It started out as a normal day for Nina. She strolled down the streets of Ketterdam and slid inside one of the waffle shops. Inej was already waiting, two plates stacked high with waffles beside her.

Inej waved. "Nina!"

Nina raced over and embraced her friend, then she grabbed a fork and immediately started to stuff her face with waffles. She happened to glance out the window. And dropped a piece of waffle. She didn't care.

In one of the open-roofed ring shops, Kaz and Jesper were smiling at each other, picking out rings and admiring them.

"Woah! Kasper!"

"Who's Kasper?" Inej looked mildly confused, frantically scanning the streets. "There aren't many Kaspers in Ketterdam, not that I know of. Who's Kasper and how do you know him?"

"No, Inej. Kaz and Jesper."

Finally, the black-haired girl grinned. "I never thought I would see that."

In the shop, Kaz had no gloves on and was pulling at Jesper's finger.

"Oh, Saints," Inej groaned. "Jesper got the ring stuck on his finger."

Kaz was yanking at the ring, his face contorted in frustration. Jesper was laughing, his face red. The tourists were looking on in confusion.

Kaz glared at one of them and started to yell until the man walked over to Jesper and started to pull at the ring. Finally, it popped off and the tourist scrambled away, his eyebrows raised and his thin lips curved downward.

Inej had her face on the table, her shoulders trembling as she laughed. "I can't believe that that just happened."

Nina was still watching though. She was prepared for the next Kasper moment, the next hand-touch.

And there it was! She bounced up and down in her seat as Kaz's hand brushed Jesper and they looked at another ring.

"Inej! Your guy is with somebody else!"

"Kaz isn't gay, Nina!"

Nina looked at the girl, a serious expression on her face. "How do you know?"

Inej narrowed her eyes, calming her laughter. "I don't know, maybe because he's kissed me quite a few times now?"

Nina shrugged, watching the two boys again. "He could be trying to hide it from you."

Inej rolled her eyes. "Some days, you get way too excited for these things."

Then, Kaz and Jesper were turning around. Both boys were grinning from eye-to-eye. Kaz was carrying a black box.

"Get down!" Nina hissed, leaning down and flipping open her peeper hole. That was the reason she always ate at this booth. If something was going on, she could watch without being seen.

She watched as the two boys walked down the street, both of them still grinning and talking, Jesper's shoulder occasionally brushing Kaz's.

Yes! Her mind cried. Finally!

"Inej, we celebrate their wedding tomorrow."

Inej raised her eyebrows. "Actually, we're celebrating Wylan and Jesper's wedding in a week."

Nina shrugged. "Oh well. Wylan won't mind, will he?"

Inej shook her head. "Somedays I wonder what's going on in your head."

Nina just grinned. "It's a wonderful place."

"I'm sure."

*****

Kaz laughed again, not minding the giddy feeling in his chest as he and Jesper looked at rings.

"I found a nice one!"

Kaz turned to see a silver ring on Jesper's finger, a heart engraved on it.

"No." Kaz turned back to the rack of rings, refusing to allow Wylan to wear something so tacky.

"Uh... Kaz?"

Kaz turned back around. Jesper was pulling at the ugly ring, trying to get it off his finger.

"I can't get it off!"

Kaz sighed, removing his gloves. He had slowly gotten better with his skin-to-skin contact, but he didn't jump at the thought of his skin brushing anyone else's. Unless it was Inej.

He was also looking for a ring for her. After Jesper and Wylan got married, he would want to marry Inej. Even if she would be out at sea.

He slowly gripped Jesper's cold fingers and pulled at the ring. It didn't budge. He took a deep breath and pulled harder.

Jesper started laughing, but Kaz scowled, focusing on the metal band. "I can't get it!"

Jesper giggled more vigorously, his hands shaking as he doubled over, his forehead resting on Kaz's shoulder. Kaz didn't bother to shove him away.

Instead, he glanced around. A muscular man was walking down the street, his eyes narrowed.

"You, there!" Kaz shouted at him. "Come help us!"

The man grumbled and hobbled over. Kaz backed away, allowing the man to grip Jesper's finger. After a few minutes of struggling, the ring slid off. The man glared at Kaz and stalked away.

