Every guy Randy knew had a date and a date they liked, in fact. Randy, however, still had no date. And Rini still wouldn't speak to him, although she spied on him through her window when he was in the yard.

"Randy, hon, get a move on. You have to be at the ball early. Are you even dressed?" Rei startled him from his daydream and went into his room.

"Of course I'm dressed, Mom," Randy struggled with his tie.

"Here, let me help you with that." Rei fixed his tie, took a deep breath and said, "Rini's ready, too, Randy. And she just happens to be here. "

"Uh-huh, yeah?" Randy admired his image in the mirror.

"She'd like to forgive you," Rei went on, smoothing his bedspread.

"Yes, that's excellent, and what else?" said Randy, struggling to get his tight shoes on.

"You might want to try the other foot, Randy." Rei pointed out gently.

"Ah, thanks, Mom. I owe you one." Randy tugged the shoe off and put it snugly on the other.

"Can I use the IOU now?" Rei said. "Because I'd still like you to take Rini to the ball."

Randy coughed and turned around, his face bright red. "You would? Would Rini? After what I said to her, I thought she never want to be within a mile of me."

"She'd like to make up. Invite her to the ball. Apologize again. You'll see. I'm sure Rini won't slam the door in your face this time."

Rei smiled sincerely, and stroked her son's hair. "Go on, Randy. I'll be downstairs if you need me. Go on, invite her."

Randy held his breath, but his mom pushed him out of the door and down the hall to Rini's room.

"Ask her. Go on, Randy, ask." Rei left and Randy was left with no choice but to knock.

Randy knocked ever so gently so Rini might not hear. But with her sharp ears, she picked up the sound right away.

"Yes? Is that you, Princess Rei?" Rini hurriedly opened the door and looked very disappointed when she saw Randy.

"What do you want, Randy? Come here to humiliate me more?" Her voice was so cold and her eyes were like two black pebbles at the bottom of a cold lake.

"N-n-no, Rini, I came here to ask…to ask…" Randy stammered. "Rini, you know, I'm…I came here to ask..."

"Yes?" Although she appeared to be still very cold, Randy heard a smidget of warmth in her voice and her eyes were no longer like pebbles. Rini shrugged uncomfortably and made her voice very cold again. "Get on with it."

Randy was so nervous, he was about to turn around and run for it, but a hopeful look on Rini's face told him no.

"If you would forgive me. I said a lot of awful things and I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to, it just happened. I'm really sorry, Rini and if anything, I'm loony toons." The words just rushed out of Randy's mouth.

"Really, Randy?" Rini asked.

"Well, yeah. I really am sorry about what I said. I never meant any of it. I was just so…surprised. And mad. But I guess you can understand being mad." Randy laughed shrilly and uncomfortably then blushed red with embarrassment.

"Oh, Randy. I'm sorry, too. I was really rude to you, even though I guess I had reason to be rude. You did say some mean things, but so did I. I-I guess I forgive you." Rini smiled uncertainly.

"Oh, what a relief. I was afraid you never forgive me!" Randy sighed deeply and Rini giggled. Randy gulped as he remembered what else he had to do. Not meeting Rini's eyes, he stammered, "I-I also came here to-to ask you something else."

"And what would that be?" Rini's tone was amused but her hopeful smile reassured Randy that she was serious.

"If you would still like to go to the ball with me." Randy held his breath in anticipation.

Rini blinked and fiddled with a strand of hair. "I-I guess so. Sure, why not?" She said at last.

"Really?" Randy hadn't expected her to agree so readily.

"Yeah. I mean, being crown princess of the moon, I have to have a escort, and you're better than most others Mother would have chosen for me. It's pretty much a law that we show up with someone, so it's not like I have much other choice left." Rini shrugged. "But don't think this is a date or anything," Rini added hurriedly. "Even though Princess Rei said it was, it doesn't have to be for us."

"Oh! Oh, noooo, It's definitely not a date. I can assure you that. We're going as friends." Randy held out a hand.

"Yes. Friends." Rini shook his hand.

"Well, I'll leave you to get dressed. I suppose I should go tell Mom about you know, us going to the ball together-as friends, of course." Randy smiled and turned to leave.

"Right. Friends." Rini closed the door.

As Randy went into the South Wing in search of his mother, he thought that Rini had sounded sad when she said they were going as friends, but he told himself that it was only his imagination and put it in the back of his mind.

On to Chapter Four.