AN: Hello everyone! I appreciate the feedback! Here is the ninth chapter. I wanted to treat you guys to a longer one this time. I hope you all enjoy and don't forget to review.
Living Through the Past
Chapter 9: Far From Home
A week later word came in that Raif, Danny, and I had a flight to Washington D.C. to meet the President. The President of the United States. I was going to meet President Franklin. I understood why I was meeting him as well. I was girl, and I joined the military under false pretences. I hoped he wasn't mad at me. We were to go on the flight that evening. We were to stay in Washington D.C. for four days.
Evelyn and Barbara were helping me pack my best outfits. Since I really needed help in that area. I already showed them I could put on my own make up when we had a girls night out to the movie theatre. I had my own set of curlers, since that was the only thing I could do to my hair at the moment. I also took my uniform because I would wear that when I met the President. I would show him that I was as much of a pilot as anyone else.
"Hey Sky the boys are here for you!" Sandra announced from down stairs.
"Tell 'em to wait a few would ya?" I called back down earning a snort.
"You know Sky, you look pretty when you try to be a girl." Barbara commented holding up a shirt from my drawer.
"Well thanks." I said sarcastically.
"No I'm serious. I mean you are an eye grabber. You're tall, thin, not to mention you were a pilot, plus you have extremely gorgeous eyes." they were forest green color.
"Thanks Barbara…" I mumbled feeling really self conscious now.
"You should have more faith in yourself Sky…" Evelyn said quietly with a smile. I gave her a tight lipped smile back before closing up the suitcase.
"See you guys in four days, hopefully." I left the house with a small smile.
"You are a true woman now." Raif told me as he grabbed my suitcase from me.
"Oh and why is that?" I asked with a mock scowl before getting into the car.
"You took forever to get down here." he smiled making me scoff at his implication.
We were all seated in a row on the plane. Other people going to the mainland were on the plane as well, so it wasn't very awkward. I did get seated in between the two of them though. Making conversation didn't sound like a very good idea, and the only topic I could think of was Evelyn for some seriously weird reason. Over the few weeks I've been living with her I've gotten over my blind dislike. She really was a good person. I still felt that rather large pulse of jealousy every time I would see her and Danny together. It was hard…but I was slowly getting use to the ache.
We were suppose to fly to the mainland. Stop at the base on the shore of California and take another plane to Washington D.C. Colonel Doolittle would probably be riding that second plane with us. We were an hour in on the five hour flight to the main land and Raif and Danny were both doing the nervous leg hop. They didn't like being in a plane and not piloting it.
"Okay either one of you stop with the leg thing or just stop all together. I feel like I'm having my own personal earthquake."
"Sorry." they both mumbled stopping their legs. I rolled my eyes.
"Excuse me, sorry to bother you but are you the female pilot?" I turned my head to see a woman who looked about nineteen sitting in a seat across from Raif's.
"Yes." I answered slowly and the young woman's face lit up.
"You are my idol! I'm actually going back to the main land to be an actress, because you gave me the confidence to believe in myself." my mouth would of dropped open if I wasn't so shocked. I was an idol to her? What? "Is it true you'd rather wear pants then skirts?"
"Well I'm wearing pants now…" I trailed off feeling a little speechless.
"Wow! You're so brave!" she turned away after that.
"You're inspiring women all around." Raif said with a smile. I nodded.
"And you have no idea how to react." Danny stated sounding amused.
"Not a clue…" I let my head fall into my hand. I wasn't even in my own time. Where I came from me being a pilot was nothing to get excited over. Wearing pants wasn't unheard of, it was actually something most women preferred.
"Don't get all down because of it." I glanced at Danny.
"That's not it." I said deliberately slow. I've been doing this lately…missing my home. I didn't belong here that much was for certain. I had tried, and tried, and it had worked for a while because I was pretending to be a guy. Now I had to be a woman. I wasn't even sure how women acted like here other then that they were modest. Modesty and appearance was everything. I hated it. I wasn't an overly modest person, and I never cared about my appearance. I didn't understand how things worked half the time, and when I did understand what was happening my knowledge was too advanced for anyone to understand.
"Don't like being in a plane your not piloting?" Raif's voice sounding slightly curious. No, it wasn't that either.
"It's nothing." I shook my head and rested it against the head rest.
We got off the plane in what seemed like forever. We were greeted by Colonel Doolittle. We got our bags and were shipped off on another plane. This time I sat next to Danny and some other person. Raif was seated with Colonel Doolittle. The beginnings of a headache was creeping up into my skull.
