Summary: Kel hooked up with Cleon but her feelings for Neal never
vanished. Cleon had left Kel for somebody and Neal has shown up to comfort
Kel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: I don't own any of the pplz in my fic =(They belong to the wonderful Tammy. Also, "this talking" 'this is thinking' ~this is the song lyrics~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Keladry of Mindelan sat in her room thinking of everything that had happened in the past week. She had discovered she still had feelings for Neal, though she couldn't do anything about that seeing as how he was with Yuki; Cleon had left her for some mysterious lady he met while traveling. As she thought, her hazel eyes filled with tears 'I am not going to cry' she thought furiously at herself. She had just recently returned to the palace from a visit to Mindelan so, hopefully, most of her friends wouldn't know she was back. A knock on the door brought her out of her thoughts 'as long as it's not Neal, I'll be fine' She opened the door and to her dismay it was Neal.
"Hullo, have a nice trip?" he drawled. Just hearing his voice again sent shivers down Kel's spine.
"Why yes I did kind sir, and may I ask how it is you knew of my return?" she asked him suspiciously.
"Well, I just happened to be out riding and when I returned to the stables, that damn horse of yours nearly bit my finger off," he grinned and bowed "my lady." With that, he pushed through into her room, settled himself on her bed, and then looked her over with his emerald eyes.
'Gods he's gorgeous' she thought not for the first time and definitely not for the last.
"Nonsense, I'm no more a lady than you are a pig and would you please stop looking at me as if I've grown another head?" She wished she hadn't said it as soon as the words left her mouth, now he would think she was watching his every move.
Luckily, he didn't think much of her comment. He simply raised his eyebrow and remarked, "you know, now that you mention it, you do look different, maybe not another head or anything but, different. Hmmm… you look older, more mature I think that's what it is."
"You must be imagining things again, Neal. I'm still the same person that you've known for all these years."
"If you say so my lady," he smiled evilly at her, he knew she hated to be called a lady. "By the by, I heard about you and Cleon and I would like to offer my condolences." She could think of no reply to that; she didn't want to, she didn't want to discuss this with anyone, especially not him. "You are alright aren't you?" he asked her. She wanted to say she wasn't alright, that if he had seen her as a girl in the first place none of this would have happened but she couldn't say that for that would lead this conversation down an uncomfortable road. So, instead, she lied and said she was alright even though she could already feel the tears welling up inside of her.
~Did you ever love somebody
So much that the earth moved
Did you ever love somebody
Even though it hurt to
Did you ever love somebody
Nothing else your heart could do
Did you ever love somebody
Who never knew~
No one else would have caught the slight change in Kel's eyes or her quick look down but, this was Neal and he knew her well enough to tell when she was hurting. Neal pulled Kel down on to the bed next to him and tentatively, he put his arm around her shoulders. Kel looked up into her friend's eyes although she knew his eyes would probably never reflect the love she wised they would.
"Why do you know me so well?" she asked him, already knowing he would answer her in that sarcastic way she loved.
"Because, my fair lady, and best friend, it is my job. Besides, if I didn't take care of you who would? And at the moment, you look as if you could use a shoulder to cry on and it just so happens that mine is open." She knew he was right, she also knew that she should have told him to leave but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Almost against her will, she gave in to her own desire and let him comfort her.
Kel suddenly came to terms with reality she pulled away from Neal. "Neal! I can't let you do this, I don't want Yuki to suspect you or…or me of anything." She said looking down, a light blush growing in her cheeks.
"Don't worry Kel, she'll understand–"
"Maybe she will and maybe she won't but I don't want to be the cause of anything."
"Kel are…are you hiding something from me?" She stiffened, now was her chance, if she ever wanted to know how he felt for her, she would have to tell him now. Quickly, Kel decided she had done enough possible damage to Neal and Yuki's relationship for one night, she would tell him no and that would be the end of it…at least she hoped it would. "Hiding something? Why would you think that?"
1 ~Did you ever lay your head down
On the shoulder of a good friend
And then had to look away somehow
2 Had to hide the way you felt for them
3 Have you ever prayed the day would come
You'd hear them say they feel it too
Did you ever love someone
Who never knew
I do~
"I don't know, you seem to be acting a little different than usual, or maybe I'm imagining things again."
"That must be it Neal, you're imagining it. Please, don't worry about me I truly will be fine."
