Hello! Wanted to give a memo that if you find a weird word with a number in it or not completely spelt out, it's because I sometimes use my work computer to write. When work is slow, it's the only chance I have in my life to continue writing and its how I make sure I don't get caught cause I've heard rumors that some companies flag certain words or whatever. I don't know if it's true or not but I wasn't going to risk it. I tried going through a couple of times to find them all but there's a good chance I missed one or a few lol but I hope you enjoy! Sorry its been forever!

XXXV

~ For what seemed like the hundredth time, I yawned. It was a long one that had my eyes watering once again. I'm sure my eyeliner was a smeared, runny mess by now. I glanced at the clock once again, telling myself I really needed to wrap things up if I was going to give myself a shot at showing up on time at the bar.

I was keeping myself busy with approving PTO for those who have submitted for it. There was more than I thought. I have such a hard time believing that people actually have a life outside of this place. I remember those days. Barely. When I actually had plans and places to be. Someone waiting for me…

I shook my head as my mind tried to drift back into a memory again. I keep refusing to entertain the daydreams. Maybe it was time for me to just call it quits and go home. I was losing focus more and more the longer I tried to force myself. It was getting to the point that I might as well indulge in the daydreaming. Get it over with and maybe I can just finish this last form.

However, Havoc has yet to return for us to have the conversation I know we need. Well…I guess it's a conversation I need. Although I wasn't looking forward to it, I was getting irritated that he was taking so long.

Until we do have this talk, there was no point in fantasizing about going home. Even though it was a personal issue, I wanted to have it here, so we had more of a chance to keep things professional. So, I might as well keep my head down and get as much done as I could. And on that note, I completed and signed off on the last PTO form, sat back in my chair and rested my head on the back of it closing my eyes to relieve them of the dryness. It'll be a miracle if I stay out long, if at all.

"Alright, what's going on in that anxious mind of yours?" I slowly opened my eyes and found Havoc trudging to my desk. He threw his uniform top on one of the chairs in front of my desk and practically flopped in the other one, waiting for me to start.

"Rough day?" It was more of a statement than a question but a question none of the less.

"I wouldn't say rough, but the last few hours haven't been fun." He paused for a moment and gave me a quick scan. "You're lookin' pretty rough yourself." Perfect. The confidence boost I needed.

"Thanks." I let out a tired laugh, feeling more exhausted than I was just a second ago. I leaned forward to rest my elbows on my desk and brought my hands up to rub my face. My mind had me going back to what he first said when he entered. "Wait. What makes you think that I'm anxious?" I asked, peeking over my fingers. He smirked as if I was missing something obvious.

"You think I don't know you? You say, 'we need to talk' like you did and that can only mean that you're overthinking something." I hate that that flustered me. I felt my walls going up and knew I was going into fight mode.

"It's been four years..."

"You counted too? Gotta say, I'm touched." There was a bite to his sarcasm and the expression that followed it let me know that he didn't mean for it. This was already going off track. I needed to get back on before we both started yelling at each other. Might as well have done this off military property if it really goes that way.

"Ok, before we start fighting, I'll get to the point." He didn't retort. Just waited for me to continue. "We need to get everything out in the open." He rolled his eyes. He actually rolled his eyes and let his head hang, looking up to the ceiling, like I just said the most absurd thing.

"You've got to be kidding. We already did that." I stared at him in disbelief for a moment. He was clearly delusional.

"If you think last night even touched the surface of what we needed to do, then you're beyond help. We barely spoke about anything, Havoc. Let alone what happened. Not to mention we're still tiptoeing around with each other. I know you're holding back."

"I'm not holding back." He said so matter of fact. "I said I was fine. I wasn't saying it for the thrills or whatever. There's nothing to say."

"You can take that and shove it right back up your where you pulled it from. You can't tell me…you can't convince me that in the four years, there wasn't something you wanted or even needed to say to me. I know," I throw my hands up to stop him from saying what I already know he's about to say, "you say you understand. Jesus. Everyone keeps telling me that. They understand what I did. The choice I made. We can all agree that it makes sense. Everyone would have done the same blah, blah…but it doesn't stop the truth of the hurt I caused."

