I woke up the next morning with a smirk on my face. How could I not be amused at the events of the previous night? Danny coming over and humiliating himself was just hilarious. Granted, it got me a few looks from my housemates. But it was beyond worth it.
I walked into the hospital with surprisingly, no fuss. Just all look. Apparently, Betty and Barbara had seen me at the coffee shop with Danny; and between that and Sandra catching the episode last night, I'm pretty sure they had a few wrong ideas. "Have fun last night?" I looked at Barbara and opened the cabinet to get something out. "It wasn't how it looked." Sandra sighed. "And even if it was, it'd be ok," I gave her a look to kill. "It's been months, Evelyn. It's time to start moving on." I put the supply list back in the cabinet. "I am moving on." Betty finally uttered a noise. "Yeah, and then I hear you crying when you think I'm asleep." Ouch. That one hurt. "Betty, I--" "Evelyn, Rafe sent his best friend to tell you so that you'd be ok. It's ok, Ev," I sighed and turned my back on them, looking out the window. "When my dad died, my mom sent me to live with my aunt. I thought my life was over," I looked at her. I hadn't heard this story. All I knew was that she was underage. "But if I hadn't have run away and joined the army, I wouldn't have met Red. And now he's my fiance!" I smiled and walked over to her, giving her a hug. "Oh, Betty. That's great!" Barbara sighed in disgust. "Can you believe it? Little Betty beat us all to the post." We heard the new recruits talking in the doorway, and turned to look at them. Barbara and Sandra wanted to torture them for some reason, so they stood up and ran out of the room. I turned my attention back to Betty. She seemed to know what I was asking, because she didn't hesitate to start talking. "We're gonna wait 2 years until I'm 19 and Red can buy me a ring," I smiled and hugged her again, only to be pushed back by her sudden shriek. "Red!!" She jumped up and ran to the red headed man who walked in with a bouqet of flowers. I smiled at her happiness, but I also felt a pang of jealousy. I wanted so much to be able to run to someone and hug them like she was. I really wanted to say Rafe, but I was seriously considering what the girls were saying. It was time to move on. He wasn't coming back, and I had to find someone else. Unless, ofcourse, I WANTED to live my life alone; to live in a longing dream on a day to day basis. And to be quite honest with you, I didn't. So I went home and got out every letter Rafe had written me. The folded bird, included, and stuffed them inside my diary. Closing it, I took it from it's spot on my nightstand and hid it under my clothes in a drawer. Taking one last look and a reassuring breath that this was what I wanted, I closed the drawer. "Bye, Rafe."
I approached the air base with every step of confidence I had. The nurses were right. I did need to move on, and so I was going to. Going to try, anyway. I had been thinking about Danny. I felt sort of a connection with him, mainly because he was as close to Rafe as I was and understood my pain. But on top of that, he was sweet and funny, and he struck my fancy. As I got closer to the plane where he was test shooting, I ran it over in my head again. I wanted to see him, but ofcourse, he wouldn't need to know that. I'd use the prude excuse that no one needed to get the impression that there was something going on with us. And I'd say it as sultry as I possibly could. And if I could help it, I'd have him asking me out before this conversation would be over. Ok, good plan. Here goes. I walked up to the plane, and he came and sat down on the wing. Everyone he was working with seemed to tense up and scatter away. I was grinning inside. Perfect. "You know, does it seem that everyone has been acting a little strange?" He nodded shyly. Apparently, he couldn't think of anything to say. Then one of his friends came back to the plane, picking up a wrench. "Sorry. Forgot my wrenches," He said to Danny. Danny gave him a look, and he walked past me, tipping his hat. "Hi. I forgot my wrenches." I smiled quickly and turned back to Danny. "You know, he doesn't have to leave." Danny just stared at the boy as he walked away. "Oh, no. He doesn't, does he?" I leaned in a little closer, putting on the sultry act. "You know, it seems that people might be thinking there's something going on between us. They don't need to think that." Danny shook his head in that 'oh, no. that's ridiculous' type of way. "Oh, no. It'd be embarrassing. It'd just be, completely embarrassing." Yes. He was acting shy. I nodded and started to walk away, slowly. "Well, I was just going to say that. I'm just going out with the girls, now. Talk to you later." He nodded slowly. Lordy, he was quiet today. I walked a little slower. And slower. He needed to hurry, I was almost out of earshot. "Evelyn!" I grinned to myself and turned around, the grin hidden. "What?" "Have you ever seen Pearl Harbor at sunset?" I gave him a weird look. "Ofcourse." He laughed. "From the air?" I gave him a smile. "No, Danny Walker. I haven't." He looked down, then back at me. "Mind if I change that?" I smiled again. "Not at all." "Then you'll meet me here at sunset?" I nodded. "Ok." He smiled. "Great." I gave a quick smile and wave and turned around. It had worked. I was expecting something like dinner, but a flight at sunset was fine. I could see alot more, and probably share a better moment with him. I liked him alot. I can't say I loved him yet, but at that point it was certain that I did like him an awful lot. I was going to make that night special. I would try to live that night. Forget try to, I was going to live.
