"Ye can ask me anythin'." Johnny assured her as he looked down to give Lori a warm smile.

"Wha' made ye decide t' choose me fer th' ball?" Lori inquired almost hesitantly, "I've been meanin' t' ask ye. I mean, there's so many pret'ier girls in the village.. Wha' would ye wan' with a country girl like me?"

"Lori I mean' wha' I said bout you being better then any o' the girls 'n' town." Johnny said shyly as he looked down at his feet, figuring that if he gave up this oppurtunity to tell her how he felt he probably wouldn't have another chance. "Truth is, I've liked ye for a while now. I like tha' yer not like those girls in th' village. They 'r' just full hot air 'n' have no mind o' their own. But I like tha' ye aren't afraid t' speak yer mind. Not t' mention yer beautiful. Far more beautiful then those girlies in town." Johnny said, blushing harder now as he avoided eye contact with Lori.

"Ye really think so?" Lori asked with a laugh, finding it a bit hard to believe. "I've always though' them bet'er than me in tha' sense. They know when t' hold their tongues 'n' how t' keep their place. I'm afraid I'm no' very good a' tha'," Lori added with a laugh as she smiled up at Johnny. "I'm a wee bit surprised ye like me because I'm different than them."

"Its because yer different then them tha' I like ye." Johnny said, relieved that he hadn't sent her running in the opposite direction. "Its refreshin' t' meet someone tha' won't agree with anythin' ye say." He smiled, a bit more confident now that his cards were out on the table.

"Yes, tha' does get a wee bit redundant 'n' frustratin', doesn' it? Tha's one thing I don' envy abou' them. I like givin' me own opinions 'n' speakin' me mind," Lori said with a laugh. "Ye know, I 'ave t' be honest. I was a bit hesitant in acceptin' ye. Bu' I'm glad I did."

"Me too. Even if ye weren't so sure about me a' first." Johnny said with a laugh as the farmhouse came into view ahead of them, making him a little sad at having to leave Lori soon.

"I was afraid ye were more int' girls like Lucina," Lori teased as she lightly bumped her hip against his, "I heard abou' how ye asked her t' dance."

"Yeah." Johnny laughed as he ducked his head down. "But t' tell ye the truth the guys were teasin' me bout you not bein' there and dared me t' go up 'n' ask Lucina t' dance instead." He said shyly. "Not tha' I was surprised she said no. Yer brother and her were too busy starin' at each other t' notice much else." He said, shaking his head.

"I'm no' surprised," Lori said with a sigh, "He proposed t' 'er tha' night. Our night. Goes t' show jus' how much she influences 'im. He sticks t' 'er like glue 'n' proposes t' 'er on th' night he's supposed t' take me t' th' festival, breakin' our tradition.."

"I'm sorry t' hear tha' Lori. I'm sure he didn't mean t' hurt ye. Adrian doesn't seem like tha' kinda guy." Johnny said as they approached the house and Johnny walked her up to the doorstep. "But I suppose ye don't need my advice. I'm not th' one livin' with her." Johnny smiled as he reluctantly let go of her hand.

"Mmm, he's gen'rly no' tha' kind o' guy. Bu' since she came, he 'as been," Lori admitted softly. Looking at the door, Lori debated in her mind. If she went in, she would have to listen to Lucina. If she kept walking, she could get some peace from her. Plus, she would get to spend more time with Johnny.

Lori chose the second option.

"I'd like t' keep walkin'. I'm no' ready t' deal with Lucina jus' yet. Would ye like t' join me?" Lori inquired with a blush as she looked up at Johnny with a smile.

"Ye I'd like tha'." Johnny blushed as he looked down at Lori. "Where 'r' we walkin' t' then?" He asked curiously, looking around to find a path for them to travel down.

"Anywhere tha' leads us away from 'ere," Lori said with a laugh as she started walking away from the house, walking aimlessly down the road.

Johnny nodded before following after Lori, quickening his steps to catch up with her. "As long as ye don't get me lost." Johnny teased playfully. "Otherwise ye'd have t' explain it t' me mum and I don't think she'd appreciate it all tha' much."

"I won't get ye lost, I promise," Lori laughed as she looked up at him, "Is she expectin' ye? If so, I'd hate t' keep 'er waitin'. Ye sure yer alrigh' t' come on a walk with me?"

"Nah, she's not expectin' me as long as I get home a' some time." Johnny assured her as they continued to walk. "Bu' if ye don't mind me askin' I was wonderin' when yer goin' t' be free again? A couple o' the kids in the village wanna go up t' the waterfall fer a day. Ye know, jus' t' get away from the parents 'n' goof off fer the day." Johnny told her.

"I'd like tha'. I'll talk with me Mum 'n' see if I can go," Lori said with a smile as her fingertips brushed against the nearby tree-trunks. "So wha' made ye decide th' wa'erfall?"

"Well its secluded ye know?" Johnny said. "So we figured we could jus' have some childish fun. Besides none o' us wanna be stuck in th' house all th' time." He smiled down at Lori.

"Oh it's no' all tha' bad," Lori teased with a laugh, "Though I suppose you village kids don' 'ave as much t' do 'n' are bored pret'y often, hmm."

"Yeah it can't ge' a bit borin' in town. Tha's why we were playing with quarters. Just gotta make up our own fun sometimes." Johnny said. "I'm curious though what do ye do up on th' farm when ye got some down time? If ye don't mind me questionin' ye." Johnny teased playfully.

Lori laughed as she lightly, teasingly, shoved Johnny. "I like t' read, I'm very fond o' books. I get tha' from Adrian, I expect."

Johnny smiled as he rubbed his arm where Lori had shoved him, mocking pain before sneaking her a wink. "Maybe tha's why yer smarter then all those other girlies. Always with yer nose in a book." Johnny teased. "Bu' I shouldn't tease ye cause I read alot too. When me friends aren't pullin' me outta the house t' do somethin' or another."

"Oh? Wha' sort?" Lori inquired with a smile as she looked up at him, wondering if he had any of the interests that she did. The more she talked with Johnny, the more she found him interesting and likable, and the more she was forgetting old what's-his-name from before. For the first time, Lori was actually... happy in her conversation. It was a nice change.

"Me mum owns alotta th' classics o' me friends call 'em the 'girlies books' bu' they 'r' alright with me." Johnny admitted with a small blush. "I read some o' Jane Austen 'n' Mark Twain." He said as he scratched behind his ear nervously, hoping with all his might that she wouldn't react the same way his friends had when they heard about the books he read.