By West Wind
Disclaimer: I have no claim to any of the GW characters. Only thing that is mine is the story line and any non GW characters.
"Well, I have to grab my books for my night class. See ya' latter," announced Kiel grinning at them before he took off down the hallway.
The girls entered the room.
"What's up with Kiel?" Marimeia asked. "He has been acting odd the past week or two."
The other two girls looked at Marimeia in disbelief then laughed.
"You don't realize, do you?" asked Jen.
"Kiel is in love with you," blurted out Nikki.
Marimeia looked at her friends in shock. Kiel had been rather affectionate lately, but she had interpreted it as brotherly affection not romantic interest. Nikki laughed at Marimeia's reaction.
"Didn't know you had an admirer?" teased Nikki.
"He would hate me if he knew I told you this, but you should have seen how excited he was when he found out the two of you were in the same chemistry class," added Jen with a smirk.
"Since the beginning of the semester," groaned Marimeia.
"Yah," confirmed Jen, "if not earlier."
"He is a great guy, but I just don't like him in that way. I know I never will."
"Just let him down easy when he tells you," advised Jen.
"I'll try," promised Marimeia.
Marimeia sat in one of the library study rooms with books and papers spread out in front of her. Over the past week she had taken to avoiding Kiel when she could. It had been over a month since Jen and Nikki had enlightened her of Kiel's feelings toward her. At first she had tried to ignore his more frequent, subtle advances and had asked him to stop putting his arm around her and other such things. She had even told him flat out that she considered him only a friend, nothing more. He did not seem fazed by her refusal. In fact, he seemed to try harder to get her attention. Of late, she would take off to study some place other than the dorm. Sometimes with Jen or Nikki, other times not. Any where to avoid him fawning over her.
There was a knock at the one of the windows to the study room. Marimeia looked up from her work to see Kiel waving enthusiastically at her before coming in.
"So, this is where you have been hiding of late," he commented.
"Trying to get stuff done before finals," answered Marimeia as she motioned to the stacks of books and papers surrounding her, as well as, the portable computer Heero had given her for graduation.
Kiel took the seat beside her and leaned over to view what she was working on. At one time Kiel's closeness would not have bothered her, but now it made her uncomfortable and wary. She hated the fact that she felt that way towards a friend, but his unwanted attention was causing a strain on their relationship.
"Your research paper for lit class?" he asked pointing at the computer screen.
"Yah, just finished it. Had to pick a writer and explain the significance of his or her work and its affect on people and/or myself. I chose Dorothy Catalonia and her commentary on war and her experience with it."
"You are just into gloomy stuff, girl. Personally I would have picked a romantic poet to write about," he said looking into her blue eyes. "Someone like Mike Scholer. 'My love, calls to me and I must go, and drink in her beauty with my eyes. She beckons. I come near. Her kisses to me overflow'," he quoted.
Kiel slowly leaned toward Marimeia and touches his lips to hers, and she instinctively punched him in the gut. Kiel doubled over in pain and let out a groan as he hit the floor. Marimeia gasped at the pain she had inflicted on her friend.
"Are you ok?" asked a concerned Marimeia. "I really did not mean to hurt you. It was just reflex."
"I'll be fine, in a moment," Kiel groaned from his fetal position on the floor.
Marimeia helped Kiel into the chair as the queasiness subsided.
"I am sorry," said Marimeia.
"I'm the one who should be apologizing. You told me you only thought of me as a friend, and I ignored it. I thought if I keep trying you might find you have feelings for me too. I know now I was wrong."
Kiel's apology struck a nerve with Marimeia. She was trying to do the same thing with Heero. Trowa was right, she was putting a strain on her and Heero's existing friendship, a friendship she did not want to lose.
"If my heart did not belong to another, you could be sure I would have given you a chance," she comforted.
"Who? How long?" he asked pointedly. "You never mentioned it."
"It's someone back home. I have had feelings for him since I was thirteen but it seems like all my life, and probably because he does not feel the same," she answered.
"Oh… why do you continue to want him if he does not want you?" asked a confused Kiel. "There are more guys out there that would jump at a change to be with you."
"Why did you continue to pursue me when you knew I was not interested?"
"Ouch! Tussah! Well if you ever give up on this fella, I would be happy to take his place."
"Thanks, but you will probably have found someone else by then."
"That bad, huh," he said sympathetically.
"Yep," she replied.
As they walked back to the dorm, Marimeia was glad they
had their little incident in the library. It helped clear the air between
them and things looked like they were headed back to normal between Kiel
and her. There was still a bit of uneasiness, but it was quickly fading.
Now, she had to decide what to do about Heero.