So I realize I have no idea how to format on FFN. I hope you enjoy the story regardless. This isn't a long story, maybe three chapters. We'll see.

...

A flurry of activity and a barely dressed Rebecca greeted Riza on her return to her room.

"Oh Riza! I'm so glad you're back! I need help picking something out! Pleeeeeaaassseeeee!" Rebecca pleaded with a wild look in her eyes.

"Is this just for your first date, or all of them?" Riza wisely asked.

"First date. Date #3 bumped up the time and I'm supposed to meet him in 15 minutes!" Rebecca said this while throwing her small supply of civilian clothes around the room.

"You will clean this up after the weekend, right?"

It was more of a command from Riza than a request. Riza did not like unnecessary disorder.

"Yah, I will, now HELP ME!"

Choosing a black shirt and a pair of tan suit pants, Riza handed them to Rebecca.

"Early date probably mean more activity, which means you should wear pants and sensible shoes. And you should play up your coloring with this black shirt, it will make your skin glow." Riza was mostly making this stuff up, but it seemed to calm her friend, who ended up choosing a long flowing skirt and a cranberry tunic.

"Thanks for your help Riz!" Rebecca grabbed her purse and waved as she headed out. Riza probably wouldn't see her till Monday.

Finally alone, Riza realized she had two hours to kill before meeting Jean at the firing range. She tidied up Rebecca's mess (who was she kidding, Rebecca wouldn't have cleaned it herself), checked over her weapons, and sat down on the end of her bed, thinking.

She decided she was excited by the prospect of Jean, and, because she hadn't been contacted by her dad's student in over a year, she decided Jean might help her move on. A little freedom from her previous emotions cleared Riza's mind enough to remember she hadn't showered yet, even thou it had been a long day of training.

Showering at different times was normal for her, the military being rather communal and she had her father's secret to guard. Today she would shower early and take her time.

15 minutes before she was supposed to meet Jean at the range, Riza headed out. She had luxuriated in a long, hot shower. She spent time trying to fluff her short hair, even putting a couple of fancy bobby pins in it that she found in Rebecca's toiletries. She dressed in her regulation black, short sleeved turtle neck, but opted for a green pair of cargo pants and plain, black boots. Date or no date, she would not flaunt herself at the firing range and dressed for comfort and ease. At the last minute, she decided to dab a little perfume (a gift from her father's student) behind her ears.

Heading down the front steps of her dorm, the first thing to assault her was cigarette smoke. Then she saw Jean, under a lamp, leaning against the bottom rail of the stairs.

"Jean" was all she could muster at that moment, he looked so suave.

He stood up and smiled a huge, lovely smile, squinty eyes, cigarette and all, right at Riza.

"I'm sorry. The prospect of getting to shoot with you proved a little too appealing. I've been here half an hour." The cigarette butts at his feet proved this to be true.

"And, when I got here, I realized I had no way of contacting you, so I waited. But, now you're here, so let's get this show on the road!" Jean sort of whooped, causing Riza to smile. He extended his arm toward her and, though reluctantly at first, she took his arm. They walked, arm in arm to the range.

It turned out to be very easy being around Jean. They were both country folk, though his life had been decidedly more full of friends and family. This left him with easy manners, and a contagious congeniality that Riza found disarming.

She started at the thought of being disarmed emotionally yet very armed physically. Usually it was the other way around for her.

"Enough about me" Jean said. "Let's hear about you. Especially fill me in on the secret of your skill."

Riza contemplated how much to tell him, then opted for the condensed version.

"So, a natural hunter, aye?"

"I guess you could say that. Other than that, there's no reason I should be as skilled as I am."

Jean looked her over then asked, "Well, can I observe you these next two clips?"

"Sure, stand right there." Riza pointed to an area within their box.

She loaded her guns and took aim. Relaxing from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet, she matched the rhythm of her breathing with her heartbeat. Breathe out. Beat. Breathe in. Beat. Until she was so steady she could shoot a fly...A moving fly.

Riza quickly unloaded her clip into the mark. Two in the heart, one in the head, knee caps, hands, a few aiming for the soft center of a body but purposefully missing any vital points. She gently laid her gun down, reaching to pick up the next, when a tingling started at the base of her neck and spread a warmth to her face and down her chest.

Because of this, she remembered she was being observed.

Her head turned toward Jean, hoping to judge his reaction. He seemed in awe...of her chest.

The man was very pointedly staring at her rather endowed front.

"Jean!" Riza reprimanded.

It was the second time she saw Jean blush. He bolted upright, averted his eyes, scratched behind his head and let out a nervous whistle.

"I thought you wanted to observe my technique?"

"I did, d-do! You re amazing. I'm in awe of your a-ablities!" Jean stammered and stuttered his way through the sentence.

"If, by abilities, you meant my boobs, then it's obvious how you feel sir.."

Riza's goal was to make him as uncomfortable as she was at this moment. She was not used to being ogled.

"I-i was observing you...at first. Then I got...Um...distracted. Sorry, I'll behave." Jean lit a cigarette, but still couldn't look Riza in the eyes. "Very nice by the way..."

She had to ask, "My shooting...or my boobs?"

This brought Jean's eyes directly to her's. "Um..Both, actually."

He smiled his huge, perfect smile, all warmth and friendliness, and Riza couldn't help but laugh.

They both laughed until the awkward moment passed. Riza looked at Jean, wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes.

"Let's go get coffee..." She reached to gather her guns and equipment.

"Does this mean I'm forgiving?" Jean wondered.

"I have a feeling I could never stay mad at you very long, Jean."

Jean gave another huge grin at this, then linked Riza's arm through his, and they left for coffee.

The weekend progressed well enough, with coffee, firearm practice, lunch, a show and walking about doing nothing in particular.

At one point, Jean reached out and took Riza's hand. A gesture more intimate than offering his arm. She allowed her hand to be held, and even enjoyed the tingling sensation that ran up her arm.

It was muted and gentle compared to when her father's student had run his fingertips along her back when studying the secret. When that happened, the tingling had been more of an electric shock. It had been all Riza could do to not jump up and make a sound every time his skin came into contact with her's.

Holding hands with Jean was nice. Talking to him was even better. She wasn't a person to move fast, so this was enough.

He walked her back to the dorm and was saying his goodbyes.

"I had a great weekend and would like permission to see you again."

"I wouldn't be adverse to lunchtime together, and trips to the firing range."

"And dinner or a show during leave?"

"And, I had a great weekend Jean. I'm glad we met."

He smiled again, and Riza was captivated. Until he inched his face closer and closer to hers. She realized he was going to kiss her and turned her head at the last moment, offering her cheek to him instead. Jean kissed her cheek soundly, then unabashedly exclaimed "Good enough! For right now...See you at lunch!"

He turned on his heels and waved at her while walking away, a cigarette already on its way to his mouth.

"Bye Jean, thank you!" She called back.

There was a lump on Rebecca's bed when Riza made it back to the dorm. She assumed the lump was Rebecca, and the low moan that the lump made when she toed it with her boot, proved her assumption correct. There would be no discussing their prospective weekends tonight. It would be up to Riza alone to sort and file this past weekend's worth of information in her head.