Chapter 6

Kyle

"So, anything interesting going on?" asked Daniel.

"Just the dance," Mandy said, uninterested. "I'm probably not going. Are you going?"

"Hmm...I'm not sure anymore," he said slyly. "I think the girl I'm going to ask doesn't want to go."

"If it's you, she'll definitely go." Mandy promised, a little too early.

"Alright. Then you'll go to the Winter Ball of Bast with me?" said Daniel.

Mandy squirmed uncomfortably. She regretted what she had just said.

"Um..I don't know," she admitted. "I'm not really into dances."

"Aw, Mandy, just because you don't like dances you're not going to go? We can just hang out together there," Daniel said.

"No, it's OK," Mandy said. "Besides, I know a lot of other girls would enjoy going with you."

"And you wouldn't?" Daniel asked, playfully.

"It would feel weird going as friends, don't you think?" asked Mandy truthfully.

"No." Daniel looked at Mandy. "You really don't want to go with me?" he asked.

"Let me think about it," said Mandy, although she knew she didn't want to go to the dance.

"OK, fine," said Daniel. "But if you're not going, then I'm not going."

"Daniel!" Mandy protested. "You can't! You can always ask someone. A lot of girls will be disappointed if you're not there."

"And I'll be unhappy to be there without you," replied Daniel promptly.

"I'll just think about it," said Mandy. By that time, they had reached Daniel's house.

Mandy went in, and placed her bag into her room.

"I'm going to go to the marketplace," said Mandy. She didn't want to stay alone with Daniel in his house.

"Do you need me to go with you?" asked Daniel.

"No, I'll be fine," replied Mandy. She quickly left the house, holding her bag of money.

Mandy walked slowly through the marketplace, thinking about the dance. Daniel was a really close friend to her, but it wouldn't feel right to go with him to the dance. She hadn't even expected him to ask her to the dance.

Suddenly, someone grabbed at Mandy's purse.

"Hey!" she shouted out, holding onto her purse tightly. The thief yanked at her purse, breaking its strap and running away.

"Thief!" Mandy cried out. However, the marketplace was too loud, and no one heard her. Suddenly, a man nearby started running towards the thief. He reached the thief, and pulled him to the ground.

"Give me the purse," he growled. The thief tried to hit the man in the jaw, but the man ducked. He grabbed the purse, and walked away, walking towards Mandy.

"Here," he said to Mandy, handing her the purse. "I think all of the money is still in here."

"Thanks," said Mandy, with relief. The purse had held a lot of money. "What's your name?"

"I'm Kyle," he said. "And you are?"

"Mandy," Mandy replied. She looked at his face closely. He looked strangely familiar, as if she had met him before. He was extremely handsome, and had dark hair and eyes. He looked to be two or three years older than Mandy.

"Have I seen you before?" Mandy asked hesitantly. Kyle looked at her solemnly.

"No," he said. "I'm new to this town."

"Oh," said Mandy, still unsure. "Well, thanks for getting my purse back for me," she said, smiling.

"No problem," he said. He waved at her, and started to leave. Suddenly, Mandy remembered him from her dream. He was the one who had been part of the crowd that was calling her a fairy.

"Wait, Kyle!" she exclaimed. "Are you the guy..." Then she didn't know what to say. How could she explain that he had been in her dream?

"Am I what?" Kyle asked.

"Nevermind," said Mandy, feeling foolish. "It was nice meeting you."

Kyle nodded and walked away.

Mandy felt her heart beating quickly when he was leaving. She felt a longing, as if she wanted to see him again. She really wanted to know him better. As she continued wandering through the marketplace, she kept thinking about him. Maybe she would even see him in school!

It was dark when Mandy finally got home, her arms full of groceries.

"Mandy!" Daniel exclaimed when Mandy walked in. "Have you eaten yet?" Mandy felt extremely exhausted from wandering around the marketplace for so many hours.

"I'm not hungry," she replied. "I'll be going to my room." She yawned.

"Wait," he said. Mandy paused.

"So...I've been really distracted all day about the dance. Are--are you going to the dance with me?"

Mandy sighed.

"I don't know yet," she replied.

"Are you sure?"

"Fine,whatever," said Mandy without thinking. "I'm going to bed."

Up in her room, Mandy changed into her frilled nightgown and sat down on her bed.

"What had I just agreed to?" Mandy asked herself. She hadn't really heard what Daniel had said. Then she remembered. He had asked her again if she was going to the dance with him.

"Oh no, did I just agree to him?" Mandy thought. "I only said it because I was too tired." However, she didn't have time to think about it. In several minutes, she was already asleep.