He tried in vain to fall back asleep, but it was in vain. It seemed his alarm clock would not be denied. Cursing under his breath, Robin grabbed the device. He stared at it mentally counting to ten before cutting it off. He rubbed his eyes sheepishly, wondering who had set his alarm, and when he had fallen asleep. His little nap set his sleep habit back forcing Robin to get things done. Ironically most of what he did was clean the apartment. Hours later, Robin found sleep in side one of his classes as the instructor droned on about theories he had no real desire to learn about.

he had not intended to sleep, or so long, by the time he woke up his roomate was long gone. he consoled himself by taking a peek into the book the other was reading. it seemed to be some sort of diary, he could see robin's smooth hurried hand and a bolder thicker writing he only assumed was robin as well. he read a little of what was on the page 'hair was like snow and her breasts....nonexistent' he snorted a laugh, how rediculous. he browsed the page a bit more, he saw robin's name all over the book but he stopped when he spotted his own, he sat down and read the entire passage. 'a prince huh?' he shook his head, it was cute that he got cast as the prince though not as cute he was such an idiot but then neither was robin, he chuckled again, too cute, just too cute. he offered a tiny smile, he hoped cinder-robin would get her/his kiss. getting back up he wandered into the livingroom to do his homework.

He had managed to wake up in time to catch the end of his lesson and homework. Before going back to his dorm Robin decided to stop by a grocery store and get some food. He had a strange craving for chocolate covered strawberries, and wanted to replace his roommates apple before he realized it was missing. Robin stepped in the door of the apartment, not expecting to see his roommate in the living room. He waved a bashful hello, while trying not to appear too eager to get back to his book. However he played it nonchalant. Even offering some of his dinner to his roommate.

he was suprised when robin offered him a soft hello, usually the boy paid him too little attention, instead keeping to himself, it was a nice change of pace. he thought back to the book he had been reading only a few minutes before, he wondered how much of it was convenience and how much of it was wishful thinking. he buried the thought as soon as it came, instead he looked at the bag in the others' hand 'what's in the bag?' he offered a smile

“Um...” He said having a brain spasm. He pushed his glasses back on his face. Normally he and his roommate worked on a silent agreement and passive aggressive sticky notes. “Well Food.” He said honestly. “ I had a taste for meatloaf, and strawberries, you are welcome to them if you like.” He realized he couldn't lie, especially when there was no use. “I bought you another apple since I ate yours last night.” He started putting things away, resisting the urge to run and hide in his room. Robin felt he was being socially awkward.

He didn't wait to hear his roommates reply. He started making the meatloaf. If Jerial wanted it, then Robin would leave it on the stove for him.

of course robin did not stick around to find out if he wanted any or not, honestly this was the most the other had ever talked to him in one go before. he smiled again. this seemed to be his lucky day. he went back to his school work and hoped the food would be done soon

Robin made dinner, it was mushed together meat along with creamy potatoes and tea. Once he had his food he scurried into his room shutting the door between him and his roommate. He had forgotten about his book in favor of doing his homework. After a while Robin realized his paper was nearly finished. He got up to stretch and realized his book was getting lonely. He bounced on the bed turning to the page he last left off slowly falling asleep. He woke up in the pit of ash to the sound of disgruntled females.

Robin brushed some of the cinders off his face. “There is going to be another ball?” He asked slowly getting up. He got up better to start early and get his sisters ready. He did not wish to hear their mouths in the morning, while he was trying to do their hair and make up. He spent most of the night mending their dresses until he had fallen asleep again near the fire. He woke up again to the feeling of a sharp pain in his side. His step mother was angry the boy had not started her breakfast. Robin day dreamed as he did his chores. He wondered if that strange man was going to be at the ball tonight and how he was going to sneak in again.

Robin took the basket back, his temptation was to hit his step mother with the basket. He sunk to his knee pretending to be distraught over having to complete the same task again. He waited until his mother left the house and followed in suite. When he was sure the coast was clear he traveled through the city to the castle. This time he was unable to get to the room he had gotten to before. He found a different room of a lady in waiting. His disguise was a little bit better then it had been the previous night.

