It was time for dinner. Hayden wanted to hang out with Beatrix again, but not at one in the morning preferably. He would rather right after dinner. But he didn't know how to say it. At this point, it's practically a date, he thought. What do I say, just, do you want to go hang out? He wondered. He shook his head and sat down at the table full of food that had reappeared. He glanced at Beatrix from across the table. She smiled and he mouthed, 'Meet me at my cabin after dinner'. She nodded and gave the okay sign with her hands. That was easy enough, he thought.
"Okay, people. We need a plan for this attack," Shian said, obviously trying to break up the not so secret communication between Hayden and Beatrix.
"I say we just charge 'em and hope for the best," Sadie replied with a mouth full of food.
"That is the worst plan I have ever heard of," Shian said. Sadie looked fakely offended and continued eating. "How about we line up and split up the tasks. We'll all take one fourth of the army," Shian suggested.
"Just one question," Hayden said, "How much of Palasia is going against us?"
"About a half," Shian said.
"Why isn't the other half helping us?" Beatrix asked, catching on to Hayden's idea.
"They're all mostly ones that don't want to and can't fight. You know, the talking squirrels, the new mothers, that sort of thing. There will be a few helping us however." Shian replied.
"Okay, great," Hayden said. He leaned back into his chair and took another mouthful of food. I piece of it dribbled onto his chin.
"I'll get that," Beatrix said, leaning across the table. She used her thumb and brushed of the piece of food falling down Hayden's chin. It made Hayden and Beatrix laugh. They stopped laughing, however, when they noticed Sadie and Shian looking at them strangely. "Sorry," Beatrix muttered quietly.
"Anyway," Shian continued, "We have some help and a basic plan structure. I also want to know if any of you have any dreams or visions about Kalina or anything having to do with her. I want to know right away, so wake me up in the middle of the night if you have to. Any other questions before its time to rest and go to sleep?"
"Nope," the three said in unison.
"Okay then, dinner is over," Shian said. In a burst of light, the table and all the food disappeared.
Hayden got up and walked over to Beatrix. "Hello, what do you want to talk about?" She asked.
"You know," Hayden said nervously and looking at the ground, "Let's go to my cabin for privacy."
"Ok," she replied. They ran over to Hayden's cabin and went inside.
"How are you," Hayden said, trying to sound casual.
"I'm good. And boy are we awkward," she said. She plopped down onto a chair and laid back. Hayden sat in the chair next to her.
"Oh, yes we are," he replied.
"Hayden?" She said.
"Yes?" He replied.
"I think I might really, actually, truly-"
"What?" He interjected.
"I like you!" She burst out.
"I like you too." He replied.
"I mean not enough to be a couple, but you know," she said.
"Enough to be a crush?" He suggested.
"Oh, yes!" She said, throwing her hands up into the air.
Hayden laughed, "You're amazing, Beatrix." He said.
"You are too, but I don't know if I want to take it to dating or-" Hayden cut off her worrying with a hug.
"It's okay, do whatever you want," he said.
"Thanks, Hayden," she said finally relaxing into the hug. She likes me, he thought.