Back on Earth…
Over the next few weeks…
Princess checked her make-up in the mirror for the thousandth time in the last ten minutes. Mark would be there any minute to pick her up.
Fidgeting with her fresh curls, she'd spent hours with rollers in her long emerald locks, checking she had it all perfect.
"Preedopp. You look like girl." Keyop teased. Brightening, he was spending the evening watching anime movies with Tiny.
"I am a girl." She curtly replied. "I'm glad you finally noticed, I was beginning think your observation skills needed sharpening."
Nothing could ruin her mood now other than a call for duty. She prayed it wouldn't happen.
A few days before was Jamie's small birthday party in the hospital. She managed to bake her cake in a hurry, and decorate it with Marks help. They arrived a little late, into a small café Jun had booked a few tables in for the family.
They'd eaten by the time she walked through the door with Mark in tow. Holding the crisp white cake box, she borrowed from Jill's, more nervous than she liked to admit as she approached the group in the corner of the room.
A few balloons graced the table, in the colours of black, red and silver with sixteen printed on them.
He lit up like a lantern, the moment he caught her eye- watching the door like a hawk.
Leaping out of his seat, and quickly greeting Mark, his bright greens flinting in her direction the whole time. The Eagle seeing what was going on relented, catching Syrah's eye, he found a seat next to her and Joey.
"Hi." She said, placing the box on the table, as Jamie indicated he had a seat next him vacant. Blushing as she brushed his leg accidentally…
Mark offered a few words of apology, saying something along the lines of being back later than he's anticipated from a mail run, and of course, Princesses shift at Jill's ran overtime…
Groaning internally, she hated the pile of excuses, she cringed at the fabrications, while smiling outwards. Suppressing the real truth of being in meetings at Centre Neptune with Chief Anderson all morning.
The rest of the party went well, the younger kids demanded a lot of their Jun's attention. Watching his family, a deep longing for her own mother and the love she witnessed in the room as the kids bickered at times, and were friends again in minutes.
It was during the noise of his siblings, Mark trying to have a conversation with Syrah and Joey that Jamie reminded her of their date.
"I can't…well… I'm kinda grounded here." His face dropped a little. "I'd love to take you out to a real restaurant and movie. You know my dad was a chef once…he kills pizza toppings, my friends love coming over for dinner when he's home." He threw in a hint of pride. " I'm used to nicer places with table clothes. He was a champion knife thrower in chef's comps."
"Really, you said something about him flying planes too." She could see Mark's ears peak up at their conversation.
"Yeah, during the Galactor wars he was a pilot, that's how my parents met. Mom… well… they were a special kinda unit." He frowned. "They have always been hazy on details… part of the army or something… from the bits I've picked up. Not sure what exactly they did."
"Oh." She replied. "I've read about the Galactor wars in history lessons."
It was about that time she gave him her gift. Nervously watching his response as he pulled back the tissue paper.
"Nice." He warmly smiled. "I love it."
"I… wasn't sure what you'd like." Fidgeting, she watched him hold up the black scarf printed with white shadowy birds on it.
"It's cool." Pulling off the light cap he was wearing, Jamie tied it around his bald scalp. "Thanks Princess, I really love it."
She had limited shopping time to pick out a gift for him. During that shopping trip, she decided to pick out a dress for a potential date if it happened. Dragging Mark through stores for his opinions on gifts, dresses and shoes.
A thousand gowns later piled in a dressing room of a department store, and dozens of shoes, tears, and frustration. Mark was left sitting in a chair watching her parade, shaking his head often, reading a book while he waited. Finally, he gave the thumbs up to the simple crimson silk sheath dress and silver heels.
He had more patience than Jason when it came to shopping. Mark had good taste, and didn't just pick out mini-skirts and crop tops like Jason did.
Jun frowned, lost in thought for a minute. She left the table, and from the corner of her eye she saw her talking with a lady who looked to be the owner of the café.
Warmly smiling the young woman nodded, and the next thing she knew they had a place all to themselves. The owner was going open that evening especially for their date with a special menu.
Her special first date night had finally arrived.
