"She likes you, dude!" Duo teased over a mouthful of cafeteria pizza. "Why do you think she's never had a serious boyfriend?"

"She's focused on her studies." Heero quipped. Duo frowned.

"Man are you a lost cause." He scratched his head. "You should totally go for it before someone else does!" Heero half groaned and half growled as he moved his spoon through the steamed peas. Duo had been pushing him to ask Relena Peacecraft to the spring fling for weeks.

"No." Heero answered simply.

"Why not?" Duo prodded him with his spoon in the shoulder. "You think she's hot, right?" Who wouldn't? Relena Peacecraft was, perhaps, the most beautiful girl in their grade. Perfect curves with honey blonde hair and a heart-shaped face. A proud nose and high cheekbones were complimented by her small but full pink lips, and her eyes…

He looked up and caught her gaze: cool, aqua eyes shimmering even in the awkward florescent light of the school lunch room. She smiled at him, eyes lighting up and seemed, for a moment, as though she considered going over there. Dorothy Catalonia, however, stole her attention away. Heero frowned.

"If you don't ask her soon, Trowa certainly will and you know his track record with the ladies." Heero clenched his fists so tightly that his fork began to Bend. The quarterback of the football team, Trowa was a notorious ladies' man and had dated nearly every attractive girl in the student body. Relena had, so far, seemed immune to Trowa's charms but how much longer could that last?

"You think he will?" Duo shrugged.

"Hey, I may run and I may hide, but I never tell a lie and in my opinion, Trowa will not give up on her until she is taken or finally succumbs to him."

As if summoned by the conversation, Trowa began making his way over to her. The idea of Relena being in the arms of another man, especially that one... He had a brief vision of Trowa's cocky smirk as he lead her around the dance floor… Heero stood, determined to beat him there. He had liked Relena most of their lives. Being the daughter of the mayor, he had always considered her out of his league but things were changing. He had a full-ride lined up for an Ivy League school. He had worked too hard for far too long. He would finally have a shot at being worthy of her. Determined to get to her, Heero ran, expertly maneuvering his way around the other students and leaping over a table to land, rather roughly in front of a shocked Relena.

"Heero?" She nearly gasped, eyes wide.

"Go to the fling with me." His blurted words made her brows pitch up. Her lips parted for a moment before curling into a genuine smile.

"You're asking me to the dance?" Heero nodded, heart pounding in his chest as he waited for her answer. Her smile widened, cheeks turning a slight shade of pink. "I'd love to, Heero." Woth those words, he felt his heart flip in his chest. He felt his lips curve into the smallest of smiles.

"I'll pick you up at 7?"

"Take her to dinner." Duo coughed behind him. When had he gotten there?

"We'll eat first. Whatever you want." Relena nodded, clearly amused.

"It's a date." She smiled. "But Heero?"

"Hm?"

"Don't wait another ten years next time? A girl only has so much patience."

Ten years? Did that mean she'd been waiting for him? She never dated because of him? He felt a sense of pride swell in his chest only to have it beaten down by the stupidity of making her wait. He nodded and she leaned forward, placing a soft, quick kiss on his cheek. When the bell rang, he watched her walk away, dumbfounded at his discovery. Duo chuckled.

"Well, pally, I'm impressed. I didn't actually think you had it in you."

"Shut up. Thanks to you I have a whole new set of plans to make."

"Plans?"

"Hn." Heero looked at his puzzled friend. "She's been waiting ten years. I have to make sure everything goes perfectly."

"I guess so." Heero grabbed his backpack, his mind now reeling with the idea that he actually had asked out the girl of his dreams. He barely heard his friend's parting words as he rounded the corner.

"Anything at all for the one you love." Heero realized it was true. He did love her. And the night of the Spring Fling he would tell her.