So Let's Fly [Cody and Cassadee]

Time sure did fly by and Cody couldn't help but wonder as he stared at his ceiling when Cassadee would come over to the Valley. There was soft music playing in the background as he pondered his thoughts, thinking of how difficult it would be for the girl to visit him. Having a fear of water would probably put that on hold for awhile, part of him regretted not going to the island today to then escort her here. The absence of money in his pocket left him hear though. Just staring at the ceiling. Perhaps he would play some music.

Getting up off his bed he dragged his feet across the floor to his black guitar case. Flipping open the buckles he opened it revealing his old faithful compainion--a maple colored acoustic guitar. Gently he picked up the instrument and carried it back across his small cheep room to his bed and sat there with it tuning the instrument. His left hand ran up the neck as he tuned it quickly and before he knew it he was ready to play.

His left hand glided across the neck of the guitar. His right hand strummed at a steady tempo. His eyes closed as he concentrated on his music. His vocal cords started to hum along to the melody. His song was being played from his heart.

Cassadee stepped off the boat warily. She looked around. So this is Forget-Me-Not Valley... she wondered, the corners of her mouth turning upward slightly. But she didn't see Cody anywhere. She sighed. She should've figured, seeing as she decided to surprise him. He hadn't been able to visit lately, so she wanted to visit him for a change. She was suddenly glad she did. It was a beautiful place to live.

After asking around for a bit, she finally found out where Cody's house was. The door of his house squeaked open as Cassadee tried to open it. She winced, thinking that he'd come running to see if he was being robbed. Instead, she heard soft guitar music floating through the house. A low humming noise sounded as well, and Cassadee found herself closing her eyes. That song reminded her of her parents. It was really pretty.

She soon stood in a doorway, watching Cody strumming his guitar. He was playing the song so passionately that Cassadee could feel it, even. "Cody?" she asked, seeing if the boy would notice her as he was playing.

Cody was so intune with his music he had not heard the door to his simple inn room open. It was only when Cassadee called out his name that he stoped playing his guitar and looked up to see the girl with her long black hair standing at his doorway. "Hi," he said greeting the girl setting his guitar down next to him on his bed. "Feel free to come in."

His room was nothing for him to be too proud of. A small shabby little place, only one room and a bathroom. When you walked in to the right was his small kitchen and then was his living-slash-sleeping area. His only furiture included a couple of bar stools at his counter, a dresser, and a bed. Nothing really special. Never had he lived in a place long enough to collect anything permenant.

"Would have meet you more on Waffle Island, but I was running low on cash," he confessed commenting on his sudden dissapearance from there.

As Cassadee looked around, she had to admit, the place was kind of small compared to her house. But it still had a homey feel. "Not a problem!" she replied cheerily to his reasoning for not coming to Waffle Island. "But next time, just tell me, okay? I don't spend money a lot, so I'd be more than happy to pay for my only friend to come visit! Not that I don't like visting," she amended quickly, "But you know my fear of water..."

"Nice place." She decided to sit down on one of the bar stools. "I've never actually stayed in an Inn before. It's homey." She looked at the bed, Cody's guitar catching her eye. "Beautiful guitar. May I hold it?" she asked, looking at the instrument.

"There's the whole pride thing," Cody said a bit quiet and stubborn. It wasn't in his policy to take money from anyone, particularly a girl. Being a gentle man was important to Cody. Gentle men did not take money from ladies. Therefore, Cody did not take money from ladies. A weird philosphy, but it was his own and he was too stubborn to give it up just yet.

Something bothered Cody about what Cassadee said. There was no way he could be her only friend--she was too nice of a person to not have any friends. "Am I really?" he said bewildered at her statement. "It's just--you seem so nice. It doesn't make sense for me to be your only friend. It seems wrong."

"Small but cozy," Cody remarked regarding the comment about his place. "Let's see," he said counting on his fingers how many inns he had stayed at before. There were so many places that he had stayed before that he really had to think about it. Some were horrible and he was out with in a week, others he stayed at for a year or two. "This is my tenth inn I've stayed at now... I think. Hard to be one-hundred percent sure."

The guitar must have caught Cassadee's eyes, for she pointed at it's polished oak body that lead to a sleek neck. It wasn't anything compared to his mother's beatiful Gibson, but for all he knew Cassadee might not see too many guitars. "Sure," he said pick up the acoustic and handing it to her. "Do you play at all?"

