A/N: I am so so so so so so so so so so so so so soooo sorrryyyy!!! I didn't know it would take that long, but I am writing three stories at once, plus I have other things to do as well... All right so I guess this chapter puts in a lot of development. Oh and the song is "Let it Rock" By Kevin w/e... Hope ya like ittt!! :D

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My mixed- up emotions sizzled and writhed inside both my heart and mind as the moon lit the path back towards school. I skipped ahead, merrily because I felt like it. No intention did I have of awakening any suspicion within my friends' minds, which is just what had happened.

"What goes on in that pitiful mind of yours, dear Gemma, no one shall ever know," Felicity chastised. I blushed fiercely and went on my way as if she had not said anything, but made sure to slow my step.

We walked a bit more until Ann said, "I say, Gemma, what is wrong with you tonight? First your worried of coming, then you are 'sick', and now you seem as cheerful as ever." Only then did I notice that I had begun to skip again. I slowed my pace and shrugged nonchalantly at what Ann had said.

"I had a fantastic conversation with Kartik. He apologized for running off, and I described to him my past home in India."

Felicity raised an eyebrow skeptically beside me. "Is that really all, Gemma? I know there must be more." I sighed in surrender.

"There was something," I admitted to my friends. "We had some sort of connection between us. It was undeniably true."

"Oh no," Felicity complained and Pippa let out an unladylike groan. "Gemma, please don't. We have all gone through it with one of the brothers. It is like a dance; they keep you dangling, and in the end, they reject you completely because they can see you getting too attached. The mangle your heart, Gemma. Please try to let go."

I tried to compose myself within the time she finished speaking and the time everyone turned to face me, shocked. I was sure to be tearing at the corner of my eyes. Of course, I cared for Felicity deeply and appreciated her constructive criticism, but that gave me no reason not to feel upset.

I quickly composed my features into a look of taken aback, but not grieving, as I was feeling for no reason at all. "Well," I said. "That is quite... Goodness. I feel so silly, how I could have fallen like a helpless little victim! Thank you, Felicity, for the warning."

She smiled warmly at me, and for a moment, I wondered if she could see right through my facade. "Anytime," she responded evenly. I walked quickly ahead for fear of them seeing the shame in my face.

At first, I was upset. I had taken quite a liking to him and his attitude towards the society. It was as if he could see right through any pretenses other people had put up, and he could go into their minds and see for himself what they really want and expect. He interested me deeply.

And then anger flashed through me. How dare he show any signs of being interested in me! He purposely dazzled me, obviously knowing the effect he had on people, just to get some information on his homeland. He would never have any feelings for me. He was a liar and a scoundrel. Fee was right.

Under all this though, there was still the longing to be sitting there by the campfire again, talking to him. To hear his smooth, velvety voice again. To see his deep eyes, his russet skin... To have something more there...

I shook my head of this idiotic nonsense. He was not my type at all. I was meant to be with a handsome, wealthy mean who would appreciate my worth, and not insult the society I happen to be taking part in.

Only then did I notice that I seemed to have dropped my bonnet. I turned to my friends who, surprised at my change of direction, collided into me. They stepped back as Felicity said, "I say, Gemma! Why on earth did you do that?"

"I must have dropped my bonnet on our way back," I said, shaking my head at myself shamefully.

Fee sighed. "Well, all right," she said. "We'll make a pretense at supper so as not to attract further attention." I nodded in what I hoped she understood was a thank you, then ran off back to the camp.

I started trying to put my past thoughts behind me. Instead, I tried to think of the future; how I must improve on my signature, or I will be ashamed every time I would write a letter; how I would have to get better at curtsying, or I would make a fool of myself in front of the Queen of England and be forever humiliated...

And then I heard it; a rustle coming from the bushes to my right and the soft padding of footsteps.

I looked over and saw two pairs of eyes staring at me. The corners of the eyes turned up, as if they were smiling, and slowly crawled out of the bushes. They were two of the gypsy men who were always without ladies; always talking amongst themselves...

They walked up to me slowly, one of them limping a bit. They seemed to happy. And then I noticed an empty bottle of rum in each one's hand and I understood immediately. I backed away slowly, and their grins grew wider.

"Hold on," said one, grabbing my wrist. I tried to tug away, but even drunk, the man was strong. "Where are you going?"

