Flirting is the gentle art of making a man feel pleased with himself

She could feel the hot pillow being lifted from her face and the cool air rushing in to greet her.

She could see the light stinging her eyes, and trying to creep in from under her eyelids.

Jadedly, she opened her eyes, and to no surprise, found Eugene Roe standing beside her.

"Hey…" Eugene greeted lazily, flashing her an easy grin.

"Hello." She returned calmly, sitting up.

"I've got you some dinner." He offered, showing her the plate piled with meat and vegetables.

She eyed him knowingly. "I don't want it Eugene Roe." She rasped, as she reached for her glass of water. "How long has it been since you've eaten?"

He shrugged and sat the plate down on the bedside table. "Doesn't matter."

She smiled, and picked up the plate, setting it on her lab and taking the fork in her left hand. "I will try to eat this."

He nodded, beaming at her, encouraging her to take a bite. "Just try it Adele." He urged.

She gingerly lifted the speared broccoli to her lips, and bit it; taking slow mouthfuls.

After pushing most of the food around, and eating some meat, she passed the plate to Eugene. "Please, take this." She
insisted. "I'm not hungry."

He took the plate from her, and gobbled down the rest of the food, wiping his hand on his sleeve when he was finished.

"Thank you." He said appreciatively, giving Adele a signature effortless smile.

She shook her head. "I didn't make it." She stated practically.

He scoffed, and threw his hands up in the air. "Just sayin'."

She rolled her eyes as he handed her a chocolate bar. "Eugene, I'm not hungry."

"Take it, please."

"You take it, and take it now!" She demanded, throwing the chocolate back into his lap.

He ran his pale hands through his soft, dark hair, and set the candy beside her.

Suddenly the hospital exploded and medics rushed in carrying an injured man on a stretcher.

Two unhurt men rushed in too, and she saw Eugene run up to them. "Bill Gaurnere, George Luz, what the hell are you doing here?" He asked.

The man named Bill Gaurnere shifted his cigarette to the left side of his mouth before speaking. "Joe Toye took a hit. Almost got his whole damn leg blown off."

Eugene looked towards the bloodied stretcher. "I can see that Bill."

George Luz piped in. "We were with the convoy when he took the mortar, so we figured we oughtta stay with him. Make sure he makes it."

Eugene rubbed his hands together, "Ya'll make yourselves at home, get some hot food while you're here. I'll take care of Joe."

Bill patted him on the back. "Get to it then Doc."

Eugene nodded, and ran to Joe's side, checking his plasma.

Adele waited until she was sure Eugene was out of sight, before sticking her hand high in the air and then waving it at
the two men.

"Sirs?" She called, using her left hand to prop herself up. "Sirs?"

Bill and George glanced at each other in disbelief.

George spoke first, as he usually did. "I think my eyes are shitting me Gaurnere, but it looks like there's a girl over there, and she's calling us."

Bill nodded, and tried to make his staring obvious as he took a drag of the cigarette. "Your eyes ain't shitting you Luz. She's calling us over."

George peered over his aviator sunglasses glasses, before taking them off and placing them in his pocket. "She's blonde isn't she?"

Bill threw his cigarette into an awaiting ashtray. "Blonde as an angel."

George and Bill ambled over to Adele's bedside.

"Evening mam." George greeted, smiling as he took off his helmet.

"How ya doing?" Bill asked causally in his heavy jersey accent.

She gazed up at them, "Chocolate?" She offered holding out the uneaten Hershey's bar.

George's eyes grew wide, as he elbowed Bill in the shoulder. "She's a hot blonde and she's trying to give us chocolate?
You're right, she's most definitely an angel."

"Hell yeah Luz," Gaurnere whispered flashing Adele a crooked grin. "Right about now, I'm wishing my leg was blown off too.

Adele handed the chocolate to Bill, and he took it, thanking her.

George looked down at her, "How'd you get here?" He asked as he sat down in a chair beside the bed.

She scoffed. "Don't ask. How did you get here?"

He chuckled, "The draft babe."

She raised her eyebrow, "Babe?"

George looked around embarrassedly. "Yeah, ya know you're my Babe." He tried suavely, while Bill snickered.

"Where ya from darlin?" Bill asked, sinking into another chair.

She smiled. "France."

"Oh!" George exclaimed. "Babe, it's a term of endearment, favoritism, means I like ya.

She smiled, and held out her hand for him to shake. "I also like you very much!

Ever the Casanova, George kissed her hand instead of choosing to shake it. She blushed, and smacked him on the arm.

"You are too bold Private." She chided sweetly.

Bill opened the chocolate and took a bit, offering some to Adele.

"I gave it away. She stated, I really don't want any."

