I'm putting my author's note up here, to be random. Up above is Eric!! Or as close as I could find!
Just wanna say that I'm so excited that this story is almost at 300 reads. May seem pathetic but I really appreciate all those who have read this!
Shout out to smurf0702, my crazy commenter buddy! May the Force be with you!
I wanted to post this up on my birthday but my family decided to go out so I'm working on this while I'm at a volleyball tournament with my team! Go Warriors!!! Anybody else play volleyball?? What position??

Anywho onto the story!!

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I fidget restlessly with my pale green dress outside the bakery. After wearing my tunic, I feel out of place in a dress. Not to mention that the scowling woman at the counter glares at me at every possible opportunity.

Eric appears in the crowd. Dressed in a tunic belonging to one of the stable boys, he almost blends in. I notice that the thin material lays closer to his skin than his usual apparel, causing the definition of the muscles of his chest and abdomen to faintly show through. His hair is rumpled, with a few stray waves hanging over his forehead. My heartbeat quickens and I cannot help but think, "Together with Eric, alone." As he walks to stand next to me, he says, "I'm here."

"Finally. I've been waiting for three millennium."

He pushes his lips out in a pout. "I'm sowy. Forgive me?" He takes full advantage of his hazel eyes, allowing them to become round and puppy-dog like.

"Fine. You're forgiven... This time." I reply after a moment of looking at his ridiculous yet still incredibly handsome face.

He grins at me, then opens the door of the bakery. "After you." We push our way into the crowded bakery, finding a spot in the sea of people. As we wait, his hand brushes against mine, causing me to swallow back a gasp. I glance over at him, but he just looks straight ahead. It was just an accident. I must really be pathetic to think that just because he is with me that he has feelings for me. We move forward, not speaking since nothing can be heard in the bakery anyway over the cacophony of shouting voices and slamming pans.

Halfway to the counter, Eric's hand brushes mine again but this time he takes hold of it. My heart thunders in my chest. Is he- is this really happening? Do I dare look at him?

I glance at him to find him looking at me, slowly surveying each feature of my face.

"NEXT!" the woman at the counter shouts and breaks the spell. He looks back at the front and starts to go forward, still clasping my hand. We stay that way until we reach the counter and buy six loaves of bread for the boys. At the door, he says, "I also brought some apples and oranges."

"You're too good. But I confiscated some pastries from the royal kitchen." I respond with a wink as we stroll down the street.

"Good for nothing thief!"

Just as I begin to respond, a blonde mop of curls flies past us. "Teddy!"

He spins on his heels. "Lee?!" He exclaims. "Is that you? Golly, you look pretty in a dress! I didn't even knowed it was you! Ya look so different in boy's clothes." His eyes shift to look at Eric and immediately narrow. "Who's he?"

"This is my friend Eric. He offered to help me bring food to your house. Could you perhaps lead us there?"

He glares at Eric then shrugs. "Any friend of Lee is a friend of me. Come on."

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We enter the house to find the boys huddled around a blanket with the meager amount of food they brought in, one loaf, a couple of rotting apples, and a handful of moldy cheese. I notice that the group has seemingly grown to have more than twenty boys. Bobby spots Eric and me, his brown eyes assessing us. "Who'd ya bring with ya, Lee?"

"This is my friend Eric."

"Well, you're just in time for supper. We don't have much but you can take part in what we have." Their kindness made my eyes misty. They were willing to share the little they had.

Without responding, Eric walks forward and opens the bag. Kneeling down and dumping the bag's contents onto the blanket, he replies, "We thought we should bring supper since we knew we were stopping around this time. Hope you like what we brought."

"Woohoo! It's like Christmas!" one of the smallest boys shouts. The boys' eyes, glued to the food, are brighter than the torches that light up the castle courtyard at night. They ravenously lunge at the food, tearing off chunks of bread and swiping up the fruit or pastries we had brought. Bobby smiles gratefully. "Thank you."

Over the din, Teddy shouts "Hurrah for Lee and Eric!" The boys with their own hearty hurrahs.

We leave as the sun is beginning to set, laughing as we walk. Eric leads the way as that I had not the faintest idea of where I was, the lengthening shadows distorting my surroundings. Eric suddenly stops our laughing conversation. "Lee?"

"Yes?"

He stops to look at me. "I- We- I want us to remain friends under all circumstances."

I pause. Friends? The whole thing in the bakery... Never mind. "Of course. Why would we not be friends?" I respond, keeping a glib lightness in my voice.

"Oh, I just wanted to confirm that we would." He says as he strides forward. For several moments, a stiff silence stands between us. I survey the street in front of us and I notice a figure on the opposite side of the street, hurriedly walking. Though he tries to disfigure his gait, I know it must be a noble. His air is too regal, his movement too agile. In fact-

"Eric!" I whisper, grabbing his arm. "Who does that look like to you?"

"...Hmm... I believe that is Sir William."

"What is doing out of the castle at this time? In this part of town?" We watch as he turns down an alley and enters a house near the end.

Eric nudges my arm. "Let's get back to the castle before it turns dark."

"Aren't you curious as to what he is doing?"

"I am. But these streets are no place for a lady after dark."

"So you're saying if I wasn't here, you'd go?"

"No, what I am saying is that I am going to get you back to the castle where you are safe."

"Then what? Come back out?" I retort. His silent glare answers my question. "Honestly, you should already know that taking me back to the castle is futile. I would follow you right back here anyways."

He clenches his jaw and I glare at him.
"You are infuriating sometimes, 'Melia."

"I know."

With that he strides towards the house into which Sir William disappeared. I follow him, clutching the dagger I had his in my outfit.

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And any comments about the new cover?? Or the plot development? Hehehe, do I have gut-wrenching plot twists in mind!!!

Have a lovely day!!