"Yeah," the other one said. "We were just heading over to a little party and we want you to come."

"Gerrofme!" I gasped, tugging my wrist to no avail.

"Ooh, I am so scared," one of them said, his sarcasm marred considerably by the fact that he was drunk.

"I said get off!" I squealed. I started running through things I had seen when I went to the village. I had seen several poor Indian men fight before on the streets. I tried remembering some of the movements they had used. One of them had punched the other in the face. No, I thought, I can't pull my arm back.

And then I remembered a workshop I had once gone to with my mother. A kick in the groin should teach them some good. But I knew it was too late, and it would be all too silly of me to try, since my reflexes were so bad, they would probably sidestep the kick easily, even when they were drunk.

I thought of screaming Yes, I thought. It seemed like the best option. I cleared my throat and was just about to let out a blood curling scream when I heard a growl from behind me. Oh, fantastic, I thought to myself. Not only do I have drunken gypsies trying to take me away, but now a predator, as well?

But then I saw the gypsies' faces. They stared in horror at the creature behind me and backed away, letting go of my wrist as they went.

Then one of them seemed to come to their senses. He said, "Too late, Kartik. We found her first. She is ours for the night, and we will do what we please with her." He grinned cockily behind me. I turned around on the spot slowly. There, visible only by a ray of moon light that seemed to cause his skin to glow a bit more, with his hair hanging in his eyes, with his back hunched and eyes closed into slits, looking murderous, stood Kartik.

My heart leaped. He was there to help! And then I saw the look on his face and deliberated for a moment. Why did he seem so livid? Still not keeping his eyes off of the two drunken men, he motioned for me to come to him.

"Kartik," one of them whined. "We wanted her!" And then some kind of sudden realization seemed to loom over him."Unless... she's your's?" he whispered.

I stood there, shocked. What kind of question was that? And then I thought back on it. It was possible to think so, as an onlooker of our conversation. I looked over at Kartik. His anger seemed to have stopped immediately at this question. He looked very taken aback. "What...?"

And then, I do not know what had come over me. I don't know why I had done so, but it is too late to take back what I had done. I touched Kartik's arm gently and made the tiniest motion with my head to signal for him to say yes. He deliberated for a moment, then said confidently, "Yes."

The gypsy who had grabbed my wrist grinned mischievously. "I don't believe you," he announced. "She doesn't seem too willing."

And then I was sure to have gone mad. I took Kartik's hand, swung around until it was wrapped around my waist, and kissed him.

He seemed shocked at first, but then got a bit comfortable. He let his tongue glide between my lips momentarily, then immediately got control of himself, realized what he had done, and split away from me immediately. His eyes, only inches from mine, seemed to flare up. I knew he was agitated with me, but I dare not show the coward within that wanted to creep away from him.

One of the gypsy men, the one who had grabbed my wrist, let out a long whistle while the other clapped slowly. "All right, mate," the one who had whistled said. "She's yours. Nice demonstration, by the way." He smiled slyly and the two men backed away.

Kartik immediately grabbed my shoulders and turned me so I faced him, quite rudely, as a matter of fact. He was too angry to argue with, though. "What do you think you are doing here, this late?" he hissed. I looked into his topaz eyes, shocked.

"I had dropped my bonnet," I admitted honestly. "I was just coming to get it back." He still seemed agitated.

"Come," he said, letting go of my shoulders. "take a walk with me." It wasn't a request, it was a demand.

I nodded my head slightly, unable to move my eyes from the way they were captured within his. And then I remembered my purpose there. "Just one moment," I insisted. "I have to go and get my bonnet."

I raced back in the direction of the campfire, scanning the ground on my way. I found my bonnet covered in dirt to the side of the path. I picked it up, brushed off the debris, and put it in my skirt pocket.

I ran back to Kartik and came to a halt beside him. He was looking up at something. I looked up with him. He was staring at the sky, which was a hazy mixture of beautiful colors. "What is it?" I asked.

"My favorite time of day," Kartik responded softly. "Twilight."

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A/N: okkk so tht was chapta 8!!!! im rlly happy with this story, arent you? R+R!!!! oh and feel free to send me if u have any ideas to thoroughly mix the stories! I dont want it to be like others, where its the names from another story but the storyline of the other. I want it to be specific characters from one of the stories but a thorough mixture of the storylines!!! thanks 4 readin :PPPP