"Have you ever been in love?" the question was kind of out of the blue. My stomach clenched painfully. I've been in love twice in my life. Once was with Mason and we were in sixth grade. I was convinced we would be together forever, then he moved away. And the second time was with Danny. And that didn't really get anywhere except for one kiss.
"Yes I have." both times it felt like my heart had died. I had let him go to be with Evelyn, because I didn't belong here. It hurt to talk to him most of the time, but I ignored it. I endured it because I valued his friendship.
"What happened?" why did he have to pry right now?
"He never saw me more then a friend." disappointment filled my voice. I saw Danny lean heavily back in his chair.
"You're in love with Raif aren't you."
"What?" I asked twisting in my seat with my mouth open wide and my eyebrows disappeared behind my bangs. He didn't even open his eyes. I sat forward in my seat and folded my hands in my lap. Here goes nothing. "Danny, I wasn't talking about Raif…" there was a very pregnant silence after that. I pursed my lips and sank lower into my chair. "I think I'm just going to go to sleep now. Wake me before we land." I muttered knowing my cheeks were glowing red. I laid my head towards the guy I didn't know and closed my eyes. What did I just do?
I didn't sleep, but I pretended to. Getting off the plane was alright. I wasn't allowed to carry my bag though, which kind of annoyed me but I understood why. None of us talked while we were being taken to where we'd be staying at. Though I did look out the window and admire the sights. I'd been to Washington D.C. only a few times in my life. And seeing it in 1942 was very intriguing.
We were put in a condo thing. Colonel Doolittle got his own condo, while Raif, Danny, and me had to share. It had a small kitchen a living room two bedrooms and a bathroom. Cozy in the old fashioned way. We were told we were getting the time to rest because we had just crossed all of the U.S.. Currently we were standing in the middle of the place looking at the bedroom doors.
"Sky you'll get one room and Danny and I will share." Raif said always the one to take charge.
"I don't mind taking the-"
"That would be rude of us to make you sleep on the couch." all my protests dropped and I walked to the bedroom to the right. I dropped my bag off and changed into more comfortable clothes. I slipped on the black and small white poka dotted dress. It had somewhat ruffled short sleeved and it buttoned in the front. It had a slight v neck.
"Hey Sky?" Raif asked from the kitchen. I walked out of my room barefoot and went over. He was looking in the fridge.
"Yes?" he looked up at me before looking back in the fridge.
"I think we're all eating out tonight…" he mumbled. I furrowed my eyebrows and leaned over the fridge door to see it was completely empty.
"Oh my…well if stores are still open I can go buy some food. I can cook you know."
"I don't think they will be. It's already pretty late." he said still looking at the fridge with a slightly pained look. He seemed really hungry.
"Alright just let me put my stockings on, where'd Danny go anyhow?" I asked beginning to walk back to the room to retrieve my stockings.
"Taking a shower I believe." I nodded and entered my temporary room. I hunted around in my suitcase for my stockings. I had learned early on stockings were pretty much everything to women. Again I didn't understand the why's to it, but I went along with them all and wore the stockings. I grudgingly slipped into my heels. I walked back out seeing Danny with freshly wet hair and in more comfortable clothing, and Raif in a clean shirt and pants.
"Ready to go?" I asked running my hands through my hair. They nodded and both reached to open the door. I chuckled at them both. "Don't worry boys, I have it handled." I opened the door and walked through.
"Most independent woman I've met." Raif commented after they'd figured out who's going through the door first. I felt bad their relationship was more awkward then anything now.
"And don't forget that." I grinned over my shoulder.
"So what are we eating tonight?" Danny asked looking at me and Raif. They caught up to me and I stood in between the two.
"Hmm…maybe a diner?" Raif supplied with a shrug.
"I would die for a double cheeseburger with fries and a milkshake." I practically groaned closing my eyes. When no one said anything I opened my eyes. They were hiding their laughter behind their hands. "Okay what did I do now?"
"Well, Miss. Penber you certainly are a hearty eater." Danny smirked at me. I looked straight at my shoes.
Dinner was relaxing…and unruly entertaining. I must have looked pretty good as a girl, because the waiter was extra nice to me. He looked to be only seventeen. Wonder how he'd react if he knew I was ten years older then him. I looked young for my age because of my father's side. My grandmother is seventy something and looks fifty. We had resilient skin as she would say.
We went to look for an open store to buy stuff for the morning, surprisingly one was open. I was going to cook eggs in the morning, because while I didn't doubt Raif's and Danny's cooking skills, I just hadn't been able to cook in a long while. The girls in the house believed that because I lived with guys for a better part of the last few years that I couldn't cook. I had enjoyed cooking back home actually. When we got back to the condo I took a shower.
