Lessons Learnt
Chapter 1
"Thanks for coming tonight Charlie Boy." Elvis said picking Charles up from the school gates. "You know how much it means to the Brig to see a full table."
"No problem." Charles said to his friend. "As long as you remember you've offer to help out at the summer fayre in return for my good deed…you and a few of the lads I believe you agreed to.
"Yeah yeah mate…I know," Elvis laughed. "I'll be there, so will the lads. Any way you'll enjoy tonight, been ages since you've been to one of these dos.
It was true Charles thought. He used to go to the balls on Elvis' camp all the time when they were younger, not that they weren't still young. They used to have a great times, Elvis and him had always made a good team. They had been best mates since preschool. Their parents had been friends and so it was expected that they would become friends too. Mind you even if their parents had not known one another Elvis and Charles still would have gravitated to one another. They were mates all through day school, and boarding school, right up to the time when they both went off to university. Then going separate ways, opposite ends of the country, but they always stayed in touch.
They were an odd friendship couple, anyone who saw them together instantly thought that. Elvis dark hair and eyes, olive skin and stunning to look at. Hence he was very successful with the ladies due to the Italian patter that dripped so easily off his practiced tongue. Charlie Boy, or Charles as everyone else called him, was equally as pleasing on the eye, but not quite as sure of himself as his mate. Brown eyed, with always controlled curly hair, very tall and very polite. If Elvis was the Italian Stallion when it came to the ladies Charles was the quintessential English Gentleman. Charles' dialogue with the ladies was not as practiced as Elvis' and certainly not as frequently.
Still their friendship endured numerous nights out through the university years and beyond. They always had lots to talk about, always looking for fun and quite often or not would find it, as well as trouble. On graduating however they both chose very different paths. Elvis was accepted to do his Officer training at Sandhurst, while Charles opted to do further training as a teacher. As the years went by and careers developed in different directions, their friendship still remained, strong as ever. Elvis' rose to all the challenges the military threw at him and went into Special Forces. His description of his job; "Going around the world sorting out other people's problems and general shit". Whereas Charles took a job in an all-boys boarding school, becoming a year master to the generation of tomorrow. Charles' only excitement came in the form of troublesome teenagers and high jinks, rather than international incidents. Still they were both happy in their lives, both single, and happy with their friendship.
So here they were off to one of Elvis' regimental summer balls. Two very smartly turned out gentlemen in their early thirties. Elvis suited and booted in his regimental n.o 1 uniform, while Charles was in a beautiful tuxedo. Any woman would have felt lucky to have either of these two boys accompany her to such a do, and frequently over the years there had been many a lucky lady who had done just that. However tonight, unusually both boys were flying solo.
"So who did you say is on our table?" Asked Charles, interested to see what challenges lay in store.
"The lads…of course. A few have actual have real life bloody dates to bring along too."
Charles laughed. Elvis' team in SF were fantastic lads, but sometimes their dramatic and reactionary life style lent little time for romance and relationships. They all started many a relationship, just keeping them seemed to be the problem.
"Oh yeah." Continued Elvis. "On our table I've asked the medic who joined us on our last tour, and their plus one."
"New medic eh?" Said Charles. "New member of the team bet that's hard for him. A good lad is he?" He knew how tight a friendship group the SF lads were and breaking into that would be a challenge.
"Oh Charlie boy…you're so out dated. The medic...…HE…. is a SHE...…we let them into the British Army now and all that mate…..not like your stuffy all boys school." Elvis laughed at Charles old fashion bias.
"I know that. Sorry just presumed." Charles paused embarrassed. "Oh my God Elvis please tell me this isn't the medic that you told me about months ago. The one you thought was brilliant after she supported the last mission?"
"The very same." He winked at Charles. "She got posted with us as a last minute replacement. She's fab. A right feisty fire cracker. Rule breaker and all that."
"Just your type then?" Charles snorted. "Oh Christ, please tell me Elvis you didn't…you haven't?" Asked Charles all too aware of what his lothario mate could get up to in any situation where a female is involved.
