A/N: Ah, she has returned! Yes, I'm back and I know I haven't updated in ages. I meant to do it months ago but before I knew it, exams were upon me again and another term had passed. I'll cut the chitchat short and get on with the story.
Disclaimer: What do I own? Let's see… hmmm… a mountain of books, a stuffed elephant, a teddy-bear whose filled with beans and… well, let's just say that everything TP related isn't part of the list.
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Previously
"What is it you wanted to talk about?" I asked as I lay down on my bed. Cleon stood uncomfortably in the centre of the room.
"It's about Kel."
"I figured it might be."
Cleon drew a deep breath and straightened his shoulders, looking confident. "I want you to stay away from her."
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My Greatest Fear
Chapter 5: Odd Behaviour
I sat bolt upright and stared at Cleon in shock, wondering if I'd heard him right.
"Excuse me?"
Cleon frowned and repeated himself. "I want you to stay away from her."
"'Her' being Kel, I take it?"
"That's right."
I gazed at him in silence for a few long moments, my mouth somewhere around my ankles. When I got control of myself I said, "You're kidding, right? You must be kidding. This is a joke."
"No joke, Neal."
I stood and paced around my room, looking at everything but the oaf in the centre of the floor.
"Right, well, are you going to give me an explanation?" I asked when I finally looked at him.
"Of course. You have to understand where I'm coming from. Kel is the world to me. Every moment she spends with you, increases the chance that she'll fall for you. I mean, I don't want to seem disrespectful, but you're certainly no Owen, you're quite the ladies man, in your own way."
"Have you heard yourself? This is just getting more ridiculous by the minute! Why would Kel even look at me? By the Gods, Cleon, I'm her BEST FRIEND!"
When I said it, the words bounced around my head. Her best friend, just what I was made to be. Nothing more than that; never more than that.
"That's all well and good, Neal, but what's to stop you from looking at her?"
I glared at him. "That isn't even worth a response."
"I know you have Neal. Do you think I don't know who she was talking about at breakfast? 'An old and very dear friend'? Who else could it be? I don't think I like the idea of you and Kel alone at all hours of the morning."
"We were talking, Cleon. That's what friends do. They talk to each other. They support each other. Besides, don't you think you're being incredibly selfish?"
"In what way?"
"Well, you're betrothed for starters. You know that you can't marry Kel so why don't you leave her alone and let her find someone else?"
"I can't do that Neal," Cleon said, softly.
"And why not?"
With despair evident in his voice, he replied, "I love her."
Well, that just won't do, now will it? We can't have that, said the ever present voice- in- my- head.
When I didn't say anything, Cleon continued, "Every time I see you two together, I get so angry. There've been times when I wanted to walk over and punch your nose in, Neal, for hugging her the way you do. She's so close to you. You know and understand everything about her. She tells you everything."
I sighed and wiped a hand over my face. "Cleon, you're suffering from a bout of jealousy. Nothing more."
"But-"
"There are no 'buts'. You have to let her go, Cleon. You're going to forget Kel, get married and be happy, alright?"
"Aren't you going to help me?" he asked furiously.
"Do what? Break her heart?"
"No, get her back, if only for a day! A day is better than nothing you know."
I stared at him in disbelief then I walked to the door and opened it. "You're disgusting. I'd appreciate it if you'd leave my rooms, please. I won't be able to meet your demands. Sorry."
Cleon continued to look at me. "I thought you'd want the best for her."
"I do, but the best isn't you."
Cleon's mouth tightened. I'd never seen anyone look so livid. He approached the door and stopped before he left. He looked me up and down. "She'll never go for you, Neal. She has better taste than that."
"Funny, you didn't think so a few moments ago."
Cleon left in a rage and I slammed the door behind him. Who did he think he was, to demand such things? This was so un-Cleon-like. Why was everybody not behaving like themselves? First Kel, then Cleon, not to mention myself, of course.
We were all to tense, what with all the ordeals and a war with Scanra imminent. We all needed to get out and relax. No, that wouldn't solve everyone's problems, particularly not Cleon's and certainly not mine, but it could help.
There was a knock on my door and I couldn't believe that Cleon would come back. "Go away. You're not wanted here."
The person on the other side was silent for a moment then said, "And why not? I didn't do anything."
I looked up at the door. "Merric?"
"The one and only."
I stood and went to the door, opening it to reveal my red-headed friend. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you, to talk about tonight but I saw Cleon storming off in the opposite direction and thought maybe he'd be a more interesting topic for conversation."
I sighed. "Yeah, I guess."
Merric frowned. "What happened? Is something wrong?"
"Well, it depends on how you look at it, but in my eyes, yes, something is wrong. It concerns Kel."
"Ah. Well then, can I come in? It's probably not the best idea to talk about it in the corridor."
I opened the door wider and let Merric in. When he had seated himself on my desk, I proceeded to tell him of the conversation that I'd had with Cleon. At the end, I asked, "Well, what do you think of that?"
Merric sat in silence, contemplating everything I'd said, then replied, "I think he's definitely jealous. He doesn't hate you at all and I'd don't think he'd want to hurt Kel but he probably feels second-best when you're both with Kel."
"So, what if we all went riding tomorrow? All of us, together, like it used to be. It might ease some of the tension."
"Good idea, I'll go tell everyone," Merric said, pushing himself off the desk.
As he departed to find all our friends, I wondered if I'd done the right thing. Sometimes, it was better to leave well-enough alone, but when it came to Kel, I'd just couldn't help myself. She was to be protected at all costs.
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A/N: Ugh! Have I ever written anything so disgusting? This was even worse than the last chapter but it was the best I could come up with. I tweaked and twisted as much as possible but, nothing. I'm sorry I can't reply to your reviews but I'm sure you're all aware of the new 'rule' that I haven't heard confirmed.
Anyway, just a note to Princess Peach 131, this was the last, 'no-plot' chapter. The next one will be better.
Now, you can review. Please try and be nice. I know this sucks. I don't need to hear it.