"It sounds like you're the one with the pent-up feelings, Colonel." I don't know what it was with the way he said my title, but it left a gross feeling. Shame. I was never expecting us to be, or even, feel close but the distance between us now had me feeling empty. I paused a moment longer before deciding to continue with what I was saying.

"Regardless, what I did sucked and I'm sure that's me putting it nicely." I said in a low whisper. I knew I hit something within him as he immediately broke eye contact. "I want to hear it. I need you to tell me that, despite how understanding you are, that what I did was selfish. I need you to tell me that you hate me." My voice cracked. Damn it.

He clearly didn't like what I just said as his scowl flashed to me. My blood went cold but I just need him to say it. I need to hear him say it, so for once, for God damn once, I didn't have to say it to myself.

"I don't hate you." He somehow said so bitterly but gently all at the same time. I held in a disappointed whimper.

Regardless of the spike of emotions swelling in me, I was winning the battle and keeping my tears locked down. I had to look away as I shook my head, unwilling to believe him.

"If that's all you wanted to talk about…I have better things to do than to entertain your insecurities." I looked at him in disbelief and he didn't give me a chance to respond as he stood, grabbing his top from the chair, and headed for the exit.

"We can't be friends." I blurted out before he got too far. He stopped but didn't turn around. "I can be professional but…that's as far as I can go if you refuse to be honest with me. If you can't be honest even with yourself, we have nothing to go off of." He lowered his head and I saw his fist that wasn't holding his top clench for a moment.

"That's too bad." He said as he unclenched his fist and looked back up ahead. "Because I would like nothing more than to have you in my life again." That's all he said before continuing his way out. I felt that he had so much more to say to that, but clearly, he wasn't going to pander.

Although this didn't go the way I had wanted, it did end better than I thought it would. I figured that he would be in denial and that I would have to go this route. I don't like it but…what else am I supposed to do?

I was changed out of my uniform and in casual civilian clothes, finishing the little bit of dishes in the sink, keeping a lookout for the team from the window that's in front of my kitchen sink. I'm sure Fischer is going to disprove of my plain boring loose fitted white T-shirt, light blue jeans and white pumps. She's lucky I even did a little bit of make-up.

Considering there's nothing more that I want to do than to finish up a yoga routine, then slip into my pjs and finish up my recertification demonstration. Or maybe even finish the book she had loaned to me a few weeks ago. Normally I'd have it back to her in a couple of days but between work and unpacking, I just haven't had the time. I'm down to just a few boxes that I know I'll finish tomorrow, and I can at least check that off list.

I checked the clock to see it was well into the 8 o'clock hour and accepted that it was too late to call Fischer and tell her that I suddenly had an emergency to take care of. Dang…when did I become such a hermit? I used to jump at the chance to go and hang out with my friends. It didn't matter how late it was, but now if it's after 9, consider me a pumpkin. Thriving 30's my ass.

The three of them came into view on the sidewalk, and I turned the water off, trying to beat them to the door so they didn't have the chance to come in. Especially Fischer. She'll take the opportunity to get me to change my outfit and it'll most likely take 3 outfit changes before she's satisfied…minimum. I barely wipe my hands dry on a hand towel before shooting for the front door to grab my house keys, open and walked out of the front door.

"Here I thought we were gonna have to drag you out." Becker called from the end of my walkway as I turned back to my front door to lock it for the evening.

"Sooner we get there, sooner I get to come home." I replied just loud enough as they drew closer.

"Almost had me worried there for a second. I thought you might have gotten snatched up and replaced with an Abby that's fun." Becker mocked.

"Glad I can put your mind at ease and still be the fun sucker." I turned back and headed towards them, refusing to acknowledge the judging once over Fischer was giving my outfit. "I still don't know why you want me to meet this friend of yours?" I walked pass Fischer, giving her my back and immediately felt her put her hand in between my shoulder blades.

My clothes began to glow a soft purple light, that consumed my body and before I could blink, the glow vanished. Suddenly, I could feel the ever-slightest breeze on my legs. I took a long breath before slowly releasing it as I tried to convince myself I couldn't get away with m9rder. Even if I was friends with one of the highest-ranking officials of the country.

