A/N: The phone number I use for Nita is actually the area code+ the last four digits listed in book one, I just don't like the use of "555" as a prefix, so I changed it. Over zealous fans: DON'T CALL. :D

-- -- -- -- --

Nita continued to eat lunch daily with Louis. She felt bad for not spend as much time with Kit, for while she still saw him often in the evenings, she walked home with Louis most of the time, though she still walked with Kit occasionally. Louis and Kit still hadn't met— Nita would have liked to keep it that way, for she was very nervous about it, but knew they eventually would meet. Nita had, however, pointed Louis out to Kit, and vice versa.

This evening, the following Thursday, Nita and Louis had gone to a small park, only a couple of blocks wide, that was about a ten-minute walk from their house. It had a small lake, and an assortment of trees, and a handful of picnic tables and benches.

All picnickers had long since left, and the sky darkened, the last family dragged itself away from the beautiful weather and back to their homes.

After walking around for a bit, Nita and Louis sat down a bench next to the lake, and walked the sunset. "The colors are so beautiful." Nita remarked.

"Not as beautiful as you." Louis responded.

Nita blushed, though that goofy grin had returned to her face. After a few minutes, Louis asked suddenly,

"Are you yet convinced that I don't think you are some type of demimondaine or something?" Nita unknowing look betrayed a slip of her large vocabulary. Louis simplified with, "Whore or slut."

Nita blushed even more furiously, now in shame, and stammered, "I.... I never..."

"Yes, you did." Louis cut her off. "Judging by some of your statements and reactions to my statements, I'm positive you were skeptical of me."

Nita sighed, and resorted to honesty. "Yes, fine. At first. But not anymore, promise."

Louis nodded. "Good. Then I can do this." Louis promptly leaned over and kissed her. "Hope you don't mind. I wanted to last time but I was afraid you might get the wrong idea if you still were suspicious of me. Do you mind?" Nita answered by kissing him in return.

***

Kissing Louis was nothing like kissing Ronan. There was no vivid colors, no mindtouch, no feeling his emotions. The last bit was fine with Nita— she had enough of her own.

There was a much bigger rush of emotions other than nerves in kissing Louis, as opposed to kissing Ronan. Pleasant heat coursed her body; electricity fizzed where his hands lay on her arms, where his leg pressed next to hers on the bench.

When they separated, Nita said softly, "I sorry for having suspected you."

"It's okay. I guess I can see how you might of thought that, maybe, with what you tell me about school. However, I assure I hold to the advice to 'Never fall in love with a women who sales herself.' for ' It never turns out good.'"

Nita's questioning look, again, betrayed that she didn't have a clue what he was talking about.

"You've never seen Moulin Rouge?" exclaimed Louis. Nita hook her head. "It's great. It has some fabulous songs. I'd love to do a Moulin Rouge spread for..." he trailed off and then said, "You have to see it. Wanna come over Friday after school and watch it with me?"

"Yes, I'd like to... but I can't."

"How about Saturday?"

"Sorry." said Nita shaking her head, hoping he would ask for the reason, because she couldn't tell him.

Nita and Kit had another fun session of arguing with trees over territories. They'd done several of these, and had eventual success, and for that reason, unfortunately, the Powers That Be chose to assign them to more. Nita was beginning to wonder if perhaps she and Kit should fail purposely, though she'd never seriously consider that idea. Arguing with trees always took ages. Her and Kit planned to start Friday, and work all day Saturday, and possibly Sunday if they had to. Hopefully, that'd be enough. If not, they'd spend a lot of time during the week, and Nita would have to sacrifice her time with Louis. If they were lucky, it wouldn't come to that.

"Why?" Louis asked innocently. Darn him for caring.

"Oh, we were going to go down to my aunt's." Nita tried not to wince as she lied to a person who had, to her knowledge, always been completely honest with her. Maybe she could swing by Annie's and make it at least a half-truth.

"Oh." he sounded disappointed. "Some day next week? Besides Tuesday. I have some stuff I gotta do Tuesday."

Nita thought quickly. "Wednesday?" It should be safe.

Louis smiled, "I can't wait."

"Me, either." Louis slid his arm around Nita, and she leaned against his chest. They sat in comfortable silence, looking out on the little lake.

***

"No offense, Liused, but why are trees so stubborn?" demanded Nita Friday night, leaning against Liused's trunk.

"Probably for the same reasons humans are, child." Liused said, a smile in her slow Speech.

In spite of her mood Nita laughed. "You have a point there."

"Why have you a sudden grudge against trees?" asked Liused.

Nita began to relay her and Kit's progress, or lack thereof, from today.

There were seven trees, all bickering over how one's roots interfered with their own, or how one tree was taking to many of another's nutrients from the soil. A smaller tree was mad that the others were growing branches overhead and blocking its sun. On and on the lists of complaints went. None of the trees wished to compromise. That all believed Kit and Nita were there to help them, and only them, and once they learned otherwise, wanted nothing to do with the pair of young wizards.

At this rate, thought Nita, I may have to cancel Wednesday afternoon with Louis after all.

***

The next day, while Nita was itching to plug up a chainsaw, Louis was ***

*********

He knew Nita wouldn't be home, but planned to leave a message on her answering machine. He pulled out the piece of paper she'd given him a few days ago and dialed 516-6186.

One ring.

Two rings.

Three rings.

"Hello?" asked a female voice. Louis was taken aback for a few seconds, but asked,

"Uh.... This is Louis. May I speak with Nita?"

"I'm sorry, Louis, but she's out with Kit. Can I take a message?"

"Um, yeah. Just tell her I called."

"Okay, bye."

"Bye." He hung up, thoughts racing.

She's out with Kit? Who was on the phone? Nita's out with Kit? I thought her family went down to visit her aunt. Maybe her plans changed. She's out with Kit? I thought they were just friends. What's Nita doing out with Kit? Are they really just friends? Why is she out with Kit? Did she lie to me?

— — —

Five reviews before update!