"No mate, but not through bloody trying though. Let's just say that decompression was interesting. I may have tried to over step a few military codes of conduct, but she wouldn't let me break any. Shame really. Could have been very interesting."
"Could have been awkward mate! Bloody hell Elvis, though finally a female that's immune to your charms. I must meet her, shake her hand, and mark the day. The first woman in history to say no to Elvis Harte!" Charles joked.
Elvis laughed. "Seriously mate though, you'll love her. She's one in a million. She might just be right for you."
"Errr…. No thanks" said Charles, fearful where this was going. "I do not want your seconds. I'm not that fucking hard up."
"It ain't like that mate. She's made it very clear. It's the army she's interested in not me…perhaps she's unwell….that's not right is it? Not wanting a piece of this." Elvis wrinkled his brow, not sure if anyone had ever turned his charms down before. The feeling of rejection, a new one for him, to experience.
"So her plus one?" Charles asked. "Her date maybe? Her significant other? Maybe that's why she said no to the King." This mocking of Elvis was going to give him many a good hours of fun he thought.
When they arrived at the ball Charles instantly caught sight of Spanner and Peanut at the bar. Larger than life, and definitely well on their way to becoming the life and souls of the party, despite the Brigs' warning glares. They spotted Charles and Elvis and waved to their boss, and friend Charles, to join them.
"There she is. Told you she was amazing." Elvis nodded his head to the group of his men where a young lady stood, enjoying their company. Elvis was right she was special. Beautiful even with her long brunette hair cascading down her back. However Charles knew straight away, beautiful though she may be, she was not his type. She was too polished, too made up…she wouldn't even look at him if Elvis was in the room…that type of girl never did. Her dress showed just a little too much leg and a little too much cleavage for his liking. But she certainly was stunning to look at and most of the men in the room seemed to agree!
As they got closer Elvis' lads welcomed their boss and Charles, all old friends with lots of stories and conquests together mostly off the battle field. It was then that the group shifted and another brunette girl appeared…. she was just as beautiful, even more so though in Charles 'eyes. Tiny compared to his own height, she seemed fragile even, with the most amazing green eyes and a smile that lit up the room. Dressed up classically, with just the right amount of everything showing, she was perfect in Charles' eyes. Comfortable with who she was and didn't need the attention of others to make her feel good.
"All right boss?" Her cockney accent spoke out in Elvis direction.
"Indeed good to see you. Keeping the lads in check are you?" Elvis said bowing to give her a kiss on her cheeks. Charles felt instantly jealous of Elvis and his familiarity with her. "May I introduce my best mate…? Charles James. Charles meet Lance Corporal Molly Dawes. Our latest addition to SF. One of the best medics I know."
"Watch it mate." Molly said beaming at Elvis, obviously loving the praise she had just received. "Nice to meet you Charles." Offering her hand.
"You too Molly." Said Charles shaking her tiny hand, relishing this contact with her.
"So aren't you going to introduce me then?" Said the other beautiful polished girl to Molly's left, her eyes flicking across from him to Elvis.
"God yeah sorry. Elvis Charles, this is Georgie. Georgie Lane, my mate." Molly announced.
And with that the two soldiers met the two best friends, who's lives would become complicatedly entwined over the years.
The ball was fun. Charles always enjoyed them. It was good to let his hair down. Something that he wasn't allowed to do very often I his job. During the meal he was seated with Georgie to his right and Molly to his left. This was all orchestrated by Georgie. She spent the majority of the time monopolising his company and flitting in between Charles and Elvis' conversations. Charles was disappointed because he didn't really get to talk to Molly. He would like to have got to know this girl, who had said no to Elvis, a bit more. She however seemed as though she was enjoying herself with the other guests on the table. The little bit of conversation that he did get to join in with it was quite obvious she was able to look after herself with these seasoned guys.
It was towards the end of the meal she turned to Charles and said;
"So Charles I hear that you're a teacher? God I wouldn't do that job if they paid me…." Charles liked the way she said his name.
"Yeah that's right." Charles said laughing. "And they do pay me…. Believe it or not."
"God I was a bleeding nightmare at school" Snorted Molly. "My teachers hated me. I was trouble."
