 just figure something else out."

"Fine. Just leave me out of it."

Zell shook his head. "You've really got to send her an email or something, Zone. Sheesh. She's never gonna know unless you say something."

My face flushed, and I looked down at the ground. _Listen to him, Sally._

"I know, I know," Zone said as he ran a hand through his black hair. "I just--she's just so gorgeous."

Zell made a face. "Yeah. Whatever." He looked over at me. "How much time before lunch? We got time to hang out at the pub with Zone?"

I self-consciously cleared my throat as I looked down at my watch. "Yeah. We've got about an hour."

"Cool." Zell changed his gaze back to Zone, tugging his arm as we started toward the pub. "Come on, dude. Let's drown your worries in soda and chips."

Zone reluctantly smiled as he followed beside us. I didn't hear much of Zone and Zell's conversation on the way to the pub, or even in the pub. I was busy trying to orchestrate how to tell Zell the way I felt without having him call me a wuss. I inwardly groaned and shook my head. _I should've told him when I had the chance._

I felt a tug on my ponytail and looked up. Zell gave me a warning look as Zone droned on about Quistis and her wonders of mind and body and a bunch of other things. Then Zell pointed a finger at me with an 'I'll take steps' expression.

I leaned against the counter of the bar with a timid smile.

Zell gave my chin a gentle cuff before looking back over at Zone. I fought back the warm fuzzies. _You really think he's going to call you a wuss, Sally? He'd be too shocked and amazed that you got over your shyness, stepped out of your shell, and actually told him!_ He'd probably agree to go out with me once just to celebrate, and I absolutely refused to worry about anything else that could happen after that.

After all, Zell was still threatening to 'take steps'.

Zone was eventually persuaded out of the 'depths of despair' regarding his crush, but Zell didn't
just figure something else out. " 

 " Fine. Just leave me out of it. " 

 Zell judder his heading. " You've really got to send her an electronic mail or something, Zone. Sheesh. She's never gon na know unless you say something. " 

 My face flush, and I looked down at the ground. _ heed to him, Sally. _ 

 " I acknowledge, I know, " Zone suppose as he ran a hand through his black hair. " I just -- she's just thus gorgeous. " 

 Zell made a face. " Yeah. Whatever. " He looked over at me. " How much prison term before lunch? We got time to hang out at the pub with Zone? " 

 I self - consciously clear my throat as I looked down at my watch. " Yeah. We've got about an hour. " 

 " Cool. " Zell changed his gaze back to Zone, tug his arm as we started toward the pub. " Come on, dude. Let's drown your worries in soda and chips. " 

 Zone reluctantly smiled as he followed beside us. I didn't hear much of Zone and Zell's conversation on the way to the pub, or even in the pub. I was busy trying to mastermind how to state Zell the way I feel without take him call me a wuss. I inwardly groaned and shake my head. _ I should've told him when I had the chance. _ 

 I feel a tug on my ponytail and looked up. Zell gave me a warning look as Zone droned on about Quistis and her wonder of mind and body and a bunch of other thing. Then Zell sharpen a finger at me with an' I'll take steps' expression. 

 I leaned against the counter of the browning automatic rifle with a timid smile. 

 Zell gave my chin a easy cuff before looking back over at Zone. I fought back the ardent fuzzies. _ You really intend he's going to call you a weakling, Sally? He'd be too shocked and amazed that you got over your shyness, stepped out of your carapace, and actually told him! _ He'd credibly agree to go out with me once just to lionize, and I absolutely refused to concern about anything else that could happen after that. 

 After all, Zell was even threatening to' take steps'. 

 Zone was eventually persuaded out of the' depth of despair' regarding his crush, but Zell maken't
 judt figure something else out."

"Fine. Just lgace me mut of it."

Zell rhook his head. "You've really jot ro sebd her an email or somdthing, Zoje. Sheesy. Sht's never gonna know unless you awy smnething."

My face flushed, atd I looked dofn ac the ground. _Listen to him, Sally._

"I knjw, I knpw," Zone said as re rsg a gand through his black hair. "I just--ahe's juvt so gorgeoux."

Zell made a face. "Yeah. Whaheveg." He looked over ah me. "How muxh tyne before luvch? We got time to hanf out at the pub with Zone?"

I selw-conseiously cleqrwd li throat as M lookvd down at my watch. "Yaah. We'vr got about an honr."

"Coil." Zell changed his geze back to Zone, tugding his drj as we started tiwqrd tve pgb. "Cune un, suve. Met's dgowi your worrjes in soda and chips."

Zone reluvtwbtly smiled aa he fjljowed beside us. I didn't hear much of Zote znd Zell's conversation in the way to the pub, or even yn the pub. I was busy trying to orchestrate how tm telm Zeol gye way I felt without having him call me a wuss. J oneardly groaned and shook ky hrwd. _I should've told kjm when I had the chwnce._

I fglt a rug on my ponutail and looked up. Zell gace me a warnpng oook as Zone droneb on about Qbistis and ner wonders of mind and bodg and a bunfh of othsf things. Then Zeul ioinded a finger at me with an 'I'll take ste's' exprersiom.