"Marks here for your date." Keyop teased. "Pree dipp. He's not dressed up for it, bit disappointed."
"Who says its Mark." She chimed in.
"Looks like Mark to me out the front." Keyop's cheeky grin said he wouldn't buy anything else.
"Why would he be taking me on a date? You know Federation rules. I'm going out to dinner that's all." She pointed out to him
"Sure, I bet you're keeping it secret. Pree…doopp." His grin widened. "I'll keep it secret sis."
Completely ignoring Keyop, she walked out the door trying to keep her feet steady in high heels she was unaccustomed to. They looked pretty in the shop, and she was soon discovering they were not shoes she'd wear in battle.
"You look incredible." Mark warmed, admiring her with sparkling blue eyes. Opening the door of his red sports car, assisting her into the seat. Keyop was watching from the apartment window the whole time. Taking in all the details for later.
"It's nice of you drive me there." She said relieved to be away from Keyop's prying, and Jill's pep talk on dating dangers.
"Not a problem." He watched the road ahead, as they drove into the city in silence towards the hospital.
"What are you going to do tonight?" She wondered, he hadn't mentioned plans.
"Working, I have reports to do." He said simply. "I'll pick up when you're ready or if we get called out."
That would be Mark she thought. Always working, rarely ever going out and enjoying life.
The usual plan was in place, in the event of an emergency call, out- she didn't have her uniform on underneath, he had it with him. It was too bulky for a dress that hugged her curves tight without room for extras.
The reason Mark offered to drive her there, it wasn't suited to a motorbike, and her hair would by ruined by the time she arrived.
Pulling up in a drop off zone, she leapt out of the passenger side, saying goodbye to Mark, he wished her all the best on her date, driving off.
The sharp echo of her high heels clinking on the polished floors as she made her way to the cancer unit. She stopped twice, fixing her lipstick in a mirror, soothing nerves and trying her best to not show any of it by the time she reached the unit.
Walking through doors and down corridors, the sounds of cleaning equipment and the odd smells of disinfectant waffled past her like it was a standard perfume of the place.
It wasn't exactly the kind of place she'd pictured her first date with a boy her age. She had all sorts of fantasies, some of them had involved Mark asking her out. Those were all squashed when federation law military was part of their studies a year ago. She settled on being friends with him and no dating allowed.
"Remember… you can't-" Jun's voice floated down the quiet hall as she approached his room.
"Mom I know." Jamie sounded annoyed, the usual banter between a mother and her teenage son. "Do I really have to wear these shoes? My runners are more comfortable."
"Yes." She firmly replied. "It's a date, not a footy match."
"The collar is fine." He said. "Mom stop fussing, put the camera away."
"I know…it's your first date, and I want it go well for you." Jun fussed. "She's pretty sweetheart, but look for whats inside with a girl not just looks… and I worry…about you."
"Worried about what?" Jamie sounded exasperated. "The last test results the cancer is shrinking... besides, I like her for more than being pretty."
"Well." Jun hesitated. "There are temptations with dating, you can't well exchange fluids with other people… do things at all, and-"
"Gross way to talk about kissing mom." He said. "Seriously, mom, not the sex talk now. Dad covered it last time he was home remember." He sounded embarrassed, almost scolding his mother for her comments. "It's a first date, you think I'm going to do stuff… well…hell no… just no. I'm not stupid, I'll respect her. "
"Okay." Jun sounded satisfied, in a motherly tone. "I know you know you will… you look so grown up."
"Please don't cry." Jamie begged. "I'm not a little kid anymore."
"Happy tears." Jun sobbed. "You're a handsome young man now Jamie, so tall…Your father…he'd be so proud seeing you."
"He'd be giving me a worse lecture than you about behaving with a girl." Jamie's voice dropped an octave. "It's the longest he's been away, I want to see him. Even if he's kicking my butt all the way to Oden for what I did- it was all my idea mom, don't be too hard on Syrah, I roped her into it."
"No one ropes Syrah into anything." She snorted. "You have responsibility with her, she'd follow you no matter what you do."
Silence…. Feet shifting uncomfortably from behind the door.
