1Disclaimer: The characters you recognize belong to Tamora Pierce

A/N This is what happens when I can't fall asleep. A bunch of chapters written and put up at randomly spaced times.

Kel's POV

I went to supper with Roald, Steve, Kim and Kate. Roald explained to me that Mr. Kadet was bringing up food for Neal and Merric later. I never really noticed what I was eating for supper. I knew I had meat and vegetables but that is about as much as I could tell you. Kim and Kate had matching smiles on their faces as they looked at me and Steve just kept looking back and forth between Roald and me while he ate.

After supper Kate and Kim dragged me off with them. We sat down under a tall tree in the courtyard. "So," Kim began, "How long have you and Roald been going out for?"

"We aren't going out."

"Really, then why were the two of you kissing in there?"

"I-I don't know. He took me by surprise with that."

Kate continued, "Well, was this the first time he kissed you?"

"Yes."

"Do you think he likes you?"

"I really don't know. Anyways even if he does it won't matter when we get back home."

"Do you like him?"

"No, maybe. I'm not really sure."

"Does your heart beat faster when you think of him? Do you randomly blush when he's around?"

"It may beat slightly faster and it was only because he was reading Romeo's lines."

Kim's face lit up, "Why do you two share a room?"

"Because neither Neal nor Merric are early risers like I am so Roald and I ended up sharing room. None of us wanted to be separates into different buildings."

It was really different having people ask questions like this. In the Yamani Islands conversations wouldn't normally go like this, and since I moved back to Tortall I haven't really had any female friends. They continued to question me about Roald. They seemed to be enjoying it. I was saved from having to answer any more questions by Roald appearing. "There you are, I've been looking everywhere. Neal wants to talk to you."

I followed Roald back to the dorms and up to Neal's room. Neal had left the door slightly open for us. "You wanted to see me Neal?"

"Yes, I wanted to see your progress with your magic. Sorry if I pulled you away from anything."

"Nothing really. More liked saved me. Kim and Kate were asking a bunch of questions."

"About what?"

I glanced over at Roald, "Nothing really, just different things."

Neal gave me a look of amusement, "Either way, both of you can make yourselves comfortable. Then Kel, I want to see what you can do."

Roald sat down on Neal's bed. Neal had occupied one chair and the other was next to Merric's bed with a bottle of brown liquid on it, as well as some toasted bread. I sat down on the bed away from Roald. Closing my eyes and holding my hands close together I reached inside of me. I search for the feeling I barely recognized and concentrated on a ball of light floating over my hands. I opened my eyes as a small ball of light appeared. Again as earlier, before it became larger it flickered out and died. Neal looked disappointed, "I thought you said she could make one bigger than last time."

"She did earlier."

"Kel are you concentrating the way you were earlier?"

"Slightly different, why?"

"I want you to re-assume the position you were using when you managed a larger ball of light."

I glanced over at Roald. "Do you mind?"

He turned then patted the area in front of him. I moved over to sit in front of him with my legs crossed. He moved his hands towards me, taking mine in his again. I stared straight into his eyes and reached inside myself again. This time I got a good grip on the feeling and concentrated on a ball of light. The light began to grow, this time it didn't fade out on me. Roald smiled at me while Neal went on about the power of the magic and a couple of other things.

I let the ball of light disappear again. Turning myself so I would face Neal. He had his back to me, writing in the book. "Do you need me for anything else tonight Neal?"

"No, I think that is good for know. I'm going to monitor Merric a little more."

"Well then, I think I go clean up."

I walked back over to my room and grabbed my night clothes. They looked similar to the ones every other guy in this place wore. I grabbed them and stuffed them into a bag as I headed for the girls shower.

This time the room had a few more girls in it. I managed to get the last open shower. I stepped into the hot water and stood there as I let all my emotions flow out of me. By the time I was done cleaning myself up and was back in my night clothes I felt better. I stuffed my uniform into the bag I brought and headed across campus back to the boys dorm.

I nodded hi to Steve as I passed him in the stairwell going up to my room. I had gotten another key for my room from the office this morning. I let myself into the empty room. I grabbed my brush and sat down on the bed. I brought my hand up to my lips thinking about my kiss with Roald. I really had no clue whether he liked me or not. It may have been out of compassion, to help me forget about my pains.

I stopped thinking about it and started to brush my hair. I heard the lock on the door click as Roald came into the room. I stood up to put my brush back on the desk and put my uniform away. I turned around to head back to my bed and nearly ran into Roald. Not very tired I sat down on my bed and watched Roald as he put his stuff away and began to prepare for tomorrow.

He continued to the point where it seemed liked he was doing nothing but didn't want to stop. "Kel, I, uh, heard part of your conversation today with Kim and Kate."

"Oh, right."

He came over and sat beside me. "This may seem very weird and all, but I like you, and I mean more than a friend. I don't know about after we get back if we can stay together, but for now, will you stay with me."

"Of course."

I leaned into Roald and gave him a hug. As I pulled away Roald brought his hand up to my cheek and kissed my lightly on the lips. "Good night Kel."

He stood up and turned off the lights before walking over to his own bed. I crawled under my sheets and smiled. This was something no one could ever take away from me. Even if it is only for now I am with Roald. I now knew that I liked Roald more than I had ever thought I would.

A/N Now that I have started it, I like writing these scenes between Kel and Roald. Please review and look for the next chapter. 8)