A/N: Alright well, here's one way that Kel and Neal might have met. Please excuse the bit of hating on Dom, they had to come together somehow! Also, this chapter takes place in college so there is alcohol use and a couple bad words in this chapter so be aware! Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Frat parties were literally the worst waste of his time ever and he didn't know why the hell he let Merric drag him to one. They didn't even have good alcohol, just lukewarm, cheap, tasteless beer. Taking a swig and making a face at the taste, he decided he should probably make the most out of this craptastic night.

He turned to the pretty brown haired girl leaning on the wall next to him and stuck his hand out, "I'm Neal. Neal Queenscove. I live in Naxen. That redheaded idiot over there about to get slapped by the little blonde because he's drunk out of his mind is my roommate." She would probably think he was weird as hell, but whatever.

Kel observed him through soft eyes before reaching out to shake his hand. "Kel Mindelan. I live in Provosts and that little blonde is my roommate and your friend is indeed about to get- Ah." She stopped and snorted into her cup, trying to hide her amused smile as Tian turned and stormed away from the redhead after smacking him soundly.

Neal didn't bother hiding his laugh. "So you're ROTC then? I'm assuming this from that expertly crafted military style bun and the fact that you're in Provosts. What year are you?" He took another swig, waving halfheartedly at one of the guys from pre-med that was across the room.

"Yep. I'm a junior and I'm Navy. I want to be a pilot." His eyebrows raised at that, their school had a great nursing program, which often ended up turning out a ton of military Nurses each year. While it wasn't exactly odd for a girl to be in a different program than nursing, it wasn't what he was used to hearing as a med student.

"Not a nurse?" He asked.

"Blood makes me squeamish." She admitted with a shrug. "Math and engineering might be cutthroat, but at least it's metaphorical blood." She pretended to take a drink from her still full cup and met his eyes with a smile. "Go big or go home, right?"

He grinned at that, nodding affirmative to her question. "Yep. I'm working towards being a heart surgeon." It was her turn to raise her eyebrows.

"But what do you want to be?" She asked, eyes far too perceptive.

This girl was sharp, he admitted to himself, rolling his cup between his hands. "A pediatrician." He muttered, a faint hint of red creeping up his neck. "I don't tell people that most of the time. My dad is a trauma surgeon so people expect me to do something great. My oldest brother is a surgeon and my second oldest is in his residency." He kept his voice light. He didn't know this girl, but he didn't mind the sympathetic ear. None of his roommates listened when he talked woes of the medical student.

She nodded along, eyes on the rowdy game of beer pong going on in the corner. "I can understand that, but there's no shame in doing something different than your parents did." She glanced up at him and smiled. "I think it's awesome. If you like kids, why the hell not? And who's to say you can't be a pediatric surgeon?" She asked, cheerful to the last, again pretending to drink her beer.

He shrugged noncommittally, draining the rest of the nasty beer and tossing the cup in the trash. When he looked around to Kel she was gone. Glancing around the room, confused, he shook his head.

"I'm behind you. Please, please, please don't move. Just stand there and be a human shield and I'll buy you a real drink as soon as we can escape." Her voice was suddenly weary and slightly annoyed and he wanted to turn and look at her but he didn't.

"Why are you using me as a shield?" He asked her, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"My asshole ex just walked in and I'd rather not deal with him right now." She replied. "I see him enough for ROTC stuff as it is. No need to be miserable here too." She was still standing behind him. "See that girl in the red dress? The guy next to her, blue eyes and dark hair." She didn't know why she was pointing him out, but she liked Neal.

"Oh Mithros, you mean Dom?" He asked, a laugh in his voice. "That is indeed my asshole cousin."

She spun him around and stared at him. "Oh shit. You're that Neal?" She looked like she wanted to drop dead. "He talked about his annoying little cousin but I didn't know you went here."

He shrugged. "I didn't know the amazing Keladry went by Kel. I also wasn't aware you were ROTC so obviously neither of us got the full story." They both froze when Dom greeted them loudly from a dozen feet away and Neal glanced over at his cousin. "I'm gonna apologize in advance and ask you not to slap me." He muttered, loud enough for her ears only.

And before she could react, Neal was kissing her.

And she was kissing back.