The Seven Realms Series belongs to Cinda Williams Chima.

1 hour earlier.

"Rebecca!", Cat thought.

Rebecca Morley, stood next to Amon in her cadet uniform. Last time Cat saw Rebecca, was when Rebecca was spying on Amon and Annamaya on one of their dates together. Cat tried to stop her by grabbing her, but she push Cat hard enough to let her go. After that, she mention Rebecca to Han, Han went to find her. When he did, he said Rebecca was now tutoring him in private. Cat didn't know what Rebecca was tutoring, and she stop caring to know. She always thought that Han and Rebecca were walking out, and the private tutoring was just a excuse to see each other.

But after last night, she was wrong.

"Amon, what are you doing here?", Annamaya said. "Well, Wein house students are on break for tonight's recital. I had nothing to do but study, but Talia here convice me to come with her and Rebecca to this cafe that has the best sandwiches.", Amon said. "That's right! Wanna joins us Annamaya?", Talia said. She then smirk, "if you want, me and Rebecca could sit at a table to ourselves and leave you and Amon alone to eat together. It'll be nice."

"Talia...", Amon said. Annamaya blushed a bit at the thought of it but realized Cat was still with her. "That's a nice offer but... I'm with my friend here. We were walking around here." Amon, Rebecca, and Talia look to the girl that was with Annamaya. Both Amon and Rebecca were very shocked to see Cat while Talia smiled at Cat. "That's okay, she can come too." Amon kicked Talia on her lower leg as if he was not okay with this idea. Amon saw Cat as a dangerous person. Cat didn't know why but she thinks it's because she used to run with Cuffs Alister back in Ragmarket. Amon didn't trusted Han. Ever since Han kidnapped Rebecca from Southbridge Temple, Amon has been on alert with anyone who associates with Han Alister. Han kidnapped Rebecca because Han thought Amon was gonna arrest for a crime he did not commit, so he panic and took Rebecca.

But it's all good now, or at least it's what Cat thought. During Rebecca's kidnapped, Han plan on releasing her because he didn't want innocent Rebecca to get caught in his plan to save the Raggers from the gaol's because they were wrongfully imprisoned. But Rebecca insisted on helping. Rebecca went up to the prison, pretend to be someone's sister, and once they reached the cell, Rebecca kick the gaurd in the leg and tried to over power him but it was difficult so she called out to the other prisoners to help her. They did so and knock the gaurd down. She then caused a riot when letting the other falsely imprison inmates out. Amon came in and made a deal to let the prisoners out.

After that, Rebecca went back to Amon. Han said she'll make a fine Ragger, Amon disagree. It has been so long since then.

Back to present time.

Amon and Rebecca both just staired at Cat, which made her pretty uncomfortable. Annamaya saw this, "Um... Amon... Morley. You are both making Cat uncomfortable." she said bluntly. Both Rebecca and Amon stop staring and now realized Annamaya was right. "Sorry... it's just that... we thought we never see you again.", Amon said. Annamaya looked surprised. "The three of you know each other?" Amon nodded, "aye... we know each other. But it was under bad circumstances."

It pretty much was.

"Well that's pretty much in the past now, no need to drag it further.", Annamaya said. Talia clap her hands, "Annamaya is right, it's in the past. Now, how about that invitation to the Cafe?", Talia said, wanting to changed the subject. Annamaya looked at Cat if she wanted to go. Cat was hesitant but then thought about how much Amon and Annamaya should spend time more. She then nodded in agreement. "Alright, I'm in."

Talia clap her hands in excitement while, Amon, Rebecca, and Annamaya looked at Cat with wide eyes. "Are you sure Cat? You do not have to come if you are uncomfortable.", Annamaya said, feeling concern. "It's fine, I'm pretty hungry anyways."

"Alright then let's go!", Talia said with so much joy. The group began to walk to the Cafe.

