I know, I know. It's been 3 weeks since my last update. But, rest assured, I have not given up on the story or died or anything. You can all blame my school making spring break super early. I mean, really? What's the point of going to the beach if it's too cold to do anything?

But now I'm back with Chapter 10! Yay double digits! Huge thanks to the Chapter 9 reviewers: peaceloveandthedove, lizziemagic, Naara, 5livelaughlove5, Chocolate Tunda, Maxilove, Arinlianette, maramouse, future Halliwell, and haruko sohma!

Be warned: this chapter isn't happy. In fact, I got despressed writing it, which is probably why it isn't one of my best. But I felt it was crucial to keep the relationship between Evangeline and Daniel from being the annoying kind that never encounters any problems, and it's a necessary plot point. Read on!

Over a month of time was the only thing that barred our way from the night I found out the truth about my parents to Mardi Gras. It felt like that should have been such a long wait, but somehow it was so filled with events and plans that I hardly noticed when one day turned over to another. I constantly had something to do, whether it was schoolwork or hanging out with my friends. Or being with Daniel. That took up a significant amount of time.

So many firsts were packed into that month. I bought my first costume without Aunt Charlotte's help for the masquerade. Granted, Ruth did assist, but I still made the decision myself. I also received my first ever failing grade. Okay, that wasn't exactly a good thing, but with all of the things going on in my life how could Mrs. Ballard really expect me to put all that effort into making a soufflé that didn't explode? I thought she should have been proud that I discovered a way for it to explode in the first place.

There was, however, one first that most definitely triumphed over the others in making me a bundle of nerves: My first dinner at Daniel's house.

I'd met Daniel's parents before, of course. They'd been dinner guests a couple times at our home, and we often ran into each other at social events. I'd just never been a guest at their home while under scrutiny as a possible daughter-in-law. Marriage was not on my list of things to do for at least a million years, but the Benoit's deserved a world record for most hints dropped at the dinner table. They were good natured and all…but I could have gone a lifetime without their prodding and been perfectly fine.

The seating was arranged with Mr. Benoit at the head of the table and Daniel at his left hand, across from Mrs. Benoit. I sat next to Daniel and across from Marjory, who scared me more than either of her parents did. I don't think her eyes ever left me the whole meal. In fact, I don't even think she blinked.

"This is fantastic steak." I commented after the main course was served, hoping an exaggerated amount of politeness would be enough to keep me in their good graces.

Mrs. Benoit smiled at me from her seat on the opposite side of the table and graciously told me, "We had the chef prepare it special. We were thrilled to hear that Daniel had invited you over. I can't remember the last time he had wanted us to meet one of his girlfriends."

"Really?" I replied, my attention snared. Exactly how many other girls had there been, I wondered. I stole a sideways glance at Daniel. His scandalously untrimmed hair was falling haphazardly onto his forehead, but I could still see his eyes and notice how he tensed.

"I'm just glad to see you being serious about something for once, after all that money we wasted on sending you to Columbia." Mr. Benoit said gruffly. My food promptly become more interesting than my surroundings. They wouldn't dare start a fight right then. Would they? Another glance at Daniel, and my fears amplified. He was gripping his steak knife so hard his knuckles were white. I tentatively put a hand on his arm, trying to calm him as he had calmed me several times. Robby had had a temper, and I really didn't want to know if Daniel had one too. Ignorance was bliss, after all.

"Dad." It wasn't Daniel who issued the low warning, as I'd expected. It was Marjory, who had managed to rip her gaze away from me for a few seconds. "Drop it."

Mr. Benoit held up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine." But I could tell that later, after the leftovers were cleared and I was safe at home, the subject would most certainly be picked back up.

