On the twelfth day of Christmas my True Love gave to me…
…Twelve drummers drumming.
"Hey Aren." The brown-haired bard-in-training turned away from putting his drum away.
"Yes?" The girl who had called to him, named Elizabeth, nervously fingered her blonde braid.
"Look, this is kind of weird but… does Nathan like your music?"
He blinked at her. Nathan was a friend he had made in his history classes. Nathan was highborn and yet one of the nicest people he had ever met. Maybe being a Healer (in training but still) had something to do with that. Pulling his mind back he answered Elizabeth.
"Yes, as far as I know. Are you saying he shouldn't?"
She shook her head slowly. "No, I mean does he like you particularly?"
Aren was even more confused. He watched the other ten drummers of the class slowly file out the door. "Maybe. He hasn't said. Why?"
She looked over to the window. "Because I only see him lingering outside classes that you're in."
"…What?"
Turning back to his expression of confounded curiosity she smiled. "Nate has been coming to classes to listen outside when he doesn't have them himself and the weather permits."
He gaped at her. "You, what?"
"I think he memorized your schedule. I never see him outside any of my other classes so I think it must be you. That and I'm pretty sure he stares at you."
That snapped him out of it. "Stares at me why?"
At this, Elizabeth had a sudden urge unknown to her friend to go over to the wall and bang her head against it. She was through with slowly leading him.
"Because most people have an unhealthy fascination with people they are romantically interested in that lead to staring."
This, to Elizabeth, was worth seeing Aren turn red.
"And you are pretty," she added.
He spluttered.
"And don't think I don't know about that love song you made you have hidden somewhere about forbidden love between a noble and a commoner. You also have a visible interest in stories about Vanyel and Stephen."
Defeated and glowing fuchsia, Aren hung his head. "What do you want me to do?"
Elizabeth grinned. Progress. "Go out there tell him you caught him staring at you and you want to know why."
"But-"
"Be a man for once."
He glared at her.
"Don't give me that look unless you're willing to prove to me that you're not the woman in bed. Now go!"
Slightly humiliated and embarrassed she watched him run out of the room. Turning to the drum that had yet to be put away, it seemed to radiate satisfaction and praise upon her.
"You're welcome." She told it as she put it away. "Tomorrow is the hard part. I get to tell my vocal instructor that the female riding instructor has been giving her the eyes." She sighed and straightened. "Wish me luck!"