On the way, the atmosphere around them felt... tense... awkward even. Everyone was silent. No body was making conversation. No body even looked at each other. They would be walking for a while, so somebody had to speak up. That somebody was Talia. "So Cat, you go to the temple school? Same as Annamaya? Cat looked at Talia, surprised. "Oh um... I-I do." Talia open her mouth, "are you gonna perform in the recital tonight?" Cat nodded, "yes... I am." They went quiet again. Atmosphere is even more tense. What makes this more nerve racking is that Rebecca has not said a word at all. It was making Cat uncomfortable.

"Soo... Rebecca. How's... everything?", Cat said awkwardly. Rebecca jumped a little when Cat spoke to her. "Um... everything is ok."

Silence.

Few seconds later, Talia spoke."So Cat, got yourself a lover?" Cat was caught off gaurd. She didn't expect a question like that right off the bat. Cat had trouble responding, Annamaya saw this. "She does, he's actually coming to the recital tonight to see her perform." Talia whistled, " ooooo... what's he like?" Annamaya looked at Cat, Annamaya's face said "don't be afraid". Cat took a deep breath and open her mouth. "He's handsome, his blue eyes are unique. He can be very funny, can make anyone smile from his jokes. Really smart, comes up with ideas that may seem like they don't work but he manages to make it work somehow. A good listener, he pretty much pays absolute attention to anyone and gives out good advice. He's not a coward, no matter the danger he'll go in head first. A fighter, good at defending himself. Lastly...", Cat blushed a bit. "He knows me too well, knows what I like, what I love, what I hate, what I fear and knows my pain. Who would't want to be with this man who knows how to treat a lady?"

Talia blush at Cat's words, Rebecca felt pretty happy for her, Amon just kept walking, and Annamaya smiled, feeling proud of Cat.

"Wow, this guy must really be something.", Talia said. "Who is he?" Cat stopped walking, and so did the rest. Cat was finding it difficult to say something, with Rebecca here. "Wait... why am I hesitating? Han's with me now, not with Rebecca. They weren't even walking out, she was just tutoring him with something. I know Han wouldn't think of two timing, He's not that kind of guy. Screw it.", Cat thought, feeling a bit jealous. She then open her mouth.

"It's Han, Han Alister.", Cat said.

Now this caught both Amon's and Rebecca's attention. Talia was shocked as well, she knew who Han was. She thought He and Rebecca were together. "Han?! Han Alister?!", Talia shouted. "That's Rebecca's man!" Rebecca attention was now on Talia. "Talia! Me and Han... were never together. Calm down." Cat eyed Talia. "She's right, they never were. Just because they do private tutoring doesn't mean they were kissing on the side." Now Talia was now eyeing Cat. They both staired at each other with intensity. Talia then spoke. "Rebecca has been eyeing him for a while now. Even Alister was doing the same. I bet you stole him from her."

Where was this coming from? When Talia became so defensive with who Rebecca was with?

Maybe ever since Amon broke Rebecca's heart after she caught him with Annamaya at this little restaurant. They weren't together together but they did harbor feelings for one another. They patch things up after, Rebecca even talk to Annamaya sometimes but it still felt awkward to do so. After all that, Talia became wary of who was with Rebecca. Talia and Rebecca are vey good friends, it's understandable of how Talia was feeling, she wanted to protect her friend from any heartbreak. When she met Han with Rebecca, Talia could see the smile on her face, how she laugh at Han's jokes, how they could talk off a storm, everything. She thought "this is the one for Rebecca."

But now, looks like it's not meant to be.

"It ain't stealing if they were never together to begin with. If Han saw Rebecca differently, then why hasn't he confess to her already? I know Han, if he did harbor feelings for her, then he would have said something.", Cat said, upset. Talia was about to open her mouth again, but Rebecca stopped her. "That's enough Talia. She's right, me and Alister were never together. He and I were only friends... nothing more. Those tutoring sessions were about being a blueblood. That's what I was teaching him, he wanted to learn how to fit in the wizard school. That is all, now stop with this arguing and let's go to the Cafe." Rebecca huff and turned away and proceeded to continued on to the Cafe.

