I was going to say this last time, but, alas, forgot. In response to the question if I thought Nita would really have done that (kissed Kit in math) my answer is, while she might not have normally, and it might be a bit OOC, I do think that people get to a point of frustration where they act completely out of character in normal life. For example, teacher's pet lashes out in frustration and chews out a teacher. *tries to hide the guilty look creeping up on her face* I can't deny that I've thought more than once about kissing a guy friend when others are harassing me and him (about a romance going on between me and my guy friend), just to see the looks on everyone's faces. (It was interesting enough when we tried out together for a play, and I had to flirt— I mean, really thickly flirt- with him, and we then kept say the lines back in forth in life. We got a lot of looks— it was great. {"Ah, my dear, I must explain it to you one day, my dear— the close connection between eroticism and religion."} ) This actually is where the inspiration for the first chapter came from.

Keep racking up those reviews. I want 7 more before I post again!

— — — — —

"What in the hell were you thinking?" demanded Kit.

It was after school. Kit had just appeared in the living room of Nita's house, empty except for the two of them.

Nita smiled. She smiled! Kit was aghast. What on earth was going on with Nita today? First, she smarted off to a teacher, then she had kissed him. Him, Kit, her best friend. What had she been thinking?

"I was sick of the nescient comments." she said, in an almost offhand voice. They both sat down.

"Don't choke on that word there." Kit snapped back. He was used to Nita's large vocabulary, and usually figured out what the words mean, but he was also sick waiting for an explanation of this morning.

"Nescient? It mean without a basis of knowledge, or ignorant." Nita spoke as if he'd just asked what "tree" meant.

"Well, that's fine and dandy, but it still doesn't answer the question." Kit replied.

Nita sighed. "Well, if you'd let me finish..." She switched back to the offhand voice. "If they were going to talk, I wanted them to at least have a reason. They're going to talk anyway."

"Well, you sure gave them a reason. Have you heard the extent of how far this story's traveled and changed?" Kit was getting exasperated by her "It doesn't really matter." attitude. And what the heck was that smile that kept creeping on her face about?

"According to the gossip chain of Hempstead High School, I've done everything short of have sex with you in the math class." Her face was dead serious... until that damn smile creeped back on. Somehow, however, Kit didn't think the smile was because of the rumors.

Kit shook his head in frustration. He burst out, "What the hell is up with that damn smile?"

"Nothing..." said Nita a voice that betrayed her lie.

"Reeeeaaally." Kit drawled. "Why do I not believe that for a second? Come, Neets, we've been friends for what, two, three, years? How dense do you think I am?"

"Fine. If you must know, and obviously you must, I... had an interesting conversation at lunch."

"And the interesting conversation left this goofy grin on your face... why?"

"I... kinda sorta..." started Nita.

What could have happened that would have caused Nita to have this much trouble spitting it out? Kit wondered.

"...got a date for Friday." she finished with a little difficulty.

***

Nita was worried about telling Kit about Louis. She wasn't exactly sure why... It wasn't like he'd ever shown romantic interest in her. Perhaps it was because of the way he'd reacted to Ronan.

That brought back a rush of memories. That summer had been... interesting. She'd, despite her attitude at the beginning, had a lot of fun in Ireland, until the Reenactment. She hadn't talked to Ronan at all since she'd left Ireland over a year ago. However, he was her first— and only— kiss and romance what so ever.

Until perhaps now. And her and Louis had gotten off to a unique start. A part of her mind still wondered if what his hidden agenda was... that part of her mind was having trouble believing that someone— a guy— actually struck up a conversation with her and wanted a date with her.

"Do I even what to know what graceful phrases came out of your mouth geared at your new conquest?" asked Kit. Nita really had no cause for worry— he was happy someone actually had something nice to say to her at school. He knew how people treated her. This, however, was not going to stop him from teasing the heck out of her.

"Conquest?" asked Nita, raising her eyebrows as she winced at the thought of some of the things she'd said. He knows me too well. she thought.

Kit shrugged.

"His name's Louis." she informed him.

"That wasn't the question." Kit accused. "What did you say to this Louis?"

"He started it." she grumbled.

Kit looked at her with a slightly amused and mocking look, said in a slightly amused and mocking voice. "I believe you."

"He did!" Nita insisted. "He came up and asked..." Nit blushed here, "If I really got up in the middle of class, sat on your lap and started fondling you."

"And what did you say...?" prompted Kit. He didn't look shocked— he'd obviously heard the same rumors as Nita.

"Nothing. I tried to ignore him, but then he asked if he could sit down and if I was in his French II class."

"And...?"

"I told him 'Oui. Maintenant, allez-vous-en, tu m'ennie'."

"Which means?" Kit might be fluent in Spanish, but he didn't know any French.

"'Yes. Now, go away, you are bothering me.'" Nita translated.

"This probably was an interesting conversation." said Kit, settling deeper into his armchair. "Continue."

"Well... we then had a long conversation in French after he sat down, including him telling me he was glad to meet me and asking me on a date, me calling him a loser, and ended with me telling him to go to hell, and him telling me only if I came with him. Then he was bad pick-up line-ing me, in English."

"Wait— he asked you on a date, and you told him to go to hell... and you are still going out with him Friday?"

"Yup."

"This guy must have been pretty intent to get through all of your bull crap to ask you for a date. I assuming that you didn't smack him— while I would put it past you—" This earned Kit a pillow to the head.

"My point exactly." continued Kit, unswayed, "What I was going to say was, I was assuming you didn't smack him since you do have the date, and therefore you must like him a little at least."

"Maybe." said Nita.

"Just maybe." repeated Kit. Then with a sly grin, and bracing himself from another pillow attack, "My money's that before the week is over, you'll get kicked out of French for making out with him." Kit's preparations weren't in vain. He ducked.

"Kit... I'm not sure if I said it yet, but... sorry about that. I was incredibly frustrated and having a bad day, and while I know I shouldn't have... The looks on everyone's faces were absolutely priceless. Including yours."

"Oh, well." said Kit. "You had a point that they would talk anyway. Besides, it's mainly you they are gossiping about, and there's fringe benefit of people no longer speculating about my sexual preference."

Nita started. That was a new one to her. "Your sexual preference?" she asked.

"Yeah. For some reason, the people who didn't think we were screwing, think that I'm gay, which is, of course, most assuredly not true."

"See! I always do they right thing." Nita insisted with a straight face— at first. After Kit cracked up, she couldn't help but join in.

"So this Louis..." began Kit, switching topics, "Is he cuter than me?"

Nita laughed again. "That doesn't take much."

Now it was her turn to duck the pillow that suddenly found itself flying towards her head.