Good news everyone, my surgery went well and I actually feel pretty good! Granted I'm a little sore but it wasn't enough to keep me from updating so surprise! =D I hope you enjoy it!

As soon as Amelia walked through the door to her apartment, Claire began to bombard her with questions.

"So…how did it go?" She asked with eagerness apparent in her voice.

"Um, fine?" The well-dressed young woman replied wanting to avoid the confrontation. She stepped past her friend into her room.

"Come on Amelia, this is the first time you've been on a date in forever." Clare predicted her protest and held her hand up before her friend could speak. "You've got to spill." An idea came to her and her lips formed into a smirk as she crossed her arms. "Actually, if you insist this wasn't a date then you shouldn't have any problems telling me what happened."

The teenager secretly a sorceress mentally cursed her best friend's logic.

"Ok fine, you have a point." Amelia gave in and sat on her bed.

"If you're being so defensive," Claire sat next to her, "that means you're his girlfriend now right?"

"No! We're just friends remember?"

This earned her a gentle slap on her cheek. The light brunette had had a feeling that her roommate wasn't lying before when she said she'd hit her if she came home with a single status.

"So has he tried to kiss you yet?"

"Claire!"

"Would that be a yes or a no?"

"…No."

The dark brunette gasped, "You hesitated! That means he did!"

"No!" Amelia blushed brightly, "Nothing like that happened, really."

"You're face is red."

"No it's not!"

"You're a horrible liar, you know that right?"

"Ugh! When will you get it through that stubborn head of yours that Jack and I will never be together!"

Claire gave her a disbelieving look. "Denial. But I still want to hear every detail!" She grabbed a pillow and hugged it to herself like a child about to be told a bedtime story.

"Alright, alright." Amelia proceeded to tell her about their evening, save for anything magic related or what really happened just before she left.

"That's it?" the tall young woman arched an unimpressed eyebrow.

"Yeah that's pretty much it." The light brunette nodded, and her roommate huffed in disappointment.

"Well it started off as a date." Claire grumbled, "But seriously, all you did was "catch up" and talk?"

"Yeah."

"Sheesh now he sounds like the boring type." She tossed the pillow aside and stood up. Just as she was about to leave, a thought came to her and then she turned back toward Amelia. "You're not telling me everything, are you?"

"What? That's really all that happened." The young woman with the troubled love-life protested.

"You two made out didn't you?"

"WHAT! NO!" Amelia's face flushed such a bright shade of red that a new color was invented.

"I know you're not telling me everything," Claire narrowed her eyes at her, "but I suppose I can let you off this time. But I know there's something between you two and I'm going to make sure you guys get together." And with that, she left her very flustered and confused friend alone.

Amelia changed into her blue, night sky pattern pajamas and lay in bed, but stared hopelessly up at the ceiling. Sleep fled her for her thoughts wouldn't stop racing. The scene between her and Jack just as she was about to leave kept replaying in her mind.

'There was a strange look in his eyes.' The young woman thought to herself. 'It was almost the same look he had during dinner…when he gave me that unbelievable compliment. But it seemed like a fog lifted from him and he came back to his senses before…' She bit her lip nervously as a light blush spread across her cheeks. 'Had he been trying to kiss me?'

Amelia turned over on her side and mentally shook her head, scolding herself for even thinking that. 'No, that can't be it. Claire is just getting to me. But what if…' Questions began to fill her head, clouding her mind. Finally she banished all the thoughts as her sensible logic returned.

'No, there is just no way he could ever have feelings for me.' Her features softened to a sad expression, 'That's just wishful thinking.'

She reminded herself of how much their friendship meant to her, and even to him for he had proved that over dinner. If she even dared to feel something more toward him, it would endanger their relationship. So at all cost, she had to forget about the crush she had on him, despite really being in love. Having that settled, she snuggled into her pillow and closed her eyes. But as she began to succumb to the blackness of sleep, his words from that evening once again rang faintly in the back of her mind. She had one last fleeting thought before giving into slumber.

'Could he have…possibly meant…something…more?'

The next morning, Amelia busied herself with homework until around lunchtime. She left the apartment and walked to her favorite sandwich shop which thankfully was not too far from her home.

'I'm surprised I haven't seen Jack yet.' She thought to herself as she walked down the sidewalk decorated with colorful fallen autumn leaves. 'I wonder what he's up to, or maybe he got himself lost again.' She giggled.

