"Me?" Sophie pointed to herself, ncing around to find no one else nearby. Clearly, the man in front of her was talking to her. "Why are you at my house?"


    "My house?" Sophie''s brain was still catching up when Colby took a step closer. It was a bold move, and his cold, unyielding expression made him seem pretty intimidating. Instinctively, Sophie stepped back. But Colby wasn''t about to let her off the hook that easily and took another step toward her.


    "Stop! Don''te any closer!" Sophie felt trapped, her heels pressed against the fountain''s stone steps. One more step from him, and she''d be taking an unnned dip in the fountain. Don''t even ask why she didn''t just sidestep; her legs felt like jelly.


    Colby seemed to ignore her protests, continuing his leisurely approach.


    Perched awkwardly on the steps, Sophie pointed at him, "You, you! I said don''t... Ah!"


    Ssh.


    The sound of water caught everyone''s attention inside the ballroom, and they all turned to the windows to see what was happening.


    The fountain erupted with a ssh that sent water everywhere.


    Sophie found herself in the fountain, her makeup and hair a soggy mess. Her face darkened with frustration.


    "Sophie!" Harold rushed over from the backyard at the sound of the ssh, finding Sophie looking like a drowned rat in the fountain. Colby, meanwhile, stepped forward and offered Sophie a hand.


    Holding back her anger, Sophie was determined to let Colby have it once she got out. But just as she took his hand, he pulled it away.


    Another ssh, even bigger than the first.


    "Ahhh!" Sophie iled in the water, furious and sshing around. Meanwhile, Colby had a smirk that said it all.


    He did that on purpose!


    That was the only thought running through Sophie''s mind.


    With the chill in the air, Harold quickly waded into the fountain to help her up.


    "Sophie, what happened? Are you hurt?" He asked, draping his coat over her shoulders as she shivered.


    "Ah-choo!" Sophie sneezed just as the adults began pouring out of the ballroom.


    "What happened here? How did it get so messy?" Mrs. Costello came out, and Colby moved to stand beside her, saying, "Mother."


    "Mother?" Harold''s eyebrows shot up


    as he said coldly, "So this is the infamous Mr. Colby. Quite a sight today. Picking on a woman-how brave of you! If you''ve got guts, try that with me!"


    Colby didn''t seem interested in a back-and-forth with Harold.


    Mrs. Costello gave Colby a stern look, "Colby, what''s wrong with you? Bullying a girl? Go apologize to Sophie right now."


    "Ms. Sophie, I apologize," Colby said, his words as empty as his expression.


    Sophie scowled, "I don''t ept your apology!"


    "Colby! You''re barely back and


    already causing trouble." Mrs.


    Costelle tapped his arm, urging, "The


    wind is too strong out here. Get


    Sophie inside, or I''ll have your father


    deal with you."