A/N- Okay, so this wasn't up as fast as I would have hoped ( looks down at keyboard guiltily>), but here it is at long last! And wait! Can that possibly say 135 reviews! Yes, it does! Thanks SO much to everyone who has reviewed, or even those of you who have just read the story. Well, I hope you enjoy this next chapter!
Disclaimer- No, unfortunately I do not own any of the wonderful characters in this story (other than the one's stated in all the other disclaimers). They are the property of the brilliant Tamora Pierce. The plot, however, is all from my very own mind. It's mine, I tell you. All MINE! HAHAHAHAHA! I also claim rights to the cherry tart that is a guest star in this story. And unfortunately, I also don't own the ever-popular line "NEVER FEAR, RAOUL IS HERE!". That belongs to BrittyWeasley.
Loving My Best Friend
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Previously:
Dom and I were walking to the mess hall that evening when I saw George of Scope, a member of Third Company, banging a sign onto a post with a rock. The sign read:
You are invited to:
WHAT: Sergeant Dom's Bachelor Party!
Everyone in the Own is invited, only Dom
doesn't know that yet, so don't tell!
"He said that Sergeant Dom's last celebration as a single man should be unforgettable."
Oh, it definitely will be, I thought.
0O0O0O0O0O0
Chapter 9:
Of Parties and Quarreling Couples
We left Northwatch a week and a half later after fixing up the fort as much as we were able to. The first thing I did when we got back to the palace was to corner Raoul in a, for lack of a better term, corner.
"Sir, I don't mean to come off as disrespectful, but what in the Great Goddess's name are you thinking?" I hissed, looking up at Lord Raoul.
"Well Neal," he began, a hint of mischief in his coal-black eyes, "at the moment I'm thinking about how good a cherry tart would taste-"
"About the posters, sir!" I growled impatiently.
"I knew what you meant, Neal." Raoul replied, "I just felt like frustrating you."
I sighed. "All right, then. Why did you put up signs advertising Dom's bachelor party!"
Raoul shrugged, trying unsuccessfully to clear his face of a mirthful expression. "I just thought young Domitan should have a good night with some of his closest friends at his bachelor party." He moved past me and started to walk down the hall. "Good day, Nealan!" He called over his shoulder.
"'Closest friends'?" I cried at his back. "You consider half the Own some of Dom's 'closest friends'!"
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The second thing I did that morning was to find Yuki. I found her in the mess eating breakfast. She jumped up and gave me a hug. Then she hit me.
I gaped at her, open-mouthed, rubbing my shoulder.
"That is for not coming to see me straight after getting back!" She replied, "I thought you had been hurt or something!"
Then she hit me again.
"Ow!" I cried, rubbing my shoulder harder. She could hit rather hard for someone her size. "What was that one for!" I demanded.
"That was for putting up signs advertising your cousin's bachelor party for the entire Own to see!" She said, an angry glint in her eyes and her arms crossed over her chest.
"I didn't put those up!"
Then Kel came walking over. She stood next to Yuki, pulled back her fist, and-
"Stop it!" I yelped, clutching my shoulder, my eyes watering slightly. By now we had the attention of several knights and soldiers around us.
"I didn't get a chance to ask you this before now, but why did you put up those signs?" demanded Kel.
"I DIDN'T!" I yelled, still holding my shoulder in fear that they might decide to attack again.
"He's your cousin." Kel stated, glaring at me.
"He is? I'd never realized."
"Neal," Yuki began, "That was not a very nice thing to do."
"But I didn't!" I yelled, slightly desperate now, "Raoul did!"
"Stop lying Neal," Kel said, and she and Yuki walked away.
Dom walked up to the spot where Yuki and Kel had just been.
And then he hit me.
"Why!" I cried, to no one in particular as I slumped down into a chair, my left arm hanging limply by my side. I had just about given up on it (my arm, that is) now. In the back of my mind, I fuzzily wondered why we males have that strange ritual of punching each other in friendly greeting. It seemed utterly stupid now.
Dom looked at me, the same expression on his face that one might wear when approaching a dangerous animal. He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, I jumped up out of my seat, yelled crazily "I'm not hiding anything!" and I sprinted out of the mess, leaving a very confused Dom behind me.
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I was sitting in my father's office, a cup of tea in my hands. He looked at me, eyebrows raised in confusion. Attempting to put my story into words, he said, "So what you're saying is, Raoul put signs up inviting the Own to Dom's bachelor party, and Kel and Yuki think you put them up? And they wouldn't believe you when you told them you didn't do it, so now they won't speak to you? Is that what you're saying?"
I nodded miserably, staring at my tea. Father sighed and placed his hand on my right shoulder. I looked up when a rhythmic knock echoed through the room. Getting up to answer the door, he said, "Don't worry, Neal. We'll sort this out."
I put the cup to my lips just as Father announced, "Neal, Dom is here to see you."
My eyes grew wide and I inhaled half a cup of tea through my nose, tossing the cup over my head. I choked, spewing tea down my front as Dom walked into the room.
"Don't drown yourself, Meathead!" Dom said good-naturedly as he sat down across from me, "You're supposed to drink that stuff, not swim in it."
I continued choking and spluttering. I must have looked just wonderful, sitting there with tea all down my front and dripping out my nose.
"All set?" He asked. I nodded, sniffing loudly. "Good," he said, and sat down across from me. "Listen, Neal, you seemed a little, er, stressed out this morning at breakfast. Are you all right?"
"All right!" I asked, laughing madly. "Why, of course I'm all right! Why wouldn't I be all right? It's not like I have anything to hide!" Mentally, I slapped myself on the forehead. Well, if he didn't know something was up before, he does now, I thought to myself.
Dom looked at me. "Uh, Okay."
I sighed. "Dom, I'm fine." I saw his skeptical look. "Really. It must just be nerves about the wedding."
"I'm the one who's getting married, not you, Meathead!" he laughed. "And besides, there's nothing to be worried about."
"That's what you think," I mumbled under my breath.
"What?" Dom asked sharply.
"Nothing," I responded quickly, "I didn't say anything."
We sat at the table, not saying anything.
After a moment, Dom said, "Well, I really have to be going."
I walked him to the door and after I closed the door behind him, I pressed my ear to it, waiting for his footsteps to disappear. When they did, I said goodbye to Father and headed out the door.
I had a lot to do. After all, what was done was done. I couldn't change what Raoul had done. And I still had a bachelor party to plan!
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I'd decided that the Jugged Hare would be the best place to hold the festivities. So that afternoon, I made all the arrangements with the owner. Later that night, I led Dom to the pub. Raoul was already there, along with a few Dom's other friends.
"Good to see you, Dom!" said Raoul warmly as they walked in. "You too, Neal!"
I rolled my eyes and sat down in a chair as Dom and Raoul talked. I looked at the door. The rest of the Own would be arriving any time now. Sure enough, a group of men who had seen Raoul's poster walked into the room. Dom didn't notice them, but soon there would be so many more of his "friends" that he'd have to be stupid not to notice them all.
Well, I thought, crossing my arms over my chest as another group of men came in, Let the games begin!