One Time Mistake

Guess whose back! Hey there! I'm here to bring everyone the second official high school fic among the alnels! Well, at least one that mainly focuses on Albel and Nel. Are you ready? Haha, this is going to be fun! Plus, there's been a major drought for the alnels. What happened to everyone? Hopefully this will bring some people back.

Disclaimer: Bah! Why we have to continue writing this, I have no clue. You say it one time, you've said it a million. Please don't make me repeat it..."I don't own Star Ocean or its characters..." Happy?

Note: OOC-ness ahead! Don't like it, well then go kiss…LASELLE! High school life is tough and crazy; we all go through with it.

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"Hey Nel, did you hear about the party tonight at Cliff Fitter's place?" A girl whispered to her neighbor.

"...Yeah." was Nel Zelpher's meek reply.

"Are you gonna go?" The girl asked again.

"I don't know, Tynave, we have a test on Monday and you know I don't like to be unprepared."

"Oh c'mon, don't be like that! We already know you're going to ace that test, why bother studying? Besides, this is going to be the coolest party since Fayt Leingod's birthday! It's the talk of the school! Everyone who's anyone is coming; it's an instant popularity booster, and if you miss out, you'll be considered a nobody. You wouldn't want that would you Nel; you've worked too hard for your title. Right Farleen?" Another girl sitting in front of Tynave nodded.

"But still, my parents might not agree! They don't want me to get anything less than an A, so not studying for this test is out of the question. And as for this party, if it's unsupervised and alcohol is present, I absolutely cannot go." Nel argued.

"Who says you have to tell them where you're going? Stop being a goody-goody and loosen up. It's the weekend! Take a break; go out a bit and have fun for once. One time won't kill you right?"

Nel bit her lip in thought, "Erm...I guess I'll go, but just this once though."

"That's more like it! You need to get away more often, Nel. You're going to kill yourself with the amount of work you do. Clair is getting worried too...anyways, I hope to see you tonight!" Tynave smiled.

'Hmm, now what to wear? Something casual or something showy? Oh gosh, I wouldn't have to worry about that if I weren't going to this party.'

Nel Zelpher sighed, she was being dragged somewhere again. Of course, her presence was somewhat required at this party, seeing as she was one of the "popular, looked-up-to" people, but that never stopped her from turning down a party invitation before.

She was known as "Ms. Nel Zelpher, most perfect student and role model at Peterny High". She was a top student, she excelled in all subjects she had, and all of the teachers loved her. She was the best student in school, and she would have preferred it no other way.

But because to her school came first, she never had time to explore the more personal things in life...like her love life. She had also earned the nickname "Ice Queen" because she'd turn down all offers for a boyfriend. She had friends that were guys though, but just friends, nothing more.

To her, love wasn't that important, it was something that could break you to pieces if not mutual. So this was her view: Why bother to love, when it will hurt you? She didn't understand love at all, but she figured she'd know when she was in love...when she was in love, and it sure as hell wasn't right now.

Her thoughts about the party preoccupied her so much, she didn't realize that the bell ending homeroom, rang. She got up and collected her stuff then walked out of the classroom and into the bustling hallways. She eventually made it to her locker, with much difficulty, and took out her next class's books. As she was closing her locker, a mass of dark brown and blond hair appeared from the locker next to her.

She stared at the strange combination of hair colors, wondering if it was natural or just highlights, but soon the hair's owner straightened up and looked at her. She gulped; those eyes! She couldn't find the will to look away from those deep, wine colored eyes! And the person who these eyes belonged to was the infamous Albel Nox, a popular jock and part-time bully at school.

When Nel was caught staring, Albel scowled. She gulped again and bowed, saying, "Uh...umm…good morning!"

Albel only glared at her then walked away, muttering under his breath. Occasionally he'd look back at her, watching her finish getting ready for her next class, but he soon walked too far for him to see her anymore. She looked up from her book bag to see if Albel was still around, he was no where to be seen. After giving up searching through the crowds for him, she eventually walked down the same hallway, as her class was in the same direction.

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School got out at its usual time, 3:05 PM, and Nel was hurrying to her dark red Audi A4. She unlocked her car and threw her bag in the back seat. Just as she was entering the car a voice yelled out her name. She looked up to see Albel in front of her car, smirking at her as he passed by.

