8:30 PM
"So where are we going?" I asked as we walked down the wide sidewalk
"Didn't Bri already tell you?" Nagase responded
"I did" Baja replied matter-of-factly, "Diner down there on the corner"
"Mmmm...comfort food", I heard from my best friend walking next to Nagase. That kid better make a move...actually, no, because that puts the pressure on ME to make a move on the lovely Ms. Peters. Probably not a good idea for a military relationship anyways. Or...it could be a really good idea. Hell, my parents met in the military and look how their relationship turned out...divorce. Yup, it's a bad idea.
"Blaze, you alright?" a worried sounding voice broke me out of my reverie
"Yeah, Chop...I was just thinking about some stuff. I'm OK." I replied
"Well you almost walked into that light pole"
"No, I didn't. I saw it, I was just going to test its strength but I realized that is probably a bad idea"
"Liar...", I heard Bri say behind me. Did she know what I was thinking about? What if she knows? What if she thinks about the same...
"JACK!", Chopper yelled, "You're fading out again. Just...don't do that in the air, comprende?"
"Alright, boys and Nagase, we're here. Let's go get a table" Bri said as I ran ahead and held the door for an elderly couple walking out and my crush walking in. And Chopper and Nagase.
"You guys want a booth or bar seats?" I asked my crew
"Booth"
"Booth"
"Bar seats...DAMMIT!" Chopper exclaimed as he realized he'd been outvoted
"Hey, motormouth...cool it, huh?" I scolded
"I hate booths...I get claustrophobic"
"Yet you fly fighter jets?" Nagase inquired
"Different environment..."
"As our old health teacher used to say..."
"Sit down, shut up, and get ready for class", Chopper beat me to it. Damn.
"Only this time its sit down, shut up, and order your drinks!" Bri said a little too loud as I looked behind me and saw a waitress staring impatiently
"What'll it be, boys and girls?"
"I'll have a Sam Adams Rebel IPA, if you've got it" I asked as the waitress nodded
"ID, sir?" she asked as I handed her my drivers license
"OK, for you sir?" she asked Chopper as she handed back my ID...I love the fact that the drinking age in Apito is 18. Luckily...I'm 18. I'll be 19 in October.
"I'll have a Rebel too"
"Ma'am?", the waitress asked Bri
"Just a Coke please", Bri replied. I had forgotten she was only 17.
"And for you?", she asked Nagase as she wrote down our orders
"I'll have a water, no lemon"
"Ok, I'll be right back with your drinks and to take your orders"
"Chopper, do you always have to drink what I drink?", I inquired
"Hey, the Rebel's a good beer"
"You're right there kid..."
"I wish I could drink..." Baja sighed
"Soon enough...hell you're probably a real lightweight anyways", I teased
"Am not! I outlasted my dad once...he passed out after 6 beers..."
"A friggin baby could outlast that"
"I could..." Chopper started to brag
"Shut it Motormouth", I stopped him as the waitress returned, handing us our drinks
"All ready to order?" the waitress inquired as we all nodded
"We'll start with the girls this time, for you?", she said looking at Bri
"I'll have the Deluxe burger, with sweet potato fries, no onion or tomato, extra cheese please" Bri told the waitress
"For you?", the waitress asked Nagase
"I'll have the Caesar salad, and a cup of tomato soup", Nagase recited her order
"For you, sir?", she asked me
"I'll have the turkey dinner, loaded baked potato, and steamed broccoli"
"And you?", she asked Chopper as she finished writing my order
"Uh, the double bacon cheeseburger, extra bacon, and the steak fries please"
"Alright, the food should be out shortly" the waitress said, folding her notepad and putting it in a pocket in her apron
I sat back with my beer in my hand and started thinking. It's always a bad idea when I think but, it's inevitable. I started thinking about my father, he'd never really been a part of my life but I still rely on him for a lot and talk to him whenever I can. My parents had split up when I was 4 years old, after my father returned from the war. I'll always remember that day. I was in my room, playing with my Matchbox cars when I heard a lot of yelling, the door slam, and my fathers old truck start up. Then my mom came in, crying, and told me that I wouldn't be seeing my father for a while. My mom was never really the same after that, she was more reserved, and quieter. She never went out with friends as much, didn't shop as much. She worked, came home, watched TV and made my dinner, then went to bed. She just repeated that cycle until I graduated high school. She seemed...happier then. She's living with my grandparents here in Apito, but she and my Grandma are in Oured spending time with my Aunt right now. I'll call her when we get back to the hotel.
"Hey, Blaze, whattaya thinkin' about?", I heard from the seat next to me
"My family...mostly my mom and grandma. They're in Oured right now helping my aunt with her newborn kid. I'm gonna call my mom when we get back to the hotel."
"At least you still have a mom that wants to talk to you. My mother left when I was 2. Haven't heard of her since"
"That sucks...my dad left when I was 4 but I still talk to him a lot. He taught me to fly. What about you, Nagase? We haven't really heard much of your family"
"Well..I was raised by my grandparents. My real parents left me on their doorstep when I was 6 months old and left to Erusia. I don't know them, but I hate them"
"Ouch.." I commented, "No reason to ask Chopper, I already know his family. They're more insane than him, trust me, but they're normal until they get to know you. Just like Chopper is. You gonna visit them sometime while we're here? I'm gonna go hang out with my grandpa tomorrow morning and take my truck for a drive before we leave tomorrow afternoon."
"Yeah, probably be the last chance to visit until like Christmas."
I was gonna ask Bri what she was doing tomorrow, but I was interrupted by our food arriving...
There was almost no conversation while we were eating, since we were all so hungry from the flight. I finished my beer, everyone paid for their meals, and we began walking back. Chopper and Nagase lingered back, just out of hearing range.
"So, what are you doing tomorrow?" I asked my flight partner
"I haven't really thought about it. I don't have time to get the rock buggy prepped for a ride, and my family is out of town. Probably just stay at the hotel and watch TV or something"
"Well, you could come with me. I'm just gonna go get my truck key from my grandfather and drive around for a couple hours. Probably find some dirt roads outside of the city and have some fun."
"That...sounds really fun. Maybe I will tag along." Bri said as my heart skipped a beat. Calm down man, its nothing.
We were fairly silent after that, as we had dropped back a little to try to hear what Chopper and Nagase were talking about. I'm usually not one to eavesdrop, but, hell its Chopper. This guy, he annoys the hell out of me and I annoy him. That's what best friends are for, really.
"You're thinking again aren't you", I heard from next to me
"Nope, concentrating. Can you hear anything they're saying?"
"Not a thing...I really wanna know what they're talking about"
"So do I", I replied as we walked into the hotel lobby and up to our rooms.
"Good night, Blaze", Bri said as she entered her room
"Night"
A/N: New record for a new chapter! The gap between Chapter 1 being posted and Chapter 2 was like 8 or 9 months...Chapter 2 to Chapter 3? Like a week and a half or something. I just started writing and for once stayed motivated and didn't get major writer's block. This chapter is really a filler, I just needed to keep the story going. Please review, because I seriously need feedback. Do you like the way the story is going, or have an idea for something to be changed? LET ME KNOW!
Special thanks to user gman2129 for pointing out an error in Chapters 1 and 2. I originally had F/A-18Es, when the 18F is the 2 seater.