SPOLIERS!

Dirk-Ivan's brother who wants to attend regular school in this story. Helps out at the café.

Antoinette-Claude's daughter who loves fashion and wishes to be a fashion designer. Thinks everyone in town is beneath her.

Zephyr Café-Zephyr Town's café.

Joan-Old lady who run the Zephyr Café.

Marian-Lady who is Joan's granddaughter who works at the Zephyr Café.

A young man, who spent his days helping out at the Zephyr Café, wasn't helping that day in particular. He ordered roasted mushrooms and slumped at a table.

"Sorry if I'm busy sulking, Marian," he said.

Marian was in yellow, green, red and brown. She had blonde hair under a white hat and red flowers. She also had black shoes and red-brown eyes.

"Apology accepted, Dirk! It's your brother, isn't it?" asked Marian with a frown.

Dirk was in red, blue, white and yellow. He had a red hat with a red and yellow feather. He also had black shoes and green eyes.

"I'm almost finished high school, but he still won't let me attend anymore!" Dirk said in lament.

Marian placed a hand over his shoulder. "I'm sure he has a reason."

Then Marian's grandmother walked up to them. "Well, the only way to see about it is to ask him!"

"He has already, Grandma Joan!" said Marian.

Joan was in blonde hair under a white hat with red flowers, yellow green and brown and black shoes and beady eyes.

"Should I ask for you?" Joan asked.

"Oh, no!" said Dirk. "I have no idea who was left to talk to!"

Then a young lady walked in.

"Antoinette!" Joan said. "What are you of all people here for?"

Antoinette was in purple blue and white, white shoes, red eyes and red hair with a blue thread in her hair.

"I'm slumming!" said Antoinette. "And this is the trashiest place I've seen so far. I wouldn't even touch the swill I'm sure you people sell."

"Get out!" yelled Joan.

"Woah! Before I go, I'd like to talk to Dirk. In private," Antoinette said.

"Lets both leave," Dirk said, reluctantly. Then he turned to Joan and Marian. "I'll work here in the future."

"We'll wait until then," said Marian.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"You wanted something?" Dirk asked Antoinette once they were outside.

"I want you out of those clothes," Antoinette said.

"WHAT?!" Dirk asked, flustered.

Antoinette stifled laughter. "Not like that! You see, my mother's a fashion designer and we moved here to this town to sell clothes! Mom picked this place our in particular. Most of the people wear hats. Hats have been 'out' for many years."

"So, you want me not to wear my hat?" Dirk asked.

"Not only that!" said Antoinette. "Your whole wardrobe!"

Dirk placed his hands up. "Pass!"

Antoinette placed her hands on her hips. "You want to attend high school, again, yes?"

"Yeah, but my brother is a teacher," Dirk said. "He won't let me. I'm homeschooled."

Antoinette grinned. "Allow me to turn you from a country bumpkin into a high society person and I'll tell my dad to allow you in. Papa Claude is the principal, after all!"

"The principal?!" Dirk said, surprised.

"The principal!" Antoinette said.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The next day, Dirk went over to Antoinette's house. Antoinette approached Dirk with a pair of scissors and a number of cloths.

"Let's go to my room!" Antoinette said as she grabbed Dirk's hand with a free one of her's.

But Claude approached them.

"You brought a boy home?!" he yelled.

Dirk thought of talking to Claude on his own, but Antoinette whispered in his ear, "He'll only listen to his sweet girl."

"Um," said Antoinette, unsure. "This is Dirk. He was supposed to help me with my fashion designs."

"Well, as long as he isn't bothering you," said Claude. "If he does, I'll kick him out! Yell for me!"

Antoinette clapped her hands. "Ooh, goodie!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Over the next few hours, Antoinette placed pins in clothing while Dirk stood there.

In a dress.

"You had to put me in girls' clothes?" Dirk asked, embarrassed. "How about a nice suit, instead?"

"My mother only creates women's fashion," said Antoinette. "So, no."

"I feel ridiculous!" Dirk said in complaint.

"Don't whine or I won't ask my father about your situation," Antoinette said in warning.

Then Claude walked in.

"What is going on here?!" he asked.

