章 7: Chapter 7: Posture

While Cedar and Stephen walked over to them. Tiqa was talking to the girls. Susan said, "I did it, I did it! I walked all the way there and back." Tiqa said, "I knew you girls could do it. Pretty soon, you won't even need the books! You keep up this great work." The girls took their books off of their heads, jumped up and down, and Song landed on Tiqa's shoulder. Driaka said, "Hey look its Song." The girls surrounded Tiqa and Susan said, "How's it going, Song?" Song chirped, and Jenessa said, "Ah, she's beautiful." Tiqa said, "Yes, she is." Driaka said, "Do you think your mama and papa will allow Song to be in the castle with us?" Susan said, "Of course they love animals!" Driaka said, "She can sleep in my window!" Stephen said, "Suzy." Susan, Driaka, and Jenessa looked at Stephen, Susan yelled, "Stephen," and jumped in his arms while Driaka and Jenessa ran up to him. Stephen picked Susan up, and Susan said, "Stephen, I can balance the book on my head!" Stephen said, "Really? You can? This I have to see." Stephen put Susan down, Susan put her book on her head and walked to Tiqa and back to him. Cedar and Stephen clapped, and Cedar said, "Well, look at you." Stephen said, "Yes, look at Suzy balancing the book!" Susan said, "And it's all thanks to Tiqa! She taught me how! She taught us all how!" Jenessa said, "And she's way more fun then Ms.Sky!" Driaka said, "You can say that again!" Stephen said, "Well, that was nice of Tiqa. Did you say thank you?" Susan said, "Oh, where are my manners?! Thank you, Tiqa!" Driaka and Jenessa said, "Thank you, Tiqa." Cedar said, "Maybe her Highness should teach our classes too. Huh, Stephen?" Stephen said, "Um, uh yes." Tiqa and Stephen's faces turned red, and Susan said, "Wow, Stephen, you look like a tomato." Driaka said, "And so do you, Tiqa." Stephen and Tiqa gasped, and Stephen said, "Ah ha-ha hmm. Why don't you, Driaka, and Jenessa go and play dolls?" Susan said, "Oooo, are you going to play with us too?" Stephen said, "Maybe a little later, but Cedar would be more than happy too. Right Cedar?" Cedar said, "I would?" Stephen said, "Yes, you would." Cedar said, "I guess I would." The girls cheered, Jenessa and Susan took Cedar's hand, Susan said, "Lets go," Driaka said, "Come on Song," Song flew to Driaka and landed on and on her shoulder, and they all (except for Tiqa and Stephen) walked to the castle playroom. Tiqa said, "Well, I must be going too." She turned around to face the garden, but before she could take one step, Stephen said, "Oh please don't go." She looked at him, and he said, "I...I...I... Um... Hmm... my sister, she and Jenessa have been trying to get that posture thing down for months, and you got them done with it in a matter of minutes." She said, "Well, it's easy to teach children who want to learn. They obviously wanted to learn it they just needed encouragement instead of someone yelling at them." He said, "Yeah. You're an amazing teacher." She said, "Uh, thank you, Your Highness. I um... I ah...Um...I was going to sit down and eat. Do you want to join me?" He smiled and said, "Yes, of course, your Highness." They sat at the table, she picked up some food, took a small bite, and placed it on her plate while he stared at her. She said, "You don't eat much, do you?" He said, "Oh, no, I eat a lot. Justin's cooking is amazing! It's really delicious. Why do you ask?" She said, "Because you're always staring at me. So either you don't eat a lot or there's another reason why you're staring." His face turned red. He looked away and said, "Oh, uh, I'm sorry." She smiled and said, "Oh, your face is tomato red." He said, "Ah yeah, it does that he-heh-he-ah." She said, "Awe, it's cute." He looked in her eyes, and they stared into each others eyes. She looked away and said, "I um... I have to go." They both stood up, and Stephen grabbed her hand and said, "Oh no, please don't go." Her face turned red, and she said, "I...I...I have to go." She pulled her hand out of his grip and ran back into the castle all while he stared at her leaving.