It's Chapter Four! Yipee! In this Albel discovers something shocking! Very very shocking.

Sorry I haven't updated in like 3 or 4 days. School's interfering with my writing and computer time.

Yeah, I know that there's OOCness, but it would be difficult and unusual for the 'emotionless Albel Nox' to go to all this trouble when he makes it clear that he doesn't care.

Chapter Four

Albel saw that guy Nel was with. She headed upstairs to her room and then called down to him, "Good night, Ateka!"

So, Ateka. What a weird name. Now to see if I can find out anything about Zelpher and what that guy is to her. thought Albel. He snuck up the stairs after Nel, stealthfully darting to the shadows.

Nel began to sprint up the stairway, and Albel wondered if she had become suspicious. Nope, it was only Clair.

"Hey, Clair."

"Nel, did you know that Albel Nox was asking about you in the chapel this morning?"

"Was he?" commented Nel, her cheeks turning a faint shade of pink.

Albel couldn't see this, and right now he was hiding behind an unusually large vase. Nel bid Clair good night and then went to her room. Clair went downstairs, right past Albel. He sighed in relief when she didn't notice him.

Now to follow Zelpher...

As Nel entered her room, Albel remained at the end of the hallway until the opportune moment. Then he did the same as her and entered her room.

Nel was in the bathing room. He heard water being poured into the tub, and he figured it was safe to look through her room.

He searched her drawers first. It was all clothes, nothing else.

Come on. Females keep diaries. There's got to be a diary somewhere.

He opened the next drawer, but then slammed it shut almost instantly. His face was as flushed, and he felt the strong urge to open the drawer again.

It had been the lingerie drawer. He reached for the handles and began to pull the out the drawer when his reasoning stopped him.

No. I wasn't interested in her with lingerie that day, and I am certainly not interested in it now.

Without thinking, he pulled the drawer open swiftly and yanked out something before closing it and shoving the whatever-it-was down the side of his skirt to make up for pockets. Then he began to think back.

Wait. Shouldn't diaries be hidden in places like that?

He reopened the dresser and then searched through the rows of lacy underwear and skimpy outfits to find a small book.

An insane grin stretched across his face. I am the essence of brilliant. He opened it up and then skimmed through to see if anything of interest was there.

He stopped looking and then his smile disappeared. It was an entry on him.

It read:

That Albel Nox! This morning, he said I had no right to be flaunting myself with nightwear. Like it's any of his business. Sure, I'm nice to him. Shouldn't he be obligated to return the favor?

I'd like to say that I would be more than happy to... date him if he was ever considerate enough to ask.

As he read, Albel began to feel more and more guilty. Yes, Nel was always kind to him, and what did he do? Harrassment.

Ooooh. Albel looked so handsome today. I mean, he looks the same everyday, but on this most wonderful of days, the sunlight shined on him at a forty-five degree angle and I noticed how hot he is!

Behind him, the door creaked open and out came Nel with a bath robe on.

She collapsed on her bed, with no Albel in sight.

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The next morning...

Fayt, Sophia, Cliff, Maria, Peppita, Roger and Mirage were all at breakfast. Fayt was flirting away with Maria, the same with Cliff and Mirage, while Sophia was having a conversation with Peppita and Roger.

Albel came to the table, and no one even looked up. Usually they didn't need to because he would throw insults the second he made eye contact.

Not today.

"Good morning." he said. No attitude, no sarcasm. Just a warm and friendly greeting.

Everyone at the table gasped and became silent.

"Did Albel the Wicked just say... good morning?" asked Maria.

His eyes turned cold almost instantly. "Fine. I won't greet you maggots. I say something nice, and nooooo. Burn. Everyone burn."

Nel descended down the stairs to the kitchen, everyone looking up and telling her good morning. At that second, Albel darted out of sight and into the kitchen. Quickly, he grabbed the nearest person in sight and then grasped them threateningly.

It was a little boy who was trying to sneak food from storage.

"Listen, fool, because I'm only going to say this once. Take this ticket," he thrust a piece of paper into the boy's hand, "and give it to Nel Zelpher."

The poor little boy gazed up at him with tears in his eyes. "Who's Nel Zepher, sir?" His voice was cracking and was it was way too early for him to be freaked out like this.

"That beautiful girl... er... woman with the red hair. She's in the dining room."

He dropped the kid, but then took his arm. The boy looked over at him and then stared into crimson eyes of wrath.

"If you tell anyone of this situation, I will make sure that every waking moment of your life becomes a swirling vortex of pain and misery! Understand, worm?"

The kid's pupils diluted before running to Nel and giving her the ticket. She glanced at it, and then turned to him for an explanation.

"A-A-Albel Nox wishes t-to invite you to the d-d-dance this w-weekend."

"Er... okay. Are you alright?"

"Yeah." his face blank and his voice ghastly. "I'll be fine."

Nel looked at the ticket and turned as red as her hair. "Albel's actually asking me out?"

Mirage laughed. "Awwww... how cute! It's gonna be a happy ending for you after all!" She turned to Cliff and then became serious, her hand out.

In a whispered voice, she said, "Hand over the 10,000 Fol, Cliff. You lost the bet."

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Albel saw Ateka walking down the street, snow on his shoulders. Albel grinned wickedly and then drank the stolen morphing potion from Peterny. In a few seconds, he had turned into Nel.

He jumped out and Ateka jumped in surprise. "Whoa. Nel, honey. You scared me."

Albel was confused. Sounds awfully feminine to be a guy. Now how does Zelpher walk? Making the best impression of Nel that he could, he marched up to Ateka, swiveling his hips and flipping his hair.

"Sweetie, are you okay? You're walking very strangely today."

Anything to turn you off of Nel. Albel walked forward and then grabbed Ateka's shoulders. In the most Nel-like voice, he said, "Honey, you are a great friend, and I want to keep you only as a friend. Not a lover."

"What? Nel-"

"No, Ateka. Don't say another word. I'm sure you'll find a woman just for you one day." Inside, Albel was howling with laughter. This was the most sappy stuff he'd ever heard! Like a soap opera he was staring in.

"Nel, sweetie, I never wanted you as a lover. Just as a friend. I thought I told you I was... gay."

The laughter in Albel stopped. "What?"

"I'm gay, honey."

WHAT? I WAS PUT THOUGH ALL OF THIS JUST TO TRY AND SEPERATE A HOMO FROM HIS FRIEND? I'M SO STUPID!

"Well, Nel, I hate to leave you but I've got a date. Catch ya later!"

Albel sighed. He had wasted so much time trying to tear them apart when he could have been romancing Nel. Just as he was about to punch himself, a grin appeared on his face.

I can look at myself naked!

He began to pull down the top of Nel's outfit, and just as he was about to see something verrrrrrry interesting, he reverted back to his normal body.

He punched himself.