He's prepared to take the fall instead of his sister. Princess thought, she was impressed by that in a guy.
"I know, once he gets over being angry he'll forgive you… you know I miss him too." Jun sighed." He's got to finish a few things before he come home, to kick-your-butt-all-the-way- to-Oden like you mentioned."
A warm flush flooded her cheeks for listening into a private conversation through the door. She hadn't given that part a second thought, she'd been focused on the idea of a first kiss at last…. Not second and third base.
Pausing at the door, she waited a moment before knocking. Trying to bring her flushed cheeks and the thoughts entering her mind under control.
Finally knocking, she waited for him to open it.
"Hi." Glowing, he was dressed in fresh jeans, a crisp white shirt, polished brown shoes and the scarf she gave him tied around his head.
He greeted her warmly, hurrying out the door. "Mom's here."
"Hi." She waved to Jun, he didn't invite her in, instead taking her, hand they headed down the hallway towards the café.
"No- you don't… I want a photo." Jun caught up with them armed with a camera. A few poses and explosive flashes in the faces, she was satisfied she got memories in print of his first date with Princess.
"I'll see you in the morning." Jun winked, leaving them alone at last.
Butterflies threatened to undo her as he guided through hallways, trying to walk like she was an old hand with high heels, rather than it being a new experience like the first time she tried to leap out of a plane in her birdstyle trusting the wings to hold her steady in one of many practices.
They entered the café past the closed sign, to find it set up with a table in the centre, flowers and candles.
"Hello." A tall lady with an oval face, plump cheeks and a gentle nature greeted them.
"You must be Jamie and Princess." She gushed.
"Thank you- Stacey." Jamie appeared as awed as she was from the effort.
"Enjoy the evening, I have a special menu for you two." She warmed, like she was enjoying being part of making their date happen.
He walked a little ahead of her. He was a nervous as she was, pulling out her chair, she thanked him for it. Trying to not to say it was an unnecessary gesture, she could do it herself. Not wanting to spoil their evening together, she stifled it.
After a while, Stacey brought them a soda of their choice each, as they waited for the entrees she made conversation with him. After a while she grew more at ease, finding they had a lot to talk about.
"Is Princess your real name?" He asked, curiously.
"Yes it is real no exaggerations. My parents called me Princess, they must have been hippies." She giggled. "We lived in the Himalayan mountains in a commune…mediation all that."
"Do you all live above the diner?" He sounded confused. "I didn't see anyone who looks like you…"
Her face dropped from the memory of the sounds of folding metal, and screams jarred her memory.
"No." She said. "They died in a car crash, and I… survived it."
"Oh, I's sorry." He sounded sincere, reaching over and placing a warm hand over hers on the table. "I didn't know…"
"It's okay. She said, pushing the memory aside, trying to lighten the moment again by changing topics away from her past.
"I love riding motorbikes too." She said dreamy. "It's my passion."
"Yeah, I mean, dad wanted me to learn how to fly a plane's, since it's his passion… but racing motorbikes is mine, sets my veins on fire." He said, staring into her eyes over a burning table candle. Soft music playing the background they were waiting for the desserts. She melted, as butterflies ran loose inside of her from the electrical current between them.
"He's determined I become a pilot like him…. But to be honest…it's not what I want." He said frowning. "I want to be professional motorbike racer. A few fields in it. I feel alive with the wind and elements."
"Have you talked with him about it?" She probed.
"I've tried, he won't listen, he's set on me being like him, a fighter pilot, got to the Federation flight academy in a few years." He wiped his mouth with a napkin, letting out a long breath. It appeared it was a bone of contention with his father.
"That was the first time I've seen a bike racing a plane." She admitted, shifting the topic sideways.
Outside of herself and Mark in training… She thought. Supressing a smile.
"There's a story to that." He said, brightening. Princess asked him to tell her about it.
"It was before I was sick and not long before mom fell pregnant with Timmy." He started. "My mom is an awesome rider. She's got the moves, she's the one who taught me to ride."
"Really." She was learning something new about Jun." She used to race?"
"Yeah, dad boasts at times about her being the best he's ever seen." Jamie grinned, family pride.