"I'm going to kill you Barbara." I muttered scoring through my suitcase to look for my pajama's. All I could find was a white laced cotton nightgown. It went straight to the floor, the collar went up my neck, and the sleeves were to my wrists. I pulled it on and felt constricted by all the fabric. How did anyone wear this to bed? Well…I could just modify it, not like anyone's going to see me in this thing.
I pulled it off and went hunting around for a pair of scissors. Once I found them I laid the constricting night gown on the bed. I cut the collar off into a nice high u shaped. Next to come off was the long sleeves, I left them as little sleeves barely enough to cover over my shoulders. Then came the length of the thing. It was long, and sleeping in long none-to-loose things proved rather difficult. I cut off most of the skirt length. When I pulled it back on it fit me like a modern nightgown, the end coming to barely brush the middle of my thighs.
"God help anyone who sees me in this thing." I said with a devilish smirk, threw the scraps of cloth in a pile on the floor before climbing into bed for the night.
I woke up bright and early. I stretched lazily on the bed while yawning. I slithered out of bed before slipping out of my improvised nighty and changed into a skirt and shirt. I walked out the door. No one was awake. I decided to go to the bathroom before I would start cooking breakfast. Eggs and sausages. I use to heat up the sausages in a microwave, let's see how I fair with a stove. My feet padded almost silently into the kitchen.
I hummed a little tune I'd heard on the radio at the diner last night. I got out all the ingredients and began cooking. The sizzling pop of the sausages cooking made me smile. This reminded me of when I was growing up. My father use to cook like this on Sunday mornings. My smile faltered at the thought of my home.
"Mmm….that smells delicious." Raif's voice caused me to jump. He chuckled when I turned around with a scowl.
"You like scaring me don't you…" I glowered only getting him to laugh even more.
"Me? No way!" he feigned innocence. I rolled my eyes at him and turned back to the food.
"So Danny's still asleep?" I asked nonchalantly rolling the sausages on a plate. I poured the yellow egg mix in the pan next.
"Yep, out like a log I tell you." I could hear the humor in his voice.
"Hmm…I wonder if Doolittle would like breakfast…can you get him Raif?" I kind of felt sorry for the Colonel. He put his entire life into the Army. He must have been very lonely.
"Sure." His feet padded almost silently out the door. I heard the click of the latch and resumed cooking eggs. I made a lot anyways. Another opening and closing of a door drifted to my ears.
"Hey look your awake!" I joked using the spatula to flip the scrambled eggs.
"That smells amazing!" he groaned sleepily yawning at the same time. I nodded keeping my attention on the food. I really really hoped Raif got back quickly. "Where's Raif?"
"Getting Doolittle. I invited him over for breakfast." I glanced over my shoulder. He was in a tank top, the white fabric a stark contrast to his bronzed skin. I went back to staring at the yellow eggs. yellow was a good color…neutral, safe thoughts.
"That's nice of you." the silence that followed could only be described as heavy. There was an unspoken question in the air, and I'd be damned if I acknowledged it. I got out four plates beginning to shovel the eggs onto them, then I spread the sausages evenly between the four. "Sky What did you-"
"I'm back, with the guest in tow!" Raif's entrance couldn't have came at a better time.
"Hello Colonel Doolittle." I greeted him with a smile. "Sit down all of you."
"Hello kid." he nodded in my direction going to sit at the table where Danny and Raif were headed to. When all the plates were set in front of them I asked if they wanted something to drink.
"There's milk and water." they all opted on milk.
"Thank you for inviting me." he told me before eating. I smiled knowing I did the right thing. He must really have been lonely. "Now boys…you'll be seeing the President first. Sky, I'm entitled to hope you can keep to yourself for a day?" he asked when breakfast was done.
"Of course sir. I'll go explore the city or something." I shrugged washing the plates.
Doolittle left to go get ready. Danny and Raif retreated to their rooms to get dressed as well. I stuck to the kitchen trying to find something to distract myself with. I had money so I could go see a show or something.
"We're heading out! Don't get yourself killed!" Raif called walking towards the front door.
"Wouldn't dream of it!" I retorted with a smirk. Danny followed slowly behind. His face set in a deep scowl. Raif closed the door behind him.
"You should stay inside…read something." he commented looking up at me worriedly.
"And why would I purposely stay bored all day?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. I leaned against the counter my arms crossed.
"Because you could get hurt in the city." my heart ached but I ignored it. He only cared because he was suppose to.
"Don't worry about me."
"Well I do. " he bit out his eyes hardening. My own narrowed as I felt my anger rise.
