Anna woke up early the next day and noticed Freedie still slept. She had no idea what made her do it. She closed her eyes and kissed him. She got no reaction from him. Had she read the signals wrong? Did not he trust her?  Was not he someone important enough to let her in on his secret? She was sure he had one.

     A mysterious light surrounded them. Anna opened her eyes shocked to see the green light all around them. Where had it come from? What did it all mean? She looked at Freddie for answers.

       "Ah!" He screamed. Anna was shocked she hadn't heard him scream in a long time. What was the matter with him?  Was it something she had said or done?

        "What is it? Are you alright?" She asked.  He turned away hiding inside a closet. He refused to come out. Anna stood outside not sure why he was acting so strangely. Was there something she should know about here?

     Freddie stood in the closet astonished. He could feel himself grow in height, the frog skin started to fade away, but he still could not feel his legs. What was wrong with him? He gasped. What happened?  How could this happen?  Only a true princess could turn him back. Anna swore she was not one, but yet she had a crown. Was it all a lie to make him think she did not share the same bond with her he was sure they had?

       "Why had she lied to him? He thought she knew how much he loved her. Tears stained his face. He could not approach her like this, not when she did not know it was him, and especially, when she had not said she loved him." He feared she would leave him if she knew the truth. He sighed. He recalled her words, "She must not find out, or she will be angry if she knows the poison did not work."  Who was the she Anna referred to? What did she mean by poison? He did not understand.

           "Freddie, I am truly sorry. It was my mother who tried to kill you," Anna stated. He put his hands over his face. It was not supposed to work like this. The girl who changed him was supposed to love him and they were to be happy.  He could not remain friends with her like he once had. Not when he had fallen for her. He had not meant to but found he could help himself. The more he was around her, the more he loved her.  Her mother was the one who poisoned him, he could not believe it. Why? Why had she tried to take him away from Anna?

             "Anna, I am not well, and I must keep away from you for a few days," He said. He hoped she could not tell his voice was no longer as deep as it once was. "Ok, but I hope you will be quite alright in a few days," Anna said. He could tell she was worried. He did not respond. He curled up into a ball and remained quiet. He could see that she had been crying. Who made her cry?  

         Anna was afraid. She feared that perhaps the poison had damaged him in some way. Is that why he remained in the closet?   It did not explain the light, but almost explained his peculiar mannerism.

          "What was the light about anyway? I saw a green light appear out of nowhere. I only kissed you, but then everything changed between us. You ran in there, and you insist you are sick. Is it the poison?  I am glad you weren't taken from me. I would not know how to feel had you died,'" Anna remarked.

            The lad felt bad that he had lied to her. Yet, she had told him she felt the same for him. He had to know did Anna love me? How can I be sure?

            Anna sat on the sleeping bag. She had her back turned towards him. She blurted out, "Freddie, please, I -I..." She muttered. You what? He pondered. He saw her weep more.

             He longed to go to her, but he could not. Not yet. He felt something on his head and realized it was his crown. So he was as he thought the crowned prince Fredick. He felt his legs tingle as they slowly dissolved. That is to say, his frog legs disappeared to be replaced by his human ones. He grew tired and slept.

              Anna slept alone. She tossed and turned in her sleep. Tears stained her pillow as it did her cheeks. She cried out in her sleep, "Freddie, come back. Don't leave me."

               In the middle of the night, he sneaked out of the closet and went to her. He had to hold her in his arms. He laid down behind her and held her close. He heard her sighs. He whispered, "I love you, Anna, my princess. If only you loved me."  He soon drifted back to sleep with her in his arms. 

              Find out more in Chapter 8

         Until then,

        bye-bye,

      little owlets!

    Summer out!