Chapter 3

Free Willy. Of all the incredible films that had been released that year, Greg had picked Free Willy.

He is trying to impress me again. She thought glumly. He thinks he is being clever. I would be a lot more impressed if he had managed to stay awake long enough to pretend he really did want to see it. All I asked was that he picked something he would enjoy, is that too hard?

Linka watched the film, still arguing with herself. He is just trying to please me because he likes me so much… that cannot be a bad thing, can it? We will get past this eventually. But he always backs off when I disagree with him, does he think I mind him having a different opinion? Wheeler tries to impress me too but he would never just…

She clamped down on that line of thought, wondering where it could have come from. What difference could it make what Wheeler did after all? I just need to convince Greg I want his real opinion and that he will not ruin things if he does not back down all the time.

"I said no!" A girl's voice behind them interrupted Linka's train of thought and disturbed a snoozing Greg. They both turned to look.

The girl's boyfriend apparently wasn't listening as he was continuing to struggle with the now frightened young woman. "Don't make a fuss, you dragged me to this movie, you owe me."

Linka was furious and she prompted her date. "Do something."

"It's none of our business." Greg turned back to the screen. "If they get too rowdy I'm sure the attendant will have words."

"That is not what I meant!" She glared and stood up, making her way back to the young couple and addressing the boy. "She asked you to stop."

He looked up at her. "What's it to you?"

Greg came up beside Linka looking very uncomfortable, though whether it was the situation he found himself in or the dirty looks they were getting from the other patrons, Linka couldn't tell. "That's enough now, let's not make a scene."

The girl extracted herself and stood up next to Linka, she was crying. The wind planeteer put her arm around her and said, "It is okay. Let us go outside, do you have someone that can pick you up?"

"My dad." She blushed. "He's going to be mad though, I was supposed to be out with a group of friends, only..."

"I understand, I will speak to him if you like." Linka gave her a hug and guided her out into the foyer, not bothering to check whether either of the guys were following.

While the girl, whose name turned out to be Chastity, much to Linka's amusement – though it seemed to go completely over Greg's head – waited for her father, her date finally emerged from the screening and tried to get her to leave with him.

"Leave her alone!" The Russian ordered him and was told to mind her own business.

"Don't talk to my girlfriend that way." Greg protested though Linka still had the impression he felt forced into it.

Chastity's date wasn't impressed either. "Oh yeah, what're ya gonna do about it?"

"Nothing." Linka announced, tired of both of them. "But I will! Wind."

She blew him out of the Cinema entrance and he took to his heels and ran.

After seeing her charge safely into her fathers care, Linka turned to her boyfriend. "I think I should head home."

"I'm sorry things didn't go smoothly tonight, I suppose you're used to all that... excitement, I'm afraid it will take me a while to adjust" He walked her to her craft silently but as she was about to wish him goodnight, he said. "My father has been asking after you, I was hoping you would join us both for dinner at the weekend. We have a spare room and you'd be welcome to stay the night... It would give us the chance to spend some time together in a more relaxed atmosphere."

Linka was extremely uncomfortable. The date had been a bit of a disaster from all accounts but it seemed unfair to hold it against Greg. He is trying, he does not live the sort of life we do, it is not fair to judge him, but…he is right though, there is more pressure on a date. In his own home things will be more relaxed.

"That sounds like a good idea, and I would like to see your father again." She replied, trying to sound cheerful. "I will come to dinner, thank you."

He looked pleased and leant down to kiss her. Linka was surprised, since he hadn't done that before and their other dates had gone much better, but nevertheless she tilted her mouth up to receive his salute.

It was brief and no more than a peck on the lips but the lovely Russian smiled and said goodnight. Promising again to visit him and his father at the weekend.

Once the geo-cruiser was in the air, Linka switched to autopilot and took a tissue out of her pocket, unconsciously wiping her lips. I should have felt… something. Shouldn't I?

Sometimes being a Planeteer was just plain hard work. They'd spent a very long day cleaning up after yet another oil spillage and the work wasn't just tiring but demoralising as well, because no matter how hard they worked, in a lot of cases the damage had already been done.

Greg had left a message with Gaia about their impending dinner with his father, but when she'd called him back to confirm and tried to tell him where she'd been, he had been too busy to listen. Or just not interested.

Linka sighed and sank down onto her bed, still drying her wet hair from her shower. She was heartsick for the creatures whose lives were so effected by man's carelessness, but never one to show her feelings in public, was left to deal with her emotions alone.

A knock on her door provided a welcome distraction and her heart lifted as, in response to her invitation, a full head of red hair poked itself around her door. "Hey Babe, mind some company?"

"Not at all." She moved to sit up by her headboard, giving him room to lounge further down. He too had just had a shower and Linka found herself breathing in deeply of the scent she associated with her American companion. She found it strangely reassuring.

Without saying anything, he made himself comfortable, leaning back on her wall and lifting her legs up onto his lap to rub her ankles. "We should see about getting some standards imposed on those oil tankers, huh?"

"Da, if they would listen to us." She shook her head sadly.

"Worth a try though, right?" He prompted. "And some of them must have consciences."

She smiled. He was trying to cheer her up and she knew it. That was so typical of him, he always knew when something upset her and he always tried to help.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

She blushed.

"Oh. Thinking about the big date you have this weekend." He looked like he was trying not to be hurt.

"Nyet!" Linka blushed again. "Actually I was thinking how lucky I am to have such a great friend."

She pulled her feet free and moved to sit beside him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you for making me feel better."

"I haven't done anything…" He said hesitatingly, but tucked his arm about her all the same.

"You are here." She snuggled against him. "Now about these tanker standards…"

To be continued…