Disclaimer: Uh…my wrist hurts cause of my carpal tunnel, so let's leave it at "don't own 'em."

Hey, everyone! You got lucky today, since I posted chapter four yesterday. This one's short, anyway, so…yeah.

Have fun!

Chapter Five: Wondering

Lark was waiting for them at Discipline with lunch and hot tea.

"So, how was your observation time?" she asked, ladling soup into bowls.

"It was pretty good," said Rosethorn. "I didn't get a lot done at first because I couldn't concentrate. Once we figured it out, though, it was fine."

Crane nodded his agreement, and they sat down to have lunch.

rosethornlovescrane&cranelovesrosethornrosethornlovescrane&cranelovesrosethorn

Three weeks had passed since Rosethorn agreed to try Crane's idea. Now it was time to decide. She lay on her bed, her eyes closed, mulling over what she had felt in the last little while.

As much as she hated to admit it, all the signs pointed to her being in love with him. She had been uncomfortable when he was near her, yet strangely frustrated when he left. Just talking to him had made her happier, and when he had kissed her that time, she'd kissed back without thinking about it.

So that meant…

Okay, whoever's listening, record this historical moment. I am about to say something I had never dreamed of saying until a little while ago.

I'm in love with Crane.

She sighed with relief. It did feel good to admit it.

Then, however, a thought struck her. What if he didn't care about her anymore? After all, she hadn't been her best these last few weeks. On the contrary, she had sometimes acted as if she had no sense at all. She had been, she thought miserably, rather like one of those Water dedicates—always fluttering about, unsure of herself, babbling on and on like a brook rushing over stones.

She knew Crane disliked the Water dedicates too. What if that meant he'd stopped loving her?

He probably had. She had been awful; he'd probably seen what he thought she was really like and didn't care anymore.

Sighing, she wondered what to do. Should she tell him how she felt? Maybe…but if he didn't want to hear it, she was in trouble. What if she told him, and he didn't love her? Or worse, what if she told him, he didn't love her, and he pretended he did so he wouldn't hurt her?

So then she shouldn't tell him. Except…what if he did love her, and thought she didn't care about him? Then he would be hurt, and she would be hurt, and it would all be a waste. And it would hurt if she didn't tell him. But it would also hurt if she did tell him and he didn't want her.

What was she going to do?

Rosethorn moaned and opened her eyes. She would go tell him now. No, she couldn't. She sank back onto the bed. The next second she was sitting up again. She had to. But she couldn't. She growled in frustration. This was ridiculous! She had to make up her mind.

Well, she knew she wouldn't be able to bear it if she told him and he didn't care. So she'd just have to not tell him and deal with the pain.

What if…?

Rosethorn firmly squashed those thoughts and went to sleep.

A/N: Review please! (grin)

BANZAI!

hollybridgetpeppermint