"Ang?" She quirked a brow at her. "How can you like Jack?"

"Hmmmm?" The blonde turned to seek out the woman that spoke to her, Fareeha. "What do you mean? How can I like Jack?"

"He's so old!" her nose crinkled as thought of the two kissing. "Gross!"

Rolling her eyes, Angela smirked. "So what's the ideal number?"

"Number?"

"Yeah, for dating. How much older should he be?"

"He should be the same age, duh." Her cocky grin in tow. "Dating someone older isn't cool."

"Is that Fareeha talking? Or her classmates? Or her inner-jealous demon?"

"Inner-jealous demon?" Fay looked confused. "Huh?"

"Don't think I don't know." Angela's lips twisted into a devilish side grin. "I know."

"K-know wh-what?" She could feel sweat forming on her brows. "Wh-what are you t-talking about?"

"Jesse McCree." Angela laid it on her. And the second his name slipped from her tongue, Fareeha was a crumbling mess. She was lunging forward to latch onto Angela. Begging and pleading her not to tell anyone. That no one could know she liked someone old enough that she couldn't legally date him.

"He's a curse!" Fareeha's eyes glazed over with tears. "I... I like him but... he... He doesn't even notice me."

"Well, you're seventeen. Can you blame him?"

"That's the problem!" Hugging her knees to her chest, Fay sunk into depression. "I... I really like him. But I can't. Because he can't. And it's awful."

"So why not just wait a year? It'll be your birthday in about six months. Turn 18 and you can tell him how you feel," Ang commented.

"And by then, he could have asked you out."

"Me?" Angela giggled. "Fay, I'm dating Jack. I don't plan on breaking up with him."

"You say that, but I see the way you two talk."

"Jesse and I?" Ang shook her head. "We had every intention of dating and then," she sighed pleasantly, "Jack came into the picture. Jesse knew I'd had a crush on the soldier so he didn't even try to fight for me. And we both decided that we would leave it as that. Besides, how could I leave a kisser like Jack. His lips are so smooth. So per-" The sound of tears told her to stop.

Sniffing, the seventeen year old looked hopelessly up at Angela. "Still, at least you could love him."

"L-love?" Angela's brow rose. "Heavens, Fay, you've caught the love bug!"

"I know," she threw herself onto the floor. "I'm weak. Weak for that damn ruggedly handsome gunslinger."

Suppressing a giggle, Ang joined Fareeha on the floor. "So? What's wrong with that? Love is love. You can't help who you're attracted to."

"But it's problematic," the girl responded. "The Senior Prom is this weekend and I haven't a date. Everyone's going to make fun of me..."

"Since when have you cared about that stuff?" Angela started to massage Fay's shoulders.

"I care because everyone, I kid you not, everyone has a date but me."

"Want me to go with you?" Ang asked.

"Ha, no. You're like my sister. And I don't think you're allowed to bring your sister as a date."

"It was just a suggestion." Angela tickled Fay until she started to laugh and plead for mercy. "What? What was that? Are you saying my name? I can't hear you over the sound of your laughing~!"

"S-stop, Angie!" She swatted the blonde away. "I'm trying to be serious. I don't know what to do. I'm going to be all alone and it's going to be awkward."

"I'd tell you not to go," Ang bit her lip, "but I didn't go and I regretted it. So you have to go." Cupping a hand around her chin, she thought. "What if I get you a date?"

"Didn't you hear me, all the boys and girls at my school are taken. There's no one left but me..."

"Fay," Angela nudged her, "you do know there are more schools. I'll work with your private school and I'll get you a date."

Her wide, hopeful eyes melted Angela's heart.

"I just need to know some preferences. What are you looking for?"

"Tall, dark, and handsome." She giggled. "Taller than me is a must. And maybe some facial hair? But nothing over the top and gross. Well kept and trimmed. Uh..." She fiddled with her braids. "Sweet? Polite? A real gentleman? Someone who isn't going to kiss me after one dance."