"I couldn't find a female model, so I got a male one," Antoinette said in explanation. "One thing, though. This is-"

"Dirk," said Claude. "He was removed from classes at the school in the city! His brother thought he should be able to teach him better at home. Why?"

"The only reason he agreed to be my model, is because he wanted to attend school, again and I was supposed to ask you," Antoinette said.

"Well, I don't often deal with family disagreements," Claude said. "Ask his brother, Ivan."

"But I already asked!" said Dirk.

"Then ask again!" said Claude. "Now, leave."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Ivan!" Dirk yelled as he arrived at home that day.

"Nice to hear from you, Dirk!" said Ivan. "I cooked dinner."

Freya, being Ivan's wife, was there, too, living in the same house.

"I cook better than your brother!" she whispered harshly to Dirk.

"Ivan, I want to go to the city's school, again!" Dirk said.

Ivan frowned. "Dirk. You should know already that I wanted you to get a better education if I tutored you, myself."

"I want to get new friends, though!" Dirk said in complaint.

"And that's the second reason why I want you to stay in town. I want you to get friends! Friends here! And a woman!" said Ivan.

"A woman?!" Dirk asked.

"A woman!" said Ivan. "I won't let you leave town, until you find a woman!"

Then, unexpectedly, there was a knock on the door.

"I'll get it!" said Freya as she opened the door.

It was Antoinette.

"You have my scissors!" she said.

Dirk quickly put his arm around her. "This is my girlfriend!"

"Huh?!" everyone else said in surprise.

"You wanted me to get a girlfriend?" Dirk asked. "Well, here she is! Antoinette!"

"But-" but Antoinette was interrupted.

"Play along," whispered Dirk to her.

"All's I ever heard about this woman is that she's stuck up," said Ivan.

"Well, obviously, that's a rumor!" said Dirk.

Ivan thought. Then he shook Antoinette's hand.

"Welcome!" he said. "I trust you'll watch over my brother? Teach him right?"

"Um. Yeah," she stammered.

"And she's sewing me a suit!" said Dirk.

Antoinette frowned at him.

"Well, we better go on that date of ours!" Dirk said.

Dirk lead her outside.

"Now, about that suit?" Dirk asked.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The next day, Dirk and Antoinette were at Antoinette's and she was sewing Dirk a suit.

"I think we should tell my father we're 'dating', too," said Antoinette.

"Why?" Dirk asked.

"In time, the whole town will know. Ivan and Freya already know," Antoinette said.

Then Claude walked in.

"I heard everything," he said. "My little girl isn't marrying into poor!"

"We're not getting married!" Antoinette said. "We're friends!"

Claude thought. "You have my permission to date my daughter," he said to Dirk. "But that is all! For now."

So, Dirk got a suit from Antoinette and they both attended school.

Together.

Only Dirk hadn't found anymore friends like he planned.

Antoinette had plenty of friends. She sat with them at lunch.

Dirk decided he'd ask to sit near them.

"Don't sit with us!" one of her two friends said.

"A country bumpkin like you isn't welcome here!" said the other.

Antoinette stood up from her seat. "I'M the only one who may call him a bumpkin!"

She placed his hands in hers and they moved to another table.

"It's nice you stood up for me!" Dirk said.

"No problem!" Antoinette said.

"You really want to end your friendships for me?" Dirk asked.

"I only want to be friends with nice people!" Antoinette said. "And I'd rather be yours."

Dirk smiled. "Should've fooled me!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A long time passed. Dirk and Antoinette still pretended to be dating.

Then. One day. Antoinette and Dirk were walking from school.

"Dirk," Antoinette said. "Do you like me?"

Dirk didn't have to think. "Yeah. I like-like you! In fact, I love you, Antoinette!"

"Then we don't have to pretend, anymore!" Antoinette said.

"Let's get married!" said Dirk.

"Yes, let's!" said Antoinette. "But what about our families?"

"My brother wants to get married," Dirk said. "But I will talk to your father."

Then somebody appeared from behind them. It was Claude.

"I will agree to the arrangement,' Claude said. "If you agree to work at my company."

"Must he?" Antoinette asked in lament.

Claude looked at his daughter in the eyes.

"All right!" he said. "He doesn't have to. But I prefer it. In the future."

Antoinette jumped up and down and then embraced Dirk.

Then they were married!