Daniel's mother was on edge the rest of the night. I commended her for trying to keep the evening somewhat pleasant. She engaged me in conversation as much as she could, asking me about school and my life at home. Marjory oh so kindly mentioned to her how I had caused an evacuation of the school when our casserole caught on fire during Cooking class. Luckily, Mrs. Benoit brushed the incident off and said with the money Daniel was to inherit and my own combined I'd never have to worry about cooking anyway. If we got married, that is. At least she did remember the 'if.' I could see the gears of her brain turning as she inquired about Aunt Charlotte's sugar mills and whether or not I planned to take over the business. I don't think I'd ever seen anyone as excited as she was when I answered yes.

"Now, wouldn't a sugar business and a banking empire like ours go wonderfully together?" She exclaimed. I didn't really see how the two related at all, but I went with it. Most of my attention was focused on Daniel. He was oddly quiet, not at all like his usual joking self. He really only said a word when someone asked him a question, but he kept his conversation to a minimum. All the way through desert he remained stoic and detached. I did my best to convince myself it was nothing. He was just having a bad night, he was in a bad mood. A much as I wanted to avoid any problems in our still new relationship, the lump in the pit of my stomach continued to pester me with the truth.

Daniel's dad wanted to talk to him after dinner was over, so their private chauffeur was going to drive me home alone. I thanked the Benoits a hundred times over for their hospitality and told Marjory I'd see her in Cooking on Monday. Surprisingly, she smiled genuinely at me and laughed, telling me to remember a fire extinguisher net time. It took me a second to catch her angle, but then my chest swelled with pride. I had earned the Marjory Benoit seal of approval.

To stall the inevitable argument he would have with his father, Daniel walked me out to the car. He may have been trying to escape a scolding from Mr. Benoit, but that didn't mean he could escape one from me. I turned on him as he opened a door for me, my face riddled with worry. "Is something going on that I need to know about?"

He pretended to be oblivious. "What do you mean?"

He knew I knew him better than that, and it only made me angrier for him to hope I was stupid enough to let his behavior slide. "What do I mean? Something's wrong, I know there is. Is it your father? I know you two don't get along, but please try to find some common ground."

"It's not my father. I mean, it is, but it's not just that." I could see the sincerity in his eyes, but his refusal to tell me what was wrong just made me more determined.

"Then what is it? Can't you tell me?" I saw a curtain in one of the windows shift out of the corner of my eye. His family was watching us, I knew it, and I'm sure he did too. I was about to say something else when I felt Daniel's strong hand on the back of my neck. Before I knew what was happening, his lips were on mine. Another first: our first kiss.

I didn't feel the fireworks or the electricity people were supposed to feel when they kissed someone special. The first feeling that clicked in my mind was shock, which quickly turned into confusion. The kiss wasn't at all romantic or sweet, it wasn't even gentle. It was rough and possessive, like Daniel was trying to prove something. That wasn't at all what our first kiss was supposed to be like. That wasn't what any of our kisses were supposed to be like. The final feeling I felt was anger, and I forced Daniel away from me.

He kept a well practiced poker face as I got in the car and slammed the door, I'll give him that. But beneath it all I hoped he was ashamed. I hoped he was feeling more rotten than he ever had in his life. I hoped he was feeling as sick as I did. A small bit of bile rose in my throat as I realized why I had been so angry with him.

That was how Robby used to kiss me. There was no emotion in any of his kisses, only the need for physical contact. Our entire relationship had been purely physical, just a blissful teenage fling that died out once the thrill was gone. I berated myself for being so stupid and letting myself believe that Daniel would be different.

Street lamp after street lamp lit up my face for a split second then was gone. Each one told me I was a little closer to home where I could go up to my room and let my tears fall without fear of someone seeing me. Street lamp after street lamp told me of my hardship, bringing a little light into my eyes as they came up next to my window, only to dash behind me and take their golden glow with them. Like my stupid boyfriends.

I tiptoed inside, careful not to make any noise as I passed Aunt Charlotte's study. She was too preoccupied to notice me. All day she'd been busy tearing apart the desk and shelves trying to find the letter from Maldonia that she lost. I made it to my room in record time and flung myself onto my bed, where I used my pillow to muffle my screams as I poured all of my frustration and hot tears into its silky surface.