"Rebecca!", Talia called out. She went to catch up to Rebecca. Amon just stood there along with Annamaya and Cat. Amon sigh "let's just... continue on." Cat scoff and continued walking and Annamaya nodded awkwardly. The rest manage to catch up to Rebecca and Talia. They walked the rest of the way in silence. They were near about near their destination untill Talia stopped in front of the group. Rebecca looked at her, confused. "What is wrong?" Talia pointed at the Cafe, "is that who I think it is?" Everyone looked and were shocked.

It was Han Alister sitting at a table with Fiona Bayar.

"Why... why is he sitting with someone like her?", Cat thought sadly. Talia giggled a bit, "guess it's not just you two he's been seeing." Rebecca kicked her in the leg to shut up. She then looked back at Cat. Cat looked sad, hurt even. "Cat... it is probably nothing. I-I bet he is not that type." It wasn't convincing when both Han and Fiona where laughing. It looked like Han was happy. Cat gritted her teeth, she looked like she was about to start a fight. "Do not over think it.", Annnmaya said. "Do not assume this is who he is. Go up behind him, hear what he has to say." Cat looked at Annamaya. She was right, Cat needed to calm down. She has to hear it from Han.

Luckily, there were people walking by. So it was easier to go in unnoticed. Cat manage to get into this small alley and lean against the wall, around the corner, was where Han and Fiona were sitting. Cat wasn't the only one came into the alley. Annamaya followed, then Rebecca, Talia, and even Amon who just didn't want to stand out in the street alone came. Cat ignore them, she was more focus on the Fiona and Han. She then heard Fiona spoke.

"What is she like? I never got to know her for well... obvious reasons.", Fiona said.

Cat was confused. "Who is she talking about? Is there another girl Han was seeing too?!", Cat thought angrily. She was about to walk up there and grabbed Han but Annamaya stopped her by grabbing her arm. "wait!", she whisper, "listen." Cat stopped and went back to listen. She peak around the corner, she could see Han but not his face. She then heard Han spoke.

"She's a good friend. She's really funny, always crack up the best jokes. She's very strong, won't back down from a fight and won't let anyone talk down to her, I admire that. She's fun to be around with, I never get tired of being with her. She's great with a knife, never lost a knife fight. She plays the Basilka very well, It's so soothing that I can't help but relax to it. She's a beautiful singer, her voice sounds very angelic. She's really pretty, I can't stop looking at her face. Her smile, man... like sunshine. Despite her tough personality, she can be loving and caring person. Lastly, she knows me too well. That's what I love about her, she knows me, she knows my likes, my dislikes, my fears, my pain. Who would be dumb enough to not have someone like her at their side."

Cat well... felt speechless. Basilka, knife fight, knows him to well. She knew who he was talking about. It was herself. She remember those words he said. He said those words when she asked him what he think about her. He still remember those words, he even added a little more words in it. Just like that, her feeling of anger and hurt were gone. Now replaced by warmth and happiness. Annamaya let go of her hand. "Go, talk to him." Cat took a deep breath and turned the corner. Before she went, she heard Fiona. "Guess I can't compete. Oh well." "Thanks.", Han said. "No problem.", Fiona said and giggled. They both started laughing. Cat walked up behind Han. Fiona saw her and went wide eye.

"Han.", Cat said. Han turned around and went wide eye as well.

"Cat!", he said.

To be continued.

Finally done with this chapter.

As why it took whlie, may not be a while for you but it was to me, I took a little break during the weekend.

I was burned out.

I started this chapter on a Sunday night.

I was a little burned out but I manage.

It might be like that for a while but don't worry, I'll still do these chapters.

Anyways, enough about me.

Thank you for reading.

More to come.

See you soon.

-isTrickster