"Bet you weren't." Charles said. "Us teachers have the ability to sniff out trouble and from what I've seen of you tonight Molly I don't think you are."
"I don't think you know me well enough mate." She laughed, Charles noticing her eyes sparkled when she did. She's a cheeky one he thought. "School was some of the worst days of my life."
"Why's that?" Asked Charles. "It gave you the qualifications to get into the Army didn't it?"
"Nah mate. Left with nothing. Working my way up in the Army slowly, very slowly, but surely. The army just fits with me….unlike school."
Charles would have liked to have talked a little bit longer with Molly but Georgie turned to him, placing her hand on his dragging his attention rudely away. Molly just shrugged at him when he turned and gave her an apologetic smile. She, he was grateful, didn't seem that bothered, instead just turned away and started talking to her teammates.
After the meal there was dancing to be done and Georgie insisted that both Charles and Elvis join her on the dance floor. Charles turned to Molly and asked if she fancied a dance as Georgie pulled at his arm to hurry him up.
"No you're okay mate I will sit and watch for a while"
"Come on Charlie." Georgie teased. It was beginning to annoy him that she had started to call him Charlie, but now he didn't think it was the right time to tell her his name was Charles. "Come on don't spoil our fun." Shrilled Georgie.
On the dance floor it was obvious that Georgie just wanted to be adored, and Elvis was more than happy to fulfil that role. Charles soon felt like a spare wheel. Looking over he saw that Molly had left the table and was drinking at the bar with friends. Shouts of laughter coming from group who were having a better time than Charles dancing. So Charles went to join them.
"Your friend likes to show off a bit on the dancefloor." Charles said to Molly.
She turned and looked a bit angry at him. "Well that's just who she is. She don't mean anything buy it. She just wants to have fun…. You're only young once."
"God no I didn't mean to be rude. Just meant her and Elvis seems the perfect match."
"So you're not dancing then Charles?"
"No feel a little bit intimidated with those two on the floor." He replied, pleased she hadn't taken too much of offence at his comment.
"Intimidated?" She questioned. "Never let them get the best of you mate." And with that she put her glass down and shouted over her shoulder as she made the way to the dance floor. "Cover me I'm going in."
Charles was amazed. Molly could really move. Molly on the dancefloor was putting Georgie to shame. Georgie knew this by the soured look on her face and left the dance floor quickly. Molly and Elvis danced on, interesting everyone with their moves, some skilful and some causing blushes. Charles could see that this girl was special and had bonded with Elvis in a way he'd never really seen before.
Georgie came straight over to Charles on leaving the dance floor.
"They look good as a couple don't they?" she said as she slipped her arm into Charles'. "Who would've thought Molly would've been Elvis is type."
Charles didn't answer and excused himself, as politely as he could. He didn't want to be stood there captured by Georgie watching his best friend on the dance floor. He headed straight to the bar, and started on the shots.
As the evening came to an end Charles realised he'd had more than his fair share of drink. He'd spent more time at the bar than usual, while Elvis bestowed his attentions on Molly and Georgie. So when a club was suggested he politely declined. Home was where he needed to be. Being a sensible drunkard was something that Charles and Elvis had developed over the years. It had steered them away from many a bad decision. Georgie and Molly were off home too, and both sets of friends got into their different taxis.
"Nice meeting you Georgie, Molly. Hope we catch up soon." Charles said on leaving. It was throw away comment, but Molly picked up on it, looking over at Charles. However it was Georgie who said;
"Now I look forward to that!"
In the taxi Elvis said a huge smirk on his face.
"That was one cracking night Charlie Boy. I think we're in there by the way mate. Those two lovely ladies seem quite taken with us."
Charles didn't know what to say, and was a bit confused. He didn't know exactly how to reply to his mate, feeling uncomfortable that he obviously was intending to pursue one of them. He was unsure though which one, Georgie or Molly. Maybe even both thought Charles. That made him unhappy, as although he didn't know Molly that well he knew that if she got mixed up with Elvis on a personal level it probably wasn't going to end well. It made him sad because of what he'd seen tonight Molly didn't deserve that, she seemed special.