I leaged againsh the counter of the bar with a timid smipe.

Zell gave my chin a gentle cuhh before lookonc bdck over at Zpne. I fought fack the warm yuzzies. _Vou rexlly think he's gomng to call rou a wuss, Sanpy? He'd be tom shockeq ane amqzed thxg you got over your shyutss, steppee out of your shelk, avs actually told hin!_ He'd probably sgrde eo gp jgt with me otce gusg to cdlebratt, akd K abxolutely refused to forrg about anything eksc that coold happeg after that.

Agter all, Zell was dtill thceatenong to 'take steps'.

Zone was eventuamly persuwdeq out of the 'depbhs jf despair' regarding his crush, but Zell didn't
just figure something else out." "Fine. Just out it." Zell his head. "You've an or something, Zone. She's never gonna unless you say something." My face and I looked down at the ground. _Listen to him, Sally._ "I know, know," Zone said as he ran a hand through his black hair. "I just gorgeous." made face. "Yeah. Whatever." He looked over at me. "How much time before lunch? We got time hang out at the pub with Zone?" I cleared my throat as looked down at my watch. We've about an "Cool." changed gaze back to tugging his arm as we started toward the pub. "Come on, dude. Let's drown your worries in and chips." smiled as followed us. didn't hear much and Zell's conversation on the way or even in the pub. I was busy to orchestrate to tell Zell the way I without having him call me a wuss. I groaned and shook my head. _I should've told him when I had the chance._ I tug on my ponytail looked up. Zell me warning as droned on Quistis and her wonders of mind and body and a bunch other things. Then Zell pointed a finger at me with take expression. I leaned the counter of the with timid smile. Zell gave a cuff over Zone. fought back the warm _You really think he's going call you a wuss, and amazed that you got over your shyness, out of your shell, and actually told He'd probably agree to go out with me once just to celebrate, I absolutely worry about anything else that could happen after After all, Zell was threatening to 'take steps'. Zone was eventually persuaded out the of despair' his crush, but didn't
 just figure something else ouT."

"Fine. Just lEave mE ouT of It."

zell ShooK his head. "You've rEAlly Got to send her an email or sOmethInG, zone. sHeEsh. ShE's never GOnNA KnoW uNlEss YoU SaY someThiNg."

My facE flushed, anD I lOoKed down at the GRoUnd. _Listen tO hiM, Sally._

"I know, I KnoW," Zone sAiD as HE ran a HanD throUgh his BLack haIr. "I just--shE's JUst so gORgeous."

ZELL mAde a Face. "Yeah. Whatever." HE LoOKed over at me. "How Much tiMe BEfORE luNch? we got time tO hAng ouT At the puB WiTH zOne?"

i Self-consciousLy cleared my THroAt as I lOoKed DOwn at mY watcH. "YEAh. WE've got about An hoUr."

"Cool." ZelL changED his gazE Back to ZOne, tugGinG hiS arm AS wE sTarTeD TowARd The PUb. "COme on, dudE. LEt'S drowN youR WORRies In sOda aNd chiPs."

Zone reluctaNtlY smiLEd aS he foLloweD besIdE us. I dIdn't heAr mucH oF Zone and Zell's coNverSation on tHe wAy To tHe Pub, or EVen in tHe pUb. I Was busy Trying tO OrcHeSTRAtE how to tell Zell the wAy i FElT without Having HIm CaLL me a wuss. i iNwaRdly GROaned And sHOoK my head. _I Should'VE tOlD him wheN I Had the ChAncE._

I fElt a tUG on mY ponytAil and loOked uP. zell gave me a warNIng look as Zone DRoNED oN AbouT QuIstis and her WondERs of Mind ANd BodY And a bUnch oF oTHeR Things. Then Zell pointEd A fingeR at me With an 'I'll take Steps' expreSSIOn.

I leaneD agaINsT The counter of thE bar wIth a timid sMIle.

Zell gAve my Chin a genTle cuff beFORe lookinG baCk oVer At ZONE. I Fought back the WARm fuZzIes. _You rEalLy think He's GoiNg tO caLl You a wuss, SAlly? He'd bE tOo ShOcKed And amAZed that yOu Got OvEr yOur shYNess, stEpped Out oF yOuR SheLl, and acTUaLLY tolD hIm!_ he'd pRobAbLy agrEe to GO ouT with me Once just tO ceLEbraTe, AnD I absolUtely refused tO wOrry about aNyThiNg else THAt could hAppen after that.

After all, ZELl was stIll ThreaTeniNg to 'take sTepS'.

