Her commlink buzzed right after closing time, when Jyn had just helped Peg shut the shop and was taking off her apron and heading for the small refresher next to the back room in order to wash her hands, which were stained with grease and other substances, the tyipical thing when one spent the day handling and tinkering with all kinds of machines, devices and equipment.

She cursed, because she didn't dare touch the commlink with such dirty hands, and hurried to wash them, excited by the call. Even though Cassian had kept in touch with her every day since he'd helped her land the post at Peg's, they hadn't met in person again. He'd been running errands and she'd been equally busy acclimatizing to her new lifestyle and schedule, as well as catching up on lost sleep (her last tough weeks had taken their toll and her mind and body screamed for proper rest) and becoming used to having a normal routine. And, oddly enough, for the first time in many years, she felt that she could start to relax, to afford to be much less on guard. It was such a novelty that at first she hardly knew what to do with herself in her free time and she insisted on tidying up and cleaning the apartment nonstop (she hadn't ever been much of a cook) until Peg, with an exaggerated eyeroll, dropped a stack of well used books (actual paper books, not holobooks) in front of her. Jyn took the hint and, scanning the titles, decided that it couldn't hurt too much to try reading them. She chose a spy novel which looked mildly promising and took it to her bedroom. A while later, she was so absorbed in the plot that she didn't hear Peg announcing from afar that dinner was ready, and the irritated landlady practically had to shout by Jyn's bedroom door to draw her attention, making her jump on the bed.

She pressed the tiny mic on the commlink. "Hello," she greeted with a smile while climbing the stairs to the apartment.

"Hi Jyn. How are you today?" It was his usual question every time they talked. Jyn still marveled that someone went to so much trouble for her, even if it was something as mundane as asking for her wellbeing. Not even Saw had openly shown so much concern. She knew at heart that he'd cared, of course. It was simply that Saw was too rough around the edges and too hardened. He was not the forthcoming type. Far from it. So Jyn had got used to keeping to herself. She watched and learned quickly and went through the different stages of growth completely on her own. The cadre had little patience or time for someone so young, and besides, her status as Saw's personal protégée didn't encourage their closeness. Much to the contrary.

And after him, no one had cared at all. Therefore, anyone's closeness at present was shocking to her. She wondered if that feeling would get old some day, though she doubted it.

"I'm fine," she said. "Another busy day at the shop. I truly like it." She heard him smile by the soft change in his breathing. She'd learned to catch different nuances in his breath.

"I'm glad. Eh, Jyn... I was wondering if you'd like to go out for a drink. I'd like to introduce you to a couple of friends, Bix and Brasso. And I have some news I'm eager to share with the three of you. Well, that is, if you feel inclined to meet my almost lifelong friends, of course. No pressure. I haven't told them about you yet, not without your consent. Either way, I'll respect your wishes."

He got silent, waiting for her response in the static of the commlink.

She hadn't ever truly socialized. The earliest years of her life didn't count. She very vaguely remembered some little kids on Coruscant she'd played with in opulent apartments, but that had been all the extent of her friendly interactions. After that, her home on Lah'mu was isolated, and her time with the cadre hadn't improved her lack of social skills. She was awkward at best.

But she was trying to build a normal life on Ferrix, and that implied socializing a bit, didn't it? For Cassian, she would try. Besides, she would be lying to herself if she denied the fact that she was curious for knowing more about him.

But she was afraid too. She hadn't led an ordinary or uneventful life she could talk about freely and casually. She couldn't even divulge her true surname. She was going by Jyn Dawn now. Even if she had decided to use her real first name (Jyn was a common and unremarkable enough name, there must be many thousands, if not millions, of Jyns in the galaxy), her past had taught her to keep her family legacy under lock and key.

So, what was she going to talk about? She wasn't the talkative type anyway.

She supposed she'd have to trust her instincts and that things would go smoothly enough, if Cassian's friends weren't the nosy type.

She'd find out soon. "Okay. I'm in," she agreed, taking a deep breath to strengthen herself. For an instant, she wondered what she was getting herself into, but her inner bold voice shushed her fears determinedly. It was just a gathering for some drinks and a little talk, for the Force's sake. She could handle that, couldn't she?

She knew that Cassian was smiling widely even if she couldn't see his face. "Great. Comm me when you're ready, after dinner time, and I'll fetch you. You good with that?"

"Yeah. I'll wait for you then."

"Perfect. See you later. Over and out."

Jyn returned the commlink to her pocket and, after entering the apartment, picked clean clothes in her bedroom and went to take a shower in the refresher, while Peg busied herself with dinner.