Author's Note: As always, I'm late. Oops! I had a dance Friday and my dad's birthday celebration yesterday, so I didn't have time to publish until today. Warning: this chapter is sad, but not as sad as Chapter 31. Enjoy!

Glisteen walked to the arena, slowly, but surely. She could already hear the crowd roaring. Water against fire, they must have guessed it would be a good fight. Glisteen swallowed. Her mouth felt dry, and her palms and forehead had broken out in a sweat. She was so nervous, but why? Like Sabecary had said, she was a much better fighter than Artew, right?

Glisteen walked into the arena. The crowd roared louder as the intercom introduced her. She waited. Artew would come out eventually. She was right. He did, a smirk of confidence plastered on his face. He knew, too, just like Glisteen, that water put out fire.

Everything slowed down. Glisteen was ready. The buzzer sounded. Artew immediately threw his hands up, and with it came a wave of water. Huge, ready, and fireproof. The wave came crashing down, and Glisteen had only enough time to throw a fire dome around herself. She could hear the water above her. She could her the water sizzle as the fire started to go out. Glisteen put more power into it. She started sweating. She couldn't keep it up forever.

But neither could Artew.

Suddenly, the water was gone. Glisteen took down her dome of fire. Artew was standing there, in front of her, exhausted, from the effort.

Artew took a raggedy breath, his voice scratchy. "Do you surrender?"

Glisteen drew herself up. She couldn't take another beating like that again. But she couldn't lose, either. Glisteen summoned her fire. She made a ring of it around Artew, slowly rising. Artew watched, nervously. He tried to summon water but couldn't. He was just too tired. It almost reached his head when she asked, "Do you surrender?"

Artew shook his head. Glisteen made the fire hotter. "Do you-" Her question was cut off by another wall of water. She flew back, slamming on the ground. She laid there, too dazed to fight back.

"Surrender?" Artew asked. He was standing over her, now, holding a sphere of water. He threw it over her face. Accidentally, she breathed it in. She coughed and sputtered. "Do you surrender?"

"Well, there goes my chance to win, up in smoke." Glisteen thought. Smoke. Steam!

Artew had a full wave behind him, ready to drown Glisteen with. Glisteen slowly sat. The wave was ready to crash. "Do you surrender?" Artew asked, threateningly. In response, Glisteen threw a huge ball of hot fire at the wave. It exploded into steam. Glisteen scrambled to her feet. She could hear Artew frantically looking for her. Glisteen ran toward the sound of his voice and found him, fumbling around in the dark. Glisteen ran forward and put Artew in a headlock.

"Surrender." Glisteen commanded into his ear.

"I-I surrender." Artew mumbled. Glisteen dropped him, and stood while the steam cleared.

"Wow, a surprise ending. Fire came out on top. How about that, folks?" The announcer cheered. Glisteen walked out of the arena. She didn't feel like being happy. In fact, she didn't feel like celebrating. She knew that a meeting was taking place tonight, and that she had to be there, while not being discovered.

"Glisteen!" Glisteen was nearly tackled, as Sabecary embraced her in a hug, all the while kissing her.

"What's the matter?" Glisteen asked, after untangling herself from Sabecary.

"I was so worried, Artew nearly killed you!" Sabecary kissed her on the mouth, long and slow.

"Oh, I'm tougher to kill than that." Glisteen replied, trying a weak smile, and ignore the water in her stomach trying to claw its way back up her throat.

"Let's go celebrate." Sabecary suggested.

Glisteen frowned. "Can we just go for dinner? I want to rest for a little bit."

"Oh, of course." Sabecary replied, looking a little hurt.

"No, I mean, it's just-" She wobbled on her feet, suddenly feeling very lightheaded.

Sabecary put her arm around himself "Let's get you to your room." He led her to her room, where he let himself in and sat her on the bed. "I'll let you rest, I'll be back at six to pick you up for dinner. Goodbye, Glisteen." Sabecary kissed her on the forehead, and shut the door quietly. Glisteen gratefully laid down on her bed and fell asleep.

Glisteen woke later, wondering where she was. Then, she remembered. The date! Glisteen looked at her clock- 5:50! Glisteen jumped up, and hastily changed into a sleeveless red dress before brushing and braiding her hair back. She was just finished when there was a knock on her door.

"Coming!" Glisteen said, opening the door.

"Wow..." Sabecary greeted her, taking her in. He coughed. "Are you feeling better?"

Glisteen smiled. "Yes, thank you."

"Good to know. Shall we go?" Sabecary asked, smiling.

"We shall." Glisteen replied. Sabecary held out his arm and Glisteen wound hers in it. They were soon walking down the long hallways, talking about how lucky they were to make it this far.

They soon reached the cafeteria and were at a table."What would you like to have, Glisteen?" Sabecary asked. A waitress came forward, ready to take their orders.

Glisteen scanned the menu, and soon found something she liked. "I'll take the chicken tortilla soup."

"That's a good choice. I'll have the steak." The waitress scribbled down the orders and walked off.

"Thank you, for taking me here." Glisteen said.

"Oh, anytime. I hope you like it." Sabecary replied.

"I'm sure I will." Glisteen reassured. They fell into awkward silence. Glisteen had to think of something, quick.

"Um, I like your dress." Sabecary said awkwardly.

"Remember when I beat you climbing up the tree?" Glisteen suddenly recollected.

"You know I would've won if you didn't have a head start." Sabecary replied.

"No, you wouldn't have." Glisteen teased.

"Yes, I would have."

"No."

"Yes, I would, of course."

"No, you would not." Glisteen's eyes sparkled. They argued for a while longer when they finally decided Glisteen still would have won. Well, actually Glisteen decided it. Sabecary was still not convinced. When they finished eating, they decided to go to the maple tree, to decide for good. They walked down the twisting corridors, talking quietly. Glisteen noticed that Sabecary seemed to be thinking of something, he seemed... sad. They soon reached the maple room. When they reached the huge maple, Sabecary yelled, "Race you to the top!"

With that,  he tore towards the tree, Glisteen hot on his heels. Glisteen reached the tree first, again, though it was hard to climb in heels. She climbed the tree and sat, so there was enough room for Sabecary, and Sabecary joined her. They sat in silence before Sabecary sighed.  With tiredness, hopefully, though Glisteen thought it sounded a lot like sadness.

"Hey, G?" Sabecary sounded anxious. Glisteen felt a pool of dread in her stomach.

"Yeah?" Glisteen replied, uncertain.

"I-I think we should break up." Sabecary finally stated. Glisteen hoped she heard him wrong, hoped that she had misheard him.

But she hadn't. "What-what do you mean... Sabecary?" Glisteen asked.

"Glisteen...we're eventually going to fight each other, and I wouldn't be able to stand it. I-I don't want to hurt you. I-I'm sorry. Goodbye, G." Sabecary kissed her on the cheek, and jumped off the tree. He walked off, slowly and sadly.

Glisteen sat there, stunned, too stunned to speak. Sabecary was gone. Gone. Glisteen jumped down from the tree, not caring that she scraped her leg. She ran to her room and didn't stop the whole way. She slammed the door and collapsed on her bed in a storm of tears. First, she had lost Sia; now, she had lost Sabecary. What was happening? Glisteen's family, her friends, and now, her boyfriend were turning their back on her, betraying her, leaving her.

Glisteen had been so caught up in trying to keep one person close, that she had lost everyone. She was alone.