"You're kidding! That's wonderful honey!"
Christopher looked at the floor, embarassed. "Yeah, I thought so too."
"Well there's lots to do then isn't there! We've got to find you something to wear and---"
Chris interrupted, "...and Ethan too. I told him I would make sure to get him something nice to wear too. Since we're playing together and all..."
This news didn't slow Tabitha down one bit. She bustled about the room, straightening things up here and there. "Well of course, that's fine dear. Did you boys want matching outfits then or something a little different? We can stop at the tailor's first thing Monday..."
"Ah... different is fine Mom. We don't have to match, we're not children." Chris held back a smile at his mother's new found enthusiasm.
"Right, of course, what was I thinking?" she laughed to herself and put away some boxes that had slid off the shelf.
"And first thing may not work. Ethan has school and he won't be done until the afternoon and..."
"Right. Right. You're right. I swear I'd lose my head if it wasn't attached. Monday afternoon then, I'll talk to Mr. Dauber tomorrow and make sure to set up an appointment to get you boys fitted." She smiled with satisfaction as everything appeared to be in order.

* * * * *

"This doesn't seem right," said the younger brother, "she has to go with Prince Charming, doesn't she?"
"Did you specify that? You never seem to remember the details." the elder brother commented.
The younger shrugged, "I didn't think it was very important."
The elder brother sighed and swatted him in the back of the head, "how can you be so laid back?"
The younger brother rolled his eyes and put his hands on his hips, "ha. look who's talking."
"and just what are you suggesting?"
"You've done nothing but sleep all day! And somehow I'M the one who's laid back? I don't think so."
* * * * *

Ethan struggled to complete the test. It wasn't that the questions were difficult and it wasn't that he didn't know the answers. It was... he glanced up again and caught eyes for a brief moment with Briar Rose. He could feel his face getting hot. He had to calm down. Why was he getting so bent out of shape about this? She's just a girl. wait, just a girl? No, that's not it, well yeah, she IS a girl, but she's not JUST a girl, she's Briar Rose, the prettiest girl in the academy! Ethan shook his head and focused his attention back to the test. Concentrate! You can't afford to do badly! He scratched his head and scrawled the first answer that came to mind.
Things were moving so fast. It was already Monday! After school he had to go get fitted with Topher, practice like mad on his violin, finish 3 more term papers, and study the stuff Professor Ardeneaux had given him on Saturday. He just knew that this was going to be Ardeneaux's most painful lesson yet. That rebound on the healing arts sounded like it could really hurt.
Ethan scribbled in the last few answers before flipping his paper over and stretching his arms over his head. At least he'd had time to explain this morning to Briar Rose that he couldn't pick her up on Friday. She'd taken it surprisingly well. She even seemed genuinely interested when he told her about how he and Topher would be playing there. Ethan smiled to himself as the teacher came by and picked up the tests. For once it seemed that things were going his way.

"Hey 'Topher!" Ethan waved from down the street as he walked toward the Hodge's shop. Christopher looked up and waved back while Ethan hurriedly jogged toward him. "How's it going?"
Topher shrugged, "not too bad."
"Ethan! How are you?" Tabitha bustled out the door to join them, "Christopher told me everything. I made an appointment with Mr. Dauber, the tailor down the street. He'll have you boys looking so handsome for this Friday!"
Ethan took her hand and bowed, "I really appreciate it Mrs. Hodge."
She laughed, "Oh, so formal! Don't you worry about it Ethan. We're practically family!"
Ethan smiled and nodded before following them to the horse drawn cart. It wasn't very long before they reached the shop, with it's wooden signpost and cozy atmosphere. A voice that was deep and a bit scratchy welcomed them in. "Mrs. Hodge, how are you? And these must be the gentlemen I'm to be fitting today."
Tabitha smiled, "That's right. I want these boys to be the belles of the ball."
Mr. Dauber let out a booming laugh, "If that's the case, you're in the wrong shop Mrs. Hodge. Try the dress store down the street."
Mrs. Hodge waved away his silly comment and continued, "Anyway, I've got some other shopping to do, I'll just leave the boys in your capable hands.
"Sounds fine Mrs. Hodge," he stated with a smile and a mock salute.