Cassadee had to smile. Cody was so stubborn at points. "Accepting help from someone doesn't have anything to do with pride. In fact, in my opinion, it's better to accept help than to fall down alone," she points out slightly. Then when Cody pointed out that she'd called him her "only friend." "Oh..." She laughed a bit and looked down, fiddling with the charm bracelet she was wearing. "Well, I guess I don't have any friends because of my past. It's not anyone's fault but my own. I'm just... scared of people. Scared of getting close to someone, because I'm scared that they'll get taken away from me." She paused, then added, "Just like my family."

"I've never actually stayed in an inn before..." Cassadee gazed around the room. "Wow, tenth inn? You must move around a lot... I've actually never moved. Sad, huh?" She chuckled a bit, moving her hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear.

As she took Cody's guitar in her hands, she plucked at the chords a bit. "Used to," she replied to his question. "Stopped when I was around ten. I taught myself, 'cause momma said daddy played."

"I'm not falling though," he pointed out smiling slyly. Her fallacy certainly was interesting to him, but it would not work. He knew to think more about those kinds things rather than falling into the trap. Never would he call himself a logician, but the army had taught him well enough to be wary of particular phrases. Most of the time he found himself falling victim to various fallacies though, but his goal was to rise above the. "I will let you when I do though."

Cassadee's blue eyes gazed down at a bracelet she was fidgetting with on her wrist and a serious tone enveloped the air. Her voice slowed down as she admitted that she was scared of people and Cody felt a lump form in his throat. Problems like this never happened to him. Fear was something he lacked and there were not anytimes when he felt scared to talk to people. From the start he always loved meeting people and had no problem doing so. His green eyes gazed down at his own hands, which started to fidget on their own. The room felt oddly somber.

"Ummm," said Cody interupting the serious tone preparing to explain his perspective. "I don't really know what that's like--having a soldier's mentality enforced upon me might be an underlining cause, but I don't think I'll be able to understand those feelings. I mean, people go away--wheather it's by choice or not. As a soldier I've come to accept that one day I might get called off and never return. Sadness is a part of life and even though it hurts, I guess I'd be happier to experience it to meet more friends. Just an unpleasant factor in the equation of life, I guess."

"Let's just talk about something happier now," Cody admitted one of his own weaknesses. Something didn't feel right when he could say things like that, it wasn't him. Always he tried to keep things possitive and depressing conversations chilled him. "Serious things are not really my forté, so let's move on."

"Really?" Cody said perking up an eyebrow hearing that Cassadee hand played for a little bit. It was quite some time since she last played, but after a few practices she'd get back her groove. Her fingers went up and down the neck as she formed mulitiple chords, strumming each one with her free hand. "I could teach you some of the more complicated things that you need a teacher for," he suggested. "Oh, and I would invite you to spend the night if you were a guy, but since you're not that'd sound wrong."

[Woot! I was scandlous with that last part, eh?]

She laughed at his answer. "I'm sorry," she said. "I tend to speak in metaphors sometimes. But I mostly do so to myself." A smile overtook her face. She sighed and leaned against the counter. "Well, my answer has to be, 'When you do fall down, I'll try to be there to pick you back up. Although I'm sure you might not need it,'" she replied to his answer. "Just try not to fall, 'kay?"

She waved off his answer. "You know... I think it's odd. I'm scared of water and people. Two things that most normal people aren't..." she mused, reverting to her quiet self. "I hated my life. But... that's a story for another time." She smiled a bit, fingering the charm of a dog on her bracelet. "Back to happier subjects," Cassadee agreed, smiling a bit. "It really doesn't seem like you could handle anything serious for long. If you were in a staring contest, you'd lose because you'd probably burst out laughing." Her eyes glittered with a teasing humor, one that she knew hadn't shown up in years. "You know, you could simply call me Cassie if you want. That's what every friend I've ever had has called me," she informed him.

Groaning, she plucked at the strings some more, succeeding in playing the chorus of Tom Petty's classic, Free Fallin'. "I know, I need a ton of lessons... I learned a ton of classical rock. The Beatles, Elvis, Led Zeppelin... You name it, I've probably learned how to at least play the chorus." She smiled as she changed gears to a newer song, Heaven Can Wait and hummed along to the tune. "But I do know how to play some newer stuff."

