Heyy! Sorry for the lateness, irl has been keeping me busy. Recently got addicted to watching Zelda speedruns *drop*...

More reviews = more frequent updates!

Enjoy!

The next day - being a Sunday - turned out pretty uneventful. I made the best use of my time by studying and looking up a few field training tips on the internet. There was not much to be found as it somehow seemed like a "top secret" thing that ShinRa tried to hide by any means.

In the evening I got a surprising SMS from the General himself.

He was announcing that our next training would be on Tuesday and asked me how far I was with my studies.

*That sounds fine to me.*, I wrote him back and browsed through my papers and books. *I'm about 80% done, I would say.*

Studying certainly was not my favorite thing to do, but I definitely felt really motivated now to "impress" someone... and beside that, rising in rank would allow me to participate in cooler missions that would help me to improve my fighting skills way better.

Buzz buzz.

*That's good. I would suggest you to take a test exam in a week or two to see if you're prepared enough for the first chance to improve your Rank.*

I was surprised. *Whaaa, already? But I've only been here for a few weeks... Are you sure I can do it?*

*Yeah, the first exam isn't that hard, if you take the second a few weeks later then they expect you to know more. I'm not going to compare you to my other students, but I have faith that you can do it :)*, was his answer.

I suddenly felt really proud from reading his words. I definitely didn't want to disappoint him now.

My phone buzzed again *I'm gonna take a shower now so I'll read your answer later.*

"Ah" I made a noise while trying to type an answer before he was gone.

*Okay, I will try my best!*, I started but somehow felt the need to add some comment to his shower message. *Watch out for my hidden camera ;)* I pressed send and blushed, unsure if I was going too far.

When the phone showed his answer, my mouth turned into a big grin.

*Then I hope it doesn't fog over ;)*

My grin became wider as my heart started beating a bit faster 'He is really joining my game...', I thought and answered: *Then you'll have to wipe it clean, it's a HD cam *_* *, adding a drooling face at the end.

*Oh, even HD? Just don't upload it to the internet ;)*

'Not sure if he is joking or thinks I'm serious...' No matter what it was, it made me incredibly happy.

*Nono, it's all for myself ;) :)*, I answered, feeling like a jittery schoolgirl in love.

His answer came quickly afterwards. *Okay, then. Shower time now, good night.*

'What is he doing to me...' I sighed, writing him a quick good night. Half sad that he had cut off our talk here and half happy that it had come this far, I decided that I should not be worrying as for why he was playing along... But be happy that he DID. And indeed, I felt really happy.

As much as I tried to fight it, I knew it was a losing game. I was falling for the General...

This Monday was absolutely not going to be one of my favorite days. Why? Because it was "First Aid-day".

All the new and old ShinRa SOLDIERs had to be divided into two groups - one which consisted of newbies who had never had first aid lessons before - and one with those that only needed their annual repeating.

I obviously was among those in the first group and all I knew - thanks to Zack - was that I had to perform CPR on ugly puppets.

During the breakfast before the lesson I decided to write Sephiroth. I really wanted to do everything to avoid having my first kiss in a long while stolen by some CPR doll...

*Going to First Aid to smooch puppets now :/* I was sad that I couldn't put the distressed face I was currently wearing into a smiley.

Half a sandwich later I received an answer.

*Then don't destroy the doll ;)*

'Ughh, what a meanie', I thought and tried to find a witty response. In the end it turned out less witty and more ambiguous: *No thanks, I don't like puppets that way... don't think that they are so sexy... unlike people who have the honor to be watched by me during shower ;)*

I grinned as I brought my tray to the trash and walked towards the room where first aid took place.

*Ha, who does something like that? ;)* Sephiroth messaged me and I grinned. 'Me, apparently... Sadly, not really...' I tried to bring my thoughts back to the ground before stumbling into weird situations particularly caused by lower parts of my body...

*... I guess that I will not have any free time during the course?* I texted him, taking a seat somewhere in the middle of the room (as Zack had advised me because the instructors tended to pick people from the front and the back first) I rolled my eyes when I thought of him 'Of course Zack is on a mission today... Along with Sephiroth... I would have liked to see them kissing dolls!' I grinned and searched the rows for Kunsel who wasn't in sight yet.

*No free time for you since you have to badger the puppets ;)*, was his bold answer. I caught myself pouting.

