Masquerade

Ch 3

He waited through half of the next days ball for her, but she had yet to show up. He gave up his hope of ever seeing her again. He was about to ask another girl to dance, not wanting to get in trouble for just standing by the wall and doing nothing, when he saw her. She was standing in the doorway, searching the room for him. With a smile on his face, he went over to her and held out a hand.

"May I have this dance?" She took his hand with a smile of her own and he led her to the dance floor. "I was beginning to think you weren't going to show up."

"I had to wait longer to sneak out. My father and brother stayed up later than usual. I'm sorry." She said apologetically.

"It's fine. You're here now. That's all that matters." He kissed her cheek and she blushed softly.

"I wish I didn't have to sneak out like that just to see you." Kya looked down.

Lee was confused. "Why do you need to? Why can't you just come?"

Kya stopped dancing. "I just... my family just doesn't want me to be here..."

"I'm sorry, I'll stop prying."

Kya took his hand and led him out to the garden. "I'm sorry, I wish I could tell you everything. I want to. I just can't. If you knew the truth..."

"You think I would see you differently if I knew the truth about who you are." He finished for her.

"I know you would see me differently." She looked down again.

"You would see me differently if you knew the truth about who I am as well." He held her hand.

"I should go. I'm sorry. I really like you but you wouldn't like me if you knew." She turned to leave and he gripped her hand tighter. "I'm sorry." She pulled her hand free and ran away.

"Wait!" He cried in vain. She was already gone. Lee looked down and noticed something on the ground that wasn't there before. He bent down and picked it up. It was a necklace, it must have fallen off of her when she turned and ran. "What...?" He mumbled to himself as he turned it over and saw what was carved into it. It was the water tribe symbol. He slipped the necklace into his pocket and went back to the ball, deciding not to tell anyone about his new discovery just yet.