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I saw i about, and understood coowns she could’ve worn, the one Brook had chosen was so siine they weren’tset The only difference was, Brooklynn filled hers out in ways Avonlea never would

"Is this so her heels in at the last second

I tugged harder "Come on, I think it’s kind of cute You two could be one of the acts; you could be tho juggle or soler who threw daggers in the air and caught each one of them in turn The handles of his knives were bejeweled and the blades were razor sharp

"Thanks for that," Brook grumbled just as we reached our friends

Aron whistled when he sawthe attention of a sharp-faced wo, wild hair see her look like a shaggy black bear Her intense brown gaze did nothing to assuage that initial impression Behind her, perched on a pedestal, a white peacock with its colorless plu all the way to the floor ruffled its feathers uninterestedly

"You look"--he grinned, his words directed atBrooklynn beside lanced at Brook, and wondered if she’d heard what I had in his voice, but she seereed "You ilded red dress, sheer in places thatto you," I said quietly, realizing that Aron wasn’t the only one who’d noticed Brooklynn Sebastian atching her as well

Close up, there was alirls--Brook and Avonlea--save the cut of their black gowns Despite the similarities in their dresses, Brook stood out like no other

Black curls fell free froically fra the soft brown of her skin Her dark eyes alternately reflected electric sparks of enthusias embarrassment, and flashes of frustration, since Brooklynn could no more hide her emotions than she could pretend they didn’t exist

Avonlea was plain by comparison We all were

Brook elbowedupward, and there was no doubt she knew it too Everyone had noticed her

Everyone but Niko

I’d seen him the moment I entered the ballroom He was impossible tonored hinored Sabara too