Starlet

25. Goodbye

The next day, I go to the Switzerland theater alone at 1. The brain got me 2k out of my vault. I don't know how much it'll be. It's only me and 2 other girls. The instructor dances with the ribbon up in the air. It's so amazing to watch. This class is going to be 2 - 3. I'll have a little break after lunch to practice magic lessons. It's not so bad. I order some new clothes and get to the village theater at 3:30. I dance for an hour and enjoy the music. Colli helps me off the bar when I'm done.

He hands me a flower. "What do you think about dinner then some ice cream on Friday?"

I give him the biggest hug.

He wraps me up so tight in his arms. "You ok?"

I try to keep the tears away. "I like you."

He relaxes and pulls my chin up. "I like you too." He gives me another of his sweet kisses.

My eyes close, and I hold him so close to me. I love the way he feels.

"That's enough, you two. Break apart." Bayden walks by with boxes.

Then Leo and Lyn come in. "What is this?"

Lyn smacks him on the back of the head.

Andy loses it.

I snuggle Collin. I don't want him to go.

Then Andy pulls it together. "Whisp, change out of the dance clothes. Theater practice is in 10 minutes. Say goodbye."

I shake my head.

"Yes."

I stomp all the way over to my dress and put it on over my dance clothes in the maddest way possible. Then I grab Collin. He's trying not to laugh. I pull him to the concessions area. I give him another kiss and snuggle with him.

"Uh hem." Marcus is standing beside us with his eyebrow up and arms crossed. "Theater."

"I WAS JUST SAYING GOODBYE."

Collin kisses my head. "I'll see you Friday."

I snuggle him and Marcus points. "We are going to have a conversation about personal space and things that can happen."

I let go and stomp all the way back to my spot.

He follows me in and Andy loses it again. "I'll deal with this later. I need to sort out my thoughts. Make sure she doesn't try to run off with him again."

"I WAS JUST SAYING GOODBYE."

Andy rubs his eyes. "I think we're good now. I'll keep an eye on it."

During play practice. Leo sits beside me. That's confusing. Lynn is up on stage with the other girls though. I guess he only talks to me if his girlfriend is busy. That doesn't seem right.

"Who was that guy?"

"Collin? We're dating. Why?"

"I was wondering. You seem young to date."

"I think your girlfriend is pissed." She is glaring at him hard. "See you later. I need to focus." I'm not going to sit here and talk to him about dating. He shouldn't be giving anyone advice.

Wednesday after my dance practice, Collin helps me off the bar. "I couldn't wait until Friday for this." He pulls me against him and gives me a kiss.

I throw my arms around his neck and pull him closer. He is so sweet.

"I don't want to make you late this time. I just needed a hug and a kiss."

"I need that too."

He chuckles and puts his lips on mine.

"Don't make me summon Marcus." Bayden walks by.

I give him a dirty look.

"Your practice is over at 6 on Friday, right? Did you want me to make reservations at 6:30 or 7?"

"6:30. I get them out of here fairly early on Friday." Bayden answers.

"What are you talking about?" Andy drops a box of books and him and Leo pick them up.

"He's trying to figure out what time to make reservations for their date Friday."

"Yea, 6:30 is usually good on Friday."

Tye walks in and balances his ass on the back of a chair. "But if you do 7, you get out of the dinner rush time, and it's quieter."

I rub my eyes. "I would think 7. I don't want to be a sweat bomb for our date. At least I could take a shower. Fix my hair."

Johen smirks. "He doesn't seem to mind the sweat bomb."

I shake my head.

Tye laughs. "I thought you were going to Rome this weekend?"

"No. Marcus explained how it worked. I got some pamphlets. I have to reserve it. I don't want to miss anything." I smile at Collin. "Want to go to Rome with me?"

Andy drops the books again. Tye falls off the back of the chair. Bayden starts coughing. Collin puts his eyebrow up.

Leo nearly has a melt down. "NO. You do not take someone you are dating to Rome. Or anywhere on vacation. That is a mate thing. Not a date. You can't do that. You are..." He rubs his eyes.

Andy shakes his head. "No. Dates don't do that. Go back to planning the date for Friday. And we're all going to pretend that didn't happen."

Bayden nods. "It's really the only way forward from here."

