"KEL! OVER HERE!" Cleon of Kennan waved to attract Keladry of Mindelan's attention.
"Hello, Cleon." She ran her fingers through her short hair briskly. "Sorry; I don't have long - Lord Raoul needs me."
"But you'll grace me with a few moments of your shining presence, my pearl? Touch my life with the beautiful picture your smile creates?"
"Which books have you been reading recently? Give them to Neal; they might improve his poetry." She shook her head slightly, laughter in her voice. "C'mon. Before we're seen."
"Library?" She nodded, hair bouncing with the movement.
"Seen any of the study group lately?" He had finally got her alone, and she wanted to talk about other people?
"No. You?"
"No." She paused to open the door; a heavy object. "Unless you count Neal."
Of course you count Neal. Why wouldn't you count-
"Neal!"
Distracted momentarily by his thoughts, he was confused when an extra person entered the room. It didn't help when he finally regained some sort of understanding that Kel had gone off into a daydream.
"Hey, Kel, Cleon." Cleon had just about caught up with the situation, when he realised no one had spoken for about ten minutes. Kel was dreamily staring in Neal's direction; Neal was dreamily staring at Kel.
She's in love with him! The moment the thought flashed into his mind, he pushed it out. But, like all irritating things, it kept returning. Another one joined it. You were a fool to think she could love you. The thoughts built up in his mind, striking a chord that he could never forget.
"I'll go then," he finally mumbled. Neither gave any reaction as he pushed the heavy door.
Tears pricked his eyes. Maybe he had lost out to the best man, but it hurt so much. He stumbled back to his room in a daze.