[i]I'll meet you in the festival in a few minutes.[/i]

Cassie received Eric's reminder on her phone just as she finished changing clothes. The message was followed by three smiley faces. As soon as Cassie saw it, she couldn't help but laugh. Eric was certainly excited about the festival and it seemed like he'll be going out of his way to make sure she enjoyed it as well.

Wearing a plain lavender hooded sweat shirt and a pair of jeans, Cassie made sure she had some money in her pocket before she headed out. [i]I'm on my way.[/i] Cassie was about to send back a message when a voice spoke behind her.

"Ready?"

Cassie turned her head towards the voice and blinked in surprise when she saw Eric standing behind her, an almost goofy grin on his face. "What are you doing here?" She asked.

"Making sure you're not gonna stand me up." Eric chuckled.

"Did it look like I was going to?" Cassie raised an eyebrow.

Eric ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know. Maybe..." He shrugged. "Seems like I worried for now reason. Let's go?"

Cassie nodded and began walking towards the train station, Eric in pace beside her. "Ever been to a festival before?" He asked pleasantly as they stepped onto the train platform.

Cassie smiled. She had to admit that Eric was nice and going to the festival with him would be a nice change. She shook her head, feeling a little more comfortable talking to him than when they first met. "No, this would be my first time." 

"I've been to one before. There'd be lots of food, lots of stuff to buy and lots of unique performances. It'll be fun." Eric narrated as the train slowed down to a stop. The door slid opne. "What do you want to--"

"Eric!" A female voice called out as soon as Cassie and Eric stepped into the train. 

Eric looked towards the voice. A pretty blonde girl sitting with a red haired boy and another blonde girl was waving at him. Cassie recognized the trio. Ysabel Dawson, Sebastian McVay and Deborah Allsten. She had crossed paths with the group before and they had always been unpleasant to her. Eric smiled, raised a hand and waved back. "Hey Ysabel."

"We reserved a seat for you." Ysabel motioned for Eric to join them.

Eric nodded and turned to Cassie. "Come on. I'll introduce you to them." 

At Eric's invitation, Cassie immediately shook her head. "You go ahead. I'm...I'm not so good with people." She looked around for an empty seat and her eyes fell on one beside a sleeping student, his head against the train's window and his mouth wide open. "I'll just sit here." She stepped towards the empty seat.

"Aww, come on. It won't be so bad." Eric assured, took her hand and led her to the group.

Cassie reluctantly let Eric lead her to the group, her mind frantically trying to make up an excuse. She was about to say something when the small group took notice of her. It was Ysabel who spoke up. "Is that scar face with you?" She asked a little rudely. Her friends chuckled.

"Her name's Cassie." Eric corrected. 

 "Well, whatever her name is, we only have one seat available. She'll need to sit somewhere else." Ysabel flipped her hair. The red head nodded in agreement.

Eric was about to say something when Cassie interjected. "It's okay. I'll sit with my...uh...friend." She gestured towards the now snoring student. "I'll just see you later at the festival." She shrugged, trying to look nonchalant but ended up looking awkward. She twisted her hand free from Eric's and made her way back to the empty seat before he could protest. 

"You heard her. She'll see you later at the festival." Ysabel reached out and tugged at Eric's hand as Cassie walked away. "Why are you hanging out with her anyway?" 

Cassie was only several seats away from Eric's group to overhear the conversation especially when Ysabel seemed to be projecting her voice loud enough for her to hear. She sighed and tuned out the voices by focusing on the rhythmic tune of her seat mate's snore. She swore the edges of his mouth glistened with drool. 

Seems like wherever she went, there would always be people like Ysabel. She looked down at her hands, one perfectly normal, one distorted and burned. She sighed again. It seems like she'll be going to the festival alone after all. 

It took only a few minutes before the train slowed down again. Cassie was out of the train as soon as the door slid open, ignoring Eric's attempt to call out to her to wait for him. Hanging out with him probably meant hanging out with the rest of the unpleasant group. And so, without pausing, Cassie made her way off the platform and into the streets of Longnan, ducking into the first stall she saw.