He sighed, "If you say so but I'm not leaving you by yourself, you've spent enough time by yourself for quite a while. Say, that reminds me, there is to be a ball tonight and I now insist that you attend."
She stared at him, eyes wide. 'Why is he doing this to me? Can't he tell by now I love him? I thought he would be with Yuki unless… unless there's something that happened between them he's not telling me. Impossible they're perfect for each other. Oh well, I suppose I'll go to this ball maybe I'll get to dance with him.' "If you insist I guess I'll go. Are you positive there's no getting out of it?"
"I'm absolutely positive. Now do you need any help getting ready or can I leave you so that I can ready myself as well?"
"You can leave, I'll be ready."
"Good, I'll see you at the next bell"
"Wait what about Yuki? Aren't you going with her?"
"No, I'm going to tell her that I've lost touch with a good friend for awhile and we need to catch up on things." He winked at her as he walked out the door.
Kel set to work about getting dressed; she needed to wear something that Neal would like. After looking through her dresses, she decided to wear a cream and emerald green one. The dress was gorgeous. The bodice was emerald green with tiny, cream-colored flower designs along the bottom edge. There were several layers of skirts to her dress as well. The inner layer was the same creamy color as the flowers on the bodice; the outer layer was the emerald color and let the creamy underskirt show in the front. Kel didn't like to wear cosmetics much but she applied a slightly red-tinged lip color to her lips. She was ready to go, all she needed now was Neal. There was a knock on the door. 'That must be Neal' She took one last look at herself, steeling herself for the rest of the night, before she opened the door and left with Neal.
"Kel, you look simply wonderful. If I hadn't picked you up at your room myself, I would never have recognize you. Are you sure Cleon knows what he's giving up?"
"Stop being silly Neal. I know as well as you that I am not one who can have that effect on you and I never will be."
At those words, Neal stiffened. 'I wonder what that was for,' he thought.
"Now, can we go to the ball or are we going to stay here and argue all night?"
"After you, my beautiful lady."
When they arrived at the ball, they went their separate ways for a while and then Neal found Kel's side again and stuck to it like a burr. "Why are you so intent on following me around so closely?" Kel asked him.
"Because I don't want anyone else to get any ideas because of your beauty."
"I believe I can take care of myself meathead."
"Don't call me meathead and I won't follow you as closely."
"It's a deal. By the way, kind sir, may I have the honor of this dance?"
"You may indeed Kel but next time I want to be the gentlemen and ask."
"Whatever you say." They danced for the next couple of songs but Kel soon tired of dancing so they went out to the palace gardens to grab some peace and quiet.
"Neal?"
"Yes?"
This was going to take a lot of courage but, Kel was going to ask him anyway, no matter what idea he got; if he got the right idea well then, at least he'd know. "Could I ask you a hypothetical question?"
4 ~And if you did
Well you know I'd understand
I could, I would
More than anybody can~
"I suppose so if you insist."
"I do insist. Just imagine you were someone like me, a minority. You were the only boy with a lot of girls around you all the time. You happen to be falling for one of your close friends but, that particular close friend might be smitten with or involved with another person. What would you do? Would you tell them you were in love with them or would you act like you have no romantic feelings for them whatsoever?"
"Hmmm… Interesting situation. I think that if I thought that there was even a tiny chance that the person felt the same for me I would tell her. Why ask such a strange question?"
"No reason. Are you sure that's what you would do? Suppose the girl rejected you."
"Well then I took the risk and at least I would know. If I got rejected, well than I suppose I would ask the person to forget it ever happened and I would somehow find a way to get over my feelings."
"Well then I believe I shall take your advice."
"Wait one second, what do you mean my advice? I didn't give you advice I gave you an answer to your hypothetical question."
"Well I sort of hedged around the true purpose of my question but I think you may have figured it out by now so I will leave you and later I shall talk to you."
"Don't go, I want you to explain yourself now, even if I do have an idea not that you bring it up."
"Sweet dreams Neal, you shall be in mine."
"Kel wait please." The urgency in his voice made her turn and face him. She reminded herself of what would happen. Quickly, before she could think about it, she went back to him and kissed him soft and gently before practically running back to her room leaving behind a very confused Neal.
Just before he was out of her sight, Kel looked at her friend and said very softly, "I just wanted you to know that I love you."
