?,"I said. He raised an eyebrow at me.
"Rima?," he replied. His accent made my name sound so elegant.

"Do you...uh..do you kinda sorta-"
"Like you?,"he asked. His face was flushed. So was mine. The star on my glowed bright again. My glass cup broke and the candle light blew out. We screamed at the sound of the glass shattering. My parents ran in, both nicley dressed.

"Are you guys okay!,"My father asked. I ran through thoughts.

"I'm sorry,"Kyle apologized,"I'm soo clumsy at times. Please fogive me." I looked at Kyle with shock on my face. That little actor! From under the table, he grabbed my hand. I think he knew that would keep me quiet, cuz it did.

"It's alright,"my mother replied,"I'll get you another glass,Rima." I dusted the broken glass on my napkin and folded it. My mother came back with a new glass and re-lit the candles. My father carried a large tray of food. On it was a bowl of rice, a large chicken, a bowl of vegetables, a pie, and sparkling apple cider. It was always the same meal when we had guests over. Kyle smiled at the food.

"Waaay better than the glop they serve at school," he laughed,"A trillion times over!" My parents laughed with him, although I knew they only liked the way his accent sounded. I stayed quiet. He was still holding my hand under the table. When my mom started serving food, I tugged ot his arm.

"Huh?,"he whispered to me.

"You never answered my question,"I replied. His face turned pink.

"Time and place for everything,"he whispered. I frowned. He smiled to himself and revealed his braced teeth. I let go of his hand and began eating the food my mother placed on my plate.

"So Kyle,"my father started,"Have you always lived here?"
"Uh...,"he stammered,"No. Not really."

"Where are you from?,"my mother asked. Kyle played with his fingers under the table. For some reason, he gets really nervous around my parents. I smirked to myself and ate my food.

"M...M...Minnesota,"he replied. I knew he wasn't telling the truth. I giggled and turned to my parents.

"Mom, dad, can you excuse us?,"I asked them. They nodded. I dragged Kyle into the kitchen.

"What's the matter?,"he asked. I stared at him, trying my hardest not to hid behind my hair.
"Minnesota?,"I laughed. He smiled at my laughing.
"What did you want me to tell them? I'm from Milkweed because I'm a wizard!"
"They would think you were weirder than Fanboy and Chum Chum."We laughed. For once, I was actually able to talk to Kyle normally without hiding. I took off the and placed it in his hand. He gave me a confused look.

"Let's avoid any more accidents,"I joked. He pushed the necklace down in his pocket.
"Your not doing that thing,"he said.
"What thing?,"I replied. He tugged at my hair.
"That thing with your hair,"he replied. I blushed.

"I know,"I replied,"I'm getting better." We smiled at eachother.
"Your parents,"Kyle said,"The dinner..."
"Oh right!,"I replied,"We should be getting back." Kyle grabbed my hand again. I stopped and stared at him.

"Well?," he started,"What are you waiting for? Walk me to your dining room."
"But...your holding my hand,"I mumbled. He smiled.
"It's alright to tease your parents sometimes.,"he replied. My eyes widened. "That little trouble maker!", I thought to myself. But I followed his orders anyways. When we walked into the room, my father choked on a piece of chicken. My mother dropped her fork. Here's the thing with my parents, they hate to see me grow up. Since I'm there only child, they're always trying to hold on to me. So seeing me, red faced and holding onto a boy's hand, came as a shock to them. We sat down, not letting go of eachother. My parents stared as we ate.

"Rima...honey,"my mother stammered. Kyle interupted her.

"How rude of me,"he scoffed to my parents,"We shouldn't be enduring an act of PDA at the dinner table." My parents exchanged looks. Kyle laughed out loud.
"PDA?,"I heard my father whisper to my mother. Kyle stood up.

"I really should be going,"he announced. I stood next to him "I'll...uh, walk you to the door,"I insisted. Kyle waved to my parents and straightened his cape.
"Thank you ever so much for the food." He turned towards the door. "Goodnight." I walked him to the door and opened it.

"Kyle,"I started,"You do know that when I sit back at that table, I'm going to be questioned." He laughed.
"Of course you are,"he replied,"Just tell them what we all know."
"What do you mean?,"I asked. He moved closer to me and pulled me in a hug. I hugged him back. The cold breeze that entered swayed his cape.

"Think about it,"he whispered in my ear. Then he kissed my shoulder where his head sat. My body went numb. My arms dropped to my side. I felt a little dizzy too. He slowly let me go.

"Goodnight, Rima,"he said. I couldn't move. My breathing was uneven.
"G...goodnight, K...K...Kyle,"I managed to get out. I watched him leave, his cape blowing behind him as he walked. He turned around and smiled at me before he completely turned away. I slowly closed the door and locked it. I walked back to the dining room and sat down. My parents were smiling at me.

"Rima,"my mother cried,"I had no idea that you and Kyle had become an item." I gave her a confused look.

"Item?,"I asked,"What do you-"

"Dating!,"she interrupted,"I had no idea you were ready to start dating!" I gasped.
"WHAT?,"I shouted,"WE ARE NOT DATING AND WE ARE NOT AN...ITEM!" My parent's eyes widened at the same time. My mother said nothing more and began cleaning off the table. For some reason, I felt like she WANTED me to date Kyle. I excused myself from the table and walked upstairs to my room. I changed into my pajamas and sat in my bed.

What did he mean when he said "Tell them what we all know? I thought for a long time. I layed down. My head hit the pillow.

"Kyle is such a troublemaker,"I giggled to myself. I laughed at the thought. He was such a poser, especiallyat dinner. Although, it was sorta fun to mess with my parents. I touched the spot on my shoulder that Kyle kissed. I sighed.

"How does he do it?,"I asked myself,"Shy one minute, brave the next. It's like magic..."