"There's a rumor going around about you, Zelpher. Now I usually don't care to listen to such nonsense, but this intrigued me." He said as he walked to his black BMW Sedan 330i next to her car, and leaned against it. "Is it true that you're letting go for once? That the "Perfect Ms. Zelpher and Ice Queen" of Peterny High actually accepted an invitation to a party, and not just any party, but the party of the year! Is it true, Zelpher?"

Nel sighed but nodded in response. Albel raised a brow and smiled, "Hmm, well I'll see you tonight then."

He entered his car and drove away, leaving Nel behind to question his intentions. 'He's so strange! First he glares at me for staring at him, and then for the first time ever, decides to talk to me! As if this day can't get any weirder. Oh well, better get ready for this party.'

Nel entered her car and left the high school parking lot to head towards Aquios, her hometown. She soon saw her house--correction, mansion-- off in the distance, and sped the rest of the way there. After opening the huge gates separating her mansion from the outside world, she drove in and parked the car outside.

She ran into the house, quickly rushing into her room and locking it. If she wanted to go to this party, she'd have to lie to her parents, and that was something she never did. She jumped on her queen sized bed and started thinking up what excuses she could give to her overly-strict parents.

"I got it; I'll say that I'm sleeping over at a friend's house for over night studying. So should I not have the strength to make it home after this party, I would still be excused. My parents would buy it because they always want me to study anyway. But which friend do I choose?" Nel put on a thoughtful look while thinking about who she would spend the night with.

Perhaps Tynave? She was the one who brought her into this mess by persuading her to go. Nel could blame her if anything should happen; but her parents might not let her stay over at a classmate's house without knowing them. She was out then.

Who's next, maybe Farleen? 'Oh Apris no! I can only deal with her voice for so long, if I have to deal with it all night I'll go nuts! If her voice is already as bad as it is, who knows how bad it is while she snores?' Nel shuddered at the thought and shook her head. 'Next person...'

What about Clair? She and Nel had been friends since they were born and Nel's parents were close friends to the Lasbards. 'That could work! I trust Clair enough to help me out with this. Alright it's settled; I'll call her after I take a bath.'

Nel slid off her bed and headed into the connecting bathroom to take a soothing body bath. She turned on the water and poured in one of her favorite bath oils, strawberry. Once content with the warm temperature, she undressed and slipped herself into the waters.

"Mmm, nothing better to ease the muscles than a nice warm bath. It just melts the pain away!" She rested her head on the side of the tub and stared at the ceiling, enjoying the soak when Albel's smile appeared in her head. She sat up immediately, water being forced out of the tub by the sudden action.

"Hmm, well I'll see you tonight then." His voice rung through her ears. A shiver ran down her spine, and it wasn't due to the cool air in the room, it was from excitement.

Why was she excited? Could it have been for the party, or for something else? More importantly, why was it Albel's words that got her excited? Maybe the 'something else' was for him?

'No, that can't be! I've never seen nor talked to the guy since the beginning of the school year! How could I have feelings for the guy after one 5 minute talk with him? The excitement is for the party…it has to be.'

With that Nel slid further into the water, sinking to her chin in the bathtub. She stayed there for another few minutes before scrubbing herself down with soap and washing it all off, then stepping out and drying herself.

After wrapping a towel around herself, Nel headed over to her long walk-in closet. She walked down the single aisle, occasionally stopping when she saw something cute to wear. Pulling out a few clothes she walked out again and dumped the clothes on her bed.

She then arranged a few of them, matching them together to look good. Her choice remained between a bright red halter top that dipped low in a V to show some cleavage with a black miniskirt, or a simple blue tank top with a dark blue pair of low cut jeans. Sexy or casual? Well obviously sexy; she wanted to prove to everyone that she could be a little wild when she wanted to be.

'Is that the only reason though?' she asked herself. She shrugged it off and began to put on the clothes when suddenly the door knocked. She quickly put on a sweater and some sweatpants she had out and answered the door, it was a maid.

"Lady Nel, I would just like to inform you that your parents are now home." The maid said with her head bowed.