I was at the air base at sunset, as promised. Well, maybe before. I wanted some time to think to myself before Danny showed up. Was it right to be seeing someone this soon after my mourning period? And Rafe's best friend, at that. I wasn't sure. But what did I care? I needed to get out and have fun, and Danny was the right person to do that with. He was the only guy in the entire Harbor that I even remotely liked like *that*. "Hey, Evelyn!" I turned around to face Danny. "Hey." He motioned toward the plane. "You ready?" I nodded. "Yes, sir." He nodded and climbed into the cockpit, offering me his hand before he sat down. I accepted. His hands were soft. Like what, I don't know. But they weren't rough at all. I liked soft hands. I sat down in his lap, because the cockpit was obviously a one seater. He settled the both of us, and strapped us in. Giving me one last look, he started the plane and started it down the runway. A smile was already growing on my face. "You know, I could get kicked out of the military for this." I gave him a shocked look. "Really?" He laughed and put his jacket over my head. "Yeah, stay down." I ducked down enough so that I couldn't be seen, but not too much to where I couldn't see. Once we got up above the clouds, he started explaining something about why they called Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor. I was breathless. "It's beautiful." Was all I could say. And it was. It had to be the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. The way the sun shined on the water, and the way it looked in the clouds. I felt like I could stick my hand out and reach the sky. I felt that powerful. Not in an arrogant way, but in a free way. Like I was releasing alot of my past. I felt like a new person. I looked at Danny to find him staring at me. I was astonished that he didn't turn away when I caught him staring, but I didn't mind. "My dad took me up a couple of times," I said. "Just don't do that thing he did." Danny looked at me strangely. "What thing?" "What is it? Where you flip over." "Oh. A Barrell Roll?" I nodded. "I won't." Had I caught the look on his face, I maybe could've stopped him. But, no. We went upside down. I screamed, but only because it startled me. He laughed. "How was that?" I caught my breath. "I liked it." I said, nodding. He laughed again. I laughed with him, but didn't say anything else. We stayed in the air for about another hour, until it was completely dark. It was silent, but a good silence. A silence of realization. I realized alot of things in that time. And among them, was the realization that I think I love Danny. Maybe it was just out of me needing company, but, maybe it was out of the fact that I really did love him. Whatever it was out of, I loved him that night. And the night after that. And the night after that. I would come to love him my whole life, but it would never be as much as I loved Rafe; nor would it be for the same reasons. "I'm sorry, but the plane is due back in.." He looked at his watch. "Shit! It was due back an hour ago." I laughed as he pulled us back to the ground. "I guess we lost track of time, huh?" He laughed and nodded. "Yeah." "Danny?" "Yeah?" I looked at him. "Can we do this again?" He pulled the plane to a stop. "Anytime you want." Before I could respond, we immediately got yelled at. Danny practically pushed me out of the plane. "THAT PLANE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BACK AN HOUR AGO!" "Quick! In the parachute anchor!" I did as I was told and ran into the parachutes. Just meaning to be a tease, I kept twirling in them. But he caught up with me. I smiled at him, and he smiled back. And then, we both leaned in for a kiss. It was the first time I had kissed him, and I think it was the most powerful one. I laid myself down on the parachute covered floor, and he came with me, kissing me some more. "My heart is pounding." He whispered. I put my hand on his chest, and I could feel it. Mine was too, but that was added to the list of numerous things that he didn't have to know. Gripping his dog tags, I pulled him down for another kiss. With the passion that came from that kiss, I made my decision. Maybe it was stupidity in some people's eyes; in mine, it wasn't. Not even later would I consider it a move of stupidity. How could I?