A while later Amelia was once again walking down the sidewalk, but this time from her lunch stop back to her apartment.

'Ok, break-time is over, now to finish the rest of my mountain load of homework before Monday.' She mentally told herself and sighed tiredly. 'At least it's almost done.'

The troubled college student slowed her walk and closed her eyes. She took in a deep breath of the crisp autumn air and exhaled, finally feeling relaxed. At least for a moment, because the next thing she knew she had walked into someone.

"Oh! I'm so sorry." She hastily began to apologize. "Are you alri—"

"Amelia Brave? Is that really you?"

She finally looked up and standing before her was a tall, handsome young man with a strong build. He had a well-toned body, as though he worked out for a living, and broad shoulders. His hair and eyes where a deep chocolate brown that could entrance anyone. Amelia's own eyes widened in shock and she felt her heart skip a beat.

"E-Eric!"

"Ha! I can't believe it's you! It's really you!" His face lit up with a bright grin. She let out a squeak in surprise when his strong arms wrapped around her and he actually lifted her up in the tight embrace. Knocking out of her shocked daze, she pushed him away and landed back on the ground.

"W-What? What's wrong?" he asked with a concerned and confused look.

"As if you don't remember." She said angrily, crossing her arms and glared at him.

"Oh…right." He avoided eye-contact for a moment and scratched the back of his head. "Listen, that's part of the reason I've been looking for you." He said, nervously meeting her gaze again.

'He's been looking for me?' She thought in disbelief.

"I…I wanted to apologize for that time a few years back. It didn't hit me until later that it was you."

"Why didn't you recognize me then? I even told you my name."

"Because…well I was a stupid fool for lack of a better word. I was way too caught up in my relationship with Crystal at the time that it blinded me from everything else." He admitted, obviously ashamed. "I feel horrible for doing such a thing so…I'm sorry."

"You hurt me Eric." Amelia said slowly, glowering. "You forgot our friendship! Do you think a simple apology is going to make up for that?"

"No." He let out a deep breath. "So I want to make it up to you, just name it. Anything, anything you want."

"…Really?" She asked hesitantly, uncertain if she could believe him.

"Yeah…like maybe," he smiled and brought out a yellow rose, "a date would suffice?"

The young woman tried to beat down the blush that threatened to spread across her face. Despite her old feelings resurfacing, she had half a mind to reject him. After being such a jerk, he thought he could just come back and make it all up after three years?

'I promised myself that I would just forget about him. I wanted nothing to do with him anymore.' The memory of her worst Christmas Eve resurfaced in her mind, the night he had forgotten who she was.

But then she made the mistake of looking into his chocolate brown eyes. Her old love for him suddenly grew and she once again felt like she was back to her childhood, crushing on him from afar. Now she was being given the opportunity she had always wished for.

"Well…" her eyes softened, "I guess I could give you a second chance…" She gently accepted the rose.

"Thank you so much Amelia. You won't regret this I promise you." Eric said as he took her hand in both of his. "You don't know how long I've waited for this chance."

"…I think I can relate." She smiled up at him.

"So then, what are you doing tonight?" he asked casually, releasing her from his grasp and put his hands in his pockets.

"Tonight?" She repeated hesitantly, "I'm afraid I work at the Moonlight." He gave her a strange look and she clarified, "Moonlight Sonata."

"Oh! I've heard of the place. You're a waitress there then?"

"Yeah," she replied, a little embarrassed.

"Well then I think I just might have to stop by." He winked, flashing a toothy grin and she giggled.

"Well I just might look forward to work for once."

He laughed, "That bad, huh?"

"Sort of," Amelia shrugged, "the pay is good but the hours I have to work are horrid. I'm a student who has a mountain load of homework every night and my boss tends to forget that little detail."

"Do you think your boss would let you off tomorrow night?" he inquired.

"You're in luck. The Moonlight is closed on Sunday."

"Great! How does six o'clock sound for dinner and a movie? My treat." He gestured to himself for emphasis.

"I think that sounds wonderful, but I'm still paying for part of it."

"No, no. I insist, and I don't wan to see you even try to pay for popcorn." He joked.

"Oh alright." She couldn't help but give in, laughing softly. "I look forward to tomorrow night."

"It's a date then." He quickly leaned down and gave her a peck on the cheek, causing her to blush. "See you later, Amelia."

