A/N: I don't own YW, much less Emeril.
Chapter Eleven
Kick it Up a Notch!
Nita sighed and pushed the finished puzzle border away from her, watching in mild amusement as Emily batted pensively at a piece. Heaving a sigh, Nita brushed her auburn hair out of her eyes and wondered how, exactly, they could proceed from their skirting-the-crush-subject stage and go on into full boyfriend-girlfriend stage.
They make it seem so damn easy in those soaps… Bob goes up to Mary, says, 'I really like you', and, boom. Instant couple. It's different with me and Kit… it's… real…
Emily swatted aside the puzzle piece and scampered over to Nita, rubbing against her chin. Yes, it's real, but it's really not that hard. Show him you like him. Maintain eye contact, buy him presents, help him… or maybe even tell him.
Nita looked sideways at the calico, who was now daintily washing behind one ear. "Where did you learn this from, Emily?"
Emily, unfazed, started on the other ear. "Carmela."
This was greeted by a roll of Nita's eyes and a smile. "Carmela's finally got a boyfriend, huh?"
Evidently hit by the impact of what she'd just revealed, Emily pranced off, saying nothing more.
Nita thoughtfully chewed on one fingernail, planning the beginning of the downfall of the barrier separating her wizardry partner from her.
Let's kick it up a notch.
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A pressing silence filled the air between Kit and Nita as he sat down, a Sobe in one hand, pushing Nita a Coke with the other.
Kit took a swig of his Sobe and, with a sigh of contentment, placed it down, only to notice that Nita was fiddling with the cap.
"Neets?"
She jumped at the sound of his voice and went a beautiful shade of crimson. "Er…" she said intelligently.
Oh, wonderful day, Callahan. VERY nice comeback. 'Nita?' 'Er…'
"What?" she snapped, embarrassed.
Kit flinched away, and she instantly felt ashamed of herself.
Yeah, way to go, Callahan! Chase him away, why don't you?
"Sorry, Neets," Kit said, sounding very sorry indeed.
Nita forced herself to relax. "Go ahead, Kit…"
Kit, now a slight shade of pink, continued, somewhat more quickly.
"What's eating you? You've been really… moody… these past few days… you won't even really talk to me anymore. You okay?"
No, Kit, I'm not okay. I'm hopelessly in love with you…
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Kit nodded and took a sip of his Sobe.
Nita stared down at the tabletop and listened to the voices in her head begin to wage a war against one another.
Say it. Just say it.
No, he's gonna laugh at me… and I'm afraid for our partnership…
SAY IT. I DON'T CARE, JUST SAY IT.
But…
Look, Nita, you've been watching the poor boy's every move since eighth grade, you like him. JUST SAY IT…
But…
SAY IT.
Before Nita could argue, the last voice had pushed the words out of his mouth.
"Kit, I love you."
He looked at her cautiously. "Say what?"
"I love you. And this isn't just… friendly, 'Love, Nita' thing, it's 'Kit, I really, really love you'…"
Kit looked away, out the window, and Nita was horrified to see him turn pale.
Oh God, here it comes…
Brown eyes met gray, and Kit murmured, "I love you too, Neets…"
Nita could bear it no longer. She lunged across the table, grabbed Kit, and pulled him towards her, meeting his lips in what looked to be the makings of a nice, long, uninterrupted kiss.
They had barely gotten used to the feel of the other's mouth and deepened the kiss when another pop made itself extremely audible in their immediate vicinity.
Oh God, no, not now… Nita thought, horrified.
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A/N: Yup, ANOTHER cliffie. Sorry, folks, but it's the best I could do out of thirteen and a half tries.
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