Against the Stars

Chapter 30

Christmas came and went for Ginny. The Miller's never seemed to have a big celebration since much of the holiday was overlooked because of Delly. It had been like that for the post few years, so Ginny didn't really expect anything different. However, a few days after Christmas, she fell asleep knowing she'd be able to see Ben the next day.

Or so she thought.

It turned out that Mother had other plans for how her daughter should spend her day. Ginny nearly screamed when she woke up and saw her mother standing in the doorway of her room first thing in the morning. This was something that never happened. Ginny felt her heart race, this was not good at all.

"Get. Your. Lazy. Butt. Out. Of. Bed. Now," Mother said, saying each word in time with her tapping foot. Ginny wondered how long she'd been standing there.

Ginny threw her covers of and started to put on her slippers.

"No time for that," Mother hissed. "Christian Kline will be here in a half an hour and you're not even dressed yet!"

"Christian who?" Ginny mumbled sleepy.

"Christian Kline. Surely Nelly told you? You are going on an outing with him and then his family are coming for dinner."

Ginny walker up and was as awake as if someone had tossed a bucket of water on her head. An outing? With a boy? In a half an hour?

"Well don't just stand there and act surprised, it's clear Nelly didn't tell you. Get up!" Mother said, speaking with with a tone Ginny rarely heard. It seemed Mother was deep desperate; she needed this meeting to go well.

Mother came over and dragged Ginny over to her trunk. Before Ginny could blink, mother had shoved petticoats, a corset, and a dress into Ginny' s hands. Ginny quickly slipped on the petticoats, but when it came to the corset, Mother barged over. 

"Oh for heaven's sake let my do it!" She cried. She began to leave up the corset and pulled tight. Ginny gasped every few seconds and in the end found she could scarcely breathe. 

"Oh deal with it, it's in the name of marriage!" Ginny gasped slightly. So this is what the outing was all about. Mother was trying to set her up! Probably afraid that Ginny was going to follow in Blithe' s footsteps.

She wasn't.

Mother shoved the dress into Ginny's hands and stormed off. Ginny quickly slipped the dress on. The dress was a dark royal blue color and was actually one of Ginny's favorites. As she headed over to do her hair, Ginny found that she couldn't do a bun, like she had planned. The corset was tied to tight fit her to raise her hands above her head. Let with no other choice, she left it down. 

"Ginny, Christian's here!" Mother called from downstairs. Ginny sighed. She wished her mother had said Ben's name instead. But no, she had to go on an outing with Christian Kline. 

"I'm coming!" Ginny called, walking as she add she could. 

She stopped where she could see the door. She glanced at Christian and sighed. He was short, and from the looks of it, shorter than she was. He had pale blonde hair and blueberry eyes. His skin was pale, nearly colorless. He had a book tucked under his arm. 

"Oh look, it's Ginny!" Mother called, pointing in her direction. It was then Ginny noticed two people besides Christian. There was a tall woman with the same hair and eyes as Christian. She was talking to Mother, well trying to get rid of the book under Christian's s arm. Next to her was a small blonde hair, green eyed girl.

"Oh Ginny, meet Christian, Ruth, and Thankful Kline."

"How do you do ma'am? Christian?"

"I'm good thanks for asking," Ruth said. Christian said nothing. Ruth elbowed Christian trying to get him to say something. 

"I'm good," Christian finally mumbled.

"Ginny here's your cloak," Mother said, handing Ginny her red velvet cloak.

"So Christian, what are we going to do today?" Ginny asked, slightly curious, slightly scared.

Christian glanced at his mother  for help. Ruth sighed and whispered something in his ear. Christian nodded.

"We're going on a wall through town. Are, are you all right with that?"

"That sounds fine," Ginny said to Christian's relief.

"Shall we make our way?"

"Yes," Ginny said. The sooner we leave, the sooner we get back, the sooner I don't have to see your face. Ginny thought. 

The two walked in silence for a while. Ginny had a feeling Christian wouldn't talk without her starting a conversation. She had no desire to talk to him either. He had no social skills like Ginny, except he couldn't start and she couldn't stop. 

As they walked, Ginny felt herself getting dizzier with every step. Curse her mother for fastening her corset so tight! She was going to end up passing out in Christian's arms and imagine where that would go!

As they walked Ginny thought about starting a conversation, but decided against it. She liked the silence and it gave her time to think. And think she could have. Then she saw him.

Ben was leaning up against the steps of the general store. He was lazily eating an apple and seemed to be on a break. His face lit up when he saw Ginny... and fell when he saw Christian. 

Ben shot her a puzzled look, almost a worried one. Ginny sighed, then mouthed, "I hate this. Mother's idea not mine." Ben remained confessed for a moment then nodded. And then began to laugh hysterically. 

Christian saw her looking at Ben and glared at him. He then mouthed for Ginny to turn around leaving Ben laughing his guts out. Ginny had no doubt that he was going to the outhouse in a few minutes. 

Christian and Ginny continued to walk in silence and Ginny thought (and hoped) the rest of the walk should be like that. She was right... until they got within a block of her house.

Ginny felt something on her waist and glanced down. She nearly screamed with what she saw. Christian's hand was on her waist. She looked at Christian and saw sawa glint in his eye that hadn't been there before. 

"Christian..." Ginny said, a fear coarsing through her. 

"You're pretty," Christian said. Normally, Ginny would have blushed but Christian said it dull and unenthusiastic. 

Ginny looked at Christian's face. She knew at once what he was going to do and she didn't like it. 

She threw up her hands in the air and cried, "That's it! Don't even think-" and suddenly stars appeared before her eyes and she crumpled into Christian's arms, the darkness overtaking her.