Hey there - updated a bit late today, sorry, I was working on a FFX-2 one-shot. This chapter is hopelessly short, but it's important. It's kind of cute, too :) And just a little bit more Cleon flaming. I love flaming Cleon. He's so easy to pick on. This is the penultimate chapter! -gasp- Yep, last chapter will be up tomorrow! And it's a nice chapter... Hmm. Yes. Well, to be honest, I think you should save all your amazing compliments for a review after you've read the final chapter. You could write a really long review about how you love my writing style and how great the plot was and how unusual my idea was, and how fabulous all the Cleon flaming was... Yeah. So, I'm not going to ask you to review for this chapter. But if you're bored you could review anyway... -looks hopeful- But make sure you're there tomorrow to read the last chapter! The first twenty readers get free cookies! I promise! -shifty eyes- Well... I won't be able to give out free cookies if my oven blows up, will I? But that won't happen. Of course it won't happen...
Enjoy!
"So... it's Valentine's Day tomorrow."
"Uh huh," Kel replied half-heartedly, tapping her finger against her cup of lukewarm coffee. Neal leaned forward and rested the side of his face in his hands, smiling at Kel playfully.
"You expecting to get anything?"
"Me?" Kel snorted, leaning back in her chair and stretching her arms out. "I don't think so."
"It's funny," Neal said, gazing down into his coffee, "It's been more than two months since we first met."
"Wow," Kel said sarcastically. "Well done, you can count."
"Hey!" Neal punched her playfully on the arm as he might to one of his close friends (Merric or Roald or someone. Not that idiot Cleon. He'd probably faint in surprise.) "You're so sarcastic. I thought you'd be less sarcastic when I knew you better, but you're not."
"This is the most mind-numbing conversation I have ever had."
"Stop insulting me!" Neal said defensively. "You're always insulting me!"
"It's not my fault you're easy to insult. I have to insult someone."
"Go and insult Cleon!" said Neal in a hurt voice. "I'm tired of being picked on!"
"Aww, is Nealy-Wealy upset? Poor you!" Neal glared at Kel then put on a stealthy face and looked around the café. When he was sure no one was looking, he raised his coffee cup and let its contents drain into a nearby potted plant's soil with a satisfied grin.
"It always goes cold," he explained as Kel raised her eyebrows.
"That's because we talk too much."
"We don't talk too much! These conversations are valued highly!"
"Neal, we talk about absolute junk. If that's of high value to you, then I'm going to get the phone book and call up the mental asylum."
"My father did always say I was a little deranged..."
"Oh, damn it!" Kel shot up from her seat, almost spilling her coffee; she caught the cup just in time. "Sorry, I forgot, I have to be at uni early today - I have shovel loads of work to do. Sorry."
"See you tomorrow?" Neal asked hopefully, still holding his empty coffee cup. "Valentine's Day."
"Oh, joy of joys." Kel quickly drained her own coffee into the plant pot, not bothering to make sure no one was looking, and patted her handbag to reassure herself that she hadn't forgotten anything. "I'll be there, bright and early." Neal groaned as Kel exited the small shop.