Chapter 9

Three weeks passed, and finally it's the ball! Everyone was excited. Lieber decided it was time he acted quick and steal Nel away from Albel. Albel was the same as usual, with no worries because Nel already belongs to him. Nel was still looking for her dress, and she was going to ask Clair where it was.

She knocked on Clair's door. Clair opened, and smiled when it was Nel. "Nel! What brings you here? Oh and are you excited about today? It's the ball!"

"Yes, Clair, I know it's the ball today. But I wanted to ask, have you seen my dress anywhere? I can't find it in my room." Nel said, worried.

"Oh, umm….. I don't know…." Clair trailed off.

Nel knew that something was happening. "Clair, what have you done with my dress?" She asked sweetly. TOO SWEETLY AND IT'S SO NOT NEL.

"Ummm….OH ALRIGHT!" Clair burst out. "The queen asked me to make a few adjustments to your dress so when you weren't around in your room, I came in and took your dress. But don't worry, Nel, I'm almost done!" Clair finished happily.

"Hmmm…..but that dress was fine already!" Said Nel.

"Nel, don't worry. I'm making the dress look better." Said Clair. "Or you don't trust me?" Said Clair.

Nel hated it whenever Clair does that. It's not that she doesn't trust her, just that she wasn't sure if things are going to turn out t be fine. She was also worried about what might happen in the ball. She kind of felt Lieber was always following her the days before. Not that she's saying Lieber is bad, but it's just……maybe she likes Albel more…. Or maybe she's just not so friendly with Lieber…then again, she's not so friendly with Albel either. Except for what happened yesterday……(Blush)

"Nel? Why are you blushing all of a sudden? Did something happen? Can I know? I am your best friend after all." Said Clair, winking. She was also working on Nel's dress. They were inside Clair's room. (I forgot to tell you that…SORRY!)

"N-Nothing happened, nothing happened at all, Clair." She laughed nervously. I have to stop blushing!

"Well, I guess you don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Said Clair smiling, understanding that it is something Nel just can't tell. People have to keep secrets sometimes, right?

"Nel, I'm always done with your dress. It will look so beautiful when you wear it, trust me!" Said Clair happily.

Nel was kind of feeling bad because she couldn't tell Clair about what had happened, but she thinks it's too much to be told out. Even if it's her best friend/childhood friend.

"Well, it better be," Said Nel.

"Of course it will!" Said Clair with joy.

Clair finally finished Nel's dress and held it out to her. Nel was amazed. It was…..actually it was beautiful. No. It wasn't beautiful. It was excellent. It was just downright amazing.

"Clair! It's so beautiful!" Nel said with amazement.

"See! I told you so!" Said Clair, smiling. "Now Albel will think you look amazing!" Said Clair.

"W-Wait a minute. How did you know I was going with Albel?" Said Nel, suspiciously.

"I didn't. I just thought you would. You know, you two look quite like a couple by just looking." Said Clair with playful eyes.

Nel started to blush. She wanted to change the subject now. "So Clair, could I have my dress back?" She said, as if she wanted to run away from this place right now. And she really did want to.

"I know Nel. You want to change the subject and want to run away from my room right now. Oh well, here you go. Make sure you look really attractive for Prince…..Charming….?" Clair said smiling but she looked like she was going to burst out of laughter.

"THANK YOU, CLAIR. Well I should get going now." Said Nel.

"Bye, Nel." Said Clair waving to her as Nel did to Clair.

Nel walked across the halls, thinking deeply. Do I really like Albel? Does he like me? Wait, I don't think he likes me. I think….I think….he loves me. As I….love him…..but how can that be? How come I even love him in the first place?

Being so deep in thought, she didn't see Albel in front of her, and she bumped into him. He too, was thinking about something….something that we wouldn't like to know, now would we? Yes it has something to do with Nel. Something naughty. Very naughty.

The 'oof!' sound came. "S-Sorry! Did I hurt you in anyway?" Said Nel apologetically and kindly.

"No Nel, you didn't hurt me and you cant hurt me at all. You belong to me, remember? You can't hurt me." Said Albel, smirking, being the first to recover.

"W-What?" Said Nel. Her vision was kind of blurry. She shook her head and saw that it was Albel. "Oh, Albel, it's you." She said.

Both didn't realize what position they were in. Nel was on top of Albel, and Albel had his arms around her waist. Well, actually Albel knew, that's why he was smirking a lot, but Nel didn't. She didn't until she looked around to see if anyone saw what happened and her eyes landed on the way they were.

"AAHH!" She jumped off, really embarrassed. Albel just laid down there a minute, smirking. Then he burst out of laughter.

"D-Don't you dare laugh, Albel! I mean it!" Said Nel, embarrassed.

Albel stood up, dusted of his 'skirt' and asked Nel, "Why did you bumpinto me anyway?"

Nel blushed. "I was thinking…." She trailed off.

Albel was curious. "May I know about what?"

"I was thinking….thinking about….you." She said, blushing even harder now.

"Well, I'm flattered. Why were you thinking about me? What were you thinking about me?" He said smirking, while taking a few steps towards her.

She instantly stepped back. She decided she would not say a word, and ran off towards her room.

Albel was a bit surprised. She just ran off! He smirked. Let's play a game called 'catching' shall we?