"I'd love to see her ride one day." Princess sincerely was interested in knowing more about the Washio family.
"One day… it was a sunny, blue skies and all of that." He began, drifting back to that day. "Mom wanted me, Syrah and Joey to learn cross country… so we had dirt bikes, out on tracks not far from Utoland. It was the best day."
"Keep talking." She encouraged.
He opened up about a fun family day of riding across hills, their mom showing them daring jumps and how to do it.
Joey wouldn't do it, he was fearful of falling off. His mom would gently coach him, not pressure him to do the jumps, but his younger son's fears would try his father patience at times.
Jamie's father was flying, his small plane would swoop over the top of them, do circles and come back. That's when the racing started.
Three of them with Joey lagging behind raced his father barely ten meters off the ground along the dirt tracks. He hadn't see anything like the skills his father displayed during that race. The clear day was perfect for it, she could tell it was a highlight in his memories.
"That's when I knew." He concluded.
"Knew what." She ventured.
"I wouldn't be a pilot like him ever. I'm a motor cross rider. More like mom in interests." He admitted, shrugging. "I realized I wanted to race anything with two wheels, the wind, and a rush of adrenaline."
"Me too." She breathed. They connected like soulmates, she completely understood him. It was like she'd known her whole life.
"Syrah likes flying more than me." He said.
Stacey placed their dessert on the talk, thanking her she left them alone.
"I have the latest movies on the cable stream in my room, wanna come back for a while." He said. "I promise not to make any moves."
"I'd love to watch a movie with you… there's an action new release." She began thinking of a movie she'd talked about seeing with Mark. It was almost out the cinemas now.
"Crossbow." Jamie brightened. "Superhero's…"
"Yeah that's the one." She played with the chocolate mousse.
"You're a woman after my own heart Princess…. Not many girls would wanna see action movies." He was impressed.
Standing up as the soft music from the box in the corner changed to a slow song, he extended his hand, as she accepted it. A full explosion of butterflies released inside of her as he held her close in a slow shuffling dance in the semi lit room.
#######################
Standing the line of the crowded movie theatre for the candy bar, Mark scanned the room in his normal suspicious mode looking for potential threats. The groups of teenagers and people on dates filled the place with laughter, constant noise and reminder he was there alone.
A few girls flirted with smiles and sultry flicks of their eyelashes in his direction. He had his temptations but the reality was his job was his central focus.
When he put his focus into something it absorbed most his spare thinking time. Dating would mean focusing on developing a relationship. He didn't feel he could juggle that and work.
Deciding to turn away, he was looking forward to seeing the latest action movie. Even if it was without Princess.
"The popcorn deal thanks." He said, pulling out his near empty wallet. Handing the cash to the peer behind the counter smiling wildly, making eyes in his direction. The guy was interested, but he wasn't going there.
"Thank." He fumbled, picking up the stash, and heading down the hall and into the dark theatre.
Looking for a seat, and avoiding the couples hidden in the darker parts of the cinema, Mark finally found a space he could kick back and relax in. Fortunately, the movie was on the last of its run, and the cinema was half empty.
Again, he surveyed the surroundings. No presenting threats as far as he could see, trying to relax, and focus. The advertisements were almost over.
Another moment of an inner pang, staring into the depths of popcorn. Princess had been his movies companion since they were kids, and now she was on a date with his brother. In a flash, the dynamics were all changing, and he had no control over it. He was losing his best friend.
A hard munch as the soft wafers crumbled under his teeth, and a hit of salty butter slid down his throat, with a sip of soda to wash it down.
A couple close by were getting a bit too cosy for his liking, the moaning disruptive to the mood of the film. They'd been quiet when he arrived, under a blanket making out, until the sounds changed half-way through the movie.
Grimacing he hated inconsiderate dating teens. Then he had to remind himself he was still eighteen. Lightly kicking the seat, he waiting for them to get the hint. A familiar face shot up from under the blanket.
Whack- Kicking the seats harder with his foot this time, to get the message across.
"Back off." The teenager grunted. Seeing who it was he chuckled.
