Mandi jumped, slightly, as Roland appeared from behind a rock. She clutched onto Brittany's elbow, as if silently asking her to take some kind of action.

Which-asked or not-she did.

"Spying is a nasty habit." she smiled at the witch.

"Ah, yes." Roland smiled back, his violet eyes gleaming. "But a nessesary one at times. Actually," he glanced at Mandi. "I was hoping for the oppertunity to talk to your lovely friend, here."

Oh, so was he actually going to talk to her, this time? Mandi smirked at the thought, but was silently begging Brittany not to leave her with him.

"You'll have to do so back at the cave." Brittany said, as if reading Mandi's mind. "Robin is probably upset that we haven't left, yet. And we still have a long way to go, if we're going to reach the top."

"It'll only take a second."

Brittany sighed, and shrugged. "It's your deathbed." then she started back up the hill, completely abandoning Mandi with this jerk. "Just make it only a second. We do have little time."

Traitor. Mandi thought, as the blonde disappeared. She then turned to Roland, arms crossed, eyebrows raised.

"So, are you actually going to talk to me, this time? Or, should I just be following her back up?" she asked. "Because, you know, I would prefer the latter."

She tried to push her way through the boy, and up the hill. But he grabbed hold of her elbow, and turned her, so that she was facing him.

"You can go back up after we have our little talk." he said, smiling tightly.

"Unhand me." she gasped, trying to pull her arm out of his grip.

Roland smirked and actually had the nerve to laugh. "'Unhand me'?" he gasped. "Who says that?"

"I do." Mandi growled. "Now, let go of me!"

"Only if you promise to stay."

Mandi sighed, and glanced up the hill. He was stronger than her, so he would probably get what he wanted, either way. So, it was probably better to do things the easy way, at the moment.

"You get two minutes." she grumbled.

Roland nodded, and slowly let go of her elbow, and even then, he didn't let her get far enough away, that he couldn't grab her at a moment's notice.

"I suppose you know about the little... attatchment, we have, don't you?" he asked.

Mandi rolled her eyes, and scoffed. "Don't tell me you believe in all this hokey pokey soulmate stuff, to."

"I've seen it happen." Mandi shot him a glance. "Not just between us, but like with-Brittany and Fern. Don't tell me you don't think that how close they are is normal for two people who've only known eachother for a few months, if even that."

Mandi sighed. "Okay, so it is a bit unnatural for them, but that doesn't mean anything. Just because they may be soulmates, doesn't mean that we are."

"Why are you being so difficult?" Roland sounded exasperated.

"Because you have no proof."

"Why are humans always looking for proof?"

Mandi sighed. "I don't know, Roland. Maybe it's because you Night People are doing your job. We have no imagination, and there for, can't perceve anything out of the ordinary being real without proof."

"Well, shouldn't your friends be proof enough?"

"Maybe." she glared up at him. "But, if I were to trust you, that would mean giving up on everything I believe in."

Curiosity flashed momentarilly across his face. "Which are...?"

"Well, love at first sight. I don't belive in that." he opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him off. "And don't mention my friends again. Yes, I know for them, it was basically love at first sight, but they can believe that they'll spend the rest of their lives with Fern and Robin all they want. I'm 13, Roland, I still have my whole life ahead of me. Even if I do go out with you, chances are, it won't last, because they never do."

"But-"

"Oh, times up." Mandi smiled, going up the hill. "Better luck next time."

He didn't even try to grab her.