"You have no right to worry about me Danny." he didn't reply. Just left the room. I slipped down to the floor. My heart pumping viciously in my veins. Setting my skin on fire. Why…why did he have to be that way? Why did he have to care?
When I managed to drag myself out of the apartment I decided on finding the nearest park and sitting there until I felt like going back. It wasn't very hard to find one in D.C.. It was even filled with women and children. Which meant I would blend in perfectly. I sat on one of the unoccupied benches and watched the day pass.
At one point a young mother sat beside me. She carefully set down the diaper bag on the other side of her. Her little girl who looked to be six waiting impatiently to be told she could leave. They both had the same flame red hair, and freckles dotting their noses.
"Moommiee can I go play now?" the little girl whined, her large brown eyes doubling in size. One thing was for sure, I wouldn't have been able to say no.
"Yes sweetie just stay within sight." a loud squeal and the little girl was off. It was silent for a while.
"You're daughter is very cute." I told the mother with a smile. Her eyes practically melted as she watched her little girl play.
"Thank you. Do you have any?" she glanced at me before looking back over to her child.
"Nope. I'm just killing time until the guys get back." my statements must of pulled her up short.
"oh. Well I'm Anne."
"Skyla."
"So Skyla, what do you think about the Japanese being put into camps?" Camps? Oh ya…the internment camps.
"I think it's a waste of resources. They are American just like us." I shrugged sitting up straighter. "Do you think it's okay for them to be in there?"
"If they're a threat to everyone else, then of course." I nearly snorted. She actually believed in all this. It was a waste of time, and certainly brought shame to a country that believed in freedom above all else. "So are you visiting D.C.?"
"Hmm? Oh yes. I'm going to meet the President." it was like a transformation went on within her. Her face lit up and a large smile broke across her face.
"You're the woman who pretended to be a man so she could be in the military!" I blinked bewilderedly. Did everyone know about it?
"Uhh…yes."
"Wow…" she sat back against the bench. "That's really amazing." I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. This was another one of the things I'll never understand about this time. Being an independent woman was rare. "What was it like? Having to pretend?"
"I like pretending to be a guy more then being a girl." I stood up feeling my muscles stretching pleasantly. "Well it was a pleasure meeting you Anne."
"You too!" she shook my hand with a brilliant smile. I went back to the condo after that. Would I be known in this time as the woman who pretended to be a man just to join the army? Yes…I most likely would.
The boys still weren't back when I returned. I frowned looking around the room. There wasn't really anything to do. I sighed walking into my room. I grabbed my home made night gown, slipped out of my shoes and stockings before making my way to the bathroom. The towels were neatly stacked under the sink.
The shower I took didn't do much else then relax me. When I finally stepped out of the stream of water the mirror was fogged, and the air in the bathroom was heavy. I wrapped my hair in a towel and slipped on my night gown. I walked out of the bathroom with a lazy smile. I hadn't taken that long of a shower since I was back home.
Home…I shook my head fiercely dispelling the on coming ache. I walked over to the small radio in the living room and turned it on. I raised the volume as far as it would go before grabbing one of the complimentary magazines on the coffee table. I sprawled out on the couch bouncing my feet to the rhythm of the music as I read the magazine. It was then that the boys came home.
"I could hear that all the way down the hall." Raif teased walking through the door. I closed the magazine and popped up from the couch.
"Finally your both home! I've been dying of boredom!" I smiled as they walked into the room. Both Raif and Danny's eyes fell to my attire. I blinked looking down at myself realizing I was in nothing more then my mini night gown, and had a towel wrapped around my head. "Uhhh…" a blush spread across my cheeks. Both guys turned around a light blush on their faces. I silently pulled the towel from my head and wrapped it around my hips. "I kinda forgot I was wearing it?" I supplied creeping towards my bedroom door.
"I would hope so." Raif stated sounding like he was smiling. Only he would be able to make this a joke.
"How do you forget wearing something like that?" Danny asked sounding more accusing then anything. I scowled before finally entering my room. I slammed the door behind me.
"Stupid boys, Stupid Danny." I muttered feeling my cheeks flame with anger. I ripped the towel from my hips and threw it across the room. "You forget one simple thing…" I continued to mutter incoherent words as I shoved on a pair of pants and a decent looking shirt. When I emerged from the room Raif was sitting on the couch I had recently vacated in more comfortable clothes, and Danny was no where in sight. The sound of the shower going was answer enough.
"And the male Sky emerges!" Raif teased when he looked over at me. I rolled my eyes at him going over to the couch. I sat on the other side my body turned toward him so I could talk.
"So what happened?" I asked crossing my legs.