Kaz burst out laughing, relishing the grin that broke out over his face. "Did you see his face?"

Jesper nodded, laughing as well. He plucked up another ring. It was a black band with a knife engraving on it.

Kaz nodded. "Get a matching one for yourself."

Jesper wrinkled his eyebrows. "Wylan is supposed to pick out my ring, with you. Tomorrow."

Kaz shrugged. "Whatever, just hurry up."

So Jesper paid for the ring and together, the two boys walked down the street, both of them laughing and grinning, their faces bright and their eyes shining.

****

"Wylan!"

Kaz winced as the red-haired boy fell from his bed, his nose knocking into the bedside table. When the boy glanced up at him, crimson blood dripped onto his lip.

"Why are you here, Kaz?"

Kaz walked over to the boy's side. "Because I want to be here."

Wylan scowled, yawning. "Get out of my bedroom, Kaz."

"No."

"Kaz, I'll paint glitter on your face while you're asleep."

Kaz shrugged. "You really want to creep into my bedroom in the middle of the night?"

Wylan's eyes narrowed. "You'd probably just hug me and go back to sleep."

Kaz shook his head, glaring down his nose at the boy. He was obviously joking, though. "I'd break your pretty nose before you could say 'puppies'."

Wylan wiped the blood off his face. "I want a puppy. Will you get me a puppy, Kaz?"

Kaz gripped the boy's shoulders and pulled him to his feet. "Wylan! You're getting married in six days and you didn't even get Jesper a ring yet!"

Wylan sighed. "Fine. But can you like, get out so I can get dressed?"

Kaz shook his head. "I'm staying right here, Wylan Van Eck."

Wylan glared at Kaz and Kaz couldn't help but laugh at the boy's forced scowl.

****

Nina watched as Jesper ran into Kaz's room from her hiding spot in the vents.

"Kaz!"

Kaz was currently asleep, shirtless, on the floor, his gloves thrown on his desk, an odd glittery substance on his face.

Oh, no, Nina thought. That's glitter.

"Kaz?" Jesper asked, leaning down beside the boy.

Nina almost gave herself away as Jesper placed a brown hand on Kaz's pale shoulder.

Kaz yawned. "What's going on?"

Then his eyes flew open and he rolled over, knocking Jesper down on top of him in the process.

Jesper immediately started flailing around, accidentally kneeing Kaz between the legs.

Kaz rolled away from Jesper. "What's wrong with you, Jes?"

Jesper shrugged and Nina was positive his cheeks were slightly pink.

"Wylan was looking for you."

"Oh?"

"He said it was really important."

"Oh?"

"Kaz! Don't make me spill water on you!"

But Kaz was snoring again and Nina had to bite on her shirt sleeve to keep from laughing too loudly.

Jesper grabbed a glass of water and dumped it right on Kaz's perfectly styled hair. It immediately wilted like a flower.

Kaz shouted, springing to his feet. His hair was hanging in front of his face, no longer poofed up. He wiped water from his face and glared at Jesper. "Seriously?"

Jesper grinned. "Yeah. Now, go deal with Wylan."

Kaz smirked. "You trust me with him?"

"No, I don't trust you. But he does, so that's good enough."

Kaz nodded. "Fair."

Then, Jesper left and Kaz was alone in his room.

Nina was about to leave when she heard a faint, meow.

What?

Kaz didn't seem at all alarmed. Instead, he turned towards his bed.

A skinny brown tabby cat was running towards Kaz. The boy knelt down and picked up the cat, stroking its short fur.

"Hello, my little darling," Kaz said with a smile.

Then, someone was sliding down the vent towards Nina. She glanced at Inej and pointed to the cat.

"My little Rose."

"Rose?" Nina couldn't help but yelp. Inej laughed, forcing the vent open. Both her and Nina fell into the room. Inej landed gracefully, but Nina just... fell.

Kaz's face was slightly pink. "Get out."

"Don't want us to know about your cat?" Nina challenged, standing up.

He glared at Nina. "Get out of my room, Nina."

She laughed. "I liked it when Jesper poured water on you."