After class the next day, Nell stopped Sarah in the hall. "Uh...can I talk to you?"

"Sure," the small Dellaneve lady said. "What do you need?"

Nell sighed as he walked down the hall with her. "I...um, I'm a coward. And you seem so brave. How do you manage it?"

Sarah sighed. "Nell, you're not a coward."

"Yes, I am," Nell said. Face flushing, he lowered his voice. "I almost kissed Light Spinner."

Sarah cackled. "I knew you two would make a good match! What happened?"

"I'm...scared to kiss a girl," he said, feeling his stomach churn. "I don't want to...be bad at it." Nell wished he was talking to a man instead, but the only man he could go to would break his skull for dating a Delvalian.

Sarah shrugged. "Some people are bad when they first do it. Abe was the worst," she giggled. "I don't think she'd mind, anyway. I see the way she looks at you. She trusts you. Wants you." A sigh. "That's more than I can say about our friendship."

Nell frowned. He'd noticed how Light Spinner carefully kept her distance from Sarah, but he supposed it had to do with her reclusive nature. But now that he thought about it, Light Spinner seemed to close everyone off to an extent. Except him.

"What's your advice?" he asked. "Oh, and...don't tell her I talked to you. I'll do it myself."

"My lips are sealed, kid," Sarah said. "And about advice – I think you just need to do it. Grab her and kiss her. But first, you may want to tell her that you're anxious." She sighed. "I'd be worried, too. A Del and a Delvalian together is something this country hasn't seen before. You'll need to keep it away from your padre."

"That's my plan."

Sarah nodded. "But also, screw him. Light Spinner's the happiest I've ever seen her, and we've been friends since her ninth year at the academy. I want someone to take care of her for me."

Nell lowered his eyes. "You think I'm up to the task?"

"Of course. You're a doctor – it's in your job description." Sarah looked down the hall. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get to class." She rolled her eyes. "Arxian history. Fun. Well, later, skater!" With this, she teleported away, leaving Nell alone.

✧✧✧

Light Spinner sat by the creek, sighing. She'd decided to lie – tell Nell she wasn't interested in him the same way – and they would still be friends. Unless it hurt him too much...

She heard footsteps. This was the most difficult conversation Light Spinner could have, as well as the most necessary. She couldn't show Nell her true colors.

Nell sat down. "Um...hi."

Light Spinner knit her brows together. "We need to talk."

"Can I go first?"

Moons, that'll make it hurt worse. Light Spinner nodded. "Go ahead."

Nell sighed. Light Spinner's face snapped toward him as he continued. "I have feelings for you. You're smart, and kind, and so beautiful. I want to get to know you better – I want to court you. I wanted to kiss you in the meadow, but I was...um..." He swallowed; she spotted his hands trembling. "I was scared. Scared of what you would think."

"What in the moons do you mean?" Light Spinner whispered.

A long, awkward pause. "I've, uh, never kissed a girl before," Nell said with a blush.

"So what? I've never kissed a boy."

"But – I didn't want to spit on you. Or for you to hate me..."

It doesn't matter if you slobber all over me. I still want to kiss you. But Light Spinner bit her lip, tears blurring in her eyes. How could she tell him after this confession? How could she make it clear that she was unable to be loved?

Light Spinner closed her eyes, letting the tears drip down her cheeks. "I can't," she whispered. "We can't – it's just not possible."

Nell grabbed her crimson-gloved hands. "No," he said firmly. "Light Spinner, why not? Please – what did I do wrong?"

"You did nothing," Light Spinner replied. "It's me, Nell – I can't tell you about it. Otherwise, I might...I might hurt you. You'd leave me anyway, if you knew."

"You don't know that."

"You don't know me," Light Spinner said. "You don't know what secrets I hide, Nell." She took deep breaths. "I care for you. Truly, I do. I'd give anything to be normal because I want you, but –"

"You are normal. Whatever these secrets are, we can work through them," he said.

"That would take all night. I've lied so much..."

"Then you don't have to share it all at once," Nell said softly. "But I trusted you with my secrets. I'd like to believe...I'm someone who can be trusted with yours."

Light Spinner let him hold her. Where could she start? The easiest secret first, I suppose. She sniffled, wiping the last few tears away and blowing her nose on her veil. Pulling it off her ears, she wet her lips and stared down at the creek below.

"Light Spinner isn't my name," she began. "It's a nickname. An alias, so people from my past wouldn't hurt me. So I could have new beginnings..."

Nell's voice, from nearby. "I thought so. It's beautiful, but if I may ask...what did your birth parents call you?"

Light Spinner shuddered. "Alura."

"That's a Del's name."

Light Spinner nodded. "It means heavenly guide." How ironic. She bit her lip. "And the people who wanted to hurt me...they're dead now. But I still can't use my real name. I'm Light Spinner. Alura is weak..."

Nell pulled back, cupping her cheek in a hand. "No. You are Alura. And if there's one thing you've taught me – something I'm trying to accept – it's that being a victim is not weakness." His other hand clasped hers. "I want to accept this about myself. And maybe, if we were together...we could work on that side-by-side."

Light Spinner gazed into his eyes. So soft, so blue. "Call me Alura," she found herself whispering as she relaxed slowly. "Please."

Nell inched closer. "And do you want to know another thing?" he said.

"I...I suppose," she replied.

Light Spinner's body tingled with anticipation. Fear, and delight. Nell leaned in so close she could feel his breath tickle her bare cheeks. One hand on the side of her face; the other clasping their hands near her cheek.

Nell brushed his lips against hers. "You're adorable when you blush."

Then he grabbed her close and fit her mouth to his.

Everything set ablaze in Light Spinner's chest as she gripped him and kissed him back. His lips were warm; his arms wrapped around her, and she twined his brown curls around her fingers, burying her hands in his thick hair.

All the excuses – that he was too young, that he wouldn't accept her, that it wasn't culturally acceptable for a Del and a Delvalian to be together – melted away like the last trickles of snow. This was right. Light Spinner had finally found someone who wanted her.

He still doesn't know about your parents. Or your powers. But that was okay. She would tell him someday.

Even if she had to delay it as long as possible.

❂❂❂

Did you know...

- As hard as it is to believe, this is only the third-sauciest scene in the story.

- Nell isn't a coward, in my opinion, but he definitely needs to gain confidence. I think this is a sure step in the right direction for him.

Tell me what you think...

- How will Nell and Alura's relationship evolve from here?