I walked into the hospital with surprisingly, no fuss. Just all look. Apparently, Betty and Barbara had seen me at the coffee shop with Danny; and between that and Sandra catching the episode last night, I'm pretty sure they had a few wrong ideas. "Have fun last night?" I looked at Barbara and opened the cabinet to get something out. "It wasn't how it looked." Sandra sighed. "And even if it was, it'd be ok," I gave her a look to kill. "It's been months, Evelyn. It's time to start moving on." I put the supply list back in the cabinet. "I am moving on." Betty finally uttered a noise. "Yeah, and then I hear you crying when you think I'm asleep." Ouch. That one hurt. "Betty, I--" "Evelyn, Rafe sent his best friend to tell you so that you'd be ok. It's ok, Ev," I sighed and turned my back on them, looking out the window. "When my dad died, my mom sent me to live with my aunt. I thought my life was over," I looked at her. I hadn't heard this story. All I knew was that she was underage. "But if I hadn't have run away and joined the army, I wouldn't have met Red. And now he's my fiance!" I smiled and walked over to her, giving her a hug. "Oh, Betty. That's great!" Barbara sighed in disgust. "Can you believe it? Little Betty beat us all to the post." We heard the new recruits talking in the doorway, and turned to look at them. Barbara and Sandra wanted to torture them for some reason, so they stood up and ran out of the room. I turned my attention back to Betty. She seemed to know what I was asking, because she didn't hesitate to start talking. "We're gonna wait 2 years until I'm 19 and Red can buy me a ring," I smiled and hugged her again, only to be pushed back by her sudden shriek. "Red!!" She jumped up and ran to the red headed man who walked in with a bouqet of flowers. I smiled at her happiness, but I also felt a pang of jealousy. I wanted so much to be able to run to someone and hug them like she was. I really wanted to say Rafe, but I was seriously considering what the girls were saying. It was time to move on. He wasn't coming back, and I had to find someone else. Unless, ofcourse, I WANTED to live my life alone; to live in a longing dream on a day to day basis. And to be quite honest with you, I didn't. So I went home and got out every letter Rafe had written me. The folded bird, included, and stuffed them inside my diary. Closing it, I took it from it's spot on my nightstand and hid it under my clothes in a drawer. Taking one last look and a reassuring breath that this was what I wanted, I closed the drawer. "Bye, Rafe."
