The next day at breakfast, Roy, Davis, Rex and Cloud sat at a table with Edvard as their newest friend. He was silent most of the time and would only talk when Cloud tried to strike up conversation with him and when a really interesting topic came up. It created more of a balance in their group, seeing as the only quiet one really had been Cloud before and now there were two. And as Roy sometimes changed from being talkative to reserved (which the other four all found incredibly fascinating) he added the final touch to the balance.

"Why can't they at least give us food that tastes good?" Rex complained loudly as he moved his food around on his plate. "How are we going to perform at our best if we're eating stuff like this?"

"Suck it up and be a man." Davis said, taking a mouthful of the food. Edvard stood up and Cloud glanced at him and then down to the spotless plate he held.

"Where are you going? Did I frighten you off already?" Rex asked.

"More food." Edvard said, keeping his head down and walking over to do just as he had said.

"He's crazy, he is." Davis muttered.

"What's he doing here anyway if he's into science?" Roy asked, pushing some of his hair away from his eyes.

"He's a right little geek isn't he?" Davis agreed. "His glasses aren't flattering either."

"Don't say that about him." Cloud said defensively.

"Still remembering when we picked on you?" Davis asked with a chuckle. "At least we still don't do it, right?"

"You shouldn't pick on anyone." Cloud murmured.

"Well, when I get a girlfriend you won't have to worry about me any more. I'll be too busy working out when I can escape this place and take her to the movies to worry about teasing." Rex said with a happy sigh.

"You'd better get a girlfriend fast. I want to see your failed attempts at leaving this place." Davis grinned.

"Well Roy managed it, didn't he? So I'll be able to do it as well!" Rex argued, folding his arms stubbornly.

"Yeah, but she wasn't my girlfriend." Roy pointed out.

"How were they supposed to know?" Rex asked.

"Just make sure that when you get a girlfriend, she doesn't ring up and ask to see her boyfriend." Roy explained.

"Smart." Davis commented.

"So Gemma is your girlfriend! You're just hiding the fact so that you can continue seeing her!" Rex accused, his eyes going wide at the sudden knowledge he felt he had uncovered. Roy choked on the mouthful he had just begun to swallow and felt tears spring to his eyes from the sudden pressure.

"Is it true, then?" Davis asked eagerly.

Finally managing to clear his throat, Roy said, "No!" and shook his head. "She's just my friend! I promise!"

"Yeah, right. Whatever you say." Rex said with a roll of his eyes. Just then Edvard arrived back and sat down, his plate piled high with more food.

"You've got a pretty big appetite." Davis remarked with a raised eyebrow.

"It happens when I overexert myself." Edvard said quietly. Davis laughed and looked at Roy, wanting someone to join in his amusement. The only response from Roy that he received was an unimpressed stare.

"Okay, okay." Davis said with a sigh, turning back to Edvard. "I'm sorry."

"It doesn't matter." Edvard said with a shrug, keeping his eyes on his food.

"Hey, is that Genesis Rhapsodos?"

Roy jerked as Rex nudged him sharply in the side and then looked around for who Rex was talking about. There was a man with auburn hair and a long red cloak standing near the doorway, his eyes scanning the room as he obviously searched for someone. Edvard sat up in interest, his eyes wide in excitement.

"It is!" Davis said excitedly, having also spotted him. "I wonder who he's looking for."

"Maybe..." Edvard trailed off, his eyes glued to the SOLDIER who had just begun walking forwards toward their table.

"Eddie?" Davis asked, raising an eyebrow and wondering what the small boy was so excited about.

"Excuse me, are you Edvard?" Genesis asked, stopping in front of him.

"Yes!" Edvard squeaked out.

"Professor Hojo would like to see you." Genesis explained, now looking quite bored.

"Yes!" Edvard repeated, shoving his chair back and jumping up. "Thank you so much, Sir!"

"That's alright. Now if you'll just follow me." Genesis turned and began walking towards the door again, Edvard almost running to keep up with him. His face was lit up in such a way that the others were sure they had just witnessed one of his life dreams occurring.

"Now I'm intrigued." Rex stated with a pout.

"Isn't Professor Hojo that guy who gives the SOLDIERs all their mako?" Davis asked, frowning in confusion.

"Maybe Eddie's a druggo!" Rex laughed.

"Do you guys ever take anything seriously?" Roy asked with a sigh, although there was a slight smile on his face as he spoke.

"Of course we do!" Davis grinned. "But how often do you see a lowly infantryman get taken off to see Hojo?"

"I wouldn't know; I've only just joined." Roy pointed out with a small smirk.

"Oh, touché!" Rex laughed at Davis and high-fived Roy.