Cassadee grinned and stood up. "In that case, why don't I make you dinner then? I daresay I'm a pretty darn good cook myself!" She looked around. "May I ask if you cook when you're home?"

[Yeah, you were! But I think I adjusted well~]

"Will do," Cody nodded replying to Cassadee's falling comment. Without a doubt he'd try not to slip up and make any more mistakes, but he knew danger was attracted to him. The thought of the scars from the inn fire at Mineral Town haunted him. "It's nice to know that you've got my back though."

Relief swept over Cody when Cassadee agreed to change the topic to a more pleasant one. Before he knew it the serious tension in the air vanished and all seemed brighter, like the situation was bleached clean. Smiling he laughed, "You see right through me, I'm just not that serious of a person. You'd think the military would train me for something like that, but you can't change people completely."

"Good," he commented teasing her slightly. "Cause Cassadee is a really long name. I don't really think there is any shorter form of the name Cody, so I can't help you shorten it."

Earnestly Cassie plucked at his guitar, sounding a bit rough here and there. She hadn't played for years, so this was expected. Cody was suprised that she retained so much knowledge about playing. If he didn't practice once a week he swore he'd be hopeless, but Cassie was doing a great job for someone who neglected playing. "I'd never picture you for a Zeppelin kind of girl," he commented on her choice of music. "Ever tried Red Hot Chili Peppers?" he asked seeing how wide her genres covered.

"Dinner?" Cody said a bit shocked by Cassie's suggestion. He could feel his green eyes get wider with excitement. Without hesitation he grinned happily at her idea. "That'd be the greatest thing ever! I can only make microwavable things and sandwiches, so I don't really get a good home cooked meal. No cooking ablility whatsoever."

Casadee giggled a bit and put her hand on top of Cody's. "But if you ever need help... or just want to talk... I'm here, 'kay? Don't be afraid to realize that there are people out there that want to help you." She gave him a gentle smile and continued, "I know there's something bugging you. Just talk to me, please?"

She gasped. "You? Serious? Military?! You know, those three words don't exactly fit into a sentence. I guess that those military guys knew what to do with you!" she joked, smiling widely. Then she added, "Don't let any of them try to change you. You're you, just the way you are." Smirking, she ruffled his hair a bit, messing it up just a bit.

"Huh... How about Co-chan?" she joked, smiling her Cheshire Cat smile. "It fits you! Plus, it's cute. But feel free to shoot it down if you want." She giggled a bit.

Cassie paused, thinking. I do know Dani California... But that was only because of their Grammy Nomination in 2007. I know a bit of country, too. Dixie Chicks are my absolute favorites! Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow are cool, too." She strummed the chorus of Accidentally in Love, humming along quietly. "Do you know what song this is? Or if you have a request, I'm eager to hear it!" she exclaimed. "Ooh, wait! Can you play me a song?"

Giggling, Cassie asked Cody, "What would you like? In fact, let me check the cabinets..." True to Cody's word, his cabinets and pantry were filled with microwave meals and things used to make a sandwich. After looking hard, she managed to gather bread, onions, and cheese. "Well, what you have doesn't give me much to work with, but I could try and make French Onion Gratin." She realized that perhaps Cody wouldn't like French Onion Gratin. "Or we could go shopping for food. We'll get whatever you want."

Cody felt him blush when he felt the sensation of Cassie's hand on his own. It sort of made his heart skip a small beat--he had to be careful. He knew he always got ahead of himself and would take simply friendly jestures the wrong way. His biggest fault his father always said. He had to learn how to read people better, otherwise he'd be doomed. "I'll take you up on that offer sometime," he said running his other hand through his hair nonchalantly.

"I think I am who I am because of the military," Cody chuckled after Cassie's reaction. It was quite humorous, but personally he found it kind of ironic himself. Without a doubt Cody could be one of the friendliest, warmest, non-serious person ever, so soldier didn't really quite fit him too well. He was sort of romantic, as in perspective. He would be that energetic soldier, that you think got drafted, and was bound for a career at a music store after his service was done. "It's been a part of my whole life afterall."