"Fischer…I don't know what you did, as a matter of fact, I refuse to look at what you did because you're going to change my outfit back before I go inside for my gloves." I whipped around to show her how serious I was on the glove threat. I knew she was going to have her usual "I'm innocent" smile, but it wasn't going to work. I know she gave me skirt…a rather short skirt, with the night air now touching my thighs. It could also possibly be a dress but again, I won't even bother.

"Oh, come on Colonel! I don't want to be the only girl again and you look so much better." Fischer whined innocently.

"Fischer…I don't how you didn't know this, but I am also, a girl." I wave my hands around my whole body do drive home the message. I happened to look down to verify that she did in fact change my whole outfit to a white sun dress. She even changed my pumps to sandal heels.

"More like woman." Becker added.

"You. Zip it." I pointed a threatening finger at him, without taking my glare from Fischer.

"You know what I mean. You never dress up with me anymore and I'm tired of being the only one."

"At this point, you're lucky I was wearing pants. I'm 5 seconds away from changing into my pajamas and calling it a night."

"What? Hey, Fischer enough playing around. Change her back." I guess my threat worked on Becker, which means the pressure of someone else just might get her to budge.

"Seriously." Koch mumbled and I knew I had her. She puffed one cheek out knowing that she had lost the argument. She placed her transmutation circle pendant on my abdomen and like before, the light purple glowed around my body, and I was back in my normal clothes…although they do feel tighter on me than before. I decided to let it go as she has explained it to me on more than one occasion that every time, she transmutes something, a little bit of fabric is always lost. She would have to go get more raw material to restore my clothes completely. It wasn't uncomfortably tight, so I can live with it. My shirt was, at least, still loose.

I could kill Becker. Fischer could really kill him. We all agreed to not take a car and walk to the bar, as according to Becker, Bottle Grounds was only a few blocks away from my house. I should've known better considering I lived in the middle of a residential area but I figured, sure, why couldn't there be a bar hidden a few blocks away. Well…what was supposed to be a few blocks ended up being at least a mile now.

"How much further?" Fischer whined once again. We are both regretting our choice of footwear.

"I'm pretty sure it's just up this block." Becker answered sheepishly.

"You said that 4 blocks ago." I pointed out. I'm contemplating turning around and going home. Granted it'd be another long walk but the further we continue being lost, the further the walk home will be anyways. "I say we count our losses and head back." We were passing another restaurant that had my mouth watering from the delicious smell in the air. "Or stop somewhere to eat." I offered as all our stomachs growl, almost harmonizing with one another.

"Food sounds amazing! I'm about to pass out from both pain and hunger." Fischer agreed all too eagerly.

"I swear we're almost there and I've heard their food is top notch." Becker defended.

"You get one more block," I bring my pointer finger up to give him a visual of the number of chances he has left, "and if it's not in sight, I'm going home with some form of food in my stomach." I warned.

"Oh!" I almost jumped out of my skin from Fischer's sudden exclamation. She started to knock on a big picture window that belonged to, what looked like, a fancy restaurant. She must have gotten the attention of whoever she sees in there because she started to wave before trotting to the restaurant's entrance. If I had seen through her and saw who it was she was running in to see, I would have stopped her before she even had the chance to think about what she's doing now.

I now stood frozen, eyes wide, as both Havoc and Annalise stare from their cozy two-seat table. Havoc seemed indifferent whereas Annalise couldn't look more infuriated. I could feel my blood pressure drop even more as I saw Fischer approach their table and they both looked at her.

I watched for any hint of a reaction from either of them to verify if she was doing what I think she was doing. I took note of how much this resembled a date but before I could dive too deep, Becker hooked his arm around my neck and brought me in for a noogie.

"Earth to Lovington." He laughed at his triumph. I quickly responded with a few jabs to the gut, but he already flexed his abs and the bastard might have missed core day maybe a handful of times since I've met him.

"Knock it off Becker." I scolded a command, shoving him away and he went willingly. I tried to play it off with fixing my hair, as I checked if Havoc had seen it or if he was still preoccupied. Sure enough, he was watching us, and Annalise was watching him.

