Evening! Since this end of the story is closer to my profile link, I'll go ahead and mention that I'm hosting (is that the right word?) a prompt contest. Further details will be posted on my profile momentarily.

Anyway, fluffiness galore. Enjoy reading about characters that I don't own :)

O-o-O

Cleo wasn't much of a social butterfly. She shivered at the thought of having to sustain a conversation for any given length of time, which resulted in her eating an early breakfast and hiding in the library, getting in a few hours of uninterrupted research. The only other person who woke up that early was Zia, but she wasn't much of a talker either, so their sunrise breakfasts passed in comfortable silence.

At this point, it was well after seven, and breakfast was settling nicely as she slid a dusty papyrus book off the shelf. Zia was still in the Great Room, probably sprawled on a couch with her book. Cleo could hear the soft sounds of both trainees and teachers making their way down, the clinks and clatters of dishes being piled with food. Sleepy murmurs drifted through the doors as the earlier risers exchanged half-conscious greetings of "Morning" and even the occasional "Hey, Zia."

After a while, there were more footsteps and the conversation picked up as the rest of the house made their way downstairs. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until Cleo heard a shriek, and Anisa squealed, "Oh dear Ra, I see a ring!"

It was hard to tell, but Cleo was pretty sure that she heard Zia sigh, "Here we go."

"He proposed!" Anisa screamed, and there was a squeak of couch cushions and a muffled "Get off" from Zia.

Cleo couldn't help it; she dashed to the door and peeped through. Zia was being smothered in a hug by Anisa, who was kneeling on the couch. Zia wrestled free and jumped off the couch, snatching her book from where it had fallen and heading for the library. "Hey! Where are you going?" Anisa protested.

"Somewhere quiet," Zia said, and shut the doors gently behind her, brushing past Cleo on her way in. She could hear the frenzied conversation through the door as she turned back to the table. Zia had pulled up a chair, her book in front of her, looking a little annoyed. Absently she scratched a red patch on her arm (which wasn't unusual; there were enough lethal substances floating around to give anyone a rash), and on Zia's left hand flashed a diamond ring.

Cleo wondered how she hadn't seen it earlier. While the ring wasn't huge or flashy, it almost seemed to glow with soft silver light. She sat across from Zia, doodling on a piece of paper and trying not to stare at the ring. It really was pretty, with tiny flame designs etched into the silver band that seemed to dance when the light hit them just right. Her pencil strokes on the paper lengthened, outlining curled fingers, the flame-covered ring.

"Nice," Zia said. Cleo glanced up; Zia was studying the paper.

"Thanks," Cleo muttered, blushing. It was more than a little embarrassing to get caught drawing somebody. Before she had to think of a more eloquent response, however, the doors creaked open and Carter walked in.

"Thanks for leaving me to the sharks," he said, gesturing in the general direction of the Great Room.

"Better you than me," Zia grinned, getting up and meeting Carter in a hug. The difference in height was almost comical—Zia hadn't grown an inch since the day Cleo had met her, while Carter had shot up to nearly six feet in the past few years, so that there was almost half a foot between them.

"You're in a good mood," he noted.

"I wonder why."

"Don't get smart with me," he said, scooping her up.

Zia didn't blink, even when he tossed her over his shoulder in a fireman's lift; she just huffed and crossed her arms. "You need to work on your acting skills," she mumbled into his shoulder. "You don't scare me."

"Sure. Of all things, my acting skills need work."

"They do," she confirmed, sounding surprisingly blasé as she flipped her legs over Carter's arm and landed behind him. "Honestly, I don't know why everyone's so surprised this morning. I saw it coming."

"You did?"

She shrugged. "You've been so jumpy. I haven't been able to talk to you for the last week."

Cleo blinked. She hadn't noticed anything unusual. Maybe Carter had looked a little pale, but she'd just assumed he was sick or something. Never in a million years had this occurred to her.

"You've made your point," he grumbled.

"I'm sure I have. Now shut your mouth and let me read." She sank back into her chair, and Carter settled next to her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders.

Cleo slipped out, smiling. She didn't think Zia was going to get very much reading done.

O-o-O

Heh. Even Cleo will get her romantic mishaps…later. Be afraid.