Brenda had gotten off earlier with one of her many friends. But the walk was uneventful, and soon I was watching cartoons and letting reality dissipat....Mom and Dad got home just after Brenda, and over dinner they went through our schedules. When Mom looked at our supplies lists, she said we were going shopping after dinner. Dad, showing great wisdom, opted out. Shopping with mom is a real pain.We wound up at Valu-Mart, which was fine for paper and pens and things like that. But when Mom headed. ” said Kate as she threw a stick up the path for Guy and they began following him. “ Are you with friends here Alice?”“No, I tried mixing in at the pool when we arrived but I really got the cold shoulder.”Kate laughed softly and her hand rested lightly on Alice’s neck, “Don’t worry Alice, it’s not you. It just makes them feel big, pushing a new-comer away ... Anyway, We can be friends if you want too?” Their walk paused.Alice beamed at the older girl feeling a sudden sensation. “You’d be my. “Baka,” She muttered, stepping over what was left of the gate. “Ruining a perfectly good gate. Never mind that it belongs to a demon. What a beautiful place.” She looked around appreciatively.On either side a gently sloping garden let to Eigis’s brightly lit, many roomed house. The wall was wide enough for battlements, and three people could walk around with ease. Every few feet a round diamond orb held silver magic fire, flaming bright against the dying night. The scent of different flowers. "You did great, I think we're really going to close this deal."She smiled back, then they took their seats and began the presentation again. This time, however, all eyes stayed glued on the blonde. Stacey flushed under the intensity of all the eyes staring at her. None of the men were even pretending to listen anymore. Finally one of them interrupted Martin and said, "I think we've heard enough. Stacey, is there anything you'd like to add to the presentation?" Uh ... I think I've gone over.