"Lighten up!"

"Hey!" An amused laugh escaped me as Becker came back and flung me over his shoulder, immediately spinning around. He went a few rounds, making me good and dizzy before putting me back on my feet. "I hate it when you do that!" I went to push him playfully, but the solid pavement betrayed me and swayed to the right, my hand meeting nothing but air.

I accepted my fate and allowed my momentum to take me down to the sidewalk. I landed on my side, thankfully not hitting my head on the pavement and rolled on my back, with Becker giving his full belly laugh. I couldn't help but start laughing are we? 16?

"What the heck did I miss?" Fischer was finally back outside with us, and she hovered her head above my body with a confused but entertained smile.

"Oh, just Becker acting like a teenager again." I said through one last giggle before pushing myself up to sit. The world was already becoming still once more as Becker offered his hand to help me up. I took it and he yanked hard like he always does. The first few times he did this had me stumbling right into his embrace, but I'm a quick learned so now I get back on my feet with grace and dodge him.

"I'm terribly sorry, but you're disturbing our guest inside..." A shy waitress from the restaurant had come out to talk to us.

"Sorry, we were just leaving." I offered her an apologetic smile before Becker draped his arm back on my shoulders, guiding me back to the possible direction of the bar, as I force myself not to take another look to see if Havoc was back to his date.

By the grace of God, we made it to Bottle Grounds. We had all settled in at a high-top table that seated six. Becker's friends were already seated when we got here. Both friends were seated on opposite sides at the end of the table, leaving the middle and window seats available between the four of us. Koch took the lead and took one of the window seats with Fischer seating herself next to him in the middle seat. I tried to beat Becker to the last window seat but blocked me out, so I sat across from Fischer, also in the middle seat, next to a stranger. Wonderful.

We did our introductions and found out the friend next to me, name is Klein and the friend next to Fischer, name is Eliah.

The bar was practically empty, other than the one table on the other side of the bar. They looked like veterans. Perhaps old war buddies who come here from time to time to catch and sing old pub songs. Maybe a sea shanty or two. Becker even joined them one time when they started singing a tune he recognized.

The waitress was making her rounds once more, checking if any of us needed a refill. Fischer had asked what our craziest memory from the Academy was and we were making our rounds, telling our stories.

"Stop! You did not?" I hollered with laughter from Klein's story of Becker streaking the academy halls late at night. I no longer knew if Becker was turning red from the alcohol or from embarrassment.

"Oh, he did! We watched him from the window as he ran around the whole campus, desperately trying to find shelter." Klein provided more information. "We couldn't stop laughing."

"That's crazy." I looked to Becker for confirmation and the glare he was directing at Klein told me all I needed to know.

"They locked me out of the room, and I knew it was getting close to the time that sergeant was going to start rounds so…as he said I was desperate." Becker ended his explanation with a hefty drink from his pint.

"Didn't you end up in the women's dormitory?" Eliah asked but really just added more info, which got Becker to suck in a laugh.

"Yah. I think her name was Sara?" His eyes glazed over with the memory.

"Leave it to you to turn a bad situation into an opportunity." Fischer said with an all-knowing smirk. Becker returned one of his own, while bringing his pointer finger up to his mouth, silently saying shh.

I shook my head with slight disbelief before giving my attention to the all too quiet Koch. He's been staring out the window almost the entire time, every once in a while, adding a quick comment here and there. It's a rare trait for him to say more than a few words. You're lucky to get more than a sentence out of him. I've only seen Fischer have a complete conversation with him.

"What about you Koch?" I asked, and he pried his eyes away from the outside world to give me a raised eyebrow. "Come on. I know you have at least one story from the academy. No one leaves without having at least one." He knew he had to say something when Fischer propped her chine on her wrist, giving him her full attention. My heart melted when that got him to crack a shy smile. We all waited in anticipation while he recollected memories before picking the one he was going to share.

"I saluted a rabbit." He said only loud enough for us to hear. No one said a word as we processed what he said.