[2 weeks later]

Roy was sitting on his bed reading over the theory work they'd been given on guns after a long day of running and was also half listening to what Rex and Davis were saying as they argued over something of little significance. Cloud had been silent for a while and as Roy glanced up momentarily, he confirmed that the other boy was also reading over the theory.

Under his bed and tightly sealed in a box was a long black wig which Gemma had sent to him one week ago. He had yet to wear it but was simply waiting for the most opportune moment. He was hoping that tomorrow night would prove to be the chance he was waiting for.

Just as Roy turned a page and was beginning to read about how to take apart a gun and put it back together, loud voices were heard entering the corridor just outside their room.

"Yeah, tomorrow night's the best time. Sephiroth and some other Firsts are being sent out on a mission."

"How'd you find out?"

"I have my sources."

"So are we gonna go to a bar?"

"Keep your voice down! But yes. And I figured we should take some of these newbies with us for an adventure."

"Well, here's a door."

Roy hurriedly stood up from the bed and shut his book, looking over at Davis and Rex to make sure they had heard as well. Unfortunately, the three of them didn't seem to be on the same wave length.

"Sweet! Do you reckon they'd let us come with them?" Davis hissed quietly.

There was a loud knock on the door and then it opened, revealing three third class SOLDIERs. Roy's eyes widened and he felt a lump form in his throat. It had been nerve wracking getting into SOLDIER, but he'd soon gotten comfortable with the others in his classes and his instructors weren't too bad. Now that there were more new faces he was nervous again. Rex and Davis weren't helping.

"Hey!" Rex said enthusiastically.

"You guys doing anything tomorrow night?" The larger of the three boys asked, folding his arms.

"Well we've-"

"Nope!" Davis cut Cloud off happily.

"Great. Meet you at the bar at seven o'clock."

The three boys left the room and Roy turned on Rex and Davis angrily. He had his hands on his hips and was almost literally smoking at the ears.

"So you get to decide for me now, do you?" Roy snapped.

"Oh relax! Think of the girls we'll meet there!" Davis laughed, trying to soften his friends mood.

"Um, do I have to go?" Cloud asked quietly.

"Of course! We could get you a girlfriend, Spike!" Rex grinned. The blond boy went bright red and ducked his face in embarrassment.

"It's not funny. Cloud and I aren't going, alright?" Roy said firmly. He was thoroughly annoyed that two of his room-mates had even thought of destroying his possibility to wear his wig on the night he'd been planning.

"It'll be great! Why don't you want to come? This isn't like you, Roy." Davis said thoughtfully.

"You don't know me well enough to say what is and isn't me!" Roy growled.

"Oh, chill out. Stay here if you want, but don't get jealous when we all get girlfriends and you don't." Davis shrugged.

"Fine."

Cloud glanced from Roy to Davis and back again before looking over at where Rex was watching them with his eyebrows furrowed in thought.

"Um," Cloud cleared his throat. "I might come."

"I knew you would!" Davis exclaimed happily, moving away from Roy to ruffle Cloud's blond hair.

Roy folded his arms and sat down on his bed, still glaring at Davis even though he wasn't looking any more. He wasn't sure why he'd gotten so annoyed, but he did know that no matter what he was going to wear his black wig tomorrow night.

Suddenly, as Roy watched Davis flop onto his bed, a light bulb turned on inside his head. His mouth fell open slightly and his eyes widened. Why hadn't he thought of it before?

"So which bar are you going to?" Roy asked, turning away and trying to make it sound as if he wasn't really interested.

"The closest, probably. It's near the cinema." Davis said. "If you change your mind, feel free to join us."

"Dream on." Roy replied quickly, ducking his head to hide his smirk. He had a plan. He knew it was dangerous, but he wanted to try it anyway. Besides, being a SOLDIER would involve greater risks than this.

Grabbing his theory work once again, he tried to focus on the words and stop from laughing aloud. Tomorrow night was going to be so much fun.

[1 day later]

"He wants to kill me, it's the truth!" Davis whined as they entered their room after another lesson with guns. "I bet it's because I know so much about it; he's probably jealous."

"Yeah, because an instructor is going to be jealous of an infantryman. Sure." Rex rolled his eyes with a snicker and Davis shoved him in the shoulder.

"Do you guys have the time?" Cloud asked curiously.

"It's six thirty." Rex said, dumping his bag on his bed.

"Half an hour until we meet some hot chicks!" Davis exclaimed happily. "I can't wait. I feel sorry for you, Roy."

"By all means, have fun." Roy encouraged him.

"You know what's sad?" Rex said thoughtfully as he sat down and rested his head on one hand.