"Co-chan?" raising an eyebrow, Cody rubbed his chin at the suggestion. Certainly it was unique, but what in the world did chan mean? Was it just some wierd slang word that stood for something cute? It was quite the conundrum. "I guess it's okay? Don't really get the 'chan' part though."

"My dad was a country kind of guy," Cody said commenting on Cassie's knowledge on country music. Just thinking about it reminded of the times when his father was somewhat mellow. That wasn't too often. If Cody was lucky he would get to hear his dad strum steadily and sing with his rugged voice.

Instead of directly saying the song, Cody started to sing the song. "So she said what's the problem baby? What's the problem? I don't know, well maybe I'm in love," he smiled as he sang. He wasn't a bad singer, but he wasn't good too. Never really practiced or anything. Just sang when he felt like it. "I know the Counting Crows," he chuckled.

Cassie suddenly had a burst of energy--Cody was tempted to ask if she was okay. Before she seemed so shy, but now she was so bubbly, smiling. Asking question after question. "Settle down," he said laughing nonchalantly. Cassie really had opened up to him and he liked it. "One thing at a time. I can play you a song and then we can hit the store. Okay?"

Cody's cheeks were tinted a light pink. "Are you okay? Do you have a fever?" Cassie asked, frowning in worry. She moved her hand to his forehead. "You don't feel warm... Are you sure you're all right?" She smiled a bit, moving to sit next to him. "Alright... feel free to come and talk whenever you need me. Don't be shy about your problems. Because no matter what, I won't judge you." I have no right to. His problems... probably aren't as bad as mine were. If they are, I'd hope to help him.

She agreed, "The way you're raised makes you who you are." It was no different for her; she'd been raised to take care of herself. She never relied on anyone, she never had to. That's one of the reasons she didn't know how to deal with people. "It's the same for me, so don't worry about it. I am who I am because of how I've lived my life up until now." It wasn't exactly a good way to be raised, but it was better than a lot of other ways.

Giggling, Cassie covered her mouth at his confused expression, trying to stifle her laughs. "The -chan part is because I'm half Japanese. I don't know, I just think it's cute." It was cute; in Japan, putting the honorific "chan" after someone's name was an expression of endearing. "It's just a nickname. It's okay if you don't like it."

"Well, then your dad was a pretty cool guy, wasn't he? Do you remember him at all?" Cassie asked, smiling at how Cody remembered his dad. She never remembered her parents. They died before she was five, just when she was learning to speak.

So Cody knew some of her favorite bands. She picked up the song at the next verse. "How much longer will it take to cure this? Just to cure it 'cause I can't ignore it if it's love, makes me wanna turn around and face me, but I don't know nothing 'bout love..." She stopped playing. Her voice wasn't at all the best. She couldn't sing as good as Cody, but she had to admit, she was okay, at least.

Looking at Cody, who was laughing, Cassie flushed a bright red. "Sorry!" she squeaked. "I get really excited about cooking. It's always been my dream to work as the head chef in a restaurant. But I just can't find it in me to leave home." Cody suggested that he'd play a song. "You would? Really? Could you play Tonight, I Love You? If you can play it, that is," she suggested slyly.

"I'm fine," he said brushing the topic aside. There wasn't anything between him and Cassie, just friends. As of now, it was too early for there to be any more between the two of them. Not that he didn't like her, it was just they just met not that long ago. He wasn't even sure if he liked her that way yet. Examining these emotions came before making any kind of move like that.

Cody blinked twice when he heard that Cassie was japanese. "I had no clue," he said smiling, he chuckled at himself for not noticing that she was particially asian. Maybe one of her parents was asian and the other was not, because blue eyes were uncommon in asian people. "I don't mind the whole 'chan' thing, it just seems longer than my own name."

"Let's save the story about my father for another time," Cody said he looked down at his hands and smiled feeling nostalgic from the memories. His father certainly was a one-of-a-kind type of man, and would take longer that one evening to tell about.

"A chef?" Cody smiled as he chuckled amused. "Now I've really got to try your cooking."

"Let's see," he said adusting his hold on his guitar. "Can you handle the harmony part?" Smoothly, his fingers glided up and down the guitars neck as he began to play the introduction of the song. Concentrating intently, he closed his eyelids as he played and began to sing:

"It's a beautiful night, and I'm opened up," he began and his eyes opened once again and he looked into Cassie's eyes. His voice rose and fell as he sang the melody. " The look in your eyes says so much. Nothing can touch us out here. Don't know where we are, but I know I see a beautiful girl walking next to me. I need to hold you, my dear."

