Nadine

50. Night Out

I get to dinner about 10 minutes late. Everyone except mom, daddy, and Frode are in their seats.

Tre leans in and whispers. "Your dad and Frode are stalling your mom."

"Sorry everyone, I couldn't get that smell out of my hair. Thora, can I hold the baby? I haven't seen her in so long?"

"Of course princess." Thora gives me a big smile. I move over to the seat by her and take the baby.

Dipak jumps up. "I'll go tell your dad we're ready."

Tre is right behind him. "I'll help."

"Boys are so weird." Thora chuckles at me. "And you, you perfect little girl. You have grown so much since I seen you before. You are so beautiful. I hope someday I can have one like you."

Momma comes in. "This is ridiculous. If we keep going this way, we will all end up eating in separate rooms. Now everyone in here and to your seats."

Maybe she won't notice I'm here and I can hold the baby all night.

"NADINE."

I give the baby back and sit down beside Tre again. The rest of them finally come back.

My mother looks at me. "So your father and Frode were telling me you want to read the bonding contract Nadine. Why is that?"

Oh, we're going to do this now mom? She really is so upfront about everything. "I do not understand my role in the contract. I wish to understand more about it and what is expected of me momma."

"Like?"

"Like if Advisor Tre can go dance with all the girls at the market, am I allowed to dance with all the boys there?"

Tre stands up and pulls me up. He stares right into my eyes. "I DO NOT DANCE WITH ALL THE GIRLS AT THE MARKET."

"THAT IS WHAT YOU SAID."

Mary excuses herself and I can hear Gunner trying his hardest to be quiet.

"THAT IS NOT WHAT I MEANT." He throws his napkin back on the table. "I WAS TRYING TO ASK YOU TO DANCE. NOT ANYONE ELSE. YOU ARE THE PRETTY GIRL."

"YOU MADE IT SOUND LIKE YOU WERE ASKING EVERYONE TO DANCE."

"WELL I'M SORRY... AND I DON'T GO THERE ASKING RANDOM WOMEN TO DANCE... EVER."

I give him a dirty look and we both plop down. Most people are smiling or laughing a little bit. Dipak seems mad as hell. He is glaring at Tre. My mom has her mouth open. Tre rubs his eyes. I still don't know why I'm so mad about that. "IF SOMEONE DOESN'T FEED ME SOON I'M GOING TO EAT THIS TABLE."

Mom gestures to the servants and the food comes out. "I think that was enough of an opening speech. Let's eat."

Me and Tre eat in silence again. I hope Frode doesn't think that's the end of me seeing that contract. My questions have not been answered. Everyone seems to be happy and talking except Dipak. He's glaring at his plate now. I was there yesterday. I know how you feel. Everyone gets done and I rush up to change my clothes. I didn't forget I'm going out tonight. Away from this place and I am getting excited.

"Mary I promise I will take you with me soon. I just don't know where all the villages near here are or what they do in them. I don't want to take us out for the first time and get lost."

"You are sweet child. But this is your time away. Go enjoy it. I don't need to go."

"But I want you to go."

She gives me a hug. "When you are ready, I would love to join you a time or 2."

I smile at her and button the last button on the nurse dress. I should blend in anywhere with it. It's not fancy at all. But maybe I should pick up a couple dresses in a village somewhere too. Normal dresses that everyday humans wear. One for me and one for Mary. I grab some of the money daddy gave me and go up to the roof.

Dipak is staring at me from the ground again. How does he do that? I can't help but stare at him for a minute. Does he stand outside all the time staring at the roof? We stare at each other for another minute. Yea, I have to ask him. I turn to dragon and fly down to him.

"Why do you stand here and stare at the roof Advisor Dipak? It seems very odd and twice now."

"I wanted to see if you would say goodbye this time, princess."

"Well technically, I said goodbye last time too. It's kind of far away."

"What did you say then?"

I can't tell him what I said. I smile. "Goodbye." I think about that day in my office though. Those black eyes he has and how he felt against me. I wish I had gotten that kiss.

I come out of my trance and he's smiling. "Go have fun princess."

I give him a big smile then turn around and fly into the air.

I fly over a couple of villages that don't seem to have much going on. I hope I can find a festival or something somewhere. I have to fly for an hour before I find one. But it seems fun. Music playing and some stalls set up for selling stuff. That will work.

I land outside of the town and change into human form. I put the veil and gloves in my pocket. My money is still in my pocket but I don't know if I can carry a dress in my pocket. I really want 2 of them. Maybe it will work if I tie it on myself somehow. I'll worry about it later.

I go to the music and stand in front of them listening. I think about all the dances I had with Johen. He wasn't the best dancer, but he was so warm and fun. I miss his kisses. I feel someone touch my arm and I turn towards a boy who is a little older than me.

"Would you like to dance, miss?"

I jump right into his arms. He is so warm, like all the rest.

We dance for hours. Never really saying much. Only dancing and laughing.

When a slow song comes on, he pulls me right against him. Wow, I miss this. I close my eyes and enjoy his heat, his chest, his arms. He even smells good.

"Are you cold? You feel cold."

"I'm ok."

"It's getting late and I need to go. Do you want me to walk you home?"

"I need to check for something in the stalls and then I'll be going home. Thank you for the dances sir."

"My pleasure, miss. I hope to see you again."

"I'm sure you will."

I find a few dresses that will work. I think they will fit me and Mary. She can adjust them if not. I really did miss this.

After an hour of shopping, I leave town and tie the dress sack around my ankle. I don't know how that's going to work. I switch to my dragon. It's tied to my dragons foot. That's actually kind of convenient. That was so fun for my first time out. I can't wait to do it again.

I get almost all the way home and decide I'm not ready to go back yet. I land near a woods and switch over. I go and get a bunny for blood. I even missed doing that.

I make a fire and lay down. I watch the stars. Boys are so fun and warm. I wonder if I'll ever get one to keep. As many kisses as I want. I feel myself starting to fall asleep. Warm arms around me all the time. Dark eyes for me.

Falling asleep. NO! Dark eyes looking at me from the tree line. I jump up and it runs towards me. He jumps at me at the same time I turn into a dragon. I fly up and it barely missed my wing. It is one of those stupid cat things. Those things are so mean.

I'm not landing to put the fire out. I fly back to the castle and land on the roof. I check Dipak's spot and he's not standing there. At least he doesn't stand there all the time watching the roof. The thought makes me laugh.

I untie the sack from my foot and put my veil and stuff back on. Then I go straight to bed.