"What?" Davis asked.

"Edvard's missing out too."

"Oh hey, I forgot about him!" Davis laughed.

"I hope Hojo didn't murder him or something." Rex frowned.

"It's not impossible. Who knows what Hojo does down in his lab?" Davis shrugged. "But don't worry, as long as we never go down there we should be fine. And once we're SOLDIERs, we could probably take him on if he tried to hurt us."

"Too right!" Rex agreed.

"I hope he's alright." Cloud said quietly.

Roy moved over to Davis and stared him straight in the eyes. "Listen to me carefully. If you don't look after Cloud, I will never forgive you. Understood?"

"Perfectly." Davis said seriously.

"Good. Have a good time, then." Roy relaxed somewhat and went over to his bed, rummaging through his bag for something.

"Don't worry Roy, we'll make sure no one mistakes him for a girl." Rex said.

"Hey!"

"Relax!" Rex doubled over in laughter, clutching his sides. Davis chuckled and looked over to see Cloud absolutely fuming.

"It's okay, no one will." Davis assured him.

"Oh my gosh! Davis!" Rex gasped out, looking up at him. "I just had a hilarious thought!"

"If it involves me you can keep it to yourself!" Cloud snapped. Rex stopped laughing and frowned slightly. He hadn't expected Cloud to get so offended by his comment.

"Okay. I'm sorry." he said, looking down. Cloud sighed and sat down on his bed, avoiding looking at anyone.

"You should leave now. Otherwise you're going to be late." Roy pointed out.

"Alright. We'll see you tomorrow if not late tonight." Davis said, standing up. Roy nodded and tried to make it look like he was really busy looking for something in his bag.

"See you." Rex said, walking towards the door beside Davis. Cloud stood up and slowly followed them, not even looking back at Roy as they all exited and shut the door behind them.

As soon as they were gone, Roy stopped his pointless rummaging and grabbed the main objects he knew he would need. He lay them out on his bed and then waited until all footsteps had disappeared before rushing out to the bathrooms.

Splashing water over his face, he wiped it clean of all the make-up he had been wearing. Once he was back in his room, he started applying different make-up to what he had used before and after being satisfied, he began prying open the box which contained his wig.

"Here we go..." Roy mumbled as he took the wig out and started pulling it over his head. He carefully checked his appearance in his hand-held mirror and almost burst out laughing at what he saw. Rearranging the wig only slightly, he then went over to one of his drawers and dug down deep before finding what he'd been looking for.

Checking the time on his watch, he hurriedly got changed into his skinny jeans and a long black top.

Pulling on a pair of high heels, Kayli packed all her stuff away again and quietly slipped out of her room and into the corridor. She listened intently for other sounds of people who could be anywhere near and began the slow journey of making her way outside without being seen.

A few times she had to duck into other rooms to avoid being found, but other than that the hallways were rather empty and it made her thankful that some of the SOLDIERs had gone on a mission.

Once she got outside, she walked down the nearest street towards the shops and could soon see the cinema up ahead. In just five minutes, she suddenly froze and slowly turned her head to look at the shop window she was standing next to.

"Something's missing..." she said thoughtfully, observing her reflection in the glass. She tilted her head slightly and then let her eyes wander past her reflection to the things inside the shop and she gasped. "Of course!"

Quickly turning around, she dashed inside the shop in order to buy a long necklace which would complete her outfit.

Leaving the shop with her new necklace on, she smiled and continued on her way toward the cinema, which she was using as a reference point to then find the bar. It only took another five minutes and then she was there.

Taking a deep breath and trying to calm her nerves which had suddenly appeared again, she turned on the spot outside the cinema and looked for the bar. There were quite a few people hanging around here and she wondered if she would look out of place at all. She'd never been to this part of Midgar before.

A group of boys caught her attention and she watched as they walked towards a building with a broken sign above the door. Inconspicuously sidling closer to them, she peeked inside the building as the boy at the front opened the door.

Confident that she had now found the bar where the others were, Kayli waited for the group to disappear inside before following after them and walking in as well. She was slightly shocked to see that no one stopped her to check ID, but then quickly scanned the room for anyone she knew.

Davis, Rex and Cloud were sitting at a table with two other boys she didn't know. Smiling to herself, she walked over to the bar bench and sat on a stool, frequently glancing over at Davis' table in an attempt to get their attention subtly.

"Hey, Davis! Five o'clock!"

Kayli felt her nerves increase as Rex hurriedly tried to calmly inform his friend that someone kept looking at him. What if Davis looked over and immediately knew who she was?

Alas, there was no time to turn back now.