"There's something that's been bugging me all this time . We're here together . . . "

"Mm, here together," Christina interrupted and snuggled up closer .

'I can feel your body right through that dress . And you know I can . ' "Christina, I'm trying to be serious here . " He gave up and held her just a little bit tighter . It felt good . Really good .

"OK I got it . You were saying?" But she didn't let go .

"You and Kyoko went to middle school for one year, just like me . "

"Yes?"

"Doesn't that mean we probably arrived here at the same time?"

Christina did let him go at that . "Yes, when you put it like that . Yes I guess so . " She took a bite of her candied apple .

They moved away from the stalls a bit . The fireworks were about to start, and he wanted a spot from where they could see them better .

"So I wonder, what happened to you . I mean back in Sweden?"

"You mean how I arrived here?"

"Yes . "

She looked thoughtful . "I needed a break, so I was out hiking . You see I got this really nice invitation to a spa, and… Ulf?"

"You got this really nice invitation?" He felt the blood drain from his face .

"Ulf, what's wrong?"

"Later, we'll talk about that later, OK?"

"OK . Anyway, I got a bit lost and the wind got stronger . I found a funny cabin built into a mountainside and thought I could get shelter there . "

'I saw her . There was a woman outside when I looked out the window . I tried to wave her inside . ' "That was you! You didn't see me so I went outside, and, well . "

"You were in that cabin?"

"Yes . And then I went out, and . . . "

" . . . then you were on that hillside . Naked I guess?" Christina combed her hair with her fingers . "Wearing only this," she added and grinned at him .

"Yeah . " That was slightly embarra.s.sing .

"There were these two, eh, Jeeps?"

"ATV . One came for me and I saw the other vanish over a crest . "

"There you have it I guess . "

"Someone knew we were coming . They waited for us . Should have known . Nakagawa basically told me . "

"Princ.i.p.al Nakagawa?"

"Yes . There's something big going on, and I hate being clueless . He's more than just a princ.i.p.al, but you know that already . "

Christina nodded . "You said you wanted to talk about something later . " She went ahead of him and turned and circled in her dress so it billowed out . Everything was graceful with her .

"The invitations . I got one as well . Guess where that leads us . "

"Someone knew? Back home?" She curtsied and shot him a coy smile . It was apparent she didn't care all that much for the topic he had chosen for the conversation .

"Believe in double coincidences much?"

Christina shook her head . "That makes me afraid . Please, not today . Let's watch the fireworks! Today I want to be sixteen with my boyfriend . Today I'm just a schoolgirl in love . "

She looked at him . Even in the darkness her eyes were the deepest blue . 'Falling in love . Those eyes . If I fall I'll surely drown . ' He wanted to resist . He wanted to give in . Christina's presence was intoxicating . He was already falling .

He hugged her closer . Then he kissed her . "For today, teenagers in love . I can do that," he murmured in her ear . Then he kissed her again . She tasted of candied apple .

The night lit up with man-made thunder . Flowers in the sky . He sought her lips again . So sweet!

Theres something thats been bugging me all this time . Were here together . Mm, here together, Christina interrupted and snuggled up closer . I can feel your body right through that dress . And you know I can . Christina, Im trying to be serious here . He gave up and held her just a little bit tighter . It felt good . Really good . OK I got it . You were saying? But she didnt let go . You and Kyoko went to middle school for one year, just like me . Yes? Doesnt that mean we probably arrived here at the same time? Christina did let him go at that . Yes, when you put it like that . Yes I guess so . She took a bite of her candied apple . They moved away from the stalls a bit . The fireworks were about to start, and he wanted a spot from where they could see them better . So I wonder, what happened to you . I mean back in Sweden? You mean how I arrived here? Yes . She looked thoughtful . I needed a break, so I was out hiking . You see I got this really nice invitation to a spa, and… Ulf? You got this really nice invitation? He felt the blood drain from his face . Ulf, whats wrong? Later, well talk about that later, OK? OK . Anyway, I got a bit lost and the wind got stronger . I found a funny cabin built into a mountainside and thought I could get shelter there . I saw her . There was a woman outside when I looked out the window . I tried to wave her inside . That was you! You didnt see me so I went outside, and, well . You were in that cabin? Yes . And then I went out, and . . then you were on that hillside . Naked I guess? Christina combed her hair with her fingers . Wearing only this, she added and grinned at him . Yeah . That was slightly embarra.s.sing . There were these two, eh, Jeeps? ATV . One came for me and I saw the other vanish over a crest . There you have it I guess . Someone knew we were coming . They waited for us . Should have known . Nakagawa basically told me . Princ.i.p.al Nakagawa? Yes . Theres something big going on, and I hate being clueless . Hes more than just a princ.i.p.al, but you know that already . Christina nodded . You said you wanted to talk about something later . She went ahead of him and turned and circled in her dress so it billowed out . Everything was graceful with her . The invitations . I got one as well . Guess where that leads us . Someone knew? Back home? She curtsied and shot him a coy smile . It was apparent she didnt care all that much for the topic he had chosen for the conversation . Believe in double coincidences much? Christina shook her head . That makes me afraid . Please, not today . Lets watch the fireworks! Today I want to be sixteen with my boyfriend . Today Im just a schoolgirl in love . She looked at him . Even in the darkness her eyes were the deepest blue . Falling in love . Those eyes . If I fall Ill surely drown . He wanted to resist . He wanted to give in . Christinas presence was intoxicating . He was already falling . He hugged her closer . Then he kissed her . For today, teenagers in love . I can do that, he murmured in her ear . Then he kissed her again . She tasted of candied apple . The night lit up with man-made thunder . Flowers in the sky . He sought her lips again . So sweet!