Author's Note: Hey guys! Sorry I haven't been writing lately. Today we have the day off, so I had time to write. This is something I've been meaning to do for awhile. Hopefully I can continue it. It's called Just Say It, which is a line from the first chapter.

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Just Say It: Chapter One

"No."

"But—"

"No."

"Why not?"

Kel avoided Yuki's irritated glare. "Because I look hideous in a dress," she muttered. "And I look like a complete clown with face paint on."

Yuki rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips. "You haven't worn a dress in more than five years. I think you've changed during that time period, don't you think? And you've never even worn face paint before, so how would you know?" Kel stayed silent and folded her blankets again. "You're being ridiculous!" Yuki exclaimed. Kel simply unfolded her blankets and folded them yet again.

In her mind, she could still hear her brother's voice, taunting her. "Why are you wearing face paint?" he had jeered. "You look like a complete clown! It's only a slight improvement on your actual ugly face." She had only been nine then, but the words and memory had stuck to her like glue. Oh yes, Kel could answer that last question. But she decided not to. It hurt too much.

"Dom will be there." Kel's head snapped up to see Yuki's grin.

"Be where?"

Yuki gave an exasperated sigh. "You haven't been listening at all, have you? Dom will be at the ball. The ball we were talking about."

"Oh…" Kel lowered her head again, beginning to fluff her pillows, trying to hide her blush. "And why would that concern me?" she tried to say in a nonchalant tone.

"Because you like him."

"What? How would you know?"

"It's obvious. You're in love with him."

Her face felt very hot by now. "Does anybody else know?" she asked quietly. "I—I mean, does anybody else think that? Because, you know, I don't at all."

Yuki rolled her eyes. "Of course not. It takes very delicate, perceptive female powers to notice, of which I happen to possess." Kel stifled a laugh. Yuki smiled back. "And guess what else my powers detect?" She answered her own question and crowed, "Dom likes you back!"

Kel's head snapped up again. She gave up trying to do house cleaning. "What? Are you kidding me? He would never—never—like...me," she cried. "And even if he did like me, which he obviously doesn't, he would have the guts to tell me instead of prancing around with all those disgustingly pretty and dressed up court ladies! Your so called powers need some fine tuning, woman!" Positively seething, Kel sat down hard on her bed. "And even if I liked him, which I don't, I wouldn't risk our friendship to tell him," she finished quietly and lied down, her legs dangling off the edge of the mattress.

"I can tell you why he's 'prancing around with all those disgustingly pretty and dressed up court ladies,' as you so charmingly put it. He doesn't know he likes you."

"There! You admit it! He doesn't like me."

"I never said that. I said he doesn't know he likes you. He stares at you, he thinks about you all the time, he daydreams about you, but once he starts noticing those feelings, he snaps his fingers at himself. 'What are you doing!' he asks himself. 'You don't like her...you couldn't. Kel's your friend. Plus, she wouldn't give you two glances.' So he shakes his head, and decides to go for girls he's used to being around, girls who only need a little charm to bring them into his arms. He's intimidated by you."

"Are you joking me? You have problems."

"No, I'm not. I just want to get you two together. It'll only take just a little nudge in the right direction, and that little nudge is the upcoming ball that you have to go to."

"Well, aren't you just the most subtle little matchmaker," Kel said sarcastically. "It's not me who wouldn't give him two glances, it's him who won't give me two glances. If I did go to the dance, he wouldn't notice me in the least, he would just go make a beeline to all those prettier, more petite, more graceful court ladies."

Yuki's grin was at its widest. "You're jealous."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, yes, you are. You're jealous and that means you like Dom. You like him so much it hurts, but you're denying it because you think you're not meant for that kind of thing, not meant for love and romance."

"You're right about that part, but I still don't like him."

"Only somebody who likes another person would give such an effective analysis on what she 'would' do if she did, which she actually does."

"That didn't make any sense."

"Say his name."

"What?"

"Say 'Dom.'"

"Why?"

"Just say it."

Kel sighed and closed her eyes. "Dom," she whispered. In her mind's eye, she could see his grin and sparkling blue eyes.

"Doesn't his name just bring shivers down your back?"

Kel didn't say a thing. She just laid there, her spine tingling, still watching Dom smile in her head.

"I'll take that as a yes."

She sat up and faced Yuki. "Okay, fine." Her friend smirked. "Fine, I'll go. I'll let you dress me up like a doll and make me dance with him—"

"Oh, I don't think I really have to make you. Just a gentle push will send you running into his arms."

Kel glared at Yuki. "I'll go to the ball, on one condition."

"Anything."

"Neal."

"What?"

"Nealan of Queenscove, Meathead of the castle, your crush."

"What are you talking about?" Yuki cried. "I don't have a crush on him." The color in her face was rising.

"The predator becomes prey," Kel laughed and stood up, advancing on Yuki. "You like him. In fact, you really like him." She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest, pretending not to hear the accusation. "You're not the only one with perceptive girl powers, you know," Kel pointed out, and Yuki laughed.

"I don't like him. I never would."

"Oh yes, yes you do. You gave him your fan after his Ordeal. That says enough," Kel exclaimed triumphantly. "Giving a man your fan means you like him, and you're serious about him."

Yuki avoided her gaze. "That was just a spur-of-the-moment thing."

"Say his name."

"What?"

"Neal. Just say it."

"Neal," Yuki said softly, seeming very interested in her feet.

"Doesn't it just bring shivers down your back?" Kel said, imitating Yuki's loud, higher voice. They both laughed. "So these are my terms," Kel said. "I'll go to the ball, and maybe I'll dance with Dom, but only if you have at least one dance with Neal."

Yuki met Kel's eyes and pursed her lips. Then she held out her hand. "Deal."

Their hands met and they shook each other's vigorously. Then they burst out laughing.

Author's Note: Woot! This is not the end, at least I hope not. Please review, give suggestions, tell me if I should continue it or not!