"K-kiss you?!" Angela choked. "Whoa, we're definitely not going down that route. I don't want to have to deal with your mother's ghost!"

"You and me both!" she winked. "So someone who's respectful and knows that nothing is going to happen on the first date. But," she chewed her lip, "if he is nice, I wouldn't object to hanging out with him more after the dance. Maybe getting to know him better. Or is that asking too much?"

"Since your mother's... incident, I'm not sure you'll be able to leave base much. But maybe I can arrange some letter sending!"

"Like you and Genji?"

"Ha, yes. Like us. It's a great way to get to know someone."

"You su-"

"I'm dating Jack," Angela growled. "Stop trying to push me with other men. I know who I want," she huffed.

"I was only teasing!"

Nervously, she fiddled with her raven locks. "What if he doesn't like me? What if he thinks I'm ugly?" She paced around in the living room. Her deep purple-blue dress looking fine and smooth against her tan skin. Furthermore, the accents of gold made her look like a true Egyptian goddess. "What if-"

"Fay," Angela sighed while ditching the idea of pinning a flower in her hair, "I gave him your picture. He was so flustered. Said he didn't know he'd be accompanying a goddess. So stop worrying. You're as beautiful as a flower blooming in the desert. Rare, beautiful, and one of a kind."

Blushing, Fareeha looked at her freshly manicured nails. "Thanks, Angie."

"Oh don't thank me yet. Just wait until he ar-" A black limo pulled up in front of the apartment. "Well there's your ride."

"Oh god," she started to unravel. "What if he doesn't like me. What if he doesn't smell good. What if-" she sniffed her pits, "oh no, I'm fine. I smell great."

The doorbell rang and she jumped from her skin.

"No, I-I-I," Fareeha's hand landed gingerly across her forehead. "I'm feeling feverish. I cannot go. I'm too weak." Collapsing onto the couch, she buried her head behind the pillow she used as a shield. Peeking around the embroidered edge, she waited to see just who walked in the door.

Please be handsome, please be handsome. Please be nice. Please be the kind of guy that would make mom proud...

He hadn't even stepped into the house and he was already talking. "The cowboy hat stays," the voice said. It was a familiar tune to her ears.

Flustered, she pushed the pillow even more against her face.

SHE INVITED JESSE! AHHHHHHHH! I'm definitely going to die. Maybe he won't see me. Maybe they'll forget about me. Mayb-

"You wearing a pillow mask?" The pillow that shielded her was pulled away. "Because I didn't get that memo." Popping it on his head, he struck a pose. Ridiculously at that. The pillow swayed atop his hat as he tried to get Angela to accept the fact that the cowboy hat wasn't going to stay behind.

"I said no hat," Ang growled. "Leave it. You can get it la-"

"La la la," his hand extended toward Fareeha, "I, we, can't hear you. We've a party to crash~!"

"Jesse," her gruff tone caused him to flee out the front door.

Pausing before exiting, Fareeha turned to Angela. "H-how?"

"It was actually quite easy. They said anyone on the base was fair game. When I asked him, he said he would be honored to accompany you. Even blushed a little bit." Winking, Angela shoved Fay out the door. "Take lots of pictures! And have fun!"

McCree nodded. "And back before ten?"

"Nine."

"Ang," he looked at his watch.

"Don't tell me," she cut him off, "it's high noon."

"N-no. I was going to say it's just before 5 now and if they don't do dinner until 7, 9 might be pushing it."

She scoffed. "Fine. Just bring her back in one piece. If she so much as tells me she got hurt or someone was mean to her, it'll be your head."

"Don't worry, Angie, I got this." Tipping his hat, he escorted Fareeha to her seat in the limo. "M'lady," he bowed while closing the door.

An exchange above the roof of the car happened. Angela winked at Jesse and Jesse flashed the doctor a large grin.