Trouble in the Mess Hall

"You, you do!"
Kel blushed.

"Yes Neal. I've loved you for longer than I can remember. But you only like pretty girls I thought you would never look twice at me."

"I do like pretty girls it's true. But you are the most beautiful girl in the world."

Kel snorted.

"It's true! But not only are you beautiful, you're intelligent, strong and you're not afraid to stand up to anyone."

"Oh Neal".

He bent his head again and this time she kissed him back with the passion of a year's worth of longing. It felt good. She kissed him again. Kel loved this boy, loved him with all her heart and soul. And finally, after a year, he loved her back.

The bell rang, startling them out of their embrace. They exchanged a final, lingering kiss, and left the room. They talked as they walked briskly down the hallway.

"No one can know."

"Agreed."

"We can't risk the Stump finding out."

"Definitely not. He told me on my first day here that there was to be no monkey business, to keep my door open at all times."

"I wish I could change his mind!"

"Neal!" Her heart raced. Did he really want to? She had never dreamed they would get this far. Not in such a short time. Neal noticed her silence and said that maybe they would wait a bit. This reassured Kel and she entered the Mess Hall with a huge grin on her face.

"What's up with you?" asked Owen of Jesslaw, a fellow Page.

"Yeah, you're never happy, at least not like this." Added Neal, with a sly glance towards her.

"Hey Lump" called her nemesis Joren from across the hall "You sick or something? I mean, I don't think I've ever seen you smile before. Ever." His cronies snickered. Neal growled and stood up abruptly. Kel and the others fought to pull him down again before Lord Wyldon noticed the trouble. It would be hard to say 'they fell down' if he actually watched them fighting.

Kel couldn't say this out loud of course but what she was really thinking was 'I have just shared the first few moments of my passion with you. Don't get yourself killed before I have a chance to share the rest of them.' Not that Neal would be killed. He was a better fighter than Joren any day. Kel laughed at herself inside her mind for being so biased. But Joren was older. Neal would have to be careful. They were in love now; she cared more about his health than ever before.

"Drink your milk."

"Yes mother."

Funny how 'mother' could sound so much like 'lover'.