Eric turned from her and walked away. The young woman lightly touched the place where his lips had brushed against her skin, and she smiled. Her heart fluttered as she stood there and watched him leave.

'Is this really happening?' She mentally asked herself, 'Am I finally going to know if we were meant to be?' Her heart soared and she felt the blush on her cheeks redden.

Unbeknownst to the love-struck sorceress, a shadowy figure hidden from view had watched the whole ordeal. Shortly after Eric had left, the mysterious stranger clutched their fists and dashed off.

Amelia walked along the sidewalk, taking the scenic route back to her apartment, and held the yellow rose close to her. An occasional giggle escaped her every now and then as she thought about the man who gave it to her. Quietly she hummed to herself and sighed dreamily whenever she took in the flower's heavenly scent.

"Someone has a skip in their step today." A voice stated beside her. The sorceress didn't even have to turn and look to see who it was.

"Yes Jack, and not even your sneaky ways can damper my mood."

"I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or an insult." He chuckled.

"Neither," she smiled up at him, "it's more like a statement."

"Ok, so what's going on here?" He arched an eyebrow when he noticed what she held in her hands. "Quite the lovely rose you have there, Ami. May I ask who gave it to you?"

"Eric."

His eyes widened as he blinked in surprise. "I-I'm sorry, I just thought I heard you say Eric."

"I did."

"The childhood crush you thought you would never see again Eric?"

"Yep, that's the one."

"Ah. So…what happened?" He tried not to sound too curious.

"He asked me out on a date and I agreed."

"W-What?"

"I'm going out with Eric tomorrow night."

"Um Amelia, I don't mean to get involved in your personal life," he scratched the back of his head nervously and looked away, "but don't you think it's a bit odd?"

"What do you mean?" She looked at him, her voice laced with a hint of suspicion.

"W-Well I mean you haven't seen him in, what, five years?" He dared to meet her gaze, "Don't you think you should find out a little more about him first?"

"That's part of the reason for the date, so we can reconnect for want of a better word." She explained.

"Yeah, but him asking you out right off the bat? Don't you find that a bit strange?"

"Listen, Eric obviously must have had feelings for me all this time, like I did for him, or I doubt he would have asked in the first place."

"Are you sure about that?"

Amelia stopped her walking, turned to face him directly, and placed a hand on her hip as her eyes narrowed at him.

"What are you saying?"

"W-Well," he gulped, "I m-mean you should just be careful." He offered, "You don't know if he might have an ulterior motive.

"An ulterior motive!" She shouted and Jack winced slightly at the sudden outburst.

"What? Do you think he's some sort of predator!" She was in total disbelief that she was even having such a conversation with him. A thought occurred to her and her voice lowered, "Or are you being over-protective again?"

"Wha!"

"Jack, I'm not a little kid, nor am I some clueless teenager. I am an adult and can take care of myself." She declared sternly.

"I-I know that Amelia, really. But…"

"But what Jack!"

"I…I just still think it's kind of suspicious. That's all."

"I am more than capable of handling myself. You of all people should know that." The sorceress's demeanor softened, "And I know Eric would never even think about harming me. You need to trust me on this."

"Amelia I…" he sighed, "I think you might have the wrong impression of him."

"…I don't believe this." She shook her head and briskly walked past him.

"Wait Amelia!" he called after her and started to follow but her voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Just forget it!"

Jack stood there frozen in shock…and hurt. He slumped as he watched his heir storm off. He sighed sadly, turned around, and slowly began to make his way back toward his human world home.

"She's just too stubborn." He commented aloud.

"Yeah, she's always been like that."

He abruptly came to a halt and whipped his head around to see none other than Claire. Apparently his argument with Amelia had only been a few feet from La Petite Café. The tall young woman was wearing her uniform, a pastel green polo shirt, black jeans, and a black apron tied around her waist with the café's coffee cup logo stitched onto the side. She had her arms crossed and eyed him curiously.

"So what happened between you and Amelia just now?"

*Flees from angry mob* DON'T KILL THE AUTHOR OR YOU'LL NEVER FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS!

But reviews with what you liked about the chapter would make me feel better considering I'm still recovering ^^; Anyway, be sure to check out the sneak peek on the TNAB website! =D *angry mob spots her* Ok gotta run! *sprits away*