*Oh man, I'm already scared. The training instructor should be responsible for teaching his students that personally in his classes ;) :D* I felt the need to bring this hint up. 'Maybe, just maybe...'

*Ha ha... then I'd be alone in the room later. ;)* He answered and I was starting to wonder if he was also texting other people beside me. Maybe I wasn't the only one...

*Not quite alone... ;)* I replied and grinned from the way he reacted.

*Okay, a few flies and spiders would probably be present...*

The first aid class had started by now and I was listening with one ear to somewhat understand what the instructing woman was saying. She sounded rather bored and it seemed as if she wanted to get this over with as fast as we students did.

To not seem too suspicious by repeatedly grinning at my lap, I took a small break before answering Sephiroth.

*Nonsense... if it was reeeeally necessary, then I'd also be there :x* 'This is me trying not to sound too obvious...' I thought and rubbed my forehead.

After listening to the instructor for a while more, we had to practice putting on bandages with the person next to us.

When the woman had checked every pair for correctness and approved everything, I quickly grabbed my phone again to read the General's reply.

What I did read, however, made my heart drop from ShinRa's roof - judging by how it felt like.

*What would my girlfriend say? ;)*

I gulped and read it over and over. 'Girlfriend... girlfriend... girlfriend...' While trying to remember if anyone had ever mentioned him having one before. 'Then again, why am I surprised that this gorgeous man is not single...'

Although I felt the urge to cry or similar - which I usually absolutely never did - I would have to answer him quickly before it got suspicious. 'I can't have him thinking that him saying that affected me... He can't find out that I have a crush on him...'

Therefore I just typed in the first random thing that came to my mind: *Nothing, it's only studying, after all... That can save lives later :)* I added a smiley even though I felt like weeping. 'Why did I expect that he would return my feelings... After all I'm just an ordinary recruit, and a man for that matter... I guess he's just playing with me the way he is with Zack, as a friend...'

My frown however disappeared after his following text. *So, mouth on mouth for hours and hours? ;)*

Now I definitely was confused. 'What kind of game is he playing...?'

However, I decided to keep it up as well. *No idea, I don't know how that works yet, you'll have to show/tell me :)*

The smile on my face was slowly returning.

*Oh god, if I still remember that...? :D*

I blushed, completely forgetting about his "girlfriend".

*I can see that our next field training will be very informative...* I texted him, grinning widely.

Meanwhile in the first aid class... The topic now apparently was actual accidents that could happen...

I raised my head and stretched so I could look over the taller SOLDIER in front of me. What I saw didn't exactly make me happy... it was the CPR puppet. I gulped and tried to take a photo, zooming in as good as I could.

When I was done I, sent it to Sephiroth with the words *I think I'll go home... I'd rather have you there instead :P*

I was aware that I was teasing him, but as long as he played along, I wasn't going to stop.

*Ha ha... the puppet would probably last longer... but thanks! :D*

My eyes closed as I imagined Sephiroth next to me right now. The way he wrote, he didn't seem to be averse to kissing me... At least that was my opinion.

*You have to breathe through your nose, seems like I have to teach you something as well...* I wrote him, unsure if he was joking about that part. Him not knowing how to kiss seemed absurd to me... Although he indeed was older than me, probably over 30. In addition to that, I didn't know anything about his girlfriend - how long he had been with her, if she even lived around here or in another country... or even, if their relationship had already lost their steam...

*Ha ha, should I get scared now? ;)* He replied and interrupted my thoughts. 'Of course he wouldn't just say "yes, teach me how to kiss because I have already forgotten"...' I had to think a while before finding an answer to that.

*Not if you you show the right reaction.* 'Yeah, that sounds stupid. But what else should I say to that.'

*... and that would be?*

Now I had to think of what to say again. Luckily, we had a short break in first aid class - after which the CPR lesson would follow...

'Hell, I can't start talking about kissing with my training instructor. Or Sephiroth himself even. Does he really expect me to tell him how kissing works now?'

I shook my head... then got an idea. *Depends on the situation.* Click, send.

*And the situation is? ;)* He wrote but I couldn't answer yet as the instructing woman started calling up people to show how CPR was done, including lateral recumbent position.

Not as long as the last one, but... still have some more chapters written. Not many... I really need to move my butt! Still looking for a Beta reader btw! (Preferably with facebook to chat/email to send... my bf gets jealous with skype *cough*)