To my wonderful reviewers:
Lunastella13: More chappies you ask for? Here they are
Excontinual Protocols: Glad you liked it! Yeah, the whole "Ro" thing was awkward, it was to show how distracted by Kit she really was. Don't worry, she doesn't get away with it cleanly……..
Now this one's a bit more short-and-sweet, but it's the last total-fluff chapter. The action starts in the one after this
Chapter 3: Going Downhill
"Neets? Are you okay?" Kit asked, surveying his partner. She's just been so distracted these past couple days…he thought.
"Oh, yeah, I'm….fine, Kit, thanks. Yeah. Totally fine," Nita replied hurriedly. She felt tiny beads of sweat dripping down her forehead. He noticed something up with me! I'm being too obvious! Sure, the whole "as a friend" thing had bummed her a bit, but no reason to let her guard down.
"Ok. Whatever you say. I gotta go," Christopher Rodriguez abruptly stood and grabbed his manual from the bench. His brown arm passed about an inch from Nita's, and she could feel the hairs on her own limb prickling at its passing.
"Bye, Neets. See you," He raised an arm in farewell, his usual mantra. Nita nodded her own farewell, and watched his receding back until it was but a dot in the distance.
He's so handsome…so kind…and so oblivious! Nita slammed her manual shut, annoyed with the world. She made sure nobody was looking before unzipping her claudication and stuffing it in. The wizard then began to exit the high school campus, her head down in utter dejection.
"Hey, Miss WAH-neeta," a familiar voice grated in Nita's ear. Already fed up with her bad day, Nita glowered at her old nemesis, chief annoyance, and most popular girl in the high school: Joanne Virella.
"I said hello, WAH-neeta!" Joanne replied, louder, as she shoved the younger girl's arm. "I expect a response!"
Normally, Nita just ignored the bully, but today she was worn thin enough. Subconsciously, she knew what these words would cost her, but her weary mind no longer cared. "Hello, JOW-anne," she replied.
Anger flared in the big blonde's eyes for a moment—then miraculously disappeared. But Nita knew she wasn't getting off that easily. Nothing bothered the Virella girl more than having her pride bruised.
Joanne, instead of retreating, changed tactics. "So, Neets, are you going out with Rodriguez?"
"No," Nita replied simply, and kept walking.
The older girl kept pace. "Do you want to go out with him?"
"No."
Joanne frowned. "Well, I think you should go out with him."
"Thank you for your opinion, Joanne."
Things might have gotten worse if a high-pitched female voice hadn't suddenly called, "Joanne!" from across the street. Relieved, Nita recognized Glenda, Joanne's best friend.
"Coming, Glen," the blonde yelled, and crossed the street, finally leaving Nita alone. But the wizard wasn't about to chance sticking around. As soon as Joanne had joined Glenda, she bolted.
As the wizard at last entered the sanctuary of her own house, she breathed a sigh of relief. Forced to do a small transport home due to an accident on Main Street, Juanita was exhausted. She contemplated announcing her presence to her sister, but rejected the idea. She didn't want to be bothered. She'd had a bad day.
The brunette teenager was scant inches from her door and safety when a tall, black-clad figure blocked her way. It was not Dairine, but her boyfriend.
Nita sighed with fatigue. "Hi, Ro. What's up?"
Roshaun frowned, "That was exactly what I was wanting to address, Miss Nita. I am the king of an entire planet….Roshaun ke Nelaid am Seriv am Teliuve am…."
"Am whatever, I get it! And your point is?" Normally she and the alien got along well, but sometimes he could get on her nerves. Today was one of those days.
"….Guarantor of Wellakh. Therefore, you should treat me with proper respect. Calling me 'Ro,' when I have not given you such permission, is not respectful. I go lightly on you—you are my friend and sister of my girl friend—but still. I want respect."
"OK. Now could you please move aside, Your Majesty," Nita asked tiredly. She was on the verge of breaking down, and she didn't want Roshaun to see her cry.
Obediently, the blonde moved aside. As Nita unceremoniously slammed the door in the king's face, he frowned contemplatively. :Your sister is not in a mood to be trifled with, love: he told Dari silently.
:Ah? It is Rodriguez: she queried.
:Almost definitely.: he replied.
:Well, we shall not disturb her, then. Shall we……Ro: Her mind-voice was full of amusement.
:I don't make exceptions for you, either: he retorted. He "felt" her laughter as he sprinted in a most unkingly manner down to the bedroom of Dairine Callahan.
Having finally escaped Roshaun and his criticisms, Nita plopped down on her bed….bored, tired, and dejected. She contemplated finding something to cheer her up in her manual, but she doubted it could be done.
She turned instead to her non-magical radio. "Turn on," she muttered in the Speech. The radio obliged, and a rich female voice began to come through.
Up, up, up, it's only going up from her
Up, up, up, up where the clouds are gonna clear
Up, up, up, there's no way but up from here
(A/N: The song "Up!" is © Shania Twain)
"Off!" she practically yelled. The last thing she needed was one of those peppy cheer-up songs. She turned to the radio in anger……but was distracted.
One New Message, came a mechanical-sounding voice from her manual.
Kit? Kit? Could it be……She grabbed the battered book, turned to the wizard-IM page, looked at the name of the sender….and gasped.