George Luz was the most fun, period. He and Julia had gelled from the very beginning. He had made her laugh as soon as he walked into her office at Toccoa for processing. He had attempted to flirt with her, and she had shut his clumsy attempts right down, which made room for a strong friendship to grow. They went out with their friends every chance they - or rather he- got. George and Julia went back and forth buying each other drinks, setting each other up with (mostly bad) dates, and making each other laugh. They weren't inseparable; they spent a good deal of time on their nights out hanging out with other people. Julia and her girlfriends would play cards with Frank Perconte and Joe Toye and any other soldier who wanted in. George had an affinity for gambling and was constantly asking Julia to spot him, which she always did with an appropriate amount of grumbling. Despite their separate activities, the nights usually ended together sat up in a bar booth with a few other friends. They would sit in the dissipating excitement of the night with their limbs drunkenly slung around and on top of each other jovially recounting the events of the evening.

Their favorite thing to do on a night out was with each other, and it was dancing. George and Julia were natural dance partners. George would spin Julia around the dance floor with confidence and on instinct, Julia would know exactly where George's hand would be.

It was at a dance hall that they first teased the idea of being something more than friends.

Glenn Miller came on and the couple smoothly transitioned into a slow waltz; Julia matching George's step without hesitation. The buttery voice of the singer crooned over the bursts of trumpet and saxophone. Julia let her cheek rest on George's chest like she had dozens of times before. But something about tonight, something about having attained the perfect blood alcohol level, stirred something in him. He gave her a little spin.

"What would you do if I kissed your right now?" He asked her.

She looked startled but quickly bounced back, "You better not mean anything by it, I'm not falling in love with some soldier right before he leaves."

"Aw you think could fall in love with me?"

She rolled her eyes like she always did. But then her gaze dropped to his mouth, granting him permission to lean in, which he did.

It was an odd sensation for both of them, kissing their friend. George had always found her attractive, that's why he hit on her first time he met her, but kissing her now felt like he was breaking some rule he didn't want to break. She must have felt the same way because the kiss was over quick. They pulled away and just looked at each other. After an awkward moment of silent eye contact they both broke out laughing.

"Nope," George said and Julia shook her head vigorously. They laughed as George wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her in closer for the beginning of the next dance.

That Monday, George came up to Julia's desk. This wasn't unusual, he always found ways to kill time at her desk to get a break from the heat and or enjoy a piece of candy.

On this occasion George fished a hard caramel out of the dish on Julia's desk.

"So," George popped the candy in his mouth, "I have this idea."

"Oh no," Julia barely looked up from her work. Luz leaned against the desk.

"What if we had sex?" He asked nonchalantly.

"George Luz!" Julia hissed. Now she was paying attention, she was looking around the office to make sure no one had heard him. The officers around her desk seemed to have not heard him.

"What? I was thinking something casual, just fun."

Julia tried to keep her composure but her face was quickly turning red.

"You don't wanna have sex with me?" George continued in his brazen way.

"George, I swear to god," Julia stacked some papers loudly, "if you don't shut up. I'm at work!" She walked over to a nearby table and deposited the stack in a basket.

"It's not like you're a virgin."

"Shh!"

"Okay, okay," George held up his hands in surrender, "I don't hear you saying no though."

Julia sucked at her teeth. It was true she was considering it. Contrary to popular belief, women also enjoyed and craved sex. It had been a while since she had been satisfied. She crossed her arms, taking a moment to survey her friend. He was cute, and she wouldn't deny she found him very charming. Her mouth twisted in thought, "it was weird the other night though, right?"

"Yeah, a bit," George shrugged, "but that's exactly why I think this may work. We're clearly just good friends. And you're fine enough to fuck."

"Gee thanks, George."

"That sounded wrong, but what I mean is I think you're attractive to have sex with."

"Yeah yeah," Julia held up her palm, "I get it thanks. Don't need to say the same thing just in more words."

"Think about it," George winked at her as he backed out of the office back into the Georgia heat.

"I will," Julia promised.

"We need some ground rules," George said as he and Julia strolled around the base later that afternoon. The sun sat low in the sky, bathing the Georgian hills in a golden light. George was bouncing a ball of rubber as they walked. Each time it hit the ground it shot gravel in all directions, dusting Julia's shoes in a fine layer of sediment.

"Okay, rule one, no oral."

George's face immediately dropped into a pout, "aw come on!"

"No! It's far too intimate, I want to save something for my husband. Okay, now you go, make a rule."

"Rule number two, oral," George said.

"George!" He grinned mischievously and she smacked him lightly on the shoulder.

"Hey, ya never know, if you give good head maybe I'll marry ya. Then it'll be for your husband!"

"You wish."

"Okay, okay, rule number two, no one else finds out."

Julia nodded in agreement. "I just think it'll be easier," George explained anyway, "not that anyone needs to know our business anyways, it'll just be better not to have to explain us to anyone."

"I agree, we know what we are and that's all that matters," Julia said.

"Exactly."

"Okay, hmm rule three, no sleep overs?" Julia looked to George for affirmation.

"Another good idea," George agreed, "everything should stay completely normal aside from, ya know, the act."

"The act?"

"Well what else do you want me to call it? The fucking?"

Julia grimaced, "alright, ya, okay everything basically stays the same so no sleepovers."

"Rule four," George said, "no sex while fighting."

"What?"

"Ya know, if we're arguing, we can't fix it by having makeup sex."

"That's oddly specific.."

"You'll win every time! You'll have too much power of me!" George shrugged, "also, I want to make sure we work it out like we usually do, as friends."

"Okay fair, I can actually see your logic there."

"Rule five, uh.." George trailed off, "sleeping with other people?"

"Um, I'm okay with it as long as it's safe. Rule five, no bringing anything back."

"Agreed," George stuck out his hand and Julia shook it.

"So when do we start?" Julia asked.

"Good question," George threw his ball against the ground, "I forgot to think about the logistics. Neither of us have private quarters."

Julia giggled at their mutual oversight, "well shit, how did we forget to think about that."

"You only share with one person so you're in charge of organising our rendezvous."

"What? That's not fair!"

"Totally is," Luz said, his ball scattering rocks, "you'll be more in the know. Plus Abigail has a fella, I bet she's gone all the time. Just give me a ring or let me know when she won't be in and I'll pop on by." He was talking out of his ass now.

"Would you stopped that?" Julia swiped his rubber ball out of the air, "you're getting my shoes dirty."

Luz held up his hands innocently. "Also," Julia added, "Abigail is not out all the time."

"Okay but she's out more than all fifty of the guys I share a room with! Can I have my ball back please?"

Julia handed him back his ball. "Thank you. Please Julia?"

"Fine, I'll let you know when Abigail's out but I don't want to be in charge! I definitely don't want to be in charge of your lousy ass."

George planted a big kiss on her cheek, "this is gonna be fun."