Author's Note: The third last chapter :D Whoot, enjoy this part, and as a side note, the next chapter will be posted tomorrow, because I did promise myself that I would finish and post this fanfic by the end of the year :)
William Creswell Naval Academy – Chapter 14
"My legs and arm are still hurting from that final challenge," Kate groaned, cringing as she crossed her legs and lifted her right arm to lie across her stomach.
It had been almost five days since the final challenge incident, and now the group from WCNA had moved up north to Melbourne, where they were now housing themselves at TS Voyager's Williamstown unit. It was an all too familiar sight for Kate, who had gasped when she saw how little the unit had changed.
"I can hardly blame you Kate. Three hours at attention, saluting by numbers? Not the best idea in the world."
"It wasn't my fault."
"I know. But still, you did it."
"I know," she huffed.
There was a knock on the door, prompting Kate to call out, "Come in!"
The sound of squeaking door hinges momentarily broke the chatter in the female mess, and a male voice boomed across the silence.
"Male on deck!"
Kate closed her eyes in slight anger. Standing up with a groan, she gave Nikki a brief smile before walking to the open door. Crossing her arms, she leaned back against the wall.
"What do you want Mike?"
"I just wanted to talk."
"We're talking."
"You are such a smartarse," he smirked.
"Har, har."
"Bench?" He gestured towards the wooden bench, situated beneath the portal window and on the corner of drill hall. It was a bench Kate had sat on often when she was in cadets...
"Sure."
"Still sore?" Mike asked once they had sat down.
"As if the final challenge was yesterday," she stated, sighing in relief as her muscles relaxed. "Although, they are a tad better than what they were yesterday."
Mike chucked. "I suppose it is better than the final challenge being yesterday."
"Is this all you wanted to talk about?"
"Not really..."
"Please don't bring up five years ago again..."
"I have fond memories of five years ago; you can hardly blame me for wanting to bring them up," he replied, smiling gently.
"You can't always dwell on the past," Kate said bluntly, "because it's not going to help you in the present or the future."
---
Melbourne Central, Bourke Street mall, Meyer... Man, Nikki loved Melbourne! The shopping was fantastic, the food to die for, but the best part of all? Definitely the little story it was setting to...
"I love Melbourne!" Nikki cried, stretching out in her chair without so much as a backwards glance. Hence, that's how Kate received a slightly punch to the stomach.
"Oof, Nik!"
"Oh crap." She sat up instantly, looking at her friend sheepishly. "Sorry Kate!"
"Sure you are," she breathed, sitting in the chair opposite. "Ow."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm breathing aren't I?"
Nikki laughed, reaching out to grab her water. Taking a rather large sip, she waved as Josh, Pete, Chris and Mike made their way towards them. Kate smiled briefly as they all pulled up a chair.
"Ladies," greeted Pete. "What have you two been up to?"
"Shopping," Nikki answered.
Kate snorted. "And eating."
"What?" Nikki raised an eyebrow. "I like food."
"Clearly."
"Pfft. Anyway, what do you four get up to? Girl scouting?"
"Not really," Josh replied, "'Cept Chris here; found a girl named Sally. Got her phone number didn't you?" He looked over at the grinning male.
"She's moving up to Cairns next year," he stated.
"So?"
"We're planning on meeting up when she moves."
"Ah huh."
"You're going to marry her then?" Pete asked, smirking.
Chris grinned boyishly. "You never know. She's definitely a character... And everything I want in girl... Beautiful, smart, funny..."
"She's definitely a keeper."
There was a round of laughter from the other boys, but Chris could only smile. Kate and Nikki both rolled their eyes, shaking their heads before standing up. Reaching down to pick up their shopping bags, Nikki announced that they were going to continue blowing their spending budget.
Kate waved them all a goodbye, before walking after Nikki as she exited the food court. Thinking back to the brief, yet amusing conversation she had just listened to, she realised that Mike – the overly talkative, fitness nut, hadn't spoken a single word the entire sitting.
"Mike was quiet today," Nikki said suddenly, as if reading her thoughts.
"Really? I didn't notice." Playing dumb was definitely her forte.
