~3~

I dashed in and out of people as I followed the familiar stranger through the village. It felt like a maze as I ran through, knocking people and carts over. I continued to run, trying to catch up with him, until I couldn't see him anywhere. I came to a standstill, glancing everywhere around the crowded, dusty streets. I was just about to reluctantly turn around and head back to Adelaide and Adela, when I saw the young man down a tiny alleyway in front of me, that lied between two small buildings.

I walked slowly down the alleyway, trying to catch my breath and keep myself calm.

"Hello Will," I breathed once I got close enough to him, where he was bending over sacks of flour.

I watched as the young boy, only a year older than me, turned around startled to look at me. His blue eyes were drawn to me and dazzled in the light. His short, dark hair blew in the wind and his face and white shirt were covered with filth and dirt.

"What are you doing here?" he muttered surprised to see me.

"Well that's not any way to treat a lady who just wanted to say hello to an old friend," I teased.

He looked up to the sky and then back to me smiling his crooked smile, "You're right, I'm sorry. Hello, Jane."

I felt the goose bumps creep up my skin when he said my name in his soft, clear voice. "I haven't seen you in a while," he said quietly.

I thought of the last time I came to the village and saw Will and felt the blood rush up to my cheeks. "I haven't been able to escape," I said smiling.

"Oh, they have you locked up or something?" he teased.

"No," I said, "It's just hard to get away. My parents don't exactly approve of me coming to the village very often."

"So you've said before, but yet, you're here," he replied.

"A couple of my friends were coming and they invited me along with them," I said.

He seemed to chuckle to himself, "Those two sisters who seem to have never gotten off their high horses?"

"Yes, unfortunately," I muttered.

He began to load sacks onto a cart that I stood in front of. I got out of the way so he could as he continued to talk, "I'm surprised you were able to get away to come to the village today. Aren't you busy planning some kind of a party for tomorrow night?"

I smiled to myself at the way he knew all about what I was up too, without me having to tell him. "Yes, but I needed to get out and get some air."

He nodded and continued to pile the sacks on the cart, "Yes, party planning is hard work."

"Oh Will, will you come?" I said out in an excited rush.

He turned to stare at me. "Jane, I don't belong at those kinds of things," he muttered softly.

I felt like my hopes were destroyed. I wanted him there so I could dance with him all night and not have to pay attention to my other suitors. If he was there, I would be able to tolerate the whole thing. "But it's my party and I'm inviting you," I said trying to reason with him.

He looked down, "I don't know Jane."

"Will you at least consider it?" I asked hopeful.

He nodded his head and continued to look down."You should go now," he said finally.

"What?" I asked in disbelief.

"Jane, I told you before, you don't belong out here with me. You belong back in your world with all your fancy parties and other aristocratic friends. So please, just go, I have work to do," he said and I could hear the emptiness and solitude in his voice.

"I don't get it," I mumbled in disbelief, "You never had a problem with me when we were children, but now you just keep pushing me away."

He looked to me sadly, "Jane I grew up. We both did, and now I realize how differently our lives work. So now I have work to do, so you need to go."

I nodded my head to him and walked away sadly. It hurt me when he tried to push me away every time I've been seeing him lately, but I kept coming back. He would see that; he couldn't get rid of me, I would keep coming back to him until he let me into his life.

"Will you at least consider coming to my ball for me?" I questioned him quietly.

He sighed and nodded his head, while I walked away back down the alley, to find my glorious life waiting for me, the same when I left it.

~I hope you like it! Next chapter, is going to go into some of the past with Jane and Will so it will be easier to get this chapter~