Robin trailed his fingers along the banister as he walked into the main ball room. Once again he just watched. He didn't expect to see the same man from the night before.

Robin looked around the dance floor. He did not wish to dance. “No... I think I got enough dancing last night.” He grabbed Jerial's hand. “I have a better idea.” He said. He started to drag the man along behind him. “This ball is kind of a drag, I didn't realize that all no...” He paused realized he almost gave himself away. “All people did here was dance. I'd like to explore the castle. Or the town. I rarely get to go into town.” He pulled the man closer unintentionally intertwining his fingers into the prince. Robin did not know he was with the prince. He'd hope that he could get out of the castle with out any one noticing. Especially his step family.

a amall shudder went through the book, the story was changing again. the story must continue. the book adjusted

the prince was suprised at the request but he complied. he was rewarded by a light touch as the other put her hand in his and twined their fingers, the pleasant sensation was worth the jolt of her dragging him away, they made it to the hall before it occured to him that they should not go about the castle in their current dress. he stopped, pulling the other lightly back "we cannot go as we are, we must change if we are to wander the halls"

For the first time Robin was caught unaware. He wasn't sure why he had to change and if he could. “Alright if you say so.” Though he had no idea what he was suppose to change into. Nervously he found a room. He patiently closed his eyes while the prince changed first.

Robin, just laughed. “No I don't mind.” He said shifting through the box. “Just turn around.” He said gesturing, watching him until he did so. He looked through the clothing, paying attention not to dress himself to make him look to noticeable to his family. At last he tapped the young gentle man on the shoulder. Robin had all but forgotten to ask him why such a guise was necessary, he simply felt the trill of sneaking about the castle. “I hope you know your way around, I don't want to get lost.” He said moving past the young man, and peeking into the hall way.

Robin shook his head and laughed. “That is because I didn't expect to see you again.” He said truthfully. He was glad he knew the way. If worse comes to worse, Robin would have to run out of the palace again. He debated telling his name. “I like being beauty for now.” He said coyly, walking into the halls. “If we meet again I will tell you my real name.” As they exited the room Robin fell in line behind Jerial. “Show me the best part of the castle.” Robin grinned recapturing his adventuring spirit.

Jerial was right. Robins face melted into a smile which bloomed into a grin. Our secret place has such a wonderful ring to it. As Robin was twirled around he leaned in and kissed Jerial on the cheek. Once he was down on the ground, Robin took Jerial by the hands. “Now we can dance.” He said. It was much easier to twirl with his partner now that he did not have to worry about so much foofaraw. He rested his head on Jerials shoulder, letting him swing his body as he pleased.

The dream would not let him stay content. Some part of Robins mind knew this. He looked up into Jerial's eyes trying to etch his face into his memory. He leaned in for a kiss. Some where in the castle the chimes rang. Robin growled in frustration. He pushed himself away from the prince and fled through the halls. When he reached the grand doors, Robin woke up. His eyes grew watery from frustration but he did not let himself cry.

(oh jeez, my next book post is going to be all emo now hahaha. and dude, you wrote a word i don't know and neither of my dictionaries do either!)

when his roommate came from out of the bed room he pretended not to notice, it was common enough to see the boy sad but rarely had he ever seen tears. he made sure to keep his key-stroke even though he stopped paying attention to the lesson.

Robin did not notice his roommate, and when he did, he did not have the heart to look at him in the face. He was terrible. His dreams had turned some one he barely knew into his idealistic dream boat. He told himself he would never let the real Jerial know about this. He looked around until he found what time it was. He pretended to be hungry, pulling out the left overs from dinner and nuking them. Robin left for class early. Anyone that asked he was just tried though he could not shake his dejected feelings.

