"Just forget about him, Emma. He's stupid to like that Jamie girl. You're clearly better than her and if that jerk can't see it, he doesn't deserve you." Olivia was trying to persuade Emma to leave the bathroom, but it wasn't working. Emma was dead set on the idea that she was permanently heartbroken and would never leave the bathroom.

"He's not a jerk, Olivia. I would never like a jerk." Emma sobbed.

"Emma, I hate seeing you like this over a guy. I miss the Emma you usually are. Happy, sweet, kind. Emma, please come out." Olivia pleaded.

"No!"

Olivia gritted her teeth and pounded on the door to the bathroom stall. "Emma, if you don't come out in the next thirty seconds, I'm leaving!" Olivia was tired of playing the role of the good cop; it was time to be the bad cop.

"What will you do if I don't come out?" Emma wondered.

Olivia didn't answer. In her head, she counted to thirty, then turned and left the room. "Crying won't get you anywhere, Em."

Emma sighed and after a couple minutes, she left the bathroom, her eyes red rimmed and puffy. She didn't care how she looked. She was planning on returning to her dorm room and sleeping, even though it was in the middle of the homework period and she should be in the king's room. She couldn't stand to see his face right at that moment. It was the face that had broken her heart.

"Emma, is that you?" Someone called.

Even though she hated him, she hoped and prayed it was Tancred coming to apologize for kissing Jamie and that he had realized she was the only girl for him.

Much to her dismay, when she turned she found Ben standing behind her. "Yes," She said.

"Have you been crying?" Ben wondered and approached her cautiously.

Emma nodded, "But it's not a big deal, you don't need to worry about it."

"Okay, but do you want me to walk you to your homework room or something?" Ben offered.

"I'm headed to my dorm." Emma told him.

"Then I'll escort you there," Ben smiled at the dainty blond girl who didn't really care for sweet, loving, thoughtful Ben, but for the handsome, hot tempered, storm boy that had left her full of pain.

"Okay. What are you doing out of class?" She wondered.

"I had to get out of that room. I was going to hang out in the bathroom for a few minutes until I could smell something other than frog guts."

Emma giggled, "So you have the biology room for your homework period?" She hated that room. It did reek of dead frogs and rotten eggs. It wasn't a pretty smell at all.

"Yes. You have the King's room. I hate it up there. I had detention before. There's all those books. It makes you feel like the room itself is smarter than you." Ben admitted.

"I never thought about that." Emma smiled up at the tall brunette boy. "So, you don't mind that I'm endowed?"

"Not at all," Ben grinned back at her. "I wish I were endowed, it would be so cool. Not only would I have an awesome ability that I could save the world with, but I would always be with you. You endowed are pretty close."

"Actually, only half of us are. Manfred, Dagbert, the Branko twins, Dorcas, and Asa are on a different side than us. They're the bad side." Emma explained.

"So, you're on the good side? You're a good girl?"

"Yes," Emma stopped outside her dorm room and stood and stared at him. She realized that he was kind of cute.

"I know we're just going to the ball and all, but would you go on a real date with me?" Ben wondered.

"Sure, this weekend, wherever you chose." Emma agreed.

"Great, where do you live, so I know where to pick you up?"

"Have you ever heard of Ingledew's? It's a book shop."

"Yeah, my mom goes there all the time. I know where it is. I'll pick you up at seven on Saturday."

"Okay," Emma nodded.

Ben leaned down and kissed her cheek. Unlike when Tancred had kissed her forehead, she wasn't giddy inside and she didn't feel like she was going to die with happiness. She really wished that it was Tancred standing in Ben's spot asking her out. This made her feel guilty as she watched him walk away and she slipped inside her dorm room and sat silently until everyone in her dorm came in, including Olivia.

"You look like you have something on your mind," One of the girls, Hannah, told her when she caught sight of Emma's face. Olivia was standing behind Hannah, waiting for a response.

"I have a date with Ben Henderson this weekend. The shock is settling in." Emma sighed.

"You're unbelievable." Olivia muttered so quietly that only Emma heard her, making her feel even guiltier.

Everyone else in the dorm crowded around the bird girl and congratulated her.


Tancred was shocked when he walked by Ben Henderson and heard what he said.

"I have a date with Emma Tolly this weekend,"

"You have a date with Emma Tolly?" Tancred wondered.

"Yeah," Ben grinned at Tancred. "And you don't. I know you like her, Tancred. It's too bad you didn't ask her out before I did. Now I guess you have to settle for Jamie."

Tancred narrowed his eyes at Ben, "You're not the guy everyone thinks you are, are you?" He hissed.

Ben's smile darkened. "When there's something I want, I'll do anything to get it. Right now, I want Emma Tolly, and if I have to act like a prince to get her, I will.

"Wait till I tell everybody about this." Tancred retorted.

"You won't tell a soul or I'll make your life miserable."

Tancred turned away, unable to believe this was happening. He was going to tell Emma about the true Ben and he didn't care what the consequence was.


it's hard to believe, isn't it? I want to say something right now, I unintensionally named Ben, Ben. I wasn't thinking of the character Benjaman Brown when I came up with him. It was either Ben or Bob. I'd pick Ben, personally, so that's what his name is, that lying, retarded boy. He thinks that being with Emma is just a game, and she doesn't deserve him. Root for Tancred and hope he gets Emma to see the truth. PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!! AT LEAST TWO BEFORE I UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!

xoxo, alliey1213