"Oh, thank you. Tell them I'll be down in a few and that I want to discuss something with them."

"Yes, right away milady." The maid then walked away leaving Nel with growing nervous thoughts.

'My parents are never going to buy it! They're gonna find out and I'm going to be grounded forever, and I've never been grounded in my life!'

She scrambled over to her private phone and quickly called Clair.

"Clair!" She said loudly through the phone when her friend picked up. "I need your help!"

Clair, surprised at the desperateness in Nel's voice, slowly responded. "What's the matter, Nel?"

"I'm going to the party tonight!"

"Really? Your parents actually agreed?"

"OF COURSE NOT!" Nel practically screamed. "I'm going to lie to them..." A long pause met her ears as Clair processed what she just said.

"You're going to lie to your parents? The Nel Zelpher, is going to lie? And how am I going to help you do this?"

"I'll say I'm sleeping over at your house for studying. Studying is the lie, sleeping over - I hope, with your permission - won't be. My parents will have to agree since they always want me studying anyway."

"I still can't believe you're doing all this to go to a party! You've never gone to such extremes before...okay, I'll see what I can do, but you better pay me back big for this!"

"You don't know how thankful I am! I'll call you back after I talk with my parents. Later!" Nel then hung up and ran out of her bedroom to the parlor.

As expected her parents were seated on a large sofa talking about today's events. Nel walked up to them and bowed. "Mother, Father; good evening."

"Good evening as well. One of the maids told us you wanted to talk to us, what is it, Nel dear?" Neville asked her only daughter.

Nel fidgeted in front of her parents. Was lying always this hard? "C-Clair wants me to sleep over for a night of studying. C-can I go?" she managed to get out.

"Of course you can. Did her parents already give their consent?" He asked again. He began to notice her nervousness.

"Yes father, I'll be driving over to her place after I finish packing." She looked at her feet, trying her best to avoid meeting her father's eyes. He would be able to tell if she was lying by easily looking at her own eyes.

"Okay then, we'll see you tomorrow." Neville said as Nel bowed and thanked her parents. "Oh, and Nel?"

Nel, who was already at the door, stopped and faced her father, "Yes?"

"You're not lying to us about sleeping over are you?" He caught her tensing up at his question.

"N-no father, I would never lie to you. See you tomorrow." And she quickly sped out of the room.

Nel ran back to her room and shut the door again. 'That was a close one, he almost caught me. But I did it! I lied to my parents, and now I can go to the party. I better call Clair back...'

As Nel talked with Clair, she packed her bag with the necessary things needed for a sleepover and some things for the party. When she was finished talking with Clair and packing, she said goodbye to her parents one last time and headed to her car.

She was soon on her way to Clair's house, smiling the whole way there. She arrived in no time and Clair was outside ready to greet her.

"Clair!" Nel said as she embraced her best friend.

"Excited are we? Well I was planning on leaving in about 20 minutes. Think you can wait that long?"

Nel nodded and followed Clair inside her huge mansion of a house. After climbing the large marble stairs up to Clair's room, they entered the room and sat on Clair's bed. Nel put her stuff down and decided she'd move it later. She laid on her friend's spacious bed, her mind starting to drift off again. Clair noticed the look and questioned it.

Nel didn't respond right away, she merely grunted in response. "Nel, I hate to bother you while you're thinking, but we only have 15 minutes to finish getting ready." Clair said, breaking her out of her thoughts.

Nel sat up and started to take off the sweater and pants, leaving her in her sexy party outfit. Clair gave Nel a surprised look; she'd never seen her best friend wear such a thing. Nel was always a conservative and modest girl, and seeing her wear this revealing top and skirt just raised her suspicions ten-fold.

Nel didn't notice the look as she turned around to look for her makeup case. She took it out and began to apply the stuff. After that she began to do her hair, putting up some loose strands in clips. Pretty soon she was ready to go, and so was Clair.

They went out the door and loaded up into Clair's silver Jetta and were now on their way to the party.

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Heh, wow, seems pretty exciting! I would want to look my best too if I were to meet Albel! Well, I hope everyone liked it, seems to be pretty original! PLEASE REVIEW!

I don't know how long this fanfiction may last, but this is only the first chapter, there's much more to come. Thank you for reading!