"Did you want to start school dressed like that?" asked Barbie.Kelly glanced down at the same yellow blouse and turquoise slacks hehad purchased in Tr...angle Square the day of the kidnapping. "I guessnot," he admitted.Barbie grinned. "It's okay with me if you want to jump the fence, youknow? We talked about it, right?" Uh, yeah," said Kelly. "I guess I don't want to do that. Not rightnow?" Right. And if you're not going to tell Richard and Pete that you'rereally a boy, well, we can't stay with. “Okay, I’ll call her now,” I said.“No. Go and talk to her face to face. And don’t mention me.”I gave a blank look. I was trying to think of a reason to break up with someone that didn’t involve having found someone new.Rose rolled her eyes. “I don’t want anyone to think that I stole you away from my best friend. If you break up with her and then happen to fall for me later, then I’m not the bad guy. No one needs to know about this afternoon.”“I think everyone in a five-mile radius knows about. Tomorrow, she knew, could well mark the end of the lifestyle she had made for herself. Enduring two years of blackmail by a rogue detective had been bad enough, but now the man had made it clear that he wanted far more from her then cash. He had sexually assaulted her, raped her in fact, and now he planned to pimp her out to his friends. She shuddered as a cold chill descended upon her despite the effects of the summer warmth. Kelly’s green eyes filled with tears of sorrow. She could refuse of. "you will be going back to Aquintali. Your guards will go with you. Practice now how you wish to be treated when you return. If they are in the habit of treating you like a Lady, they will continue when you return. They already like you. You give them a purpose they have not had for a long time. The town's people will treat you appropriately. Your guards will see to it." So you won't be returning with me?" No, my Lady. You deserve better than me, but you'll always be in my thoughts." Some day.