The Big Day:
Rick woke the next day with a big smile on his face. He knew what he was going to do today; he could not wait to call Keira. Plus, his hand was feeling better, and bs tarting to heal properly. Rick began to think what they could since he didn't have much cash left. Rick started to literally sweat thinking about what he and Keira could do today. Rick figured that they could meet at the park and go from there. All he knew was that after tonight he was going to be broke. Rick cleaned up Roy's quarters and then he went to make the phone call he was dying to make.
Rick dials Keira's number and after a few rings she answered with a cheerful hello. Keira was ecstatic to hear Rick's voice on the line. She was waiting anxiously for Rick's call all day. Rick suggested they meet at the park in a hour. Keira thought it was a good idea, and told Rick she would meet him at the park entrance in a hour.
Keira quickly decided to find something nice to wear. She was very nervous about meeting Rick. Keira couldn't stop thinking about him since they met in ER. She wondered why he never called, but was happy to bump into him at the White Dragon. She picked out a nice sundress and found some matching sandals, and she checked herself out in the mirror. "If he doesn't like this, then he is blind as bat," she laughed to herself.
Rick on the other hand didn't have much clothes to chose from. "I hope she doesn't want to go to a fancy restaurant," Rick worried. He found something suitable enough and convinced himself that it was good enough. He figured anything was better than what he was wearing when they first met in the ER.
The hour is up and Rick and Keira meet at the park entrance. They stroll around talking about how unbelievable it was to have all of this inside of a ship. They were making small talk and cracking jokes with each other. Rick and Keira found mobile soda machine and got some drinks. They found a bench to sit on away from the crowd. Keira wanted to know more about Rick. Rick freely shared about his childhood; about both his parents passing away, but still having Roy; the joy of the flying and his love for it; and losing the flying circus and ending up on the SDF-1.
Rick said, "I know must sound like a total loser, but yesterday I decided I can't be away from flying. I'm going enlist in the RDF tomorrow. I'm going be a fighter pilot." Keira put her hand on Rick's and reassured him he's not a loser, and told him that people have to start over from the beginning sometimes.
To Keira flying was scary thing. She didn't really enjoy flying much in a small plane, but being on the ship was fine. Keira smiled as Rick was talking about flying, and she knew he loved it. When Rick was finished, he asked Keira about her past. Keira mentioned she was a year older than Rick; that she was from Maryland and both her parents and her sister were to the best of her knowledge alive; she always wanted to be a nurse and when the global war started there was a huge need for people in the medical field, so she started her training early when she was a teenager. Keira told Rick that she was transferred to Macross City a week before the Zentradi attack.
Keira asked Rick if he had anybody special in his life. Rick responded no, and continued as he smiled at Keira, "I hope too very soon though!" Keira blushed and said in a mischievous tone, "Oh yeah who would that be? The green eyed woman I saw you with last night?" Suddenly Rick bursts into laughter, and said,"That's the last person you should be worried about!" Rick went on to tell Keira about dinner with Roy, Claudia, and Lisa last night. Keira was shocked but thought it was kind of funny.
Suddenly realizing Rick said he was going to enlist tomorrow; Keira asked Rick hypothetically how would they see each other if he was in basic training and with her rotating schedule at the hospital. Rick was happy to hear that and worried at the same time. Rick responded, "I guess it would be hard, but once I'm done with basic training I maybe more available. I guess we could see how it goes? What do you think?" Keira smiled at Rick's response, and said hypothetically it could work.
Keira mentioned that she was hungry, and suggested they go to this new hole in the wall Italian place she found last week with her coworkers. Rick began to worry but figured out he could manage. He knew he had wait a while after signing his enlistment papers before reporting for basic training. So Rick figured he would suck it up and wait tables at the White Dragon for money until he reports for training. Rick was still planning on staying with Roy there was no way he was staying in the same house with Minmei. Working there was going to be bad enough.
Rick and Keira arrived at the Italian joint, and was seated. "This looks affordable," Rick thought as the host seated them. Rick and Keira looked over their menus and began chat again. Rick decided to tell Keira his plan about waiting tables to earn money while he waited to report to basic training. She thought it was a good idea, and told him he was lucky that Uncle Max and Aunt Lina were nice people. Rick went on to tell Keira about Minmei and her irritating high pitched voice from hell. Keira nearly choked on her dinner when Rick told her that. She thought it was funny and wanted to laugh so bad. They both shared a laugh over that, after Rick checked that she was OK.