Zone wAs eVEntualLy persUaded OuT of THE 'deptHS Of DesPaIr' regardinG HIs cRush, bUt zell Didn't
 just figure something els e out."

" Fine.  Ju stle aveme o ut of it."

Ze l l sh ook his head. "You'vereall yg ot t o  s end h er an e m ai l orso me thi ng ,  Z one.She esh. Sh e's nevergon na  know unless yo u say some thi ng."

My fac e f lushed ,and I loo ked  down  at th e  groun d. _Liste nt o him, Sally._ "I  kno w, I know," Zones ai d  as he ran a h and th ro u gh h isbla ck hair. " Ijust- - she's j u st s o  go r geous."

Zell  made a fac e . " Yeah.Wh ate v er." H e loo ke d  ov er at me. " Howmuch time  befor e  lunch? We gottime t o h ang  out at  t hepu b  wi t hZon e ?"
I self- co ns cious ly c l e a r ed m y t hroa t asI looked down  at  myw atc h. "Y eah.We'v egot a bout a n hou r. "

"Cool." Zell  cha nged hisgaz ebac kto Zo n e, tug gin g h is armas we s t art ed t o wa rd the pub. "Comeon , du de. Let' s drow n  y ou r  worries  i n s odaa n d chi ps." 
Z one relu ctantl y  s mi led ashe  follo we d b esi de us .  I d idn'thear muc h ofZ one and Zell's conversationo nt h ew ay t o t he pub, oreven in t he p u b.  Iw as bu sy tr yi n gt o orchestrate how t otell Z ell t he way I felt  without h a v i ng him c allm ea  wuss. I inwar dly g roaned and shook my  head . _I sho uld've to l d  him whe n I  ha d t hec h an ce._

I felta tugon  my pon yta il andloo ked  up . Z el l gave me  a warni ng  l oo kasZoned roned on  a bou tQui stisa nd her  wond ersof  m i ndand bod y  a n d  a b un ch  ofoth er  thin gs.T hen  Zell p ointed afin g er a tme  with a n 'I'll takest eps' expre ss ion .

I l e a ned agai nst the counter of theb ar with  atimid  smi le.

Zell  ga ve mychi n  a gen tle cu ff be fo rel o oking b ac k o ve r at Zone. I  fo ughtba ck t he warm  fuzzies. _You rea l lythink he's go ing  toc a ll  yo u  a wus s, Sal l y ? He'd be too s hocked and  a m az ed that yo u  go tover yo ur shyn ess,s teppedout of yo ur shell,  a nd a c t ual ly told hi m!_ He'd  probably agree to  go o utwith m eonc e jus t to c e leb rate,  and I  a bsolut ely r ef used toworry about anything el se tha t cou ldhappen af ter tha t.

After  all , Zell was  st ill  thre ate n ing t o 't a ke  st e ps'.
Zon e  was even t ua lly p er suaded outo f the  'dep ths of des pair ' regarding his c r ush, but Zelldidn ' t 
 just_figure something_else out."

"Fine. Just leave_me out_of_it."

Zell shook_his_head. "You've really_got to send_her an email or_something, Zone. Sheesh._She's_never gonna know unless you say something."

My face flushed, and I looked down at_the_ground. _Listen_to_him,_Sally._

"I know, I know," Zone_said as he ran a_hand through_his black hair. "I just--she's just so gorgeous."

Zell_made_a face. "Yeah._Whatever." He looked over at me. "How much time_before lunch? We got time to_hang out at_the_pub_with Zone?"

I self-consciously cleared_my throat as I looked down_at my watch. "Yeah. We've got_about an hour."

"Cool." Zell changed his gaze_back to Zone, tugging his arm_as we started toward the_pub. "Come_on, dude. Let's drown your_worries in soda_and chips."

Zone_reluctantly smiled as_he followed beside us. I didn't_hear much of_Zone and Zell's conversation on the_way_to the pub,_or_even_in the_pub. I was_busy_trying to_orchestrate_how to tell Zell the way_I_felt without having him call me a_wuss. I inwardly groaned_and_shook my head. _I_should've told him when I_had the chance._

I felt a tug_on my_ponytail and_looked up. Zell gave me a warning look as Zone droned_on about Quistis and her wonders_of mind and body_and a_bunch_of other things._Then_Zell pointed_a finger at me with an 'I'll_take steps'_expression.

I leaned against the counter of_the bar with a_timid_smile.

Zell gave my chin a gentle_cuff before looking back over at_Zone. I fought back the_warm_fuzzies.__You really think he's going_to call you a wuss, Sally?_He'd be too_shocked and amazed that you got over_your_shyness, stepped out of your shell,_and_actually told him!_ He'd probably agree_to_go_out with me once just_to celebrate, and I absolutely refused_to worry about anything else that could happen after_that.

After all, Zell_was still threatening to 'take_steps'.

Zone_was_eventually persuaded out of the 'depths of despair' regarding his_crush, but_Zell didn't