PART ONE

"Romeo Conbolt!"

Romeo sucked in a breath and ducked father behind the counter. Mira looked down at him confusedly and he put a finger to his lips. "I'm not here," he whispered. She smiled a little, then looked back up as Makarov came barreling in from one of the guild's back doors.

"Hello, Master," she said cheerfully, running the cleaning rag around one of the glasses sitting on the countertop in front of her. "How was your day off?"

Romeo heard the master's tiny feet coming closer to his hiding place until he was standing directly in front of it. A few inches of wood- that was all that separated them. He bit his lip nervously. "It was fine," said the master, sounding frustrated. "At least it was until that darned kid came running through the square with the entire army right behind him! It took hours for me to convince the Council that he had nothing to do with all the stolen sweets from the local bakeries."

"Oh?" Mira's smile tightened and she glanced down at him. "Really, huh?"

He gave a tiny grin and shrugged his shoulders.

Makarov sighed. "And now he's disappeared on me! Haven't seen him, have you, Mira?"

Romeo gave her his best puppy dog eyes. He mouthed, Please?

"No, not today, Master," Mira said, putting on her sweetest, most innocent smile.

The master sighed again, said, "Thanks, Mirajane," and walked away. Romeo sat still a little while longer, then slowly stood up on his knees to peer over the edge of the counter. The master was nowhere to be seen.

He let out a relieved breath and smiled at Mira. "Thanks!"

"Yeah, well, promise me you'll stay out of trouble from now on, okay?" she said, but he'd already hopped over the countertop and started for the front door. "Hey! Romeo!" Mira called indignantly.

"Yeah?" he said without turning around.

"Behind you."

He stopped. He felt chills run down his spine. Slowly he turned his head and looked over his shoulder.

"Boo," said the master angrily.

For a minute, he just stood there. Then spun around on his heel and laughed nervously. "Oh…um, hey, Master Makarov, what's up?"

"My blood pressure."

"Oh, well, that's not good. Maybe you should go to a doctor…" He edged backwards a bit, then another step. "Maybe Polyushka?" Another step.

"Romeo, I-"

"Well, bye then!" And with that, he turned around and ran.

"Romeo!" yelled Makarov, and he began doubling in size.

"Oh, crap! Oh, crap!" Romeo hurled himself at the front doors. He slammed right into them. They were locked. "Oh, crap!" He could hear the master coming at him, taking his time. His footsteps shook the entire building. "Come on, open up!" he mumbled, beginning to panic. He grabbed the door handles and tugged, pulling as hard as he could, but the doors didn't budge.

Suddenly, they opened. They flung open, knocking Romeo over onto the floor with a loud crash. When he looked up, he heard a small voice saying, "Sorry, sorry, I didn't know you were there!"

Wendy, he realized. She was nervously twirling her blue hair around her finger as Carla hovered around her head saying, "Now look at what you did!"

"Romeo!" bellowed the master behind him.

He leapt up in an instant and took off out the door, subconsciously grabbing Wendy's hand as he flew past her yelling, "Come on, hurry up!"

Wendy squeaked, surprised as he pulled her after him and down the front steps. "Where…Where are we going?" she cried.

Romeo didn't answer. He only ran, dragging her along behind him as he tore through the city streets. Before he knew it, they had reached the outskirts of the city and the edge of the forest. Here he finally stopped and Wendy stumbled at his sudden stop, almost running into his back. They were both out of breath, and he leaned over, hands on his knees. "Well," he breathed. "That should do it."

"Do what?" she gasped.

"Keep me safe from Makarov, of course."

"Why were you running?

"Um…no reason." He straightened and turned to face her. Suddenly he realized he was still holding her hand. His face turned red and he quickly let her go.

Wendy frowned. "Why did you take me along, too?"

"Uh…I dunno. Spur of the moment decision, I guess," he told her.

"Well." And suddenly, she smiled. "That was actually kind of fun!"

His eyes widened a little. She was smiling at him. "I…I…"

"Wuaahhh!" A white blur shot out of nowhere and hit him in the back of the head. With a cry he tumbled to the ground with a crash. He felt tiny fists hitting him on the back of the head and a voice saying, "What were you thinking, idiot, trying to take Wendy along on your crazy schemes and whatnot? How dare you!"

"Huh?" He sat up a little and accidentally flung the small body from his back.

"Ugh! You dare manhandle me that way?" said a furious little voice.

"What?" He was confused. Romeo sat up and turned around…and burst into laughter. Carla was lying on the ground behind him, shaking her little paw at him angrily.

"What's so funny?" yelled Carla. "I'm not laughing, you maniac!"

"Oh, Lord!" gasped Romeo, holding his sides. And, somewhere in his laughter, he saw Wendy double over beside him, laughing just as hard.

"Car…la!" she giggled. "Oh, Carla!"

"What?" screamed Carla, but her voice was drowned out in their laughter.