The hard wheels of the wagon clattered against the rocky roads of town. With my money pouch safely tucked out of sight, I hopped off the back.

"Thanks for the ride!" I tossed a few coppers into the drivers hand.

"No problem." He tipped his hat and continued down the road. I walked up to the flower shop to pick up a bouquet of white and red chrysanthemums I ordered ahead of time.

"Here," the florist gave me a white lily.

"Oh, thank you." I tucked the lily into the bouquet and got another carriage to take me to the outskirts of town.

After another half an hour of treking down a path in the woods, I reached a small clearing with a large willow tree in the middle. I brushed the tendrils out of my way and kneeled in front of a small stone tablet.

I took the now withered flowers from last week and replaced them with new ones.

Kone died around four years ago when I was only eleven years old.

~

"Kone! Where are you?! Kone!" I clicked m tongue as I ran through the estate. Where on earth was Kone?

"Kone! Please come out!" I kept searching until the sun had begun to hide behind the horizon.

"Are you looking for your cat?" The gardener asked.

"Yes, have you seen her?"

"I saw her about an hour ago near the roses."

"Thanks!" I ran over to the bushes of various colors of roses. I checked around and under them, but she wasn't there.

Then I noticed the door of a nearby shed was cracked open. I flung the door wide open and found Kone lying in a pile of dead leaves.

I knew something was off when Kone didn't even give an ear twitch. Even at the slightest noise she'd jump up.

"Kone?" The answer was clear even before I touched her limp body.

Kone had died.

"...hic," tears welled up in my eyes and dripped down onto Kone. It didn't make sense, she was only three and a half years old and she had been perfectly healthy!

Then I saw the deep gashes in her belly-

~

I shook the depressing memory out of my head.

I don't know who or what killed her, but it was clear she had tried to hide in terror.

I clenched my hands and got up. I needed to get my mind off of this.

~

"It's been a while. You haven't shown your face for what... two weeks?" Rakesha raised an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry, school caught up to along with some pests."

"Pests? How many?" Rakesha handed me a mug of her mystery drink that was like melted chocolate. No, it was not hot chocolate.

I took a sip before answering, "Uhh, I think around 1, 2, 3, 4... well, a lot. Pretty much most of the school."

"Wow, what'd you do?"

"Well... I may have tied up one of the most popular guys and carried him to the student council room while he was still half-naked because he was screwing around with girls instead of doing his work."

"Pfft!" Rakesha put down her mug as she cackled hysterically. "Hahahaaaaaaa! That's the best thing I've heard all year!"

"Yeah, it's all fine and dandy for you since you don't have to face the repercussions."

"Look at you acting all smart with those big fancy words." Rakesha teased, tussling my hair roughly.

"I am smart. I'm ahead of most kids in my grade y'know."

"Yeah, yeah. I'll see how smart you are when you go out in the real world." I gulped the last of my drink and went to inspect the new weapons on the dining table.

"What's this?"

"It's a crossbow."

"It looks different than usual. It has this shifty thing to- oh, is it to make it easier to draw back? Does it click together and stay when you pull it back?"

"Yes. I made a few tweaks so weaker people can load it and draw it into place and it has a trigger to release the arrow."

"Nice! It's lighter and more maneuverable too." I put the weapon back down. "Do you have time to train with me today?"

"I was wondering when you were going to get to that." Rakesha tossed a wooden sword at me. "Let's do some sword training today. You look like you could do with beating up a dummy or two."

~

I panted, my shirt felt suffocating in the heat. It stuck to my body so I took it off.

"I brought some water. If you're going to take off your shirt, don't throw it on the ground." Rakesha put my shirt on one of the beaten up dummies.

"Ah, thanks." I guzzled the water and put the wooden sword up. "I need to go soon. Father doesn't like it when I'm out too late."

"Aren't you already fifteen?"

"Yea, almost sixteen. He's just overprotective."

"I see." Rakesha took the empty cup from my hand," well you should get going then."

"Trying to get rid of me?" I joked. "I'm hurt."

"Yeah yeah. Get going." She flung my discarded shirt in my face.

"I'm going. See you later." I jumped over the fence and walked down the street. I reluctantly put my shirt back on.

"Hi Randall!" A couple girls popped their head out of a bakery. "We thought you may want something after training." They handed me a bag. "There's a couple donuts and a blueberry muffin."

"Thanks!" I gave them a grin. The girls whispered excitedly to each other as I continued on. It's not so bad having a few admirers. Especially if they know how to bake.

??? POV

"Ha! You're hilarious!" Howie slapped my back. "Why are you so scared of wasps and bees? They aren't so bad if you don't irritate them."

"Nothing should be allowed to fly and look terrifying AND have stingers!" I shoved him playfully.

"Yeah, yeah. Just don't let Josh hear about your little fear of bees. He'd find some way to get you trapped with a whole hive of them."

"Well if he tries I'm going to bring my dog with me."

"Hahaha! Nice!" Howie stopped, "oh look! There's Randy, let's go say hi!"

"Who?"

"You don't know who Randy is? I'll introduce you to him." Howie pointed to a handsome guy with a tight-fitting white shirt and dark brown slacks. He had thick curly dark brown hair and icy grayish blue eyes.

Oh. My. God.

"Um, I got to go!"

"Huh? Why do yo-"

"Bye!" I ran around the corner of a building and got out of there fast as I could.

"Randy!" Someone called out to me.

"Oh, Howie. How's it been?"

"Super busy," Howie complained. "I was just with another friend, but he ran off."

"Oh, must've been my face." I joked. "Donut?"

"Thanks," Howie took the donut from my hand. "Yum, you got these from the Schwartz bakery, didn't you?"

"How'd you know?"

"Madeline's donuts are on a different level than anyone else's."

"Or you're just obssessed with her." I jabbed Howie in the rib.

"Hey, you're making me sound like some creepy stalker!"

"If the shoe fits." That earned me a slap on the back of the head.

"Where are you going anyway?"

"Home. My father will be bothersome if I'm not back in time for dinner."

"When will you ever invite me to your place? I mean, you've been to everyone's house but none of us know where you live. It makes you a bit suspicious."

"Don't you mean mysterious?" I chuckled.

"I don't know why girls find you so alluring." Howie muttered, "whenever you're around all the girls flock to you whether they have a boyfriend or not."

"Look, I'm sorry about Claire. She came onto me even when I told her I wasn't interested."

"I know," he sighed, "still hurts though." I patted his back in sympathy.

"That's why I don't go looking for a relationship."

"You'll die a lonely old man."

"Eh, maybe. If I do, then so be it." I waved for a carriage and soon one stopped right in front of us.

"Well, guess I'll see you later." Howie gave a mock salute.

"Bye," I saluted back and hopped into the back of the carriage. "Barkinger Lane." The carriage took off and I looked out the window as people went by in a blur.

"We're here." The driver announced when the carriage rolled to a stop.

"Thanks," I gave him a couple silver coins. "Keep the change." I jumped down and walked the short way to the Duke's estate. The guards let me through the moment they recognized me.

"Where have you been?" Father asked the moment I stepped inside.

"Out."

"What were you doing?"

"Visiting Kone." I took off my shoes and handed them to the maid nearby. "I'll be in my room." I climbed a few steps before I added, "I'll be down for dinner."