Taking a quick breathe he prepared for the upcoming refrain, "Let's just take tonight, tonight slow. Cause I want to see where this, where this goes. I'd give you today, but it's not mine yet. I will ask you to stay here with me till then. I think I'm falling for you. I just want to look in your eyes and see, all that you have looking back at me. I think tonight I love you."

Smiling sadly, Cassie replied, "If you're completely sure... She realized that Cody probably didn't even like her more than a friend. It couldn't have been a blush. "Sorry. I just wanted to make sure you were okay." She flashed him a small smile, feeling slightly better. She was sure that she'd never get over the feelings she had for her old friend, so she couldn't feel that Cody was anything more than a friend.

"My mum was Irish. Strange, huh?" she giggled, remembering the picture of her two parents. Her mom was a ginger with warm blue eyes. Her father was Japanese, yet he had hazel green eyes. "I got most of my dad's traits though. ... And you have got a point. I'll just stick with Cody. 'Co-chan' is around three characters longer than Cody..." Cody had told that he would save the story for another time. Not wanting to pry, she agreed. "I'll be waiting eagerly to hear it."

Cassie blushed slightly. "I'm still working... so... let's sing that song, eh?" Cody's mellow voice rang through her ears as she softly accompanied him, singing an octave higher. "I need you..." she sang as Cody sang the chorus. "For you... I need you..." She smiled; this was one of her favorite songs. "I love you..."

He finished the first chorus and Cassie took over, "Tell me the chance hasn't passed us by, 'cause baby the stars have never shined so bright, nothing can touch us out.. here... Let's just take tonight, tonight, slow. I wanna see where this, where this... goes..." She looked into Cody's bright green eyes, her blue eyes shining with happiness. "I'd give you today, but it's not mine yet. I'd ask you to stay with me here 'til then. I think I'm falling for you. I just wanna look in your eyes and see, all that you have looking back at me. I think tonight, I love you..."

Cody let Cassadie take over the second chorus and he couldn't help but smile happily as she sang. Despite what she said she was pretty good and accompanied his guitar well. Perhaps he'd have her sing along with him some other time. This time he sang the harmony, "I need you." Listening for his next cue he swallow and prepared for the line. "Falling for you, I need you."

Together Cody personally thought that they were pretty good with eachother, singing that is. Cassie's voice was light and gentle, with only a bit of hesitation here and there. With some practice that hesitation would melt away and her voice would become stronger. Only more reason for them to get together like this and preform music.

On the refrain he sung in unison with her closing his eyes as he focused on the song, "I'd give you today, but it's not my mine yet. I'll ask you to stay with me till then. I think I'm falling for you. I just want to look in your eyes and see all that you have looking back at me. I think tonight I love you. I love you."

His fingers glided up and down the neck of his guitar as he steamed through the instrumental part of the song, not missing a not. As he did he could felt the stress build up in his fingers, he could probably make it through this song but then would need to take a break. It was nostagic, he hadn't played this long in quite some time. It was pretty nice and reminded him of the days when he'd jam with his younger brother in the garage.

"I'd give you today, but it's not mine yet," he sang carrying out the note letting Cassadee sing the next line on her own. He decided to pick up the harmony once again as he played. "Falling for you." Cody was content listening to Cassadee own the song. "All that you have looking back at me," after he paused waiting for his next part. "I love you."

"Just breathe in, you'll be fine. I'm right here by your side. Just breathe in, you'll be fine,"his voice rang throughout the small apartment. He looked at Cassie as she sang along with him and felt really happy. The lasst part of the song was comming up and he breathed in preparing for it.

"I'll ask you to stay with me till then," he sang after Cassie covered the first line and then they both finished off the last line together. "I love you."

The song ended and Cody stopped playing. Cassie breathed in, sighing happily. "You have a great voice, Cody. That was so much fun!" she laughed. "I didn't think that anyone but me knew that song. I mean, it's not popular at all... So thank you! That was amazing!" Her smile was still on her face as she gazed into Cody's eyes. They were a bright green with an almost childish gleam in them. "I'm going to ask you for a huge favor; could you teach me how to play a few songs? I can never play the full thing of any song."

