*thunk*

Patty's last throwing knife hit just below her target. She kicked the dirt and grunted in disappointment.

"I wish I could do more for the army but I'm just not strong enough yet. My aim isn't even close to where it needs to be."

She went to go pull her knives out when something whizzed by her head.

*Swish*

An arrow found her target on the mark. "Whoa who-?" She turned to find Lester standing behind her laughing. She was amazed at the talent but also angry because it was Lester of all people. He was wearing his favorite red shirt and brown pants. His blue hair was slicked back like always. Although she hated to admit it, Lester was an attractive man.

"What are you doing here? You were spying?"

Lester smirked. "Don't flatter yourself. I wanted to show you up."

Patty rolled her eyes and pulled the arrow out from the tree. "Don't you do that every day on the battlefield?" She purposely mocked Lester's voice. She started to pull the knives free from the tree but they were tough to get out and she wasn't going to let Lester see her struggle.

"Uh…you want me to help you with that?"

Patty snapped at that. "Why because a weak girl like me can't handle it?!"

Lester took a step back comically. "You're a girl?!"

That was it. Patty couldn't believe how much of a jerk he was. "That's it!" She stormed off leaving her knives there. She would come back later if she had to, anything to get away.

Lester cut in front of her path. "Geez don't be such a grouch."

Patty shoved him away. "You're kidding right? I'm a grouch because you are constantly teasing me. Don't you think that gets annoying? You don't treat anyone else like that."

Lester backed away and scratched his neck awkwardly. "I guess I didn't realize. I mean. I was just joking."

Patty backed down for some reason. Seeing him ashamed didn't feel as good as she thought it would. "Well it hurts."

Lester reached out a hand to her. "Well I'm sorry. Sometimes guys do these things because they don't know how else to get a girl's attention."

He must have noticed the look of confusion on her face because he kept talking.

"I mean how else is a guy like me gonna get a pretty girl like you to talk to me?"

It took awhile for Patty to process his words. He thought she was pretty? It didn't make sense given their history. She thought he hated her and honestly she didn't like being around him.

"I don't know what to say. You aren't joking again?"

Lester's face blushed. "I'm not but I can tell that you don't feel the same way. I'll leave you alone from now on."

Lester turned and was leaving and for some strange reason Patty was feeling like she had done something wrong. It wasn't her fault she didn't like him. None of this was fair to her. Lester treated her like dirt most of the time and then springs this on her out of nowhere. He acted like she was supposed to jump in his arms and act like nothing was wrong. No sane person could do that. Maybe she was crazy because she heard herself call out to him.

"Wait."

Lester turned around. "Yeah?"

"I think you owe me some help getting these knives out. Plus I think I packed way too much food today. Would you want some? Of course you'd have to sit with me and eat it."

Lester looked confused at first but then he realized what she was saying. In her sly way she was saying that he had a chance. She smiled playfully as he walked back.

"Maybe I could even help with your aim?"

"I'd like that."

As they pulled the knives out she wondered if maybe one day she could possibly feel the same way about him. It wouldn't hurt to find out.