A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in a while! Here's another chappie. P.S. Reviews make me happy! ;)

7. Boys...

I spent the weekend exploring the town of Gala. In the days that followed, I had taken to sitting on the front porch overlooking the garden to read. Emily, Liz and Brook came to me throughout the week, inviting me to do different things. Most outings required searching for ball gowns. When I asked if a ball was coming up, they told me there had been one a couple weeks before, but there would be another one at the end of the month. So it was true, they did have balls quite often. Sometimes the girls and I went out to lunch, sometimes the boys tagged along too.

"I also take part in the productions at the green theater," Gavin told me one afternoon as we sat on a bench inside a shoe store. He and I had accompanied Emily to give her our opinion on a pair of pink heels. Gavin seemed more interested in talking to me than paying attention to Emily.

"Really? Are you an actor?" I had never met an actor before.

Gavin sat up tall. "Yes I am. Maybe you'd like to come watch me? I'm performing next week."

"Sure, that sounds fun."

He smiled. He had a nice smile. "Great."

"Okay guys, what do you think?" We both turned as Emily stood up, wearing some gold heels this time.

"Those look nice," I said. "But I think pink's more your color."

Emily looked at them in the mirror. "I think so too. Thanks Briden."

Emily and I left the store and Gavin went his own way. On our way back home, I tried to look around for a bookstore. I hadn't seen one since coming here, and Aaron had said he came to Draeden for the books, which made me wonder if there were any bookstores in Bast at all. That would be a shame. Then I realized I hadn't seen Aaron lately. I had assumed I'd be running into him a lot around town, but I realized he probably enjoyed crowds about as much as I did.

I decided to start getting serious about finding a bookstore. I thought about asking Emily, but she really didn't seem like the reading type. So, Thursday night I headed to town by myself and began checking every street corner for sign of a bookshop. If I had a chance of running into Aaron anywhere it would be in there.

I had just left an art supply shop that I had mistaken for a bookstore, when I heard my named being called. I turned around to see Gavin approaching me, leaving behind a group of guys that stared after us. I spotted the red hair of Aaron among them.

"Hey Gavin," I said as he stopped in front of me. He shoved his hands in his pockets and gazed at me with those big brown eyes of his.

"Hi Briden. What are you doing out here at night all by yourself?"

He tried to sound casual, but I could tell he really wanted to know. "Oh I was just seeing if there were any bookstores around here."

Gavin looked pensive for a moment, "Actually, none that I know of. But Dame Carolyn has a library. I'm sure she told you that."

Carolyn had shown me her library, but it was small and the books were poorly organized. Plus, I enjoyed the atmosphere of a good bookstore. "Yes she did," I answered. "I just thought I'd look for one anyway."

Gavin nodded, unenthused. He obviously didn't find books that interesting of a topic. "Well," he said, putting on his easy smile. "The reason I came over here was, well...would you like to go to dinner with me tomorrow night?"

"Oh," I said, surprised by the drastic change of subject and now reminding myself I'd been hoping this would happen. "Sure Gavin. I'd love too."

"Okay great." He beamed. "I'll come by your house at seven tomorrow. How does that sound?"

"Sounds perfect."

His brown gaze bore into me. I felt my face warm, and was thankful it was dark outside.

"Well, it's getting late," he said finally. "You want me to walk you home?" He seemed to forget there were people waiting for him.

"No, I'll be fine. Thanks." I don't know why I said that.

He nodded and turned to leave.

I didn't want him to go. "I—See you tomorrow!" I called.

Gavin turned back around. He stepped in closer and brushed my hair behind my left ear. He smiled and whispered, "Can't wait."

I was blown away. As I watched him leave with his friends I sighed. He was perfect. Obviously I didn't believe in love at first sight, but I could feel something starting with Gavin. I crossed my fingers that the date would go well tomorrow.

The doorbell rang Friday night at exactly seven o'clock. I had chosen a dress from my cornucopia upstairs—a floral sundress with a silver ribbon around the waist. Emily had of course squealed with delight when I'd told her about my date with Gavin and offered to help me with my hair and makeup, but I politely declined. Just because I was in a new town, I wasn't going to be someone I wasn't. I went through my usual routine and pulled my hair half up in a barrette. I hurried downstairs as one of the maids opened the front door and stopped as I reached the bottom, flicking my bangs out of my eyes. Gavin stood in the doorway, looking handsome as always in a black coat and slacks.