"Pfft, as if Kate. I saw the way you were looking at him when he didn't say anything," she continued, looking into a shop window and gasping at its contents.
"What?" Kate looked up to see what had Nikki gasping. In the window was a gorgeous, pink chiffon dress with delicate, yet simplistic gold detail around the front. She couldn't help but cringe just a little. Pink definitely wasn't her favourite colour...
"I want that dress." She leaned closer towards the window, eyes wide in awe.
"You have no reason to buy it though," Kate pointed out.
"The formal's coming up soon. I could buy it for that." She was heading toward the store's entrance, still in a trance.
"Nikki, it's probably more than three hundred dollars!" Kate cried, moving forward to follow the brunette into the store.
"Hi there, how can I help you today?" greeted one of the sales clerks. She was wearing a neat floral number that flattered her slim figure and drew attention to her petite waist. A store creation no doubt, Kate thought.
Nikki spoke up before Kate could knock any more sense into her, "The pink dress in the window – how much is it?"
"Four hundred dollars." The sales clerk looked at Nikki, as if judging how skinny she was. "Did you want to try it on?"
Nikki grinned, shoving her bags into Kate's hands. "Yes please."
Kate sighed, sitting down on the couch provided in front of the change room Nikki disappeared into. Fiddling with her skirt, she hummed a familiar tune.
"Were you looking for a dress too?" The sales clerk was standing beside Kate, looking at her expectantly. She had the feeling that the woman was eager to serve; too bad that she didn't really need a dress...
"Um..." She looked around at the dresses, finally spotting cream against the pink, purple and green. Going over to it, she fingered the soft material. "What sizes does this dress come in?"
The sales clerk smiled, joining her at the rack. "Don't worry, it'll fit you. Would you like to try it on?"
"Uh." She looked back at the change room that Nikki still occupied. It'd be hypocritical if she decided to buy the dress for no particular occasion other than having a pretty dress in her wardrobe. Turning back to the sales clerk, she smiled. "Sure, why not?"
---
The following day, the temperature soared to thirty-five degrees, surprising all the current occupants at TS Voyager. Deciding that it was too damn hot to do anything better, Admiral Flynn proposed that the group venture down to Williamstown Beach.
Thus, that is how Kate found herself lying atop her towel, beneath a beach umbrella at three thirty in the afternoon. Squinting against the glare on the sand, she could see Nikki seemingly not canoodling with Josh. Smiling, she returned her gaze back to her book.
"Pride and Prejudice eh?"
"You know it's my favourite," she answered, not looking up.
"Yeah, I know." Mike sat at the bottom of her towel, within inches of her crossed feet. If he just–
"Don't even think about it."
He grinned, shaking his head. "Whatever you say Kate."
"Aren't you going to swim?"
"Not at this point in time, no. Aren't you?"
"I thought I'd keep you company."
"I'm preoccupied; and quite frankly, this book will always be much more interesting than anything you can do."
He raised an eyebrow. Shifting slightly, his hands moved to catch her right foot. She jerked at his touch. Raising her eyes to meet his gaze, she sent him a threatening look. Smirking, he slid a finger over the base of her captured foot softly, earning another jerk.
"Miiikkkkeee! Stop! It!" She giggled, her book being left aside as she kicked against Mike's hold. "Plleeaassseee!"
"Do you still think your book is more interesting?" He continued tickling her foot, grinning as she protested.
"Yeess! Yes, okay! You're more interesting!"
He stopped almost immediately, but still held Kate's foot in his grasp. Smiling, he brushed a hand over her leg, leaving a tingling sensation running through Kate's body. Feeling her breath hitch, she fumbled over her next words.
"Mike... what– you doi–?"
"Shh." He moved closer, pressing a finger to her lips. Her eyes fluttered closed at the touch. Mike took the gesture as a cue to lean in closer. Brushing his lips against her cheek, he moved to hover above her lips.
Kate opened her eyes, Mike's blue gaze greeting her. Breathing in his scent, she felt her breaths shorten further. Mike smirked, finally closing the gap and pressing his lips to hers as Kate's eyes slipped shut.