"Shoulda known."
"You alone? Where's Prin."
"On a date."
"What?" Shooting up further forgetting his half naked dat., Jason eyeballed him.
"You heard me." His alone time out was ruined. "She's on a date with Jamie."
"I'll disembowel the prick if he hurts her. Are you sure about that guy?" Jason gritted his teeth.
"Jason, why don't you go back to your trailer." He frowned. "I'm picking her up later, keeping an eye on him."
"What's the fun in that?" The Condor smirked. "This is living dangerously…"
He went to say there were no kids in an over eighteens movie, and the place was almost empty, Lighten up Mark….
"Want some action." A female voice purred. "It's right here Jason."
Delicate fingers grabbed his caramel hair, dragging Jason back down again, tearing off his shirt, as the blanket flew back over the top of them.
Sitting the half full tub of popcorn down, losing his appetite for anything.
Shaking his head, and standing up, he decided it was time to leave. He was going to sit in a cinema with his second in command making seductive moves on his latest girlfriend in public.
Walking out into the street, shoving his hands into his pockets, walking down towards his car, he should have gone flying instead.
########################
"Thank you." Jamie stood in front of her. They'd watched a movie in his room, tilting the hospital bed upright she snuggled up next to him, enjoying the excuse to be closer. Watching an action flick, and talking about it afterwards.
She could see him flagging, and needed his energy for more treatment in the morning. She was waiting for Mark to pick her up.
"I don't want you go." He admitted, a smirk playing on his lips, like he wanted to do say something but wasn't sure how to approach it. Absently his hand went in the motion of racking hair. Bringing him back to the reality of its absence.
Shifting his feet, looking away for a moment she waited.
"What is it?" She asked, touching his arm.
"I've had the best time of my life tonight." He said. "I don't want to spoil it."
Touching his cheek, deep inside she knew what he wanted. Moving in closer, she wanted it too.
"I can't." He moved away slightly. "I can't kiss you."
An awkwardness grew between them.
"Why not?" Confused for a moment.
"Radiation, I even have my own bathroom so it can't hurt anyone else, you know make them sick. Body fluids…" His tone dropped disappointed. "How it is for now, I'm sorry."
Throwing her arms around his neck, turning his face towards her, she planted a firm kiss on his lips. Confident her implant would filter any affects.
"I'll take the risk." She murmured. Softly touching his lips again, he couldn't resist her open invitation.
Unsure of how to use tongues in a first kiss, there was some awkwardness as they softly explored each other in a moment lost in time. Melting like butter, flooding in warmth from his body pressed up against her, she was falling for him.
Relaxing into his arms, she was willing to learn more about kissing.
The clearing of someone's throat as he entered the building interrupted the tender moment. Blushing she caught Marks eye as they drew apart.
"Sorry." Mark sheepishly smiled.
Jamie extended a hand, greeting him.
"It's okay." He said, a roguish tug of his lips, and sparkling greens met hers. "We were…ahh...getting to know each other more."
Awkward moment, Marks usual stoic facial features flinted a little with emotions. The dynamic were changing between them, realizing since she'd met Jamie, she was hanging out with him less. It would have been movie night.
"We could go out together sometime." Princess half smiled.
"Three's a crowd." Mark looked away, composing himself.
A flash of his bracelet ended any small talk between them.
"Ahh…I have to go." Mark hinted glancing at Princess. "Still need that lift home?"
"Oh, yes, I forgot, my brother will be home alone… my friend was leaving soon." She gushed.
Jamie tried to stop her as she sprinted after Mark. "Hey, would you like a second date?"
"Would love it." She called back.
"When will I see you again Cinderella." He joked, stroking his chin. Shaking his head, a little confused by her abrupt departure. "Don't lose your shoe, I'll have to go house to house searching for you."
"Soon." She shouted back, warming from his radiating eyes and smile. Melting inside from her evening, she floated down the hallway.
Pushing through the glass doors of the main entrance, she hesitated along with Mark.
"Bye Mark, nice seeing you." Jamie waved.
Mark nodded, waving back, as they disappeared into the night ready for whatever was waiting.