I approached the air base with every step of confidence I had. The nurses were right. I did need to move on, and so I was going to. Going to try, anyway. I had been thinking about Danny. I felt sort of a connection with him, mainly because he was as close to Rafe as I was and understood my pain. But on top of that, he was sweet and funny, and he struck my fancy. As I got closer to the plane where he was test shooting, I ran it over in my head again. I wanted to see him, but ofcourse, he wouldn't need to know that. I'd use the prude excuse that no one needed to get the impression that there was something going on with us. And I'd say it as sultry as I possibly could. And if I could help it, I'd have him asking me out before this conversation would be over. Ok, good plan. Here goes. I walked up to the plane, and he came and sat down on the wing. Everyone he was working with seemed to tense up and scatter away. I was grinning inside. Perfect. "You know, does it seem that everyone has been acting a little strange?" He nodded shyly. Apparently, he couldn't think of anything to say. Then one of his friends came back to the plane, picking up a wrench. "Sorry. Forgot my wrenches," He said to Danny. Danny gave him a look, and he walked past me, tipping his hat. "Hi. I forgot my wrenches." I smiled quickly and turned back to Danny. "You know, he doesn't have to leave." Danny just stared at the boy as he walked away. "Oh, no. He doesn't, does he?" I leaned in a little closer, putting on the sultry act. "You know, it seems that people might be thinking there's something going on between us. They don't need to think that." Danny shook his head in that 'oh, no. that's ridiculous' type of way. "Oh, no. It'd be embarrassing. It'd just be, completely embarrassing." Yes. He was acting shy. I nodded and started to walk away, slowly. "Well, I was just going to say that. I'm just going out with the girls, now. Talk to you later." He nodded slowly. Lordy, he was quiet today. I walked a little slower. And slower. He needed to hurry, I was almost out of earshot. "Evelyn!" I grinned to myself and turned around, the grin hidden. "What?" "Have you ever seen Pearl Harbor at sunset?" I gave him a weird look. "Ofcourse." He laughed. "From the air?" I gave him a smile. "No, Danny Walker. I haven't." He looked down, then back at me. "Mind if I change that?" I smiled again. "Not at all." "Then you'll meet me here at sunset?" I nodded. "Ok." He smiled. "Great." I gave a quick smile and wave and turned around. It had worked. I was expecting something like dinner, but a flight at sunset was fine. I could see alot more, and probably share a better moment with him. I liked him alot. I can't say I loved him yet, but at that point it was certain that I did like him an awful lot. I was going to make that night special. I would try to live that night. Forget try to, I was going to live.
I was at the air base at sunset, as promised. Well, maybe before. I wanted some time to think to myself before Danny showed up. Was it right to be seeing someone this soon after my mourning period? And Rafe's best friend, at that. I wasn't sure. But what did I care? I needed to get out and have fun, and Danny was the right person to do that with. He was the only guy in the entire Harbor that I even remotely liked like *that*. "Hey, Evelyn!" I turned around to face Danny. "Hey." He motioned toward the plane. "You ready?" I nodded. "Yes, sir." He nodded and climbed into the cockpit, offering me his hand before he sat down. I accepted. His hands were soft. Like what, I don't know. But they weren't rough at all. I liked soft hands. I sat down in his lap, because the cockpit was obviously a one seater. He settled the both of us, and strapped us in. Giving me one last look, he started the plane and started it down the runway. A smile was already growing on my face. "You know, I could get kicked out of the military for this." I gave him a shocked look. "Really?" He laughed and put his jacket over my head. "Yeah, stay down." I ducked down enough so that I couldn't be seen, but not too much to where I couldn't see. Once we got up above the clouds, he started explaining something about why they called Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor. I was breathless. "It's beautiful." Was all I could say. And it was. It had to be the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. The way the sun shined on the water, and the way it looked in the clouds. I felt like I could stick my hand out and reach the sky. I felt that powerful. Not in an arrogant way, but in a free way. Like I was releasing alot of my past. I felt like a new person. I looked at Danny to find him staring at me. I was astonished that he didn't turn away when I caught him staring, but I didn't mind. "My dad took me up a couple of times," I said. "Just don't do that thing he did." Danny looked at me strangely. "What thing?" "What is it? Where you flip over." "Oh. A Barrell Roll?" I nodded. "I won't." Had I caught the look on his face, I maybe could've stopped him. But, no. We went upside down. I screamed, but only because it startled me. He laughed. "How was that?" I caught my breath. "I liked it." I said, nodding. He laughed again. I laughed with him, but didn't say anything else. We stayed in the air for about another hour, until it was completely dark. It was silent, but a good silence. A silence of realization. I realized alot of things in that time. And among them, was the realization that I think I love Danny. Maybe it was just out of me needing company, but, maybe it was out of the fact that I really did love him. Whatever it was out of, I loved him that night. And the night after that. And the night after that. I would come to love him my whole life, but it would never be as much as I loved Rafe; nor would it be for the same reasons. "I'm sorry, but the plane is due back in.." He looked at his watch. "Shit! It was due back an hour ago." I laughed as he pulled us back to the ground. "I guess we lost track of time, huh?" He laughed and nodded. "Yeah." "Danny?" "Yeah?" I looked at him. "