~Did you ever love somebody
So much that the earth moved
Did you ever love somebody
Even though it hurt to
5 Did you ever love somebody
Nothing else your heart could do
Did you ever love somebody
Like I love you~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: I don't own any of the pplz in my fic =(They belong to the wonderful Tammy. Also, "this talking" 'this is thinking' ~this is the song lyrics~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Keladry of Mindelan sat in her room thinking of everything that had happened in the past week. She had discovered she still had feelings for Neal, though she couldn't do anything about that seeing as how he was with Yuki; Cleon had left her for some mysterious lady he met while traveling. As she thought, her hazel eyes filled with tears 'I am not going to cry' she thought furiously at herself. She had just recently returned to the palace from a visit to Mindelan so, hopefully, most of her friends wouldn't know she was back. A knock on the door brought her out of her thoughts 'as long as it's not Neal, I'll be fine' She opened the door and to her dismay it was Neal.
"Hullo, have a nice trip?" he drawled. Just hearing his voice again sent shivers down Kel's spine.
"Why yes I did kind sir, and may I ask how it is you knew of my return?" she asked him suspiciously.
"Well, I just happened to be out riding and when I returned to the stables, that damn horse of yours nearly bit my finger off," he grinned and bowed "my lady." With that, he pushed through into her room, settled himself on her bed, and then looked her over with his emerald eyes.
'Gods he's gorgeous' she thought not for the first time and definitely not for the last.
"Nonsense, I'm no more a lady than you are a pig and would you please stop looking at me as if I've grown another head?" She wished she hadn't said it as soon as the words left her mouth, now he would think she was watching his every move.
Luckily, he didn't think much of her comment. He simply raised his eyebrow and remarked, "you know, now that you mention it, you do look different, maybe not another head or anything but, different. Hmmm… you look older, more mature I think that's what it is."
"You must be imagining things again, Neal. I'm still the same person that you've known for all these years."
"If you say so my lady," he smiled evilly at her, he knew she hated to be called a lady. "By the by, I heard about you and Cleon and I would like to offer my condolences." She could think of no reply to that; she didn't want to, she didn't want to discuss this with anyone, especially not him. "You are alright aren't you?" he asked her. She wanted to say she wasn't alright, that if he had seen her as a girl in the first place none of this would have happened but she couldn't say that for that would lead this conversation down an uncomfortable road. So, instead, she lied and said she was alright even though she could already feel the tears welling up inside of her.
~Did you ever love somebody
So much that the earth moved
Did you ever love somebody
Even though it hurt to
Did you ever love somebody
Nothing else your heart could do
Did you ever love somebody
Who never knew~
No one else would have caught the slight change in Kel's eyes or her quick look down but, this was Neal and he knew her well enough to tell when she was hurting. Neal pulled Kel down on to the bed next to him and tentatively, he put his arm around her shoulders. Kel looked up into her friend's eyes although she knew his eyes would probably never reflect the love she wised they would.
"Why do you know me so well?" she asked him, already knowing he would answer her in that sarcastic way she loved.
"Because, my fair lady, and best friend, it is my job. Besides, if I didn't take care of you who would? And at the moment, you look as if you could use a shoulder to cry on and it just so happens that mine is open." She knew he was right, she also knew that she should have told him to leave but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Almost against her will, she gave in to her own desire and let him comfort her.
Kel suddenly came to terms with reality she pulled away from Neal. "Neal! I can't let you do this, I don't want Yuki to suspect you or…or me of anything." She said looking down, a light blush growing in her cheeks.
"Don't worry Kel, she'll understand–"
"Maybe she will and maybe she won't but I don't want to be the cause of anything."
"Kel are…are you hiding something from me?" She stiffened, now was her chance, if she ever wanted to know how he felt for her, she would have to tell him now. Quickly, Kel decided she had done enough possible damage to Neal and Yuki's relationship for one night, she would tell him no and that would be the end of it…at least she hoped it would. "Hiding something? Why would you think that?"
1 ~Did you ever lay your head down
On the shoulder of a good friend
And then had to look away somehow
2 Had to hide the way you felt for them
3 Have you ever prayed the day would come
You'd hear them say they feel it too
Did you ever love someone
Who never knew
I do~
"I don't know, you seem to be acting a little different than usual, or maybe I'm imagining things again."
"That must be it Neal, you're imagining it. Please, don't worry about me I truly will be fine."
He sighed, "If you say so but I'm not leaving you by yourself, you've spent enough time by yourself for quite a while. Say, that reminds me, there is to be a ball tonight and I now insist that you attend."
