Chapter 10: The Time of My Life
"What do you mean she's locked herself in?!" Belfast yelled, furious with the news that Cleveland had just told her.
"It's the truth. Ever since a few days ago all she's done is lock her dorm door and stays away from any window. I'm not really sure what happened."
"And somehow you can't get in?!"
"Well, the paperwork is too much of a pain for me to work with. Plus you're the only one with a key to her room readily available."
"That doesn't mean you get to be lazy about it! How do you know she's even still alive!?"
"Calm down please. Hornet used a few Hellcats to look through her window alright. She's just locked in the room, but we know that she should be alive."
"Should doesn't mean is, genius." Belfast hurriedly ran off in the direction of Enterprise's dorm, not wanting to wait any longer.
Running through the hallways, she nearly ran over a sleepwalking Laffey, almost got hit by one of Bogue's annoying ball games, before finally entering the Eagle Union Carrier hallway. Slowing her pacing down, she walked past each group. Passing Langley, Lexington, and finally Yorktown. A bit farther down was the Essex group, but Belfast found them off-putting compared to the rest of the carriers.
Belfast tried opening the door, to no avail. Reaching down into her front pocket, she pulled out a gold encrusted key. A large number 6 was on the back, and it felt somewhat heavy in her hand. Slotting it into the keyhole, Belfast slowly turned the key, unlocking Enterprise's room.
Enterprise was slumped over her bed, covered in a thick layer of sweat. A dark grey mark in a somewhat oval shape was indented into the bedsheet. Half her desk was covered in wrappers, mostly energy bars with a few army rations mixed in.
Belfast leaned down, picking up Enterprise's heavy body and helped her into the bed. Reaching down, Belfast put her ear against Enterprise's chest, finding a faint heartbeat. Pulling out a metal rod from one pocket, and a cowbell from a hidden pocket, Belfast knocked them together, causing Enterprise to jolt up in her bed. Enterprise looked around shockingly, surprised to be suddenly awakened as well as seeing Belfast.
"Why are you here?" Enterprise asked as she stood up, walking towards her wardrobe.
"Why did you lock your room?" Belfast responded, a frustrated tone in her voice.
"So that you wouldn't have to worry about me. But that clearly hasn't worked has it?"
Enterprise put her overcoat on, reaching for a hat on her top shelf.
"Am I not allowed to worry about you?"
"Well, you're stuck worrying about a ghost, haunted by a past she didn't have a part in making." Enterprise reached onto the rack, pulling down a tie.
"Just because you're dealing with issues doesn't mean I can't help with it."
"I'm only dragging you farther down. I enjoy you being around me, but I'm just a paperweight on your life now."
"I'm not going to listen to you deprecate yourself, so stop that right now!"
"What are you going to do about it then? Shoot me or something?" Enterprise walked towards the window, looking out on the clouds rolling in.
Belfast walked up behind her, setting a hand down on Enterprise's shoulder. Pulling back on that same hand, she twisted Enterprise around. Pulling on Enterprise's tie with her spare hand, Belfast brought their lips together, Enterprise's eyes widened before slowly letting into the kiss. Belfast let off, staring into Enterprise's now calm eyes.
"I love you. No matter how much you suffer or weigh me down. You are that person who helps others simply because it should or must be done, and because it's the right thing to do. That's why I love you Enterprise."
End of Chapter 10