He ran where she ran. Since he knew she was going to her room, he knew the way perfectly. He soon caught up with her, and was right behind her when she was about to open the door. She turned around and let out a gasp and he took this chance and kissed her.

She moaned. What was so special about this kiss? She didn't know at all. But she felt it was really special. They broke apart, and Nel asked this question.

"Albel? Why did you kiss me? Do you like me?" She asked, curious to why he would do such a thing like this.

"I don't like you." Said Albel. The moment she heard that, she felt like her heart was shattered.

Silent tears fell down her cheeks. Albel was shocked. "Nel, why are you crying?" He asked concerned.

"You don't like me and you dare kiss me like that! What kind of sick person are you!" Shouted Nel, more tears fell and she just fell on the floor, sobbing her heart out.

Albel picked her up again. She struggled from his grasp. He held her tighter. "Listen, Nel. I didn't finish my sentence. I was going to say……I love you. Not like, love." He finished.

She looked shocked. She looked up at him, and a tear fell.

Albel wiped the tear away with his good hand. He kissed her again, but this time, much more gently.

She didn't flinch, struggle or move from him. She didn't want to. Now she knew…..now she knew the truth. He loves her…..as she loves him.

Lieber was watching this from far away. He knew, he had no more chance. He felt heartbroken. But he wasn't the type to dwell on the bad side. He must always be happy. On the other side, he saw Maria, Cliff, Mirage and Marietta talking. Marietta had come to see how the ball was like.

He suddenly thought Marietta was……..something he can't quite put….perhaps attractive…….MUAHAHAHA!

"Well? Do you believe me?" Said Albel, worried but he didn't show it.

"Yes, I believe it." Nel said as she looked up with a smile on her face.

Albel spotted the red cloth hanging around Nel's arm. "What's that?" He asked.

"It's a secret, Albel. You'll know when it's the ball, so be a good boy and be patient." Said Nel.

"Bah. Fine. I hope it's something good." He said a she walked away.

"Bye, Albel!" Said Nel, laughing as she walked inside her room, to try and get some rest and after that, get ready.

So she carefully placed the dress in the cupboard, and went to take a nap.

Albel went back to his room. He hasn't seen Lieber at all now. Maybe he finally gave up…..Hahahaha!

He went back to his room. He laid back on his bed, thought about Nel, and drifted of to sleep.

He woke up 30 minutes later,( I know it's short), and decided to go to Nel's room.

He knocked on Nel's door, and found that it wasn't locked. He went in and saw Nel sleeping comfortably in her bed, smile on her face, like a cute baby. (AWWWWW)

He closed the door, walked towards her and caressed her face. She's so irresistible. He wants to be next to her always.

Nel opened her eyes slowly, trying to get used to the light in her room. When she got used to it, she saw Albel looking at her, smiling. Albel, smiling? This is a funny dream….

"Nel, you're awake already? I thought you just slept." Said Albel.

"This is a dream, right? Albel doesn't actually….smile…..he SMIRKS! And he doesn't talk to people kindly, at least not as kind as this!" Said Nel, astounded.

"Um….Nel, this isn't a dream. And I only talk to you like this. And I love you, remember?" Said Albel, amused.

Nel remembered what had happened before they went to their respective rooms. Then it clicked her. The "I love you" part replayed again and again in her head. She spaced out and Albel was beginning to get worried.

"Nel, are you okay?" He asked worriedly. Something he did or say?

"Huh?..." Said Nel, as she was taken out of her daze. She smiled. Then, after a second or so, she said, "Thank you for telling me that you love me…" She said, smiling.

Albel blushed. (In Nel's POV : HE BLUSHED!) Then he said, "Hmph, I wont say it all the time." He looked away.

Nel laughed quietly. "Of course you won't." She saw the time on the table. "Oh no, it's already seven o'clock…" She said. "I have to get ready for the ball." She looked at Albel, with a sweet smile on her face that clearly meant, "Get out of my room and let me change. You go change, too." That kind of look. (A/N Is there a look like that?)

Of course, Albel took the hint. "Alright. Will I be the first to see your dress?" Said Albel, smirking.

"No. of course not." Said Nel.

Albel was upset. "What! If not me, then who?" Said Albel, angry.

"The queen will." Said Nel, amused but she wasn't showing it. "Now please, get changed and go to the ball." Said Nel.

Albel growled a bit and went out to his room. "You're going to pay for that." He said as he left.

Nel smirked this time. When she saw that Albel really did go out, she took out her dress and got ready.

Albel had calmed down a bit and was going to go get ready as Nel had told him to. On the way, he saw Lieber. He smirked and looked at Lieber.

"I don't care now, Albel. I know I already lost. And I have another," Said Lieber, acting all proud. "I have Marietta, the most perfect one." He finished, smiling victoriously.

Albel was relieved, actually. He didn't want Lieber to be chasing after Nel 24/7 after all. "Good, because the next time you do that to Nel, I swear I will kill you." Said Albel, smirking.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Well, it was a I would say." Said Lieber.

"Yes, I would say so too." Said another person, not Albel.

Both turned their heads to the direction where the voice came from. And boy, were they shocked.

Author's notes : yes, all this happened from the morning till evening. Before the ball, I mean. It wasn't so good, and I tried to make it longer than the other chapters, but it seems like so much happened. Looks like time went slow for this one. Hope everyone isn't so disappointed at this….. I do suck at writing fanfics, I guess….hehehe…..