"Its a beautiful day today, even the sky is celebrating." Calix said.
"Do you think it will come and celebrate with us tonight?" I asked.
"Nice one, cassey. Nice one."
We laughed.
"Want to ride a horse so we could explore the palace more?" Calix asked.
I looked into my shoes. "I don't know how to ride and I can't do it wearing this either"
"Don't worry. Come."
He held my hand and we went into the barn.
"Good morning my lord, lady. "
"Hi Damian! Do you have an available boots for the lady?
"Yes, sir. Please follow me."
We followed him and he showed us wide array of boots.
"What would you like miss?"
I looked to Calix.
"Damian, just give her the backride boots."
"Yes, my lord."
He gave me the boots and it fits perfectly.
"Thank you Damian, Is Jack available?"
"Yes, my Lord. Let me just get him for you."
We waited outside the barn for Jack.
Jack was a dark brown horse with halves of white in each of side of his face.
Calix rode first, I followed and rode at his back.
It was a nice horse ride. We went around the palace, its bigger that I thought it was. There are also others riding the horse and enjoying the nice day.
Some are drinking tea while looking at their kids playing.
"It must have been lonely living here without all these people." I said.
"You wouldn't notice it if you live here. There is always someone following you around. And besides, you'd long for the quiet days."
"You've got a point there."
"You want a snack?"
"No, thank you. I would like to ready my tummy for lunch."
He laughed. "You'll never change, Cass."
"I never plan to."
"Is there a chance you'll change your mind and not go home?"
"Maybe, but not now, Calix. These things are all new to me. I have to go back home and think. I need my friends and my family, I have to go back there."
"But you have your friends here, and your family, too."
"I know. But its different, you guys are a part of this world, and I would like to have time away from here, not that I don't want it, but I just have to take time to think.
"I understand, I'll miss you Cass."
"I'll miss you guys, too. I promise I'll be back here, I just really need time to think. You can visit me in New York, I can help you look for schools there."
"I will, I'll definitely visit you if I'll have time."
I leaned to his right shoulder and hold his left shoulder.
"Don't miss me so much."
"I'll try. You know that I will always be here, right?"
"I never doubt."
We just stayed like that for a few minutes until someone crossed our paths, its Tatiana.
"Hi Louie, Cassey." She's riding a horse with a few friends.
"Hi Tatiana" we both said.
"By the way, these are my friends. Patricia, Trixie and I believe you know Crystal and Cynthia, right Calix?"
"Yes, of course. Crystal, Cynthia. Patricia, Trixie."
"Hi Calix! Nice to see you again! Is she your new girlfriend, Cal?" Said maybe Crystal.
"Uhm. No, no. She's a close friend. Her name's Cassena. Lady Cassena from Clemens."
"Oh! I'll never get used to meeting a lot of nobilities." Tatiana's friend said.
"Louie said I could invite a few friends so I invited them." Tatiana said.
"The more guest, the more festive." Calix said.
"Well we have to go back to the house now for lunch. Are you coming?" Tatiana asked.
"We'll follow." Calix said.
"Okay then. Bye! Calix, nice seeing you again Cassey."
"You too." I said.
I turned into Calix. "So, Cal?" I smiled at him teasingly.
He smiled back and shaked his head. "Let's go back. I know you don't want to be late for lunch."
____________________
We arrived at the house..
"I'll go get change for lunch." I said
"See you later, same spot?"
"Yes, see you later Cal!"
He laughed and shaked his head again.
__________________
I found Mamu in my room.
"How's the walk around?"
"We rode a horse around."
"You?"
"At the back."
Mamu smiled teasingly.
"I came to bring your clothes, should we wait you for lunch?"
"No, its okay. You guys can go first."
"Okay, darling. See you downstairs."
I changed to the clothes mamu prepared and went down.
Calix, like this morning is waiting for me downstairs, but now, he's with Claire.
" Cassey! Cassey!" Shouted Claire.
"Claire, your in the palace."
"Sorry!" She said to Calix and then looked at me and smiled.
"How are you Claire, it's nice to see you again." I said.
"I'm always excited for a ball, it's a fashionista's dream!, I got to way two outfits today!, one for lunch and one for later. I can't wait to see what you aare going to wear!"
"I'm excited to see what you are wearing too!, I know you'll be pretty to whatever it is."
We entered the hall and there are more people than this morning. Every hour, more and more people arrive at the palace. Everyone looking so poised and elegant.
"Is this how it is every year?" I asked Calix as we seat at the table with my grandparents, Claire and his parents.
"This year it's extra special."
Claire poked me, "May I see your gown Cassey?"
"Sure, Claire. No problem!"
And she grinned.
The lunch was again superb.
Prince Louie was getting busier every hour now, I don't know if we could meet later.
We shared a few glances and smiles at lunch today, I want to talk to him. It's hard this way that we see each other but wasnt able to talk. It's like it pushing me to be eager to talk to him.
I am anticipating our meeting tonight more than ever.
