"I couldn't ignore you in that dress."

Tegwen swallowed a disgusted gasp. He's just like every other mallard! He probably enjoys watching high school cheerleaders, too! Boiling inside, Tegwen glanced at him, curling her petite fingers into a fist. What she was going to do with that fist, she didn't know.

"It's a really beautiful dress," he explained.

"Oh." I'll be sure to gift wrap it for you, then. Tegwen began heading for the front stoop, feeling completely disappointed. Fenton caught her by the wrist and held it for a fleeting moment. As angry as she was, Tegwen couldn't stop herself from drawing in a shaky, nervous breath.

"It's beautiful on you, I mean."

He was watching her sweetly, no hint of debauchery in his eyes; not nearly like the looks she received from her male classmates-- the type of look that caused her to cringe and rest her arms self consciously across her chest. But she felt safe with him. He was trustworthy, harmless. At the moment, that security was what she craved. Her hand was warming around the red stone on her bracelet.

"Thank you," Tegwen whispered.

It was a clear night out, unseasonably cool for June in Duckburg. The sky was dark, a result of it being extremely early in the morning. The stars were twinkling slightly, and Tegwen caught a shooting star streaking through the dim constellation Libra. Oooh, I wish . . .

"I haven't seen a night like this before, here," Fenton noted, standing a couple feet in front of Tegwen.

"I've never seen a night like this in my entire life." In all fourteen years of my life . . . After the whole night, Tegwen was just starting to acknowledge how massive she was certain their age difference was.

Fenton and Tegwen stared at each other in silence for a few moments, each waiting for the other to make a move. When Tegwen realized that he was being a gentleman, a strange thought dawned on her. I've got all the time in the world with him . . . Even if tonight is the perfect night for my first kiss--

Tegwen drew in a breath. "Well, I'd better be going."

"Yeah," Fenton replied softly.

"Well--" Tegwen leaned forward eagerly and Fenton smiled at her, blushing slightly. "Well," Tegwen repeated, "I should be going. Thanks for keeping me company at the party."

"My pleasure." Fenton replied, still blushing.

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