Metty found a table for two by the window and sat down. She put her heavy backpack on the floor, flexing her shoulders to relax. She took a PB&J and a canned soda out of an insulated lunch bag. She popped the tab on the soda and took a long swallow, relishing the cool fizz after the August heat.

"Alexei," said the server at the pick-up counter. Alexei thanked the young man and got his meal. He started towards Metty's table. Heads turned as a young woman with dark hair and a creamy complexion cut him off. His smile lit up his face. He couldn't take his eyes off her. Metty tried to remember the girl's name.

"Hello, Alexei."

"Hello, Jessica. I heard you'd come to Charleston. I've been longing to see you."

"Here I am, Alexei." The girl was Jessica Winston. Rear Admiral Hiram Winston's daughter. The girl who knocked Madison into second place for most beautiful. She'd spent the summer studying abroad. Apparently, she had a 4.0+ average. Beautiful, wealthy, desirable, genius. How do some girls get so much? I don't know if I could even begin to handle a piece of it. Metty stopped eating while she listened to them talk, wondering how this beautiful woman knew Alexei. Naturally, Jessica would know the prince's family.

"My sorority, the ETAs, are hosting a welcome party this Friday." Alexei flushed. "Come. Bring Marco." She smiled without a hint of guile.

Alexei's face fell slightly, but he smiled again. Metty's heart beat a little faster. He had a warm smile, although Jessica had somehow hurt his feelings.

"I'll ask him. I'll call and let you know."

Jessica smiled, and the room watched her. "We're going to the movie at the Student Union Saturday night. Both of you come."

"We have guests for dinner Friday. Then we're going to the beach house Saturday. We'll try to make the party Friday after the dinner."

"Please do. I haven't seen Marco in so long. Till Friday." She walked out of the café. Heads turned to follow her.

"I haven't seen you in a long time," Alexei whispered. Metty just caught his words. He, too, had a crush on the stunning Jessica, who was in pursuit of Marco. Metty wondered how Marco felt about Jessica.

Alexei sat down with tea and yogurt. He spooned fruit from his yogurt and began to eat. Metty bit her PB&J. Strawberry jelly oozed onto her lips, and she licked it off.

She swallowed the mouthful and said, "We have to write a travel piece on Charleston," she said. "Tourist attractions, restaurant reviews. Three locations. Do you have any preferences?"

"No," said Alexei. "My family owns property here, so I have visited Charleston often. We, Marco and I, are staying with our cousin, Ava Reynolds, who lives near the college. Her husband teaches here. I wouldn't know what places to suggest."

"Professor Reynolds in the Math Department?"

Alexei nodded and ate yogurt.

"He's so nice." I didn't know he married a prince's cousin.

"Are you from here?"

"My mother is," Metty said. "We moved here when I was nine, when Dad retired from the Air Force. I'm living in West Ashley with my grandmother until I graduate, but I grew up in West Summerville. Too far to commute by bus." Stop babbling. Shut up. His eyes are so blue. And his smile so fine.

"Sometimes local people know the best places. Sometimes they pass them by."

"Maybe we need a theme."

Alexei ate the last of his yogurt and set the cup aside. He thought briefly and said, "What theme?"

She nodded at a poster for a Halloween party on the wall. He looked at it. "Halloween?"

She shook her head, her brown curls floating. "Haunted Charleston. Ghost tours are popular."

Alexei was silent. He smiled at her, and she thought again how kind he looked. She appreciated the way he had shut down Sparrow's rudeness that morning. "I like it." He sipped his tea. "Do you have any suggestions for stories?"

"There are a lot of famous ghosts. Maybe we can find some readers won't be so familiar with."

Alexei nodded. "We'll need three stories. First, may I suggest the Gazebo Ghost at Dalmurias Plantation?"

"I've never heard of that one." Metty was interested. "Tell me about the ghost. I haven't visited any of the local plantations either. I've never heard of Dalmurias opening to tourists or visitors."

"The private house is always closed to visitors. The main farm is open in Spring and Fall, with a little restaurant, in support of our church. Otherwise Dalmurias is for the family's private use. There is a chapel for our church and Father Menuzo and his family use the rectory there. The local congregation of San Gabriel de Almurias Orthodox uses the facilities, too."

An estate with a family's private church? Like some Renaissance prince? Oh, yeah, his family was Renaissance princes. There's an Almurian Orthodox church on Greco Street. Metty finished her sandwich and opened a bag of cookies. She offered them to him but he shook his head. She bit one, swallowed, and said, "Please tell me about it." She opened her notebook and got her pen, ready to take notes.

Alexei thought for a minute, looking at memories only he could see. His blue eyes were fringed by darker lashes, and his dark blond hair flopped over his forehead. "During your Civil War, the Union occupied the surrounding plantations after Fort Sumter. Some Almurians moved there to escape the fighting between Union and Confederates, as we were neutral in that war, and both sides respected that to a degree." His soft English accent was soothing and easy to listen to.

Metty took another cookie. "I believe I'll try one," said Alexei. "They look good." She held out the bag. He pried one out and popped it into his mouth whole, and chewed it. "These are good. Did you make them?"

"Halfway. They're just ready to bake cookies with sugar and spice," she said. "What happened next with the Gazebo Ghost?"

Alexei took another cookie. "There was intense fighting between the armies in that area. The Union forces moved onto Dalmurias when fighting spread there. The Union major in charge placed his snipers in strategic locations. One was in the Gazebo overlooking the river and woods. The major ordered him to stay at his post until relieved and left to take charge of his front-line troops." Alexei paused. "Confederate sharpshooters killed him." He smiled at her. "Sometimes you can hear gunfire, horses, and soldiers moving through the woods. So the story goes."

She smiled back, blinking through tears at the man's bravery. Alexei handed her a napkin, and she wiped her eyes. "Such devotion," said Metty. "Have you seen the ghosts?"

Alexei nodded, and her eyes widened. "Heard it. When we were young, Marco and my brothers and I would play pretend soldiers. Once we heard a bang and ran home screaming. We told my parents we heard a ghost cannon. Papa said it was probably just a truck backfiring. There was no traffic that day."

She watched him quietly, her lashes still damp. He looked her over. He liked her sensitivity and her calm hazel eyes. She wasn't near as beautiful as Madison, who got on his nerves, and no one compared to Jessica, but she was pretty and had soft, wavy chestnut hair and a fair olive complexion. He found talking to her relaxing.

Metty leaned forward, her cookies forgotten. "That's great," she said. "We can include pictures. Cell phone photos are allowed."

"We can also write a review of the restaurant there. It's only open Spring and Fall, or by reservation for certain events sponsored by the family or the Church. They have had ghost watching parties in the Fall."

"That's two," said Metty. "For the third one, ghosts are supposed to haunt the walkway on the lawn near the Cistern."

"What's the story?"

"People report seeing students dressed in clothes from after the Civil War. They don't talk but it's said they'll knock your books down. Or you may hear a Rebel yell."

"I use a backpack," said Alexei. "That's our three, then."

"I'm free tomorrow morning, if you want to check out the ghosts on campus."

"What time?"

"Nine AM." I have class at noon."

"Nine is fine. Meet here?"

She nodded, posting the event on her phone. He stood up and collected his trash. "Till then, Metty, encantado de conocerle."

She looked puzzled.

"Pleased to meet you."

She smiled. "Encanto. See you tomorrow."