I've been sitting here, can't get you off mind.
I try my best to be a man and be strong.
I drive myself insane, wishing I could touch your face,
but the truth remains, your gone. –Gone, n'sync
Chapter Four—Gone
Lady Jane and Flint manage to work things out with each other. They try to talk to Scarlet but she just make them more furious. Cover Girl tired too, but Scarlet did the same to her. All the Joes hate Scarlet. She is always late and hardly does anything, all she does is complain.
Scarlet is talking to Maxwell when Crazy Leg says, "Hawk wants to see you." Scarlet walks into Hawk's office. Hawk looks at her furiously. Duke stands next to Hawk, looking away from Scarlet. Hawk says, "the Joes can no longer stand your abusive behavior. Let me remind you that marrying your commanding officer does not, in any way, give you the right to walk over others. Do I make myself clear?"
Scarlet replies indifferently, "are you implying I have no right as a training officer to discipline the Joes, or I have no power except for Duke's?" Hawk yells, "How dare you talk back to me in such manner! Do you want me to kick you out of the Joes?" Maxwell smirks disgustingly and says, "Shana dear, forget about them. Come back to Interpol. You are too good for this stupid place."
Duke punches Maxwell and says, "no one say you can come in here." Scarlet punches Duke and shouts, "how dare you! You know, Maxwell is right. This place is stupid. I have had enough of all you incompetence jerks!" She pulls off her ring, throw it to Duke and leaves. Flint picks up the ring and gives it to Duke.
"Great. She finally leaves." Gung Ho says. Falcon eyes him. Flint asks, "Duke, are you okay?" Duke nods and replies, "I am fine." Lady Jane says, "how can Scarlet do that to Duke? To us? Who does she thinks she is?" Flint says, "If she thinks she is too good for us, then we don't need her." Duke watches as Scarlet leaves in Maxwell's car. "How dare you, Scarlet." Duke says madly.
One month later, Duke and Cover Girl get out form a movie theater. Cover Girl asks, "how's the movie?" Duke smiles and answers, " it is quite a divertissement." Cover Girl smiles and sighs, "I hope that means it's good." Duke says, "it is. Thank you for inviting me." He opens the car door for Cover Girl.
"You want to go for a drink?" Cover Girl asks, Duke shakes his head and says, "I still have work to do." Cover Girl asks, "how about a coffee then?" Duke nods and starts the car. They are drinking a coffee when Cover Girl asks, "you are not having fun, aren't you?" Duke looks at his coffee without answering.
"Earth to Duke, hello? Duke? You are starting to hurt my feeling." Cover Girl says. Duke breaks off from the trance and says, "I apologize for my behavior. You are a marvelous companion. I have quite a burden on my mind." Cover Girl says, "no, you just have one thing on you mind, one red head. I know she means the world to you, you can talk to me if you want."
"I cannot talk about her. It will be unfair to you." Duke drinks his coffee. Cover Girl smiles and replies, "I'm not trying to take her place. I know we can't be anything more than friends. At least let me be a friend close enough to listen. Talk to me."
"I was mad at Scarlet insinuated that I am imperious. Maybe I am. I did not consider her feeling. It maybe true that Interpol is exasperating vermin, but it was her home for a long time." Cover girl smiles and says, "my parents are exasperating vermin, too. I still love them." Duke says, "Exactly my point, and the wedding is the worse!"
Cover Girl smiles. Duke says, "I reached the stage of stop worrying about my career, but Scarlet is still trying to reach her potential. It might jeopardize her career too. I did not consider that." Cover Girl sighs and says, "you are such a nice man. After all she did you still can't hate her." Duke replies, "When we worked together, we always worked on my assignments. I never aid Scarlet in hers, yet she never complained. Maybe she is having tribulations which I am unaware of."
After the coffee, Duke returns to his office to work. "Hi, bro." Falcon greets while shooting paper balls into the trashcan. "What are you doing up this hours?" Duke asks. "I crashed a tank. Hawk wants me home for a week so I can think about what I done. Just want to come say sorry." Duke sighs and says, "what am I going to do with you?"
Flint and Jane come in and say, "Hey, we heard about the date." Duke says, "I cannot stop thinking about Scarlet. I need to know the reason." Flint says, "sometimes people change and there is nothing you can do." Duke sighs, "I wish I can look into her eyes and ask her myself." Falcon jumps down the dusk and says, "Let's go then. You know where to find Scarlet, right?"
Duke replies, "that is absurd. It is asinine to leave everything behind in search of Scarlet. She is with her new boyfriend from Interpol." Falcon voices, "you already said she is more important than your work. If you don't find out, it'll eat you for the rest of your life. Even if she is getting married, you have to trash her wedding!" Duke shakes his head and says, "I am no fool."
"Everyone is a fool when they fall in love. The question is how bad do you want to see her." Lady Jane says. Flint adds, "I will take care of everything. I want to know too. She did save my life a lot of times. I can't just abandon her." Lady Jane says, "she was my best friend." Duke takes a deep breath and says, "I hope this will not be a mistake. Let's go, Falcon."
Continue at Ch.5