Nita stared at the ceiling and thought about her hair.  It was too…too…straight.  No, Lisa from biology had straight hair, and everyone complimented her on it.  Of course, Lisa was a honey blond and fixed her hair in a new way every week.  That had become harder since she had layered her hair, but still…

A knock sounded on her door, and Nita gritted her teeth.  Dairine had yet to learn the difference between knocking and getting permission to come in.  Sure enough, the door flew open.  "Hey, Neets, guess what?"

That ranked as number two on Nita's least favorite phrases from her sister.  But Nita sat up and bit anyway.

"What?"

"Spot got a makeover."

That ranked number one.  Nita closed her eyes briefly and said, "He can't get any smaller, Dari.  Last I saw him, he was the size of my watch."

"Oh, you'd be surprised.  Come on in, boy…it's just old Neets, nobody important."

A small silver orb about the size of a marble floated in around Nita's eye level.  She groaned.  Spot flickered—Nita wasn't sure exactly how he did it—and said "hllo."

"Yeah, Dairine, Spot, real cute.  Now get out!"

"Boy, you're sure cranky…it's summer, Nita, get a grip!"

"It's also half an hour before I have to get up!"

As the door slammed, Nita flopped down on her bed and a tear trickled out for no reason at all.  No reason at all…

Kit.

Mphg?

He was still half-asleep, Nita could tell…

Sorry, didn't mean to send you that…

S'all good.

And then the slightly fuzzy silence that told her Kit was asleep again.  And Nita started crying, for no reason at all.

What is it, Neets? Did I wake you up again?  Sorry.

Look, Neets, what is it?  It's ok, really.

Nothing…I guess I'm just being stupid.

You sure?

Yeah.

Nita deliberately blocked whatever other thoughts he was sending.  She shook her head and got up again.  She would really have to do something with her hair. 

And then she started crying again. 

After a few minutes, Nita wiped her eyes and let her mind wander over why she had broken down like that…it wasn't like her.  Then pain shot through her heart like a knife.  Kit.  She smiled in painful affection for the sound, then dropped the smile and curled up against the wall.  Call it hormones, call it madness, call it…love…it hurt.  He doesn't think of me that way…I know he doesn't, he can't.  But I do.  Nita wrapped her arms around her knees and stared at the air three feet in front of her.  At least I have his friendship.  But she knew she'd been testing that lately.  Ponch would be a better partner than me. 

"Nitaaaaaaa!  Dad says get up right now!"

Nita sighed and got up for the third time that morning.