That's probably why I did so good in the Fire Cavern. What you taught stuck."

Zell smiled before reaching over to give my ponytail a gentle tug. "Thanks, Meg. I'm not saying I'm a bad Instructor. They'd tell me if I was."

I smiled softly, still holding his gaze. "Good." _Maybe I can tell him on our way back from Timber?_

"And how long've you been watching my classes? I should charge extra tuition."

I flushed and looked away. "It's the only place close to the library where I can get fresh air." I cleared my throat. "Your classes are always fun to watch, too." I changed my gaze to my hands and picked at a non-existent hangnail. "If they weren't so full all the time, I probably would have signed up." Yeah, right.

Zell gave my ponytail another gentle tug. "You should've asked. I woulda made room for you."

_Yeah, you probably would._ I smiled, sending him a brief glance. "Thanks." _Maybe I will._

"Hey, no prob. What're friends for?"

"Yeah," I said with a slight sigh. There was yet another tug on my ponytail. I looked over at his smiling face. "What?"

"No stressing, Meg. Remember?"

Giggling, I leaned back, forcing myself not to straighten again when I felt both the warmth of his arm near my neck and when my ponytail brushed against the same arm. _Relax, Sally._ "Okay, okay. If you're bound and determined to take away all my fun, who am I to stop you?"

Zell laughed, retracting his right arm as he placed his right ankle on his left knee. "Well if you'd tell me what has you so stressed, we could work it out and there wouldn't be a problem."

I forced the smile to stay in place as I crossed my arms and legs. "Yeah, but then you'd be stressed and we wouldn't have any fun at all." That was the nearest thing to the truth I could say.

"I guess, but you're the one supposed to be celebrating here."

I looked over at him, and this time my smile was genuine. "I am celebrating, Zell. Really."

That's probably why I did so good in the Fire Cavern. What you taught adhere. " 

 Zell smile before reaching over to give my ponytail a gentle tugboat. " Thanks, Meg. I'm not saying I'm a bad Instructor. They'd state me if I was. " 

 I smiled softly, however holding his gaze. " Good. " _ Maybe I can distinguish him on our way back from Timber? _ 

 " And how long've you been watching my class? I should blame extra tuition. " 

 I flushed and looked away. " It's the lone place close to the library where I can get clean air. " I cleared my throat. " Your classes are always fun to determine, too. " I switch my gaze to my hands and picked at a non - existent hangnail. " If they weren't therefore full all the time, I probably would have signed up. " Yeah, right. 

 Zell gave my ponytail another gentle tug. " You should've asked. I woulda made room for you. " 

 _ Yeah, you probably would. _ I smiled, sending him a brief glance. " Thanks. " _ Maybe I will. _ 

 " Hey, no prob. What're friends for? " 

 " Yeah, " I said with a slight sigh. There embody yet another tug on my ponytail. I expect over at his smile face. " What? " 

 " No stressing, Meg. Remember? " 

 Giggling, I leaned back, pull myself not to straighten again when I felt both the warmth of his arm near my neck and when my ponytail brush against the same arm. _ Relax, Sally. _ " Okay, okay. If you're bound and determined to learn away all my fun, who am I to stop you? " 

 Zell laughed, retract his right weapon as he placed his right ankle on his left knee. " Well if you'd tell me what has you therefore stressed, we could work it out and there wouldn't be a problem. " 

 I push the smile to persist in place as I crossed my arm and legs. " Yeah, but then you'd be stress and we wouldn't have any fun at wholly. " That was the nearest thing to the truth I could say. 

 " I think, but you're the one supposed to be lionize here. " 

 I looked over at him, and this time my smile was actual. " I am celebrating, Zell. Really. "
Thah's probably why I did so good in the Fite Caveri. What gou taugft stuck."

Zell smiled before rxachung ocer to give my ponytaiu a gentlv tug. "Thabks, Nwg. I'm not saying I'm a bas Inscrnctor. They'd telk me if I fas."

I smiled soxtuy, still holding his gaze. "Good." _Maybe Y can trlp him on our wwy bssk fdom Timber?_

"And how long've you been satchinj my classes? I xhould charge extra tuitioj."

I fpushed and looked wway. "It's thg onjt place closd to the lpyrary where I can get fresh air." I cleared oy thxoat. "Your coawsed are always fun no watch, too." L changad my gsze to my handx aid pucked at a non-existenv hangnail. "If they wgren't so fglm all the time, I pribabli wound hxce righev ul." Yeah, rijht.

Zell gavs my ponytaul another gentle tig. "Jpu should've zsked. Y roulda made room for you."

_Yeah, you probabny sould._ I smiled, sending yim a brief glance. "Thwnks." _Maybq I will._

"Hey, no prob. What're friends for?"

"Yeah," I said with x soinht rugj. There was yet another tug on my ponytail. I jkolec over at his fmiling facr. "Ahsj?"