"I'm sorry...but you saluted a what?" I asked Koch, fighting for my life to hold in the laugh that is creeping up my throat. Fischer was pinching her lips together as, she too, was fighting to stop her laugh. Becker didn't attempt anything. He blew out a laugh through his nose and I kicked him under the table. Very rarely does he partake in these kinds of conversations but occasionally, Fischer can give him those big puppy eyes and he will cave.

"It was three weeks in the academy. You know how much they beat into you with saluting command. I was tired and the thing just hopped out of the bush. It was a reflex." Koch shrugged his shoulders before taking a hefty swig from his pint.

"Please tell me you called it sir?" Fischer asked, still hiding her grin. He looked at her, his cheeks turning slightly red. Now it was my turn to bring my hand up to hold in the laugh that was dying to break free.

"No." His answer had Fischer, and I disappointed. "I called it ma'am." He immediately took a long drink from his mug as Fischer, and I finally released our cackle.

"Did anyone see?" Becker asked through his own laughter. Koch answered with a bashful nod. "Who?"

"Just some second year. He was walking in the opposite direction." Fischer put a comforting hand on his shoulder, but it only deepened the blush on his cheeks.

"I can picture it too perfectly." Fischer said through a sincere laugh, which got the slightest smile from him.

"That can't be the craziest thing you've ever done at the academy though. Come on." Eliah confronted, seeming rather annoyed that Fischer was giving Koch so much attention. Koch's answer was another shrug of the shoulders, indicating that he was done, and we weren't getting another word out of him. At least on this topic.

"Alright Klein, you're up." I lightly demanded as I took a sip from my glass. I was going to need a refill soon.

"Nuh-uh. You're not getting out of this. It's your turn." Becker reversed it back to me.

"I'm trying to think of something. I really am, but I don't have anything." I protested.

"There's not one crazy or fun thing you did the three years you were there?" Fischer challenged.

"I thought no one leaves without having one." Klein just had to throw my own words back at me.

"It's unheard of. I refuse to believe you. There had to be something." Becker pressed on. I huffed a contemplating sigh as I once again rummaged through my memory, coming up blank once again.

"I bet another one of those silly drinks of yours will get your memory going." Klein was once again making it obvious that he was flirting.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to get me drunk." I've been rejecting the boy all night and I can tell that Becker is getting tired of his friend's attempts. Fischer has also been dodging Eliah's one liners left and right.

Klein leans over and evades my personal bubble, that has widened with every drink I've had tonight, and hot breath tickles my ear.

"How else am I supposed to get you home to see you naked in person." And that's how I know it's been a while cause normally that kind of creepy line would get a gentle warning punch to the nose, but instead I feel a slight warmth between my l3gs. I locked eyes with him, trying to shake off the wave of lust.

"You couldn't handle me." I immediately pinch my lips together and bite down on them. What the hell is wrong with me? I see the instant excitement in his eyes from the challenge I bestowed. I push the last bit of my drink away from me, knowing that I am officially cut off.

"Clearly we're interrupting." An unexpected, irritated voice had me jumping in my seat. I find the source and see it's none other than Dr. Schuster, with Havoc approaching the table with a spare chair from a different table. He placed the chair at the end, and she plopped right down.

"I'm so happy you made it! Grab another chair, Havoc! We can make room." Fischer invited him with a warm smile.

"Thanks. I'm fine standing." He states as he claims his spot, standing in the small space between Schuster and Klein. For whatever reason he aims his intense glare at me. The aura and scowls from the two newcomers cease the laughter from before.

Change of plans. I take my glass and down the little bit that was in it and stand up.

"I'm going for a refill. Who else wants one?"

"I'll take one, if you're offering?" Klein says in a way that gives the impression there's an inuendo implied.

"Alright." Ignoring his attempt, yet again, I take my glass with me and head for the bar. It takes the bartender a few moments before he sees me but promptly starts making me a new drink when I double tapped my glass.

My brows knit together when I see Havoc approach the bar, painfully standing several feet away from me. I could still hear his order, and when he ordered what could only be a high-end wine for the doctor, the bartender raised a baffled eyebrow as if saying, "you really think we carry that?"