The next morning, my senses were back in order and I could think properly about my situation. It didn't take long for me to realize that I really didn't want to end things with Daniel, but that was just my heart talking, and my heart had been broken for a long time. No way was it working right. My brain, however, was in proper working order. Unfortunately, it was telling me to give Daniel another chance, too, and I wasn't really going for that.

Then I started thinking about the previous night a bit more. Maybe I had been a little rash in taking off like that. Perhaps I should talk to him and apologize. He should be apologizing to you, a voice in the back of my head told me. All the more reason to talk to him, I thought. And yet, somehow, I couldn't work up the nerve to go look for him.

So I sulked instead. For that entire week I moped and moved around like a dead person. My friends knew the signs; I acted the same way after I dumped Robby. They tried to get me to tell them what was wrong, but their attempts were fruitless. Even Marjory knew something was up. I was positive Daniel told her something, but if he had then Marjory seemed to be on my side from the way she treated me in class. As much as I hated to think about it, I couldn't help but acknowledge how nice it would be to have her as a sister-in-law.

Aunt Lotte most definitely knew something was up, but I didn't care. Honestly, I was thankful when she finally confronted me in my room about my behavior. Someone needed to give me a reason to snap out of it.

It was mid-day on a Saturday. I'd only been outside of my room for a few moments to grab a glass of juice then shut myself back up in my 'cave,' as Charlotte so endearingly called it. The door had been locked, but she had a master key to the house, and before I could object she was suddenly there leaning against the doorknob so I couldn't make a quick getaway.

"Alright, little miss Eva. You're trapped." If I didn't know how harmless Aunt Lotte actually was, I would have been scared to death. She looked absolutely murderous, but the effect was lost when she got caught up in the moment trying to make the whole scene like a real interrogation. She turned off the lights in my room, yanked the curtains closed, then grabbed a lamp off my bedside table and held in near my face. "Talk!"

I didn't talk. I laughed. I laughed harder than I had in days. Aunt Charlotte blinked, unable to see what was so funny. Then she seemed to catch onto why I was nearly falling to the floor and tried to keep her pride, making it seem like she meant to be comical. "There, I did it. You're…laughing. Yeah, that's what I wanted. Good, now that you're all happy-ish, let's get this over with." She switched the lights back on and took a lighter approach. "What's the matter sweat pea? All week you've been sadder than a weepin' willow and I just can't figure out why." She gasped dramatically and put a hand to her mouth. "Did Daniel do something'? If he did something' I swear I'll rip him to shreds then sew him back together and rip him to shreds again!"

"Well, it is about him I guess -,"

"Aha! I knew it. Where's that big knife that the chef uses to chop the heads off of fish?"

She looked terrifyingly serious, and I forced her back into a sitting position on my bed as she began to stomp to the door. "Can you not murder him, please?" I asked her as nicely as I could. She sighed and mumbled fine, letting me explain. "When I went to his parents house, he just got all moody. I think he was fighting with his dad. And then when he walked me out to the car, he kept denying anything was wrong and out of know where just kissed me and -,"

Aunt Lotte squealed, her expression delighted with the tid-bit of gossip. "He kissed you! Aw how cute!"

"No!" I objected quickly. "It wasn't cute at all. It wasn't sweet or loving, it was…oh I don't know. Angry, I guess. And…I got scared and left without even saying goodbye." I expected her to scold me for running off like that, but her eyes instead held only sympathy.

"Serves him right." She stated simply.

Looking at her quizzically, I questioned, "You mean you're not mad? I didn't even give him a chance to talk or anything."

"He ruined you two's first kiss. The first kiss is the most crucial point in a relationship. It determines everything." She thought for a second, a little color floating into her cheeks as she blushed. "Well, maybe it's not the most important thing. But still."

Okay, she wasn't really helping at all. I loved Aunt Charlotte, really I did, but it didn't seem practical to base the likelihood of a relationship's revival on one tiny moment. "Should I at least try and talk to him? You know, to apologize and find out what's going on?"