Tye finally gets off the floor. "7. So, she's not a sweat bomb. Ignore the Rome thing. There is no way in hell that will happen. Don't even think about it."

Collin chuckles. "I'll make it for 7." He kisses my head before he leaves. I like him.

I get summoned to Dipak's office right before the end of play practice.

Dipak, Marcus, and Omar are sitting at the table when I get there.

"How's the play going?"

"Really good. I read the whole book a couple of times."

Marcus rubs his eyes. "You invited a boy to Rome with you?"

"No. Well yes. But they uninvited him very fast."

Omar nods. "We're trying to understand where your train of thought was when you did that."

I shrug my shoulders. "He invites me out. I thought I was supposed to ask him out too. But I don't go anywhere. I thought maybe he would like to see Rome."

Dipak smiles. "He probably would."

Marcus hits the table and Omar rubs his eyes.

Dipak puts his finger up. "But where would he sleep?"

"At his house." I scratch my head. "Where else would he sleep?"

"By inviting him to Rome, you implied that he would be staying with you."

I stare at him for a second. Then I shake my head fast. "I was going to make him a door home. I thought maybe dinner, then we could go for a walk."

Omar smiles. "This is not that big of a deal. But you need to think about what you're implying when you ask something like that. Asking someone to go on a date in Rome with you, is a lot different from asking someone to go to Rome with you."

"I didn't mean that."

"It's alright. You can ask him again. But this time be more careful with the words. And he does not go in your room."

I smile and jump up.

"Not right this second. You can say something to him on Friday. Did you want to see the gladiator games?"

"No."

"How long have you 2 been dating?"

"Friday will be our second date."

"You are awfully close for only 1 date."

"I like being close to him."

Omar puts his finger up. "Why?"

"He's nice." My eyes fill with tears. "I forgot what it was like to be touched. To get a hug. Dorseti rubbed my back. She was the first person in over 60 years that touched me nicely. I like hugs. He seems to like them too. Owen didn't like to be close to me. Frank did but..." I shrug my shoulders. "Sometimes I would pretend to be passed out too long. Jareth would take me to the medical area. Not that it made much difference. I was still shackled. They were forbidden from saying anything to me or touching me. But they would give me broth. They didn't hurt me. I met Bell there. Towards the end, she would talk a little. She didn't think I was dangerous. She told me they were going to sell me. Some man will pay a lot of money for the dragon. She told me to try to stay alive. She was going to try to find me help. I wonder if she found you?"

"It was an anonymous tip from inside the castle. It very well could have been her. But we would have no way of knowing for sure."

"Are they all dead?"

Dipak wipes his eyes. "Yes. Even the servants were commanded to kill themselves if the king was killed. We have brains there. No signs of life since you were removed."

"Bell wouldn't have followed that command. She wouldn't even follow the command not to speak to me. But I'm happy she got out."

Omar nods. "The next question we have is about the vision. We can't find anything about it."

"Prince Black is here to see..."

I dive under the table and curl up.

"you about Rome."

"Have him wait. Why are you down there? Did he scare you?"

"Is he gone?"

"He's not coming in. Do you know him?"

"I don't like Prince's." I climb into my seat.

"You know Marcus is a prince."

"Marcus is a king. King's aren't so bad."

Dipak laughs. "What weekend did you want? I'll make sure you don't go at the same time. Did you want to go soon?"

"Next weekend."

"She needs a room with 1 bed for next weekend. Check in after 6pm on Friday. Check out by 8pm on Sunday."

"Yes, sir."

"Did you get the papers?"

"Yes."

"You'll have to figure out what all you want to do. The spa is off limits to you. Except for getting your nails, toenails, or hair done. You can not have massages or go to the actual spa."

"Ok. I saw something about a fire with snacks. Can I do that?"

He looks up at me quickly then stares at me. "I don't know what that is."

"It's on the teens club schedule, Dipak."

"Yes, you can do anything you want with the teen club. You can go to all their stuff if you want. They also have a club that you can use."

"I can swim with them too?"

"Yes."

"Does the club have dancing, and music, and boys, and..."

"You're going on a date with Collin. No other boys exist."

"Can Collin go to the teen club with me?"

The 3 of them crack up laughing.

"I guess that's fine. Alright, you go plan your stuff out for Rome."

"He's going to get an earful Friday." Omar rubs his eyes.

I run out and to my room to look at the pamphlets.