"Just whatever wine you have then." He exhausts and pinches the bridge of his nose when the bartender walks away, most likely going to the back to see if he even has any wine.

I watch him for a moment and start to feel a bit bad as he's visibly stressed. I look behind me to check on my table and see they're all in a discussion again. Becker is focused on a project as he's scribbling something. My blood goes cold when Schuster turns around in her chair and locks the meanest glare I've ever seen. Pretty sure she's trying to burn a hole through my head. I whip my head back around, suddenly very interested in what liquor they have stocked on the top shelf. The bartender could have at least made my drink before running to the back.

"So, what's got her in such a great mood?" I couldn't help it. The painful, obvious silent treatment was eating away at me, and I caved.

"I thought you weren't talking to me?" He snapped out the question.

"Sorry. Won't happen again." I roll my eyes and seal my lips as the words bubble up but then remembered. "I mean…technically what I said was that we couldn't be friends. Not that I wasn't going to talk to you, and we were all having a pretty good time and clearly the both of you don't seem to be in the mood-"

"She's convinced that I still have feelings for you and thinks I'm lying when I've told her, repeatedly, that I don't. So now she's pissed and dragged me here to prove it. Not only has it been a long day, but now my night seems never ending, so excuse me for raining on your parade." He ended with a malicious chuckle.

It's hard to deny the hollow pain in my chest from that confession. But it did its job and shut me the h3ll up. Guess that answers one of the many questions I had. Actually…it basically answers just about all of them. Now I'm fighting off the tears of embarrassment for holding on for so long. Damn that bartender. Where the hell is he?

"I found a bottle, but I have no idea when it was opened. I don't feel comfortable serving it so what else can I get you?" Bartender finally reappears with the somber news.

"Martini will work." Havoc orders again, deflated. "Dirty."

"Excuse me, sorry." I grab the bartender's attention again, and his look gives me the impression that he completely forgot about me. "Could you make mine a double now?" He nods to my request, and I pray that he's swift. I hear Havoc release a long sigh and I tense when I see him closing the distance between us and leans on the bar next to me.

"Sorry." He starts gently. "It's just…she's been driving me insane cause she won't let up and after Fischer invited us, she went ballistic. Made a scene at the restaurant and I don't know what to do to convince her." I hate that each word he says only deepens the previous wound.

"You're not dating?" I ask to once again confirm.

"That's mainly why she's driving me bonkers. We're not dating so I don't know why she's getting so…" He seems to fail to find the right word and I think it's because he does know.

"Why?" I grab whatever strength I have to raise my gaze to him and his eyes meet mine.

"What?" His expression lowers in confusion.

"Why aren't you dating her?" At this point, I almost can't blame her for not liking me. She's a bit over the top with it…but I can bring myself to understand. It's undoubtedly clear she wants to date him. From what Catalina explained, he's also wanted to date her for some time now…so why? The hesitation in his eyes stirs something that I find hard to ignore.

"What's taking so long?" Schuster's hostile question gets us to break away and look at her. "And I thought you weren't talking to him anymore?" Her tone is accusatory as she crosses her arms.

"Technically, she said we couldn't be friends and he's making the drinks." I force my smile back down from Havoc's answer. He turns to face her, just as the bartender places all three of our drinks down. I grab mine and practically run back to my seat at the table.

Before I put my drink down in its place, I see a present has been left for me. A rose with petals of almost every color sits on the table in front of my seat. I give Becker a knowing smile and pick it up to examine. Fischer has both of her elbows on the table, resting her chin in both her hands as she admires Becker's work. Havoc and Schuster join us, with Schuster taking her seat again with a, what I'm starting to believe is permanent, scowl.

"That's it?" She examines my rose with the most distain expression.

"What do you mean, that's it? I wish someone would learn alchemy for me and make me pretty flowers." Fischer defended Becker's hard work.

He's been doing this ever since we've been working together. All because I mentioned one time that he and I had nothing in common. So naturally, the man started learning general alchemy, so he had something in common to talk about with me.

