Lavinia was feeling a bit overwhelmed. She would have liked very much to politely decline this gentleman’s offer to help her and head straight back home and tell her father that she would try again next year. Maybe Lukie would be disappointed, but Lucas and her father—they would understand, surely.

“I think I’ll look for them on my own,” she said, a little weakly. “Thank you all for your offers, though… I’ll be fine.”

She stood up, knocking the taffy apple to the ground in her haste, and started to walk away, back toward her house. By the time she was about halfway across the square, however, she was beating herself up. This certainly wasn’t helping. Those people posed absolutely no danger to her or anyone. She didn’t like the way they looked at her, like she was something to be pitied, but, honestly, they didn’t know her and she was sure acting like she deserved pity. She needed to prove to herself, and everyone else, that she was Lavinia and she was okay. 

Going home would just be another ten steps backwards. She’d been prepared for this. She’d spent all day looking forward to it—something like this shouldn’t ruin it. Lavinia slowed her steps. She really regretted leaving that little group, but she certainly couldn't turn back now. That was okay, though! She’d find Lucas and if she ran into one of them again she’d apologize. Not a big deal.