The chances of Crystal being civil to Jay were one in a thousand. The chances she’d sit down with him, and eat her lunch with him in the mess hall arranged by President Loire was one in a million. The chances of a conversation, very slim. However, to the surprise of Amalia and Devin alike that is what they saw.

They saw their friend sitting at one of the tables in a heated discussion, or debate about something.

"I don’t believe it." Devin said as he placed his tray down at their now usual table and watched his friend talk to Jay. "She’s actually talking to him." He grunted and sat down.

"Mmm, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were jealous." Amalia said as she too sat down and watched their young friend continue to talk to the young twelve year old boy, as if they were the best of friends.

"I am not jealous Amalia." Devin said as he picked at his food. "I’m just confused as to why she’d even give that brat the time of day."

"Perhaps," Amalia said after she sipped at her juice, "she sees something in him we don’t."

"Like what?" Devin asked as he gave up trying to eat, having lost his appetite.

"I can only speculate." Amalia said as she continued to eat in silence.

****

"Come off it Jay. You can’t expect me to believe that." Crystal said as she pointed her fork at him before stabbing it onto the plate of spaghetti. "It’s common knowledge by now that all Sorceresses were female."

"That’s my point though, in the histories it says Sorceress. A female variation of the word Sorcerer. I’m telling you, unless Adel had small boobs, Adel was a man. Not a woman."

"Prove it!" Crystal said after swallowing a mouthful of her food and placing the fork on the table and grabbing her drink and waving it under his nose with her trade marked grin reserved for debates.

"Ok, fine. I will. You and I will go to the Library in the upper city and research the histories. Pictures, written eye witness accounts. You’ll see what I mean."

"Oh a challenge." Crystal said grinning. "I’ll take you up on that, however, lets raise the stakes a little. If I’m right, you’ll stop being such a jerk to people."

"Deal, and if I’m right you’ll agree to a date."

Crystal spit her drink all over the table after almost choking.

"A DATE?!? You’re only twelve! I’m like sixteen!"

"Your point?" Jay said smiling smugly. "You’re a pretty girl, and you’re intelligent. I think it would be interesting to see what you’re like on a date."

"Fine. It’s a deal." Crystal said grumpily. "But only once!"

"That’s all I’m asking for. Oh and if it comes to the date in the end, you get to choose where we go, and what we do. Don’t worry about the cost or gil. I have it covered."

"Yeah, yeah." Crystal said as she picked up her tray and stood up. "Come on, lets go to that library and see just who is right about Adel."

"The sooner the better." Jay agreed with a grin, as he too stood up.

"I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?"

"Maybe." Jay responded, with a coy smile as the two passed Amalia and Devin, and then left the mess hall.

"I don’t like this." Devin said. "Not one bit."

Amalia said nothing.

"Come on we have to follow them."

"I’m in the middle of eating my lunch." Amalia said as she looked at Devin as if he grew two extra heads, a tail, and a pair of wings. "Besides, it’s none of our business what she does with him."

"I’m making it my business." Devin retorted as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I mean how can some kid just waltz into our group and then hog her all the time?"

"I think you’re over reacting Devin." Amalia pointed out as she put her fork on her tray.

"I am not."

Amalia just shook her head.

****

Squall was in hell. He wanted nothing more then to just get up and leave the infirmary. Maybe even go home to his room. No I don’t have a room anymore, he thought to himself as he turned onto his side and stared at the wall. Feeling ill at ease, and frustrated about not being able to do his part when the Garden was under attack, he felt more and more like he was nothing more then the celebrity face of Garden. He had to admit, he did not like that thought.

Rolling over in the bed again he grabbed a pillow and pulled it over his head, while lost in thought.

"Hey."

"What?" Squall replied to the ever annoying voice of Seifer.

"Quit your pouting and get off your ass. You’re making yourself look stupid."

"Didn’t I tell you to shut up?" Squall snapped as he picked up the pillow and tossed it across the small distance where it landed harmlessly in Seifers hands.

"Yeah, you did. Though I am not going to let you just sit there and get depressed on me." Seifer said tossing the pillow back and laughing. "Besides, I think someone’s here to see you." Seifer added, as he looked over towards the open infirmary door.

It was a vision of beauty, something he thought he’d never see. Rinoa standing in the doorway, holding in her trembling hand a glass of water. Her eyes going wide and then squeezing shut briefly as she fought the tears that Squall could tell were forming.

Time seemed to briefly slow down as the raven haired woman, dropped the glass letting it shatter on the floor, then ran to the bed where Squall was resting.

"Now this." Seifer said coughing, as Rinoa literally hug tackled Squall. "Is where I say something witty, and rude about you two getting a room."

"Seifer." Squall said as he looked at Seifer from over Rinoa’s shoulder who was hugging him tightly, "Whatever." He said waving his hand at him to shut up and get lost.

Seifer simply sneered.

****

They were sitting at the table, viewing books on the history of the Sorceresses, and for Crystal the fate of the bet was looking grim.

Very Grim.

Sighing after Jay made his final case and point she thumped her head on the table and mimed waving a white flag of surrender.

"Okay, so Adel was a man. You win, we go on a date." She said grumpily as she sat up as Jay laughed and chuckled.

"True, but you get to decide on where we go. That was part of the deal." Jay reminded her as he closed one large, and extremely heavy book and looked at her. "I promise, it won’t be the date of Ifrit’s hell."

"I am so going to regret this." Crystal whined as she placed her chin in her left hand and looked out the window with a sulk. "I don’t even like you all that much, you twerp."

"Hey now." Jay said. "If that were true, you wouldn’t waste your time on such a silly bet to begin with. Let alone spending your time with me in the first place. So all that stuff about not liking me, doesn’t fit with how you’ve been acting babe."

"Really going to regret this." Crystal sulked as she pouted and looked at Jay.

"Very funny." Jay said as he stood up and jammed his hands into his pockets. "Still, a bet is a bet, and you lost. Just give me a call when you’ve decided on what we’ll be doing." With that the blonde youth stood wearing a grin akin to a wolf's.