A Little Bit of Fluff by Lady Reena
**
"Oh, KEEEELL!!!" whistled Neal of Queenscove loudly as he walked down the hall of the palace.
He was looking for his best friend and crush, Squire Keladry of Mindlean. He was kind of nervous to find her though- he was finally going to tell Kel he loved her. His face burned as he though of her.
Neal wasn't wasn't exactly sure how it had come about- one day, he had been obsessing over pretty girls like Daine, the next Kel was looking like, well, a regular GIRL. Not that Kel wasn't pretty, he assured himself, opening a door that led to another wing of the castle. She just wasn't all dresses and perfume and "How do you do"s. Why- she could throw and aim a lead-stopped lance, she could ride a horse while fighting, and she had a rather colorful way of swearing when she got angry. Which wasn't often.
Neal smiled to himself as he opened a supply closet door. He saw the back of a familiar red head. "Cleon! Have you seen-" he stopped.
Cleon didn't notice him. He'd seen Kel alright- he was locked in a tight embrace with her, as Neal stood frozen with his jaw dropped.
***
LET'S BACK UP A BIT........ 30 MINUTES EARLIER This room needs a dusting, Kel thought of her bedroom. She was by herself today. Lalasa was visiting her friend, Neal was who knows where, and there was no afternoon training today due to Lord Wyldon being ill.
Kel went and fetched a dustrag, and got to work. She bent down to dust her shelves.
"Having fun?" said a voice from the doorway. Kel stood quickly, banging her head on a shelf in the process. She turned around. There was Cleon, a squire three years older than her, grinning.
She smiled back. "Yeah. But then you had to barge in on me."
He was still smiling. "It's only the job of a friend," he reminded her.
Cleon stepped a little closer, his face turning serious- a rare occasion. His usual smiling face was serious and handsome, and his clownish red hair didn't look so. . .clownish.
Kel felt her heart begin to pound. Cleon was SO cute.
She gave her head a little jolt. WOAH. Cleon? She thought. But I like Neal!
**
Should I do this? Cleon thought. Kel was starting to look red, scared, excited, and disbelieving all in one.
He stepped a little closer, and saw Kel physically freeze up.
He took her hands in his sweaty ones. "Kel.." he said softly. Then he laughed. "Hey, relax," he said, massaging her hands in his.
Kel's eyes flickered, but she said nothing.
Cleon moved his hands up to her shoulders. He massaged them lightly.
He noticed Kel was slowly unfreezing.
Cleon took a deep breath and slowly moved forward.
"Cleon, what-"
His kiss silenced her.
**
Wow! That was some kiss! was the first thing that went through Kel's mind.
Cleon was now standing in front of her, holding her hands and eyes questioning.
Kel was going through several emotions at once. The first was happiness and giddyness, the second was disbelief, and the third was shock.
"Cleon!" it was a shocked word.
He looked extremely embarrassed. "Kel, I- well. I uess you could say I uh..."
"You like me." Kel said bluntly.
"Well- yeah." He shook his head, as if changing his mind. "No." He looked Kel straight in the eye. "I think I'm in love with you."
**
Oh my gosh! Had he just said that? Cleon felt his face heating up.
"This is ..uh.. rather awkward," Kel said, looking down at her hands, in which Cleon was still holding.
He looked down and quickly dropped them. "I am such a moron," he muttered. "Kel- I'm sorry. I-I just couldn't hold it in anymore. Of course, I should've just TOLD you instead of acting like a complete idiot and scaring you like that - "
"Cleon!" He stopped jabbering.
"Cleon." Her voice was softer now. She raised her shaky hands and rested them on his broad shoulders.
"Cleon, I- well, Neal, and I thought that you-"
"You like Neal and you thought I was just playing when I call you silly names like 'dewdrop.' Cleon finished for her.
"Exactly. But now, I-" she shook her head a little, then looked into his eyes. "I'm so confused right now."
"Kel, I understand if you never want to se me again. I really-"
Kel interuppted. "Cleon, I think I like you now. Neal just never saw me as a girl, the way you do. Anyway, I don't want to talk about him right now."
"But Kel, I was wrong, I-"
"Cleon!"
He stared at her, surprised. "Shut up and kiss me." she said.
"As you wish," Cleon whispered, and obeyed.
"Let's go in a place more quiet," Kel said quietly, so they went to a supply closet a few feet away.
**
AND THAT TAKES US TO THE PRESENT
Neal was flabbergasted. Cleon? Cleon...and KEL?! He let out a choked gasp.
Cleon and Kel heard and turned. Cleon turned red and Kel looked extremely guilty.
"Neal, we-"
"No." Neal snapped. "I don't want to hear it."
Kel and Cleon exchanged a Look, and then Kel took Neal by the arm.
"Come with me," she said. Neal couldn't argue. He knew Kel was strong enough to break his arm in the grip she held on him.
"I don't want to hear some sob story," Neal said angrily once they were out of Cleon's earshot.
"Let me ask you this," Kel said. "Why do you care so much, anyways?"
"Well, first of all-" he started off, then realised the corner he'd been backed into. He sighed reluctently. "OK, whatever. I had been looking for you all day to tell you...to tell you that I love you."
Kel was visibly shocked. "YOU?!?!!?" she said. "But...no way."
"Yes, way." Neal said. "But now you and CLEON-"
"Neal." she interjected, before he blew up. "I like Cleon. I thought I liked you, but...I find I don't."
"Why?"
"Because Cleon..well he was always dropping little hints to let me know he liked me, which I didn't notice. Now that I think about it though, it was so obvious. You always seem to forget that I am a girl, Neal. Cleon recognises it. And, Neal. . ."
"What."
"Neal, you are my best friend. I don't want that ruined. If we had a romantic relationship, Neal, it would just. . . ruin everything. " She was crying now, pounding on his chest for emphasis.
Neal grabbed her fists. "Stop," he said. Then he put his arms around her in a hug. "I understand," he sighed.
"I understand. I love you, you know that? I love you like a best friend."
Kel was now smiling through her tears. "Thanks, Neal." she said softly. "I knew you'd come through."
Neal smiled back, though his heart was breaking. He squeezed her hard one last time. "Go back to Cleon," he whispered. "I'll see you later."
Kel leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "Thanks, Neal," she said, and left.
Neal stared after her. I guess it just wasn't meant to be, he thought sadly. Then he smiled. But it's cool, he thought. I'm her best friend. That's pretty neat. He started off down the hall.
Yeah, he thought. Cool.
END
Go to a land far far away, where unicorns fly in the sky and-no, wait, I meant home.