"Well we received a medal of honor. The President was pretty nice, extremely proud of us and what we did. He sounded curious to meet with you." my eyes widened slightly. "Don't worry he looked relaxed while talking about you." the look on my face must have told him I wasn't convinced. "Everything will work out. We'll be back on a plane to Hawaii in no time." a pained look crossed his face at the thought of Hawaii. I sighed heavily sinking into the couch before I got up to get something to drink.
"How about the first thing we do when we get back to Hawaii is get a drink at the hula hut?" I called over towards Raif as I hunted around for a glass. An amused snort drifted over toward me.
"The best plan I've heard in my life." his voice sounded only a hint of bitterness. I found a glass and poured some water into it. A few moments later the bathroom door opened to reveal a freshly showered Danny. He was in a tank top and pants. I took a sip of my water absentmindedly. "Lookin forward to getting back to Hawaii?" Raif asked his best friend, or who use to be his best friend. I wasn't quite sure on their relationship at the moment.
"Yaa…" his voice dripped with warmth. I found myself scowling into my glass. I set it down with a little extra force then necessary. Both men looked in my direction slightly startled. I smiled to play it off.
"I think I'm going to head to the store. Buy something for dinner." I told them going off toward my room to get my purse and shoes.
"I'll go with." Danny volunteered, but I knew his motive. He wanted to ask me about the plane. I didn't want to talk to him about it.
"I don't need an escort you know." I muttered glaring at him. His handsome boyish face was turned down in a frown.
"These streets get pretty rowdy at night Sky." Raif pointed out. "I'd go with but I really need to clean up." I steeled myself and nodded.
"Be right out." I told Danny disappearing into my room. I let out a sigh running a hand through my messy hair. I slipped out of my pants and shimmied into one of my skirts. I tugged on my heels and grabbed my purse. Danny was already out of the condo when I came out the door.
We didn't talk at all on the way to the store. The silence was heavy and filled with silent words. I refused to start the conversation. If he wanted to talk to me about what I had said on the plane then he'd have to ask about it. I shouldn't have said anything in the first place. It wasn't my place to love him. I was from the future, a future where he is nothing more then a character in a movie.
I decided to cook something simple and bought the appropriate ingredients. The market wasn't very busy and I was thankful for that. The cashier was nice enough. The whole time we didn't talk, didn't even murmur a word. We had split the two bags between us. I just hoped we got back quickly.
"Sky…" he started but nothing else followed. I glanced over at him seeing his brow furrowed and an uncharacteristic down turn of his lips. I swallowed hard and continued walking.
"Ya?" I asked quietly gripping my purse in my hands.
"Who were you talking about on the plane?" his voice seemed to silence the world. All I could hear was the blood rushing to my ears, and the feel of my heart pounding in my chest. Why did he have to know? Why couldn't he just be satisfied with suspecting? "Sky?" he said my name softly. I took in a deep breath to answer him.
"You…I was talking about you." my mouth suddenly felt dry and my stomach did a nervous jump. The silence that followed was golden. I closed my eyes feeling the moisture gathering. He would never love me back. He was madly in love with Evelyn. They were having a baby together. That sealed the deal in this time period. If you were having children together, then you were to be together.
"Raif still loves Evelyn doesn't he." that little statement pulled me up short. I pretty much tell him I'm in love with him and he changes the subject completely.
"That's it? You're just going to change the subject? Like you never heard anything?" I practically growled as we walked into the building. His beautiful brown eyes refused to look at me. I grit my teeth in annoyance. "Way to take it like a man Danny." I muttered sarcastically. I pushed the button for the elevator to go to our floor.
"What would you want me to say Sky?" he snapped, and I realized he was a lot more effected by what I told him then he'd allowed me to see. Danny rarely ever got angry. I heard the bag drop before two muscular arms trapped me to the side of the small metal box. I flinched looking up seeing Danny's eyes glittering with emotions. "You want to know how I feel about it? How I feel about you?" he almost demanded.
This was a side of Danny I've never seen. I found my head inclining hesitantly. I never expected him to kiss me. His lips were hard against mine, demanding, full of need. Nothing like the first time we had kissed. When he pulled away both our breathing was hard. I blinked looking up at him with wide eyes. What was that?
"What…why…just…why?" I struggled for words as I stared at him. He was struggli I woke up bright and early. I stretched lazily on the bed while yawning. I slithered out of bed before slipping out of my improvised nighty and changed into a skirt and shirt. I walked out the door. No one was awake. I decided to go to the bathroom before I would start cooking breakfast. Eggs and sausages. I use to heat up the sausages in a microwave, let's see how I fair with a stove. My feet padded almost silently into the kitchen.
AN: I will try and get the next chapter out soon. Review please.
