hments table, draining

Eryk. There's something off about him, or maybe I'm the problem. I'm the crazy one who has apparently been dr

ear as I approach her, grabbing ahold of

owning. "Okay.

I worry I'm going to sound insane. I feel insane, like maybe I'm overthinking this. "I'm not disagreeing, he's not average looking, at least," she rep

lroom, or did he just happen to be going that way

whisper. People around us glance our way as they replace their empty glass with full ones. Every now and again, someone who I know is fami

hat playfully. I don't protest as she plucks my drink from

take t

into his pockets as he examines me. Releasing a long breath, I glance a

xpression passive, eyes cool. Lei quivers next to me, interested in grasping his attention again. I wish them the best of luck, althou

s offering. It's some kind of shellfish, my stomach churning in response. Freshly made." Eryk reaches out to grab one, pl

reath, putting it back on the tray. I watch the ser

ot wh

t I shake my head. I'm not going to dance with him. Not when Lei wanted him first, and I'm still shaken by what happened o

y, following my gaze. I don't take my eyes off him though, wondering what's going on. For a moment I could have sworn he thought twice about handi

smile faint. Lei grabs my arm,

t's almos

a glass to take a sip. His gaze is ste

ke and dance around in our socks," Lei exclaims excitedly. Other than the food and

the disgraced daughter the next time you see me," I tell him,

over for a brief moment. "Oh, and your

ond, as Lei pulls me away, and

*

and I stumble outside, s

ts that illuminate the pond, the surface of it just a thick sheet of ice. I hold Lei's hand as we clamber onto the ice, careful not to slip. We have been

s outstretched. I giggle as the glacial wind whips her blonde

that feeling envelope me, my imagination having to supply me, as all I've seen of places like that are in books and pictures. All of the sudden, the sound of cracking

ce, my wait below falling into the water. Shock consumes me, all air catchin

ingertips dig painfully against the surface of the ice, trying to cli

ere," I exclaim, as she tugs on my

t useless from the shock. I can hardly breathe from

rength to try to pull me back up. Just as I think she has it, my

all her weight against me. Slowly, I drag up from the water, until my waist, my hips then

lap as I stare up at the sky, looking through the cloud cover at the moon beyond. For a mome

cing myself to sit up. Lei's eyes are wide as she lo

t, we thought of nothing but survival. When I glance back at the manor, the music still faintly pounding inside, I realise no one would ha

" Lei shakes her head at me, dumbfou

my legs still quivering beneath me, threatening to give out at any moment. I'm still numb, as I let my coat fall off

the ice. It's even more slippery under foot, my splashing having sent a layer of water across the surface. I open my mouth to mention to Lei that my m

ling out from under me. The crack of my head against the ice is the l