( dont you just love it when the internet invents words xD )

when the other left he put the lecture on copy, allowing it to record on it's own he put aside the laptop and went to the room, he looked around hoping the other did not take it with him, the book was rather large. he was in luck, it was pushed under the othe boy's pillow. he sat on the bed and opened the book, it had a couple new pages and now an illustration, two indistinguishable people danced in what looked like a rose garden. it was charming though he did not know his roomate could draw. he moved back to the place he had been at before. as he read his heart clenched, they shared a name for sure but his suspicions were well founded, this person was not him, they were close but the sameness was out-weighed by the differences. he continued reading however, he refused to be jealous of an imaginary character. when he got to the end, where the door opened and the offer made his heart clenched, he knew this would be a doomed story, the prince was unaware of robin's true nature and robin was blissfully ignorant of the prince's proposition. he thought to write in the book, to prevent the sour ending and to fix the errors. he picked up a pen, laying his hand lightly he moved his hand into the position for the first stroke, but he could not do it. if he wrote in the book then the other would know he had been reading it. he stood up instead and went to his side of the room, he tore out a bit of paper and wrote upon it the ending that should be. he folded it twice and stuck it near the end. he hoped it would not be noticed too quickly, or worse, lose it. he placed it near the back of the book

Robin came home a little later then usual. Some of his work friends noticed his cheery disposition and decided to try and do something about it. It mostly resulted in Robin, being slightly buzzed and over buying Chinese food. He stuffed the boxes into the refrigerator leaving a note for his roommate to eat themselves silly. Robin settled into doing his homework. When he had finished he noticed it wasn't that late. He looked around the room and found the book that he had been reading. He fell on his bed and noticed for the first time that the book held an illustration. He found it would have been amazing if the characters didn't eerily look like him and his roommate. He flipped to the page where he last stopped reading and noticed a rip along the binding of the book. He sat up quickly, making himself a little dizzy. Some one had vandalized the book. For some strange reason Robin felt as if his book was hurt from the act. His curiosity desperately wondered what was on the two pages as he relaxed against his pillow. One moment Robin was blinking the next he was waking up in his ash filled world. His step sisters had been stomping around kicking him in vain to get him to wake up. It picked up his spirits to hear his sisters shrill voices complain that the prince had ignored his ball all night and that there would be another one. Robin went about his duties quietly thinking of ways to get away just in case the man returned to the ball. To night seemed like his last chance.

As the day wore on, Robin found himself delighted with the idea that the prince was going to have yet another ball. This was to be his last chance he thought. His sisters fretted around like chickens gossiping about the princes mysterious absence at the ball the previous night. Unlike the previous nights, Robin left before his mother could give him the task of cleaning the lentils out of the fire place. He walked around the castle until he entered the secret area. From there Robin made his way into one of the rooms and once again changed. He found a particular pair of shoes that seemed as if they were specially made for his feet. He slipped out of the room and started to walk through the halls trying to remember his way into the main ball room to find the mysterious Jariel.

the book having now grown acustomed to the Reader's strange alterations adjusted itself accordingly
his heart leaped as she descended the stairs, this time she came dressed as if she had risen from his very wardrobe, though the clothes that he wore did not seem to hold the same sweep and charm as his beauty's own version, though he found it strange that this time unlike the others she was dressed as a man. "my beauty!" he all but shouted towards her, "you came!" as she drew closer he noticed something even stranger than the dress of her, on her feet were a pair of beautiful dancing slippers. he recognised them instantly, long ago when he was small a peddler came to the gates of the castle begging for bread, he had not known better and had found the strange old man something to eat, as a thanks the man gave him those shoes and told him a secret tale, one of dragons and snow and a fairy queen in white slippers, was told of how a young man stole those shoes and how the fairy queen would one day return for them. jerial had believed the man then but over time his faith was lost, the shos he had hidden in the farthest back corner of his wardrobe, he had forgotten about the shoes but seeing now, his beauty coming down the steps he understood, she was the fairy queen, it explained everything from the strange entrances to the stranger clothing, his heart ached for her, for his queen

Robin was not sure what was going on. His face passed from confusion to mirth as he thought it was a joke. He simply wanted to present himself a little bit better then he had previous nights, after all if his dream was anything like the story this would be the last night he and Jerial had together. He opened his mouth to confess the truth but the happy look on Jerials face and the eyes of every one staring at them made him pause, especially his step family. His hand reached out and intertwined itself with Jerials. “Lets dance”

Queen? Robin had no real time to process what Jerial had said as he swung around. His thoughts further dissolved when he was kissed on the brow. Some small part of him relished in the attention but beneath that fear started to bubble up from the pits of his stomach. “I... can't be your queen.” He stammered turning crimson. He took a step back from the person holding his hand. It dawned on him that the person in front of him was not just some suave man he had been having fun with. He continued to step back slowly sliding his hand from the mans grasp. He laughed a little as if it were a joke. He didn't want to confess to anything in front of such a large crowd. Robin bit his lip for an instant indecisive moment, before turning back to Jerial. Quickly he walked up to him and kissed him. “I love you, but I can not be your Queen.” With that said he ran afraid of what Jerial would do if he found out the truth. Robin stumbled through most of the bewildered crowd before any of them thought to stop him. As he exited the grand ball room he fell tumbling down the stairs. His ankle throbbed with pain and he was missing a shoe. He continued limping trying to get away as fast as he could.

Robin felt he should have woken up, however he was still running in the dream world. It was well past midnight and his subconscious was telling him that he should be awake. When he arrived home he took off the rest of his guise hiding it so that his step family would not find out about it. He started picking the lentils out of the fire, but couldn't see anything behind his blurred vision. He felt foolish for running away. Robin abandoned the hearth and went into another room to set a fire to heat the home for when his step family returned, but inside the room the fire was already lit and some one was rocking in the chair staring forlornly into the fire. He dropped to his knees by the rocking chair and his father tore his gaze from the fire. “My son.” He smiled. Robin nuzzled the hand that had been offered to him before pressing it against his heart. His dream told him that his father had finally returned from his travels since he was a merchant. He immediately started to make him more comfortable. As he resumed sitting near his father he noticed a small bag. Normally the exciting tales were enough to please Robin but he thought perhaps this once he too would have a present like his sisters. His father saw his expectant eyes and smiled. Out of the bag he pulled out a rose with pedals as pure as snow. The flower looked strangely familiar. “For you my son,” He held it out but as Robin's fingers circled around the stem his father squeezed his hand tightly forcing Robin to wince as the thorns pierced his flesh. “My son, times are hard... and in order to pay my debt, you are to take this rose and present it to the prince... other wise.” His voice trailed unable to look at his son any more. In truth it was his foolish pride that had gotten him in trouble. He had boasted about how his son was more fair then any, Lady, man, or creature of nature. It soon turned into a loose loose situation for Robin's father. If his son could indeed hold up to the boast, he would never see his son again, if his son could not his family would be in deep dept. Robin left his home later that night taking only a small bag with him. It contained a few belongings including his one magical shoe. When he arrived at the castle the guards locked him in a room telling him the prince will see him when he saw fit. He did not know how much time had passed while he idly smelled the rose.

Robin had been staring out the window when he noticed a shadow in the Prince's garden. He looked around to make sure no one saw him. He was thin enough that with a little trouble and effort he could slip through the bars before he needed to breath again. He wondered around in the darkness trying to figure out what the mysterious creature had been. He secretly hoped that he would run into Jerial. He wanted to apologize. He followed the shadow through the hole.

Robin slowed his scamper to a walk, realizing that he what he chased was probably a shadow. For some strange reason it made him think of the name Bozu. His feet turned to go back to the castle but then Robin thought why. The taste of freedom was rather nice and he probably would never see book Jerial again. He realized he was still holding the rose and twisted it among his locks as a keep sake. The only thing that kept him rooted to the spot was his lack of funds and reality settling into his gut. Robin turned back to the castle, loot first, then run.

Robin jumped. It was a dog... wolf... beast thing. He took a deep breath, not running. The last thing he wanted as a chuck of his butt devoured by a beast. Since it was in his path Robin taught he could tame it. He had not offerings off food but he held out his hand. Eventually the boy inched close enough, that he could sedate the wolves curiosity . When Robin thought him as nothing more then a stray dog he started to pet him, nuzzling the thick fur with gentle caresses. “Whose a good boy. You are, yes you are.”