She gazed at the clock and gasped. "Oh! It's around six... I think I should start making dinner. Are you okay with Onion Gratin soup or would you like to go food shopping? I'll try and teach you to cook, too. It's not hard." She flashed a confident smile at him. "If you can play the guitar, you can cook."

"You do too," Cody chimmed as he got up to put his guitar in it's case. The silver clips on the black case clipped open and he inserted his oak guitar in it. Shutting it he immediatly closed the case, making a loud snaping sound once again. "I think I'd have the time to teach you a song or two," he whistled amused at her request. Already he was looking forward to the time they'd be spending together learning music. "Just give me a song list."

The sound of Cassie gasping practically sent him into military mode, but when she said it was the time he couldn't help but laugh at himself. Not every gasp ment something bad was happen and he needed to learn that. "I suppose it's fine," he said recollecting himself. "Next time let's go to the store before hand so we have enough ingredients though."

"You make it sound easier than it really is," Cody stated at the comment that if you can play the guitar you can cook. Part of Cody doubted that the famous guitarist that could be seen on the television could actually cook themselves. Some of the were so dependent on people it was scary. "You should say that after you see me try to cook," he said sarcastically. Yeah, he was just that bad. Horrible to be exact. His cooking was the kind that belonged in horror movies.

Cassie felt her face turn bright red and she coughed a bit, trying to ignore her blush. "Well... one song would be fine. I want to learn how to play I Wouldn't Mind." She fidgeted with her hands. "It's such a sweet song. And for me, it's true. I wouldn't mind anything if I was with the person I love. Well," she added, "to some extent." She smiled at him. "What about you? Does it hold true for you?"

She laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head. Putting all the ingredients onto the counter, she pulled her black hair up into pigtails and searched around for some bowls and pots. "Well, next time, you're coming to dinner at my house. I have enough food to feed... to feed an army, I guess." She giggled a bit at Cody's comments about his cooking. "How about this; you teach me how to play guitar and I'll teach you how to cook! It's a win-win situation!" She smiled, proud of her idea. "Come on over here, Cody. I'm going to teach you how to make a French-style dish."

[I'm so sorry for the late reply! D: State testing. Came home, and went to sleep. Dx Sorry...]

"I Wouldn't Mind, got it," Cody said scratching his chin as he thought of the song. He'd have to find the sheet music for it, but that wouldn't be too hard these days. By the looks of it, the song help an important value for Cassie, like it was a favorite of someone from her past. "I haven't been in love yet," admitted Cody shrugging his shoulders. "I can't wait till I do though will all I hear about it."

Getting up to help Cassie, Cody helped pull things out of his few cabinets. There wasn't much for her to use with cooking, so he couldn't help but feel guilty. From now on he'd be better at keeping them stocked with all sorts of goods to eat. At this moment they'd have to make do with what he had though. "If you insist," Cody agreed already looking forward to that next time. "After I teach you guitar you can teach me how to cook.


"French?" Cody thought out loud thinking about the meal they were going to create. Every time he pictured French-styled dishes they were complex or made with snails. He doubted that there was even a simple French dish to make, since it was French after all. "Isn't French food the hardest kind to make?"

[It's okay. I took quite a long time to reply too. No worries.]

Cassie cheered happily. "Yay! Thanks, Cody!" She quickly hugged him then drew back, still smiling. Then she gasped. "You haven't been in love? Ever? Not even puppy love?" she asked, looking as if Cody was missing something important.

"Deal," she agreed happily. Cassie smirked a bit at his comment. "Not all French dishes are strange and difficult. In fact, this one is easy. All you need is water, consomme, bread, shredded cheese, and an onion. First, set a pot of boiling water on, then add a block of consomme." She put the block of consomme right next to the stove as the water boiled. "Next... here's a pan! Um... put the butter in the pan and put the pan on medium. Saute the onion, which you should peel and slice into strips." Remembering a tip, she added, "Use a wooden spoon; it helps keep the flavor in." The water had boiled and Cassie, humming, put the consomme in and waited for it to become soup. When it did, she poured it gently into the pan and stirred. "Now, just have to add salt and pepper for some flavor." It was soon done, and Cassie poured the soup into two bowls. Placing the bread on top with the shredded cheese, she moved the soup to the microwave and set the timer for 4 minutes, 30 seconds. "It'll be done soon. Help me set the table?"