"Alright darlin, lemme know if you change your mind."

He winked and Adele blushed again.

"What's your name?" She asked as she ran her fingers through her blonde hair. George looked up from studying the
blondes wavy, glowing hair. "George Luz, private first class."

Bill scoffed, and fixed her with another shameless crooked smile. "You don't want to know any privates now." He warned, patting her on the shoulder. "Officers is the type of man a lady like you should associate with. So let me introduce myself, I'm William Gaurnere, first sergeant."

George rolled his eyes and his voice rose in annoyance.
"Are you pulling rank on me?" He demanded, turning to Gaurnere with an astounded look on his face. "Excuse my language mam, but are you fucking pulling rank on me Bill?"

Gaurnere bit tounge and hen showed it to George. "I just did, didn't I private?" He emphasized the last word, putting a considerable strain on George's lower rank.

"Screw you Bill." George yelled as he balled his hand into a fist and punch Gaurnere in the jaw.

"Goddammit Luz, I'll kill you, I'll tear you legs off!" Bill shouted, as he charged towards George.

"Stop it! Stop it!" Adele screamed as she saw Bill deliver a crushing blow to George's left cheek.

When the two ignored her, she screamed again. "Eugene! Eugene!"

Hearing her, Eugene came running from around the corner. "Adele! Are you alright?" He asked worriedly.

She looked up at him in astonishment; did he not see the scene before him?

"I'm fine!" She yelled, pointing a finger to the adjacent hospital bed where Bill Gaurnere had George Luz pinned, "But soon enough one of them won't be!"

Eugene rushed over to the fighting men, and took his right arm and socked Bill in the gut, while he pushed George off the bed in an attempt to separate the two.

"What the hell Gene?" Bill growled, his tawny Italian skin dripping with perspiration. "I almost had him out."

George lay on the floor, a dazed look in his eyes. "God Bill." He breathed, holding his head. "You're such a goddamn prick."

Eugene bit his lip, and thrust his hand at Bill to keep him away from George.

"Stop it." Eugene demanded, as Bill lowered his fists. "Stop it both of you."

George looked up at Eugene in amazement. "You're a good guy Roe, so it's gonna shock you when I tell you what Wild Bill here just did."

Bill spat on the floor, and crossed his arms, daring George to continue.

"He pulled rank on me!" George proclaimed, holding his hands up in shock. "Would you believe it?"

Bill scoffed, "He's flirting like he ain't got no shame, Eugene. You don't want him distracting your patients."

"Oh liar!" George announced sarcastically. "But isn't it just typical of Italians." He added haughtily.

"Tell him to lay off Eugene." Bill muttered, trying to ignore the other man.

"Tell me yourself dammit!" George exclaimed.

Bill grinned sinfully as he motioned towards George's black eye "Already did."

Eugene slammed his fist down against the wall. "That's it. Get out of my goddamn hospital."

Bill stared up at Eugene, startled. "Your goddamn hospital?" He questioned. "This is your place?"

Eugene rolled his eyes, "Yeah, it's mine. Real great enterprise."

George laughed from the floor. "It's nice, you've got the girls."

Eugene ignored him. "Out! You're disturbing everyone."

Bill smiled. "When are you getting back to the line?"

Eugene shrugged, and his eyes stared wistfully out the door. "Whenever the hell I can."

George got up off the floor, and went back over to Adele's bed. "So I'm sure you can see who actually knows hand to
hand combat- the private."

He winked and she smiled, rolling her eyes. "You are a handful aren't you?" She asked as he sat back down beside her.

He cast his eyes provocatively downward. "Some women say that I am."

Adele snorted, and picked up her magazine, as George was left to gape at her. "You don't believe me?" He asked in wonder.

She shook her head, and turned the magazine's glossy page, "I'd need to see it to believe it private."

He grinned, and tugged at his belt, "Hold your horses dollface!" He exclaimed. "I know I'm irresistible, but you'll have to wait until you get out of this place. Can't show it off to everyone you know."

Bill Gaurnere tugged on George's shirt collar. "Come on Luz, we gotta get out of here."

"Until soon." George conceded, as he flashed Adele a quirky grin.

George walked out the door, and Bill approached Adele. He put his rough lips to her ear and Adele could smell the soft
scent of smoke on his warm breath.

"Give ol' Bill a call if you ever need anything, or want some wholesome company from South Philly."

She blushed, and turned her head downward as he slipped a small piece of paper into her hand.

"Nice to meet you Sergeant Gaurnere." She whispered, unfurling the paper.

He tipped his hat to her, before lighting a cigarette and heading out the door.

Minutes after he had left, Adele went back to sleep.