Um, that was a wee bit embarrassing. I apologize for the inconvenience and any confusion caused. I got a little excited and accidentally uploaded the wrong document. This is the actual chapter. Sorry.

For those of you who have been with us since the beginning, a huge thank you goes out to each and every one of you. I love y'all! You guys broke 3 000 views on Sand which blew my mind. Anywasys, I'm done rambling now.

When We Were Still Okay

-It was so long ago, I barely remember it

"Hey, you look lonely."

She sets her crystal glass down on the smooth bar. She glances up from her drink at the man speaking to her. He has medium brown hair cut short, an easy smile and dark blue eyes. She narrows her eyes through the pulsing music and strobing rainbow of lights. "Have we met?"

He smiles and shakes his head. "Nope, I just saw you over here alone and thought to myself, Why would such a good-looking woman like her be sitting all alone?"

She has to admit, he's pretty smooth. "Looking for a date?" She inquires, thin eyebrow quirking.

He sits in the vacant barstool next to her. He leans an elbow onto the bar and cocks his head. "What gave you that idea?"

She snorts. "The pickup line was kind of obvious," she says quietly.

He doesn't seem unfazed by her calling him out. "Damn. I thought it was really natural."

"Not enough time in front of a mirror," she tells the man. She takes hold of her drink again.

"I'm sorry, what's your name?" He apologizes genuinely.

"Cali," she replies before taking a sip. She studies him through the dark liquid.

"Cali…?" he prompts.

She sets her glass down again. She flashes a small smile and half turns away. "Just 'Cali'."

He takes her in critically. Shoulder-length wavy auburn hair, icy grey eyes. She wears a gold halter style, knee-length dress that catches the flashing lights from the club. It shows off her curves very well. "And what brings you to Club Errera, Just Cali?"

She hesitates for a heartbeat. Cali decides to just be honest. "I'm due to ship out tomorrow morning."

Surprise colours his face. "Really? Me, too."

She arches another eyebrow. "What a coincidence," she murmurs. "Who might you be?"

"Why, I am the one and only Foxtrot-12," he says mysteriously, complete with wiggling fingers.

"Well, Agent New York," Cali calls him out again, "that makes more sense."

"Wait, you know me?" he asks her. He looks over his shoulder and leans even nearer to Cali.

She shrugs. "Agent California. Nice to meet you New York." She sticks out a hand.

"York," he corrects, shaking her hand firmly. "Wow, you have a very strong shake."

Cali smiles again. "Marine training does that to a person," she admits.

York gives a comical double take. "Whoa, you're Marine? How did you end up in Freelancer?"

"I'm just that good," she replies evasively. "Really, what happened to get me into the Project is confidential."

He shrugs dismissively. "Have you met the Dakotas yet? I'll introduce you."

Cali grabs her glass and stands abruptly. "All right. Only because you're never going to get anywhere with me."

York offers her an arm. "Oh, fine. You be a hoity-toity soldier then. I'm just trying to enjoy my last night of freedom."

Cali cautiously slides her hand around his proffered limb. They thread their way through the dance floor, avoiding gyrating bodies and enthusiastic deejays. He leads her over to a booth in a somewhat quieter corner of the club. A man with blond hair so pale it is nearly white and cornflower blue eyes sits stiffly. Next to him, the slouching girl is nearly a perfect match of him – her hair is about down to her chin and spiky. They sit on one side of the table. The other is empty, presumably York's seat.

"North, South, this is Cali California," he introduces with a flourish.

The man waves and grins. His companion glances at her with interest.

"I'm North Dakota and this is my twin sister South," the man says politely.

"Hi, I guess we'll all be leaving together in the morning for the Project," Cali speaks as she slides into the beckoning bench seat.

"Yeah, I'm glad there'll be other women at least," South responds. "I was beginning to think I was going to be the only one."

"No," refutes Cali quickly. "That girl over there is Carolina."

They follow her pointing finger to a woman sitting all alone at a centre table. She also has red hair, brighter than Cali's, though. Carolina wears a flashy green tank top and silver pencil skirt. York lets out a whistle and exchanges a look with North.

"I'm gonna go check if she wants company," he says. York hops up and wanders over to the neighbouring table of the stunning woman. He pulls out a white lighter and flicks it on and off.

Cali turns back to the twins at her table. "Is he always like this?"

North nods sagely. "I've known him since we were eight. Casanova Cowboy likes to chat up any available female and has for as long as I can remember."

Cali laughs at him. "And does Cowboy know you talk like that about him?"

"Yup," South answers. "Actually, he's the one who came up with the name."

Across the room, Carolina checks what her neighbour is doing. A moment later, she gets up and moves into the chair opposite his. Cali can't believe her eyes.

"No way," she mutters. "Not like that."

"There you have it ladies and gents," North laughs. "Behold, the magic of the Cowboy."

Cali sighs in resignation. "I was just thinking about how nice he was."

South snorts with mirth. "That's just what York wanted you to think. Trust me, he's all charm, that one."

Cali drains her glass and slams it down. "I don't know about you, but I came here to dance, not sit in a corner. You can come if you want, but I don't expect you to." With that, she sweeps off to the floor and wraps herself into the crowd.

She starts moving to the beat, letting all thoughts about COs and the politics in the UNSC Marine Corps slip away. That's exactly why she took the opportunity to join Project Freelancer anyway. She lets the music wash over her and forgets all the drama from the last months. No reason to remember it, she never has to deal with that shit again.

"Hey, a little bird told me you're Agent California."

Cali closes her eyes and draws a breath in through her nose before turning. Her annoyed swipe dries on her lips as she takes in the interrupter of her good time. Close to seven feet, he is bald andbrown-eyed pile of muscle – this man is certainly not someone she is about to start a brawl with.

"I'm Maine," he goes on in a voice like gravel rattling together. His voice takes on a hint of anger.

"Sorry. And I was having fun," says Cali's fearless streak. "Sorry, I don't mean to ruin your night, but that included not being pestered by a bad-tempered man named Maine."

His heavy jaw clenches. He waits a moment before speaking again. "Pestering you? I should get to know you. You're probably my biggest competition, ex-Marine and all."

"Did York tell you that?" she demands.

"I heard from Connie," he spits.

Cali forgets for a moment to be angry. "Who?"

"Connecticut talking to Wyoming. He hacked your file."

Cali glares at a woman in a black dress. She has short brown hair and dark eyes and chats with a man wearing a moustache and floral shirt. Cali questions the fashion statement and then sighs. "Is there anyone here not Freelancer?"

She huffs and marches over to the two new Project members to clear up any misconceptions.

"All right. Wyoming?"

He looks at her thoughtfully. "California?"

Cali switches her gaze to the woman. "Connecticut?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't do that again. I like my privacy."

"I can understand why," mutters Wyoming in a thick British accent. "Don't believe anything you hear about Canadian colonies being kind," he adds aside to Connecticut.

"Well, I wonder why I'm not kind," Cali fires back. She quells her rising temper. "There's a reason you need high-level clearance to view my file. I never want to hear about it from somebody else ever again, got it?"

Wyoming nodded. "You have my word."

Cali snorts. "I should think so. Now, what brought you here?"

By the end of the night, Cali has met about twenty Freelancers. She ends up leaving with York, North, South and Connecticut. The group has a hotel suite just down the street from the hottest club on Reach. Cali crashes on the floor next to Connie who occupies the couch. She has a feeling that they were the best thing Project Freelancer has to offer her in the way of friends.

But that was when they were still okay.