Disclaimer: Do I even have to bother with this anymore?

Aelish: How many times do I have to tell you, NO!

Me: That was a rhetorical question.

Aelish: Tough.

Me: Ergh…

Rosethorn: Now that I have gotten out of that undignified position…as a WELL…(glares at me)…

Me: Uh-oh…(runs away)

Rosethorn: Come on, Crane! (runs after)

Crane: (follows, looking rather embarrassed because he's running)

Chapter 3


"Now," said Honored Moonstream, the Dedicate Superior of Winding Circle, "I have brought you two here because I have a job for you to do."

Rosethorn and Crane were seated in her office, carefully avoiding looking at each other, and listening as Moonstream explained what she wanted with them.

"I would like for you to do a project together," she continued.

"What?" asked the two other dedicates simultaneously.

"I know, I know," Moonstream said, and sighed. "You two don't like working together. But you have worked together before, and furthermore, you have done a good job of it. I know you will help me with this problem."

She went on to explain the project in detail. Unfortunately, Rosethorn, however hard she tried, couldn't concentrate. Instead she stared at Crane, who had his eyes fixed on the Dedicate Superior and was drinking in every word she said. He looked as if he was going to love this project.

How am I going to work with him? she thought desperately. It was bad enough when we argued all the time, but now…this. She knew that no matter what, she couldn't get away from or forget about 'this.' It was not the sort of thing to just go away when she wanted it to. An argument wasn't either, but it could be pushed aside, forced back by sheer will. 'This' couldn't. 'This' depended partly on the other person and what they decided to do, and judging from what Crane had decided the past two times, Rosethorn knew she wasn't likely to escape from it anytime soon.

It was not the actual kissing that was the problem, she decided as Moonstream went on and on. It was the uncomfortable feelings afterwards, and the fact that people kept coming in at exactly the wrong moment. The kissing itself was actually quite pleasant, she thought, and then mentally slapped herself. What in the Green Man's name was she thinking?

It was at this point that she noticed that both Moonstream and Crane were looking at her, obviously waiting for an answer to a question.

"Umm…" she said, blushing. "Uh, I, uh, didn't hear what you said. Could you repeat it?"

"I asked what you thought about doing the project. Exactly how hard do you think it will be?"

"I…um…I don't know. It sounds easy enough, I suppose. If we work hard." There. That would have to do. It was a passable answer, although Crane looked slightly suspicious, as though he realized she hadn't been listening.

"All right, then," said Moonstream. "You two may go."

Rosethorn quickly stood up, almost knocking her chair over in the process, and left the office.

rosethornlovescrane&cranelovesrosethornrosethornlovescrane&cranelovesrosethorn

"Okay, what do we do?" asked Rosethorn a little while later. They were in the living room at Discipline. Both had pencils, and there were neat piles of charts, maps, and paper on the table in front of them.

"Were you listening to Moonstream at all?" demanded Crane.

"Um…sort of."

The other dedicate sighed. "All right, out with it. What were you thinking about?"

What was she supposed to say? 'I was thinking about you and what would happen while we worked on this project?' "I…er…" she mumbled. Her face turned red for the second time that day.

"Come on, it can't be that bad, whatever it was," he said, looking interested now.

"Uhh…" She blushed even harder.

"Rosethorn?" His tone had changed, she noticed. It was suddenly gentler, more…tender? Was that really a good word to describe it?

Before she could decide, he was kissing her again. This wasn't so bad, she decided—and froze as she heard a new voice.

"I told you so!" said a very triumphant Briar to Sandry, Daja, and Tris. All three girls were looking astonished.

Rosethorn glared at Briar. "Boy…" she said warningly. She must have succeeded in sounding like her usual self, because he looked a little scared.

"We weren't spying," he protested. "We just walked in and there it was. But they didn't believe me when I told th—oops," he added as he realized his mistake.

Rosethorn raised her eyebrows. "You told them," she repeated.

"Uh, yeah."

She'd meant to go on, but suddenly she didn't want to argue anymore. She sighed. "Well, I suppose it's only to be expected. They are in your mind, after all."

Briar looked surprised. So did the girls and Crane. Seeing this, she shrugged. "I just don't feel much like arguing with you right now." She turned to Crane. "So, you never answered my question. What do we do?"


A/N: Review please? Thanks to Alanna22039, TheWriter21, LandUnderWave, music nerd, blueholly, and eredea for reviews of previous chapters, and everyone else, GET MOVING! Virtual treats for those who review this chapter! I—

Rosethorn: Mph mph mphmmph mph!

Me: Ignore her. Now, then, I—

Crane: (comes panting up) What did you DO?

Me: (with wicked smile) Oh, so you do care.

Crane: (blushes) No! I just—well, she is my friend!

Me: More than that.

Crane: Nuh-uh!

Me: Whatever. (snorts) Anyway, to answer your question, I got tired of using my All-Powerful Authoress Powers and tied her up instead.

Aelish: You used you All-Powerful Authoress Powers to tie her up! Besides, I have All-Powerful Authoress Powers too, because I'm your evil Cupid twin!

Me: Soooo…?

Aelish: Soooo, you lied!

Me: No I didn't!

Aelish: You said you got tired of using your All-Powerful Authoress Powers and tied her up, but you used them to tie her up!

Me: Gah! Go away!

Aelish: No.

Me: Then at least be quiet.

Aelish: No. (sings) I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves…

Everyone: OH NO! (covers ears)

Aelish: (evil-Cupid-twin-smile) Oh yes! (continues singing) I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves, I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves and this is how it goes. I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves, I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves and this is how it goes. I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves, I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves and this is how it goes…