"How's that?" Dauber asked as Topher walked from the dressing room to the mirrors.
"You look like a court jester..." Ethan laughed.
Chris frowned and looked at the brightly colored costume in the mirror, "do you have anything... a little less noticable?"
Ethan rummaged through the racks of clothing while Mr. Dauber nodded and looked thoughtful. Ethan found one he liked and waved it above his head, "How about this one?"
Topher looked doubtful, but trudged back to the dressing room to try it on. He came back moments later. "It's... a little dark... don't you think?" He spun a few times in front of the mirror, while wearing the new clothes. Black leather leggings and a form fitting black tunic that tied up the front.
"It's cool though!" Ethan seemed as though he'd already made the decision for him.
Chris looked it over a few more times, "yeah, I guess so."
Mr. Dauber walked over with a handful of pins, "Just let me make a few adjustments, and I'll have you on your way."
Ethan continued rummaging through the racks of clothing. He didn't really care much what he wore, but he wanted it to be cheap. He hated to have the Hodges paying for it. He looked for the grabbed a few of the hangers and quickly walked over to the dressing room. The first and cheapest one was a mix of reds and purples. Just looking at it made his lip curl. he was no girl, but he knew what looked bad and what looked good to him. The only half decent one was a loose-fitting pair of white leggings and an oversized blue tunic with gold trim. Ethan pulled the belt from his regular trousers and put it on over the tunic. It wasn't too bad. It seemed to have a tendency to slip off the shoulder though. Maybe he could wear one of his old black, long sleeve shirts with it. Ethan shrugged and marched promptly out of the dressing room.
"Whadda ya think?"
Chris rolled his eyes, as he was still being pinned and poked at by Mr. Dauber. "It's fine. You sure that's all you want?"
Ethan looked himself up and down in the mirror, "why? is there something wrong with this one?"
Chris shook his head slightly, "other than it being two sizes too big? not really." He decided now was a good time to get back at Ethan for suggesting his current costume, "but um... I dunno..."
"What?" Ethan countered, "just tell me!"
"I don't know... I just thought maybe... you wanted to look really good for Briar Rose, but y'know, whatever you like..." Chris tried to look indifferent.
Ethan looked back at the mirror, now unsure of his decision. "well, yeah... but..."
Mr. Dauber looked up, "ah, trying to impress a young lady eh?" He stuck in one last pin and motioned for Christopher to go change. "Well, we got some new things in last month. I think there's a few new styles from the east you might try. Look a bit exotic you know. The ladies seem to really like that." The middle aged man made his way over to a rack of clothing on the far end of the store. He pulled a midnight blue shirt with pale blue clasps down the front from the hanger. A pair of matching trousers accompanied it, as did a pair of shoes.
Ethan looked skeptical, "are you sure? These almost look like pajamas..."
Mr. Dauber laughed, "just try it on, then I can fit it to you. Trust me, they won't look like pajamas."

"Okay, how is it?" Ethan came out one last time to stand before the mirrors and his small audience.
"dashing." Christopher laughed.
Ethan walked over to Mr. Dauber and allowed him to start pinning. He took a glance over at Topher, "you sure this is okay? It seemed a little pricy..."
Chris sat comfortably in his normal clothes, "yeah, don't worry about it. You'll just owe me for the rest of your life, that's all."
Ethan raised an eyebrow at his friend's sarcasm, "is that so? Well if that's the case I should've chosen something a little more expensive..."
Topher laughed, "too late now."

After a few more pins and adjustments, Mr. Dauber bid them farewell and they walked out of the small shop to find Tabitha. The horse drawn cart was gone, so she must have decided to check out some shops on the other side of town, Ethan deduced. The boys started walking back down the street, toward Topher's family shop. It was late afternoon and they were both in high spirits.
"So I was thinking we could start out by playing Wilde Journey, then go into Fayre Tale."
Ethan shoved his hands into his pockets, "yeah, that sounds good."
"Then I thought we could play---"
"Well if it isn't the pauper..."
"And his ugly pet frog!"
Ethan and Christopher spun around to see a small group of guys approaching them. Ethan knew a few of them from... previous encounters. Topher looked blankly at the ground and Ethan glared in their direction. He whispered, "Just ignore those morons." under his breath and watched as his friend slowly nodded and their pace quickened.
"Where do you think you're going pauper?"
Jacob Thompson. Can't he just let well enough alone!? What'd I ever do to him? Ethan's mind raced as he hurried along.
"Hey, I'm talking to you!" came a shout as someone roughly grabbed the back of his shirt. Ethan almost lost his balance, but finally stopped, facing the young man about his same age, but of a slightly larger build. His face was now just inches from Jacob's.
"I'm listening. So talk if you're talking to me." Ethan narrowed his eyes.
"Cocky little snot aren't you? Especially with how horribly poor you and your pauper family are. You should show a little respect." Jacob crossed his arms over his large chest.
If Ethan was phazed by any of it, he didn't show it. "Respect? For what? What have you done to deserve your current status? Being born into it? Forgive me if I'm a little less than impressed."
Topher seemed a bit anxious, "hey, that's enough, come on, let's just go Ethan..."
Ethan turned to try to leave, but Jacob's fist still held his shirt tightly.
"You little peasant!" Jacob spat.
Ethan twisted his way out of Jacob's grip and took a few steps back. Things were getting ugly fast. Ethan glanced over at his friend. He knew Topher could handle himself in a fight. His parents had made sure of it before they trusted him to manage the shop. He'd taken sword and fist fighting lessons since he was a child. Ethan on the other hand, couldn't really be described as the athletic type. His free time was almost always spent reading, writing, or cooking and doing chores for his family.
Ethan watched carefully as Topher gave the signal. A slight nod and they were off, running like jackrabbits down the sunny cobbled street. It took Jacob and the others a moment to realize what had just happened, and by the time they had, it was nearly a lost cause. Ethan and Christopher were over a block away and receding slowly into the distance.

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