"Hello Briden. Ready to go?"

I nodded, trying to catch my breath from running down the stairs. He took my hand, which incidentally didn't help the breathing process. I tried to control my nerves as we headed down the path through the garden.

"You look beautiful," he told me as he opened the gate for me.

"Thanks, you clean up good yourself."

He chuckled. "Thank you."

We ate at a small local restaurant. It was perfect for me. I appreciated that Gavin would pick a place that was scarce of people, and rather intimate. He'd obviously picked up on my preference for solitude. Dinner was delicious, and Gavin told me all about his acting. When he asked what I liked to do for fun, I told him about my love for reading and the arts. He was delighted that I enjoyed plays. He told me that unfortunately most of his reading consisted of scripts and I told him that was okay with me. Gavin had offered me his coat as we left the restaurant for it was a little chilly, and I graciously accepted. I was having a great time, strolling down the sidewalk laughing at something he'd said, when I spotted a familiar figure pass us.

I did a double take. "Aaron?"

The figure turned, and sure enough it was him. I smiled and waved as he slowly approached us. I felt Gavin's arm go around my shoulders.

"Gavin, this is my friend Aaron," I said. "Aaron this Gavin..."

"Hello. Nice to meet you," Aaron said with stiff politeness. He was wearing that same nondescript hat again.

"Likewise," Gavin said shortly. "I don't think I've seen you around before," he added in a strange way that sounded like an accusation.

"Well I guess we just travel in different circles."

It didn't take long for me to notice the awkwardness of the situation.

Gavin's eyes raked over Aaron's dull clothes for a moment. "You're a friend of Briden's?"

"Yes—"

"Oh! Gavin," I cut in. "I left my purse in the restaurant. Could you please go get it for me?" I realized my good fortune at once. I wanted a word with Aaron, and even though Gavin seemed to not trust Aaron he was too much of a gentlemen to refuse.

Gavin looked down at me and squeezed my shoulder protectively. "Of course."

I saw Aaron eye Gavin as he turned and headed back to the restaurant we had just left.

"So..." I began, trying to get Aaron's attention. When he looked back at me his gaze softened. "Fancy running into you here."

He scratched his head. "Well..."

"Well, I haven't seen you in a week. Where have you been?" I asked, irritated.

"I've been...busy." Aaron paused, but he looked like he wanted to say something.

I waited, my impatience with him fading. "Okay..."

"Are you free this weekend? There's something I've been wanting to show you."

I hesitated, and then smiled. "Yeah I'm free."

He grinned. "Okay wonderful." Then he glanced around. "I'll come by your house tomorrow morning." He said this last sentence in a low, hurried tone. I turned and saw Gavin returning with my purse.

"Alright, bye." I said, and Aaron turned and quickly continued on to his destination.

"He's leaving?" Gavin asked absently, not looking around.

"Yeah he was just saying hi." I took my purse as he held it out to me.

Gavin put his arm around me again and changed the subject as we headed to my house. "So do you want to hang out tomorrow? I haven't got rehearsal until 6."

"Actually, I'll be busy this weekend," I said suddenly, as I tried to come up with an excuse. I didn't want to bring up Aaron again. "I want to spend some time with Carolyn, you know."

Gavin nodded. "That's fine." He was so understanding, I hated lying to him like that. "But I'm performing on Sunday, and I know Carolyn will be attending. You should come with her."

I smiled. "I will."

"Well I had a great time," he said as we made it to the front porch.

I smiled. "Me too." I slipped off his jacket and he took it, pulling it on over his broad shoulders. He leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. It was soft and sweet.

"Goodnight Briden," he said with one of his dazzling smiles, and he strolled back down the walk and disappeared around the hedges. I entered the house, expecting Emily to accost me with questions, but she didn't seem to be home. I went to my room in peace. That night, I fell asleep thinking about how perfect Gavin was, but the last thought I had was about the surprise Aaron had for me.