Empress of Time

Chapter 19: Hearts on Fire

Kisa

Lucia walked towards me with a malicious grin. "Wasn't that quite a show?"

I covered my face embarrassment. "I just wanted to learn how to dance for tomorrow."

Lucia stifled a laugh, patting me on the back. "Aw, don't be like that. I thought you two were pretty good," she said earnestly.

"But I was so clumsy at times. It was all Tyler, honestly."

Lucia finally broke into laughter, holding her stomach. "I didn't even know the guy could dance like that! Man, he sure knows how to hide some things."

"Wait... why are you here anyway?"

"Ah! You reminded me! I left my iPod around here somewhere..." she pondered, scanning the room quickly.

"Do you listen to music here or something?"

"Yeah, it's much quieter here. No one ever comes to the ballroom."

"Makes sense."

"But the way you two jumped when you heard me! I was hoping you weren't mistaking me for that brat, Clarissa."

"Oh... no."

"Thank goodness," Lucia turned around and glanced towards the corner of the room. She spotted her iPod and walked over to pick it up. "We better go get lunch before Ryan eats all of it."

"Yeah..." My voice trailed off, unable to shake Tyler's touch from thought. Lucia smiled again, a bit softer yet approving somehow. She pulled me by the shoulder and lead me to the dining room without saying another word.

Genevieve flashed me an adorable smile, running over with a plate of sandwiches. "Kisa, aren't you going to eat?"

"I will. What's for lunch?"

She picked up one of the sandwiches as the cheese oozed out from inside, dripping onto her hand and plate. "Grilled cheese with tomato soup. You should have seen how fast Tyler was going! His face was getting all red and sweaty from cooking so fast!"

"Oh really...?"

She nodded and took a generous bite of grilled cheese. "Come sit with me," she tugged my hand and pulled me into an empty seat next to hers.

Across from us sat Lucia and Cassie. They both whispered something to one another and Cassie let out a little giggle. As soon as we exchanged glances, she pounded her palm on the table.

"Kisa!"

I jumped in surprise. "Gosh, what? You startled me!"

"Let's have a sleepover in my room tonight!" she suggested.

"Sleepover? Your room is only a couple of doors down from mine!"

"I know, I know, but that's the fun part! We can do girl stuff all night," she leaned in closer, "and talk about boys."

I felt my face blush a little. Lucia must have informed her of what she saw in the ballroom. "B-boys?"

"You like boys, don't you Kisa?"

"Well I mean, yes... I do but... I never really talk about them."

"Good, then we can start now!"

Genevieve perked up, sitting straighter in her chair. "I can talk about boys too!"

"Of course, you can! We can't leave a fellow lady like yourself out of the fun," Cassie winked.

Genevieve's face brimmed with a large smile after hearing Cassie refer to her as a "lady".