Charlotte looked doubtful about why I wanted to talk to him in the first place, but she advised me anyhow. "I suppose so, if you really want to. I sure wouldn't but I guess you might." Realization dawned on her face, her eyebrows shooting upward and disappearing in her bangs. "On second thought, yes! Yes, yes, yes, please make up with him. Goodness if you don't the masquerade will be the most awkward party ever! Especially with the Benoit's bein' kind enough to make it your birthday celebration, and all."

I groaned and laid myself out on my bed, taking a nearby pillow and plopping onto my face. "You think I haven't thought about that?"

"What?" Aunt Lotte probably couldn't hear me through the pillow, so I shoved it off and repeated myself, though much more irately.

"You think I haven't thought about that!?" It came out as more of a shriek than I'd intended, and my subsequent grunt more then voiced my frustration. From the moment I'd woken up that morning the masquerade had been on my mind. What was it I had said after our first date?

"Then I guess no matter what I'll probably be spending my birthday with you." Never before had I ever hated my own words so much. Stupid truth.

The ball was only a few days away. If I talked to him before then maybe I could relieve myself of the awkward situation I would be in if I waited. Aunt Lotte took the words out of my mouth, "Just go tell him how you feel, Eva. I will not have you skipping out on this ball, understand."

It took a moment for me to realize why she was so stern about making me go. "Oh! You're friends are coming. I forgot."

"Yes. My friends are coming." She softened. "I just don't want you missing this, regardless of me knowing royalty. Who knows," She giggled giddily. I failed to see what was so dang funny, "maybe that night will change your whole life."

"Hah." I said dryly. Change my life? Yeah, sure. I didn't see the likelihood of one night changing my perpetually ordinary existence, but if Charlotte wanted to think it could then I had no right to kick her out of her own fantasy land.

I took her advice anyway, and planned on attending. It was, after all, to be a celebration in my honor, and eighteen was an important age to reach. It would hardly be appropriate to be absent from my own party. Plus, I already had a nonrefundable costume.

But there was still, however, the dilemma regarding Daniel. On Monday I worked up the courage to ask Marjory to tell her brother to meet me at Tiana's Palace after school let out.

"He can't." She said automatically, her tone mysteriously pleasant as she gathered up her books.

Taken aback, I slammed my own pile of books on the table. "You haven't even asked him yet!"

Without changing her expression, she clarified. "He's out of town, just left yesterday. He'll be gone until Wednesday. If you'd asked for him sooner you might have caught him."

"Out of town? What do you mean out of town? Where did he go?"

"Sorry, Evangeline. I like you and all, but Daniel's my brother, and I'm under strict instructions not to tell you. See you tomorrow!" And with that, she left, cheerily whistling to herself as the buzzing activity of high school life hid her from view.

Meanwhile, my blood boiled with anger and distress. What was I supposed to do now? Aunt Charlotte was counting on me to go to that ball, but I hadn't counting on confronting Daniel in the same day! He didn't want Marjory to tell me where he could possibly have gone for the rest of the week…

…Because he didn't want me to follow him.

That was it. He wanted to get away from me, he didn't want me trailing him like some lost puppy. Well, I was no lost puppy. If Daniel didn't want me, then fine. I didn't need him.

My mood sank with sickening force as I remembered it was my fault. He had kissed me. A kiss meant he wanted to continue the relationship, whether it was romantic or not. I walked out on him, so he walked out on me.

Deep down, I knew I still had the responsibility to set things straight no matter how much I wanted to pretend the whole thing never happened. With a new dread clenching at my insides, I was forced to await my birthday with an emotional strength I didn't know I had.

It seemed Aunt Charlotte was right. That day might very well change my life. Hopefully, I thought desperately, it will be for the better.

I think you all can guess what's on it's way next chapter! Hopefully I'll have it up in less time than it took this one.

P.S. Review!