Dinner and dessert was over and the waiter handed Rick the bill, and Keira tried to pry it from Rick's hand. It took some convincing but Rick was able to pay for dinner and the tip. They left the restaurant and was standing on the sidewalk, in front of the restaurant. They both didn't know what to say, when Rick asked Keira if he could walk her home. Keira smiled and was more than happy to oblige. When they reached Keira's place; she thanked him for a wonderful time and gave him a hug. She then told Rick to call her after she is done with work tomorrow, because she is on day shift and gets done at 4 in the afternoon.
Rick smiles at Keira's offer and quickly accepts. He tells her he should be done with the enlisting process by then. They go the separate ways and both of them are ecstatic. Keira was falling hard for Rick, and Rick was sprung on Keira since meeting her at the ER. He slowly walked to Roy quarters recollecting about the evening's events. Rick returns to Roy's place, and is so happy Roy isn't there to give him more grief about enlisting. He jumps onto the couch and lays down. He had a long day, but a very good day. In fact, a great day. He fell asleep having sweet dreams of Keira and her beautiful long blonde hair and her captivating grey eyes.
Rick woke up early the next morning and showered. He was getting dressed to leave for his trip to the recruitment office today. Roy was returning from a long evening of duty. Rick told Roy he was leaving and would be gone for most of the day. He told Roy that he would catch up with him later. Roy asked Rick where he was going? Rick just said he had something to do and was planning on calling Keira after she was done with work. Rick mentioned hopefully they will get to hang out again. Rick quickly ran out the door before Roy could grill him. "I'm going to kick his ass if he keeps on acting like a weirdo," was all Roy could say to himself.
Rick arrived at the RDF recruitment office and filled out the necessary paperwork, and waited to meet with the recruiter. His name was finally called and he went with the recruiter to his office. The recruiter quickly reviewed Rick's information, and determined he was suitable for duty. It really didn't matter, because the RDF was in desperate need for bodies to fill the ranks. He gave papers for Rick to sign and once Rick signed. The recruiter then gave Rick his report date. It was two weeks from now, and Rick was happy he wouldn't have to wait tables for too long. Rick left the recruitment office and realized its was close to 4.
Rick decided to walk to the White Dragon to ask Uncle Max if he can wait tables for two weeks. He got there and asked Uncle Max if it was OK. Uncle Max willingly accommodated Rick's request and congratulated him on joining the RDF. Rick then left to call Keira since it was 4:30, already. When he was leaving he ran into Minmei, and Uncle Max tells her the news. Minmei is happy and excited, but Rick remembers that being stuck there with her was going to be pure hell. "Oh well, I gotta do it! It's only two weeks, geez two weeks can't go by fast enough," Rick silently told himself.
Rick called Keira and she was home already, and Rick asked if she wanted to do anything. Keira told him she had a busy day, and if he didn't mind she would like to go to the park again to relax. Rick agreed to meet in a hour again. They met at the entrance and found the same bench open again. Rick listened as Keira talked about her day, and Keira did the same when Rick explained his busy day. She asked when he going to report and Rick told her. She was happy to know she had some time to spend with Rick if he wasn't too busy at the restaurant.
Keira suggested they get some take out and go back to her place for dinner. She told Rick dinner was on her, because it was her way to congratulate him for taking a major step in his life. They went to a burger place and got their dinner. Rick and Keira walked back to her place holding hands. After having dinner on her couch, and they cleaned up. Rick wanted to stay longer, but didn't want wear out his welcome there. He also needed to talk to Roy about his decision. Rick told Keira his plan and was being accompanied to the door by her. As he was leaving they shared a long and passionate kiss. They both shyly smiled at each other. They were actually embarrassed it happened, but it was a very nice experience for the both of them. Rick told her he would call her after he is done with work tomorrow. Rick mentioned he is starting off during the day shift so he can used to waiting tables, since it was his first time and the days were usually slower than nights. Keira told Rick she's on day shift until he reports so he knows when she will be available, and kisses him again before he leaves.