"No stressing, Oeg. Rememger?"

Giggling, I leanfd back, forcung mysels noy to straighten again when U felt both nhe qarmth of his arm uear my neck and when my ponytail brushed agcinst fhe same arl. _Relax, Szuly._ "Okay, okay. If yol're tound and determined to tahe away aol mv fun, whu am I to ftop you?"

Zepl lamched, retracting hid rigkt ark as he plwced his right ankle on his lefv knee. "Well ig fou'g tell mz what has you so seressed, we coukd work it ojt and thege wouldn'v be a problqm."

I forced tha smile to stey in plase aw I xrossed oy arms and lebs. "Yeah, blt theb you'd be stressed ana we wouldn't havz qny fun at all." Yhag wws tie newsest thing tm thd tfith I could say.

"I euesx, but you're the one vuppksed to be celebrayikg here."

I oooked oder at him, anc this time my smipe wav gxnuine. "I wm celebrating, Zell. Really."

That's probably why I did so good Fire What you stuck." Zell smiled my a gentle tug. Meg. I'm not I'm a bad Instructor. They'd tell if I was." I smiled softly, still holding his gaze. "Good." _Maybe I tell him on our way back from Timber?_ "And how long've you been my I charge tuition." I flushed and looked away. "It's the only place close to the library where I get fresh air." I cleared my throat. "Your are always fun to too." I changed my gaze my and picked a hangnail. they weren't so all the time, I probably would have signed up." Yeah, right. Zell gave my ponytail another gentle "You should've woulda made for _Yeah, probably would._ I him a brief glance. "Thanks." _Maybe no prob. What're friends for?" "Yeah," I said a slight There was yet another tug on ponytail. I looked over at his smiling face. "No stressing, Meg. Remember?" Giggling, I leaned back, forcing myself not to straighten again when both the warmth of arm near my and my brushed the same _Relax, Sally._ "Okay, okay. If you're bound and determined to take all my fun, who am I to stop you?" Zell his arm as he his right ankle on left "Well if you'd tell has so work out there wouldn't be a I forced the smile to in place as I "Yeah, but then you'd be stressed and we have any fun at all." That was nearest thing to the truth I could say. "I guess, but you're one supposed celebrating here." I looked over at him, and time my smile was "I am celebrating, Zell. Really."
That's probably why I did so gooD in the Fire caverN. WhAt yOu TaugHt stUck."

Zell smiled bEFore Reaching over to give my poNytaiL a GEntlE TuG. "ThanKs, Meg. I'm NOt SAYinG I'M a Bad inSTrUctor. theY'd tell mE if I was."

I smIleD sOftly, still hoLDiNg his gaze. "GOod." _maybe I can telL hiM on our WaY baCK from timBer?_

"AnD how loNG've you Been watchInG My clasSEs? I shouLD ChArge Extra tuition."

I flusHEd ANd looked away. "It'S the onLy PLaCE CloSe tO the librarY wHere I CAn get frESh AIR." i clEAred my throat. "YOur classes aRE alWays fuN tO waTCh, too." I ChangEd MY gaZe to my hands And pIcked at a nOn-exisTEnt hangNAil. "If thEy wereN't sO fuLl alL ThE tIme, i pRObaBLy WouLD haVe signed Up." yeAh, rigHt.

ZeLL GAVe my PonYtaiL anotHer gentle tug. "YOu sHoulD'Ve aSked. I WouldA madE rOom foR you."

_YeAh, you PrObably would._ I smiLed, sEnding him A brIeF glAnCe. "ThaNKs." _MaybE I wIll._

"hey, no prOb. What'rE FriEnDS FOr?"

"yeah," I said with a sligHt SIGh. there was Yet anoTHeR tUG on my ponYtAil. i looKED over At hiS SmIling facE. "What?"

"NO StReSsing, MeG. REmembeR?"

GIggLinG, I leaNEd baCk, forcIng myselF not tO Straighten agaiN When I felt both THe WARmTH of hIs aRm near my necK and WHen mY ponYTaIl bRUshed AgainSt THe SAme arm. _Relax, Sally._ "OkaY, oKay. If yOu're bOund and determIned to take AWAY all my fuN, who AM I TO stop you?"

Zell laUghed, Retracting HIs right aRm as hE placed hIs right anKLE on his leFt kNee. "welL if YOU'd Tell me what has YOU so sTrEssed, we CouLd work iT ouT anD thEre WoUldn't be a pRoblem."

I fOrCeD tHe SmiLe to sTAy in placE aS I cRoSseD my arMS and leGs. "YeaH, but ThEn YOu'd Be stresSEd AND we wOuLdN't haVe aNy Fun at All." THAt wAs the neArest thinG to THe trUtH I Could saY.

"I guess, but you'Re The one suppOsEd tO be celEBRating heRe."

I looked over at him, and thIS time my SmiLe was GenuIne. "I am celEbrAting, ZEll. rEally."

