And your shoes are stunning, really.

"Oh, well, thank you very much," Plum said, smoothing down her skirt a bit. "They're my favorites."

Im just glad you dont mind me joining you today,

"Oh, not at all. It's really Luke's day," she said, ignoring the fact that it was her day, as well. "And I really am pleased to meet you. Outside of my letters with Luke. Poor thing, having to go between two girls."

And then Luke himself came back, strutting like some proud little rooster. Plum hoped he had not caught Joshua Cloud's ego. It would be a shame to ruin her brother like that.

"Shall we head off to our lunch date then?"

Plum smiled and took her brother's arm. It felt very much like some character in an old romance. In this case, however, Michelle was more likely to be the romantic heroine, while Plum took on the role as the old spinster whose only male companion was her brother, who would soon be too occupied with the romantic heroine to pay much attention to the old spinster sister, therefore allocating her only a few chapters for plot summary, or perhaps some key background role.

What was this bitterness, Plum Price? she asked herself. The nicely wrapped quaffle rested under her free arm, and its presence gave her a distinct sense of belonging. It was her brother's birthday. The first one that she would be able to share with him in ten- no, eleven- years.

"I can't believe you never told me you were friends with Josh Cloud,"

She tried not to look the little bit hurt that she felt due to his tone. Plum was a bit of a delicate blossom.

"I didn't know it was very important," she said. Sure, Joshua Cloud liked to make himself out to be a big deal, but how was she supposed to know that there might be something to his cocky attitude? "And we're just co-workers. Or, well, we made a deal to be friends, but I'm not sure how legally binding that is. Where are we going now?"

The question was soon answered for her, though, as they entered the pink abyss.

"Well," Plum said, giggling a bit. "This is lovely."