She stared at him, eyes wide. 'Why is he doing this to me? Can't he tell by now I love him? I thought he would be with Yuki unless… unless there's something that happened between them he's not telling me. Impossible they're perfect for each other. Oh well, I suppose I'll go to this ball maybe I'll get to dance with him.' "If you insist I guess I'll go. Are you positive there's no getting out of it?"
"I'm absolutely positive. Now do you need any help getting ready or can I leave you so that I can ready myself as well?"
"You can leave, I'll be ready."
"Good, I'll see you at the next bell"
"Wait what about Yuki? Aren't you going with her?"
"No, I'm going to tell her that I've lost touch with a good friend for awhile and we need to catch up on things." He winked at her as he walked out the door.
Kel set to work about getting dressed; she needed to wear something that Neal would like. After looking through her dresses, she decided to wear a cream and emerald green one. The dress was gorgeous. The bodice was emerald green with tiny, cream-colored flower designs along the bottom edge. There were several layers of skirts to her dress as well. The inner layer was the same creamy color as the flowers on the bodice; the outer layer was the emerald color and let the creamy underskirt show in the front. Kel didn't like to wear cosmetics much but she applied a slightly red-tinged lip color to her lips. She was ready to go, all she needed now was Neal. There was a knock on the door. 'That must be Neal' She took one last look at herself, steeling herself for the rest of the night, before she opened the door and left with Neal.
"Kel, you look simply wonderful. If I hadn't picked you up at your room myself, I would never have recognize you. Are you sure Cleon knows what he's giving up?"
"Stop being silly Neal. I know as well as you that I am not one who can have that effect on you and I never will be."
At those words, Neal stiffened. 'I wonder what that was for,' he thought.
"Now, can we go to the ball or are we going to stay here and argue all night?"
"After you, my beautiful lady."
When they arrived at the ball, they went their separate ways for a while and then Neal found Kel's side again and stuck to it like a burr. "Why are you so intent on following me around so closely?" Kel asked him.
"Because I don't want anyone else to get any ideas because of your beauty."
"I believe I can take care of myself meathead."
"Don't call me meathead and I won't follow you as closely."
"It's a deal. By the way, kind sir, may I have the honor of this dance?"
"You may indeed Kel but next time I want to be the gentlemen and ask."
"Whatever you say." They danced for the next couple of songs but Kel soon tired of dancing so they went out to the palace gardens to grab some peace and quiet.
"Neal?"
"Yes?"
This was going to take a lot of courage but, Kel was going to ask him anyway, no matter what idea he got; if he got the right idea well then, at least he'd know. "Could I ask you a hypothetical question?"
4 ~And if you did
Well you know I'd understand
I could, I would
More than anybody can~
"I suppose so if you insist."
"I do insist. Just imagine you were someone like me, a minority. You were the only boy with a lot of girls around you all the time. You happen to be falling for one of your close friends but, that particular close friend might be smitten with or involved with another person. What would you do? Would you tell them you were in love with them or would you act like you have no romantic feelings for them whatsoever?"
"Hmmm… Interesting situation. I think that if I thought that there was even a tiny chance that the person felt the same for me I would tell her. Why ask such a strange question?"
"No reason. Are you sure that's what you would do? Suppose the girl rejected you."
"Well then I took the risk and at least I would know. If I got rejected, well than I suppose I would ask the person to forget it ever happened and I would somehow find a way to get over my feelings."
"Well then I believe I shall take your advice."
"Wait one second, what do you mean my advice? I didn't give you advice I gave you an answer to your hypothetical question."
"Well I sort of hedged around the true purpose of my question but I think you may have figured it out by now so I will leave you and later I shall talk to you."
"Don't go, I want you to explain yourself now, even if I do have an idea not that you bring it up."
"Sweet dreams Neal, you shall be in mine."
"Kel wait please." The urgency in his voice made her turn and face him. She reminded herself of what would happen. Quickly, before she could think about it, she went back to him and kissed him soft and gently before practically running back to her room leaving behind a very confused Neal.
Just before he was out of her sight, Kel looked at her friend and said very softly, "I just wanted you to know that I love you."
~Did you ever love somebody
So much that the earth moved
Did you ever love somebody
Even though it hurt to
5 Did you ever love somebody
Nothing else your heart could do
Did you ever love somebody
Like I love you~