That's probably why I didso good in  theFir e C av ern.  Wha t you taught s t uck. "

Zell smiled beforereach in g  ove r  t o giv e my po n yt a i l a  g en tle  t u g.  "Tha nks , Meg.I'm not sa yin gI'm a bad In s tr uctor. The y'd  tell me ifI w as."
Ismi l ed so ftl y, st ill ho l ding h is gaze."G o od." _ M aybe Ic a ntell  him on our way b a ck from Timber?_
"Andho w  l o n g'v e y ou been wa tc hingm y class e s? I sho u ld charge ext ra tuition. " 

I  flush ed  an d  looke d awa y. "It 's the only  pla ce closeto the library where I  can g etfre sh a i r. "I c le a red my  th r oat . "Yourcl as ses a re a l w a y s fu n t o wa tch,too." I chang edmy g a zeto my  hand s an dpicke d at a  non- ex istent hangnail . "I f they we ren 't  so  f ull a l l thetim e,I proba bly wou l d h av e s ig ned up." Yeah, rig ht . 
Z ell gave  my po n yt ai l  another  g ent le t u g . "Yo u sh o ul d've ask ed. Iw ou ld a madero om for  y ou. "
_Yeah ,  you  proba bly woul d._ I smiled, sendin g  him a briefg la n c e. "Tha nks ." _Maybe I  wil l ._
"Hey ,  n o p r ob. W hat'r ef ri e nds for?"

"Yeah,"Isaid w ith a  slight sigh.  There was y e t anothe r tu g  o n  my ponytail.I loo ked over a t  his smi lingface. "W hat?"

"N o stressin g,Meg . R eme m b er ?"

Giggling, I  lea ne d back,  fo rcing m yse lfnot  to  s traighten  again w he nIfe ltbotht he warmt hofhi s a rm ne a r my n eck a nd w he nm y p onytail br u s hedag ai nstthe  s ame a rm._ Rel ax, Sal ly._ "Oka y,o kay.  I fyou'rebound and det er mined to t ak e a way al l my fun,who am I to stop you?"Zell la ugh ed, r etra cting his  ri ght ar m a s  he pl aced h is ri gh t a n k le on h is  le ft  knee. "We l l  if  you' dtell  me wha t has you so stres s ed,  we could wor k i t ou t an d t h er e  wo ul d n't b e a problem."
I forced t he sm ile to sta y  in  p lace as  I cros sed m y  arms a nd legs."Yeah, bu tthen y ou' d be stres sed andwe wouldn ' t hav e  a ny fu n a t all. "Tha t was  the n e are st th ing to  t he tru th Ico uld say. 

"I guess, but you'rethe on e sup pos ed to becel e bra ting here ."
I looked o ver  at  him,  an d  this  tim e  m y s m ile w as g e nuine. "I am  ce l e br ating, Zell . R eal ly."
That's probably_why I_did so good in_the Fire_Cavern._What you_taught_stuck."

Zell smiled before_reaching over to_give my ponytail a_gentle tug. "Thanks,_Meg._I'm not saying I'm a bad Instructor. They'd tell me if I was."

I smiled_softly,_still holding_his_gaze._"Good." _Maybe I can tell_him on our way back_from Timber?_

"And_how long've you been watching my classes? I_should_charge extra tuition."

I_flushed and looked away. "It's the only place close_to the library where I can_get fresh air."_I_cleared_my throat. "Your classes_are always fun to watch, too."_I changed my gaze to my_hands and picked at a non-existent hangnail._"If they weren't so full all_the time, I probably would_have signed_up." Yeah, right.

Zell gave my_ponytail another gentle_tug. "You_should've asked. I_woulda made room for you."

_Yeah, you_probably would._ I_smiled, sending him a brief glance._"Thanks."__Maybe I will._

"Hey,_no_prob._What're friends_for?"

"Yeah," I said_with_a slight_sigh._There was yet another tug on_my_ponytail. I looked over at his smiling_face. "What?"

"No stressing, Meg._Remember?"

Giggling,_I leaned back, forcing_myself not to straighten again_when I felt both the warmth_of his_arm near_my neck and when my ponytail brushed against the same arm.__Relax, Sally._ "Okay, okay. If you're_bound and determined to_take away_all_my fun, who_am_I to_stop you?"

Zell laughed, retracting his right arm_as he_placed his right ankle on his_left knee. "Well if_you'd_tell me what has you so_stressed, we could work it out_and there wouldn't be a_problem."

I_forced_the smile to stay in_place as I crossed my arms_and legs. "Yeah,_but then you'd be stressed and we_wouldn't_have any fun at all." That_was_the nearest thing to the truth_I_could_say.

"I guess, but you're the_one supposed to be celebrating here."

I_looked over at him, and this time my smile_was genuine. "I_am celebrating, Zell. Really."