Apparently it was shocking not being in love yet, which made Cody kind of depressed about the whole situation. He'd always had been too serious in his past to prove to his father that he was a good soldier. Now that it was over he was letting his real personality out more, and he had yet to experience any kind of love yet. He was always too focused on something before, but when he thought about it he was ready to fall in love. "No," he smiled gently. "I hope that I will soon and that she'll be amazing, you know?"

Cody was amazed at how well Cassie could cook, it made him jealous and in awe of her skills. She must had practiced a lot to get this good. Before he knew it she was already done and he was left there wondering how she did everything so fast. "Uh," Cody said trying to get up to speed again. "Sure, I can help with that."

Rummaging through the cupboards he pulled out dishes and silverware and started to set the table. "It's amazing how you can cook like that," he commented.

At Cody's somewhat awkward expression and answer, Cassie let the shock drop from her face. "You'll never forget your first love. It's just not possible." She smiled a little, taking one of the bowls out of the microwave out and sprinkling some seasonings on top of it. "I hope that you the girl you fall in love with is very lucky, Cody. You're so sweet." Laughing gently a bit, she proceeded to season the other dish and put both on the table.

"Thanks for setting the table, Cody. Now, let's eat, shall we?" Cassie blew on the dish as she dipped her spoon into the soup. "I haven't told you that I wanted to be a cook when I was little, did I? I still do... it's just I'm too scared to go for an interview. I'm scared of rejection." She began to eat the soup and smiled. "It turned out pretty good, better than the last time, at least. Try some; it's not like it's poisoned," she quipped gently.

"Sounds like you've already been in love," Cody blurted out when he saw how she reacted to his comment. He couldn't help it--she just sounded like she was a professional in the subject. "Never mind that I said that," he said attempting to take back the comment. It could be a touchy subject after all.

"Yeah, no problem," said Cody as he sat across from Cassie. Egarly he picked up a spoon and shoveled the yummy bliss into his mouth. A home-cooked meal. Delicious. He could feel the muscles on his face relax. "You shouldn't be if you can cook this great," exclaimed Cody as be started to scarf down the food at a rapid rate. "You could even try to make your own restaurant. There's a closed building in Mineral Town that used to be one. You could probably open up your own place there."

Putting down her spoon, Cassie sighed. "It was a really long time ago, but yes, I guess you could say I was in love once. But he's gone now, so I have to move on." She laughed a little and looked up, smiling sheepishly. "But you don't really want to hear about it, do you?" She was sure that Cody couldn't be interested in her past. Besides, it was almost a polite way of saying that she wasn't really up for talking about her past, even if it was her own fault in the first place...

Cassie watched the younger boy's facial expression as he practically inhaled the soup. She giggled as he seemed to lose all expression and tension on his face. "Maybe sometime. I'm going to try and get a job at the Sundae Inn first. But since it's closed on Sundays, of all the ironic days, maybe I'll get a job somewhere around here. Then when I have enough experience and enough money to buy a building, I'll move here and start that restaurant." She smiled happily and looked out the window. "That sounds like a good plan."

[Sorry, just been super busy lately.]

"I wouldn't mind listening," admitted Cody to Cassie. "But that is only if you want to tell me--I figure that's sort of a private thing that you might want to save till we are closer friends. It just is something that if it was me, I don't know if I would want to talk about it with someone I've only know for such a short time. The memories would probably make me feel sad, so let's talk about something else for now. Like dinosaurs or animals of non-extinct status." Cody was really direct at changing the topic, even if he didn't really need to be. He just wanted to let Cassie understand that he understood and would be ready to listen to her when she was ready to tell him. There was nothing wrong with that in his mind.

At least the sight of Cody inhaling the delicious soup amused Cassie. Maybe they should just stick to enjoying the meal. "That sounds practical," Cody pointed out to her plan. "It'd be cheaper to buy an old building and with working a job first you have that cushion of cash just in case."

"If you need any help at with anything ask me," suggested Cody as he swallowed another spoonful. "Whether it is finding you a place to work if the Sundae Inn isn't hiring or fixing up the old restaurant to your liking I can help you."