Thank you to everyone for reviewing!

Thank you to:

BACswimma, Gallan Princess, Kiley 1 09, Lady Knight Jocelyn, LadyKnightOpal, Rogue-Storm-Rampant, Shang Leopard, bloodsucker13, and inktounge58
For the Story alert

And again to: bloodsucker13, LadyKnightOpal, Gallan Princess, and to Kiley 1 09
For the favorite story!

It will get funnier, I promise!

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--Alanna's POV--

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Lilia and I were in Lilia's rooms when a knock sounded at the door. I got up and opened the door to find a fist coming towards my nose. I took the hand and wrapped it behind the attacker's body and shoved them into a wall. He fell to he floor and looked at me strangely.

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"Gary!"

"I was distracted so I didn't see the door open and knocked again, I wasn't trying to hurt you, you know!"

He got up indignantly. Lilia was on the bed laughing.

"Whats all this?"

Alex asked, he and the others were now at the door.

"Gary didn't see the door open so he knocked and almost punched Alanna. She grabbed his arm twisted it behind his back and shoved him into the wall. Then she saw who it was." Lilia dissolved into giggles again. Thom chuckled behind his hand and Alex smiled.

"Better pay more attention next time Gary." Alex taunted.

Gary swung a fist at him but he ducked it with cat-like grace. "Your reflexes are growing old aren't they?" This time Gary's fist collided into his stomach and he threw himself at Gary, the two wrestled on the ground as Jonathan rolled his eyes at his friends antics.

The two finally just sat on the ground as Thom flopped onto the bed.

"So, Alanna, got an idea for a date to tonight's ball?" Lilia who sat a the edge of the bed asked her friend, knowing perfectly well my reaction. She rolled quickly onto the ground narrowly avoiding a pillow that was thrown so hard that it would've hurt had it hit her.

Lilia grinned from her position on the ground.

I growled; "You didn't have to remind me."

"Yes I know, but it's good practice for my reflexes each time I do."

I scowled at her and the boys laughed. I looked at them, having momentarily forgotten they were there.

"I thought you were assigned partners." Jonathan said surprised.

"We were, but Alanna's said that women weren't supposed to be warriors, only meant to bear children, so she gave him a black eye." Lilia dissolved into giggles again. I glared at her and returned my eyes on the boys who were holding back laughter;

"His name?" The prince asked.

"Ralon of Malven." I grunted. "He refused to take me to the ball, thank gods for that, but the convent ladies were mad and said I had to find my own date and they gave good luck to anyone crazy enough to come close to 'The Lioness'."

The boys laughed outright at this and I glared daggers at Thom who ignored me and kept laughing.

"'The Lioness'?" asked Alex mildly.

"The convent Sisters give nice little names to the students, Delia of Eldorn for example is The Swan and Amelie of Masters is The Cat, for all that she is graceful (cough cough). They gave Alanna; the Lioness. for wreaking havoc everywhere she goes and for being all boyish and hunting when the males are supposed to, and --well for other reasons I don't think are true."

I glared once again at Lilia who couldn't seem to keep her mouth shut. The boys were basically rolling around in laughter.

"Better than being 'The Jackrabbit!'" Lilia turned really red, aha, revenge.

Wiping away a tear Gary asked, avoiding Lilia's death glare "'The Jackrabbit?'"

I knew I'd get it later, but she started it!

"For being so innocent and sweet looking but for also being the clumsiest lady the convent has ever seen. She slipped from the risers once and took out almost a whole squad of the Kings Own who were standing guard at the convent one time. Hence the nickname."

I don't personally think it is even physically possible for them to laugh harder than they already are. The bell rang for the third time in the afternoon. We had two hours before the ball and I was going to wait for another hour before I started getting ready but Lilia was a little more self conscious, she was representing Naxen after all.

"Everybody out!" Lilia cried. She ushered us out of the room and slammed the door shut without other words. The boys stood staring at the door.

"What was that about?" Gary looked at the closed door.

"There are only two hours left before the ball and your sister wants to get ready now, she takes forever, she is so vain." I said the last part loudly so she'd hear me from inside the room. I heard a thump at the door, she had thrown a shoe;

"I heard that!"

"Good!" I yelled back and I started whistling as I strolled down the hall. The boys rolled their eyes and followed me. We talked for a little while but then, they, one by one, started to go to their rooms to get ready. Finally only Alex and I remained. I was desperate, I hadn't found a partner, however, luck seemed to be on my side.

"Alanna, You don't have a date tonight do you?"

"No. Why?" I asked.

He grinned; "Want to give your brother a heart attack?"

"More than anything." I answered with a smile.

"Then, mind if I accompany you to the ball tonight?"

"Not at all." I batted my eyelashes mockingly and he laughed. He tweaked my nose and said;

"See you in a bell."

With that he was off, what was that tingling feeling in the pit of my stomach? I did not like Alex, I had met him today for the first time for Mithros' sake! I shoved the thoughts out of my mind as I opened the door to my room.

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Hehe, surprise! Alright, Alex won't be some egotistical freak in my story, but other than that, I'll try to stick to character's actual character-ness. (Does that make sense?) George will come fairly soon and maybe even Roger, maybe...

Hope you like it!

Review!

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Keep Reading,

xxTunstall Chickxx

16/06/08