I admit. If I hadn't already given my whole heart to Havoc, I would've fallen for Becker the first time he made me one of his alchemic roses. Of course, the first one he ever made crumbled within seconds of the transmutation. He's come a long way.

"So, how'd I do?" He asks with confidence. I look right at him as I oh-so gently blow on the flower, and it withers to dust. His mouth gaps in disbelief.

"No way! I made sure it was perfect. What did I do wrong?"

"Let me see?" I hold my hand up and curl my fingers a couple times, asking for his circle. He pulls the piece of paper out from his pocket and places it in my hand. Now I know what he was scribbling away for. I unfold it to start going over every symbol. I give a soft laugh as I catch his mistake. "You keep doing this." I hold my hand out again, and he provides me a pen. "It needs to be this." I go over the symbol he had and correct it to the one he needed and give the paper back to him to analyze.

"Damn it." He grumbles.

"You also need to up your source material, like I told you. You're never going to create something that last with…what did you use?"

"A napkin and crayons." Fischer answers for him. I give a look of confusion.

"Where did you get the crayons?" It's not like the bar was handing them out.

"He carries them around for this purpose." Fischer again answers. Becker gives her a look that indicates that she's not helping his cause, but little does he know that my heart swelled with that information. It's small. So small. But, apparently, means so much.

"Anyways, your turn Abby." I shoot Klein another warning look for using my first name.

"For the third and final time," I start through almost gritted teeth, "it's Lovington. I'll allow you to drop the Colonel since we're off duty, but it's always Lovington." I paused for a moment to let the final warning sink in. "My turn for what?" I ask before taking a sip from my drink.

"The craziest thing you've done at the academy?" Crap. That's right.

"Lovington do something crazy? At the academy?" Havoc scoffed a laugh at the unbelievable thought. Unfortunately, I can't argue…but he doesn't have to be such a jerk about it.

"Wait…are you saying that you and our Colonel were at the academy…together?" Fischer's eyes sparkle with the information.

"I mean…I was two years ahead of her but we mingled from time to time." I actually got a friendly smile from him? Nothing like nostalgia to extinguish a few flames from a burning bridge.

"And you don't have any juicy stories? Like sneaking into her room or maybe a make out session in the broom closet? I did that last one a lot." Fischer whispered that last bit in my ear. Havoc let out a fake laugh as if Fischer just said the most ridiculous thing…and again…I couldn't argue.

"Abby didn't so much color outside the lines at the academy, for fear of getting kicked out."

"I had goals! And I wasn't about to take a chance and ruin it all for some stupid prank or temporary pleasure or whatever else someone had in mind for getting in trouble." I defended myself with obvious hurt to my tone. Yes, it's true. I never took a step out of line because I didn't want to be thrown out. The worst thing at the time was the thought of having to go back home and waste my life away.

"Why does he get to call you-" Before Klein could finish his question, I shot a threatening look that had him snapping his mouth shut. I didn't miss the cocky smirk Havoc tried to hide with taking a swig from his bottle.

"So, what you're saying is that she's a completely different person now?" Becker asked with a sated smirk, taking a sip from his pint.

"Oh, yah. Once she graduated and joined the team, she was unrecognizable. Went from goody good rule follower to practically delinquent."

"I wasn't that bad. I still answered to Mustang and followed my orders. Plus, I knew it was gonna take a lot more to discharge a fully titled state alchemist than a nothing private."

"And you did a great job at bending just about every rule he issued."

"Guess I should've just gone home." Schuster's mutter put a stop to Havoc's and my reminiscing. The silence that followed left the air murky.

"Ugh!" Fischer saved the atmosphere with her grunt. "At this point, I think we would accept you taking an extra spinach quiche or you took a sick day without actually being sick." She pleads. And just like that, a memory is triggered. I can't stop myself from stealing a glance at Havoc and he returns my gaze with an inquiring glance.

"You got sick days at the academy?" Eliah questioned.

"Of course not, but you get my point." Fischer waved him off in frustration. Havoc clearly doesn't remember. Do I even bother confessing?

"It wasn't exactly a sick day but…" Every eye at the table, including Schuster's surly expression, was now expectantly on me. No taking it back now. ~

End of Chapter 35