A/N:    I have five reviews that is so cool.  I’m glad you all like this story.  Now for Chapter Four.

lillio:   I’m glad you like it; I hope you enjoy the fourth chapter as well.   

Shakespeare’s Pizza:       Of course he is.  grins He’s the hero er…heroine.  snickers Here’s Chapter Four.

CHAPTER FOUR A:                                   The Party Part One

It didn’t take long for the pair to make their way to the mansion, and when they finally arrived everything was exactly how Alexei imagined it to be.  The family had strung up fairy lights throughout the trees so that the yard looked like a magical forest.  There was a wetness to the grass that shone brightly like stardust had fallen from the heavens and the people that milled about the entrance to the mansion were anonymous, Alexei didn’t see the students and teachers that tormented him at school, in their place he saw magical beings from another world and he was happy.  He and Ricardo slowly made their way up the driveway, Alexei in awe of the decorations every step of the way.  When they finally made their way to the entrance they were stopped by the guard.

“Invitation please.” The man asked in a deep voice.

“Here you go sir.” Ricardo smiled as he handed the invited to the tall guard.

“You may go through then.” The guard told them bowing his head and moving aside for the guest.  Alexei was forcefully pulled inside by Ricardo, and then stopped suddenly as he took in the entrance hall.

Connor stood at the entrance to the ballroom and watched each guest carefully as they walked past him.  Connor was dressed up as a Christmas Elf, true he was probably a bit too tall for the gimmick, but Connor just couldn’t help himself since it was the Christmas Season.  He didn’t recognize a single person that swept past him, and could have yawned.  The only reason he’d invited everyone at school was because his father had insisted, the only one he’d really wanted to spend any time with was Alexei, but the small black haired teen wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

“Oh…isn’t he cute.” A familiar feminine voice squealed to her companion as they surrounded Connor.  Connor rolled his eyes and recognized the eighteenth century noblewoman and cat woman just from their voices alone.

“Good Evening Rachel and Rochelle.”  Connor greeted the twins casually.

“Connor, how did you recognize us?” Rachel asked faintly disappointed.

“Oh…just a lucky guess.” He drawled lazily.

“Good guess.” Rochelle giggled, causing Connor to sigh though she failed to notice.

“Why don’t you go and enjoy yourself, I talk to you later since I have to continue to greet all the guests.” Connor told the two girls.  Rachel and Rochelle smiled brightly then tried to glide gracefully into the room, tripping over their own feet, causing Connor to bite back a laugh.

Alexei stood and looked around in awe as he took in the entrance hall.  There were candles placed in candelabras that sat on shelves built into the walls, causing the hall to look almost magical.  Alexei enjoyed the beauty of it immensely, soon he was unceremoniously pushed forward and he found himself walking to the entrance of the ballroom.  He recognized the figure at the door immediately and felt his face heat up.  Suddenly doubts began to surface in his mind; what if his sister’s were right and the invite he’d received had been a joke, maybe he really shouldn’t have been there.  It wasn’t like he and Connor had ever exchanged more than two or three words, no matter how much he may have wanted to.

Connor looked down at the wary figure almost amused, he recognized those eyes anywhere, and was surprised that Alexei had even come.  He’d heard off of the twins that Alexei had lost his invite, he’d even offered to send their brother another one, only to have them tell him no almost immediately, something about Alexei having to learn more responsibility or some hogwash like that.

“Welcome.” He said softly as he took a hold of Alexei’s hand, “I’m glad you could make it.”

Connor continued to smile as Alexei smiled briefly then nodded his head in thanks, he hadn’t expected Alexei to say anything, he knew what went on between Alexei and his sister’s so knew why the smaller boy wanted to hide within the crowd.

“Please, help yourself to any of the delicacies offered and enjoy yourself.” He told Alexei and the man that Alexei was with, he assumed the man was an uncle or something since he was much older than the boy, he then lowered his voice and spoke directly to Alexei, his eyes boring into the silver of his crushes, “I’ll come and speak to you later.” He promised before gently pushing Alexei into the room, chuckling softly at the blush on the boys cheeks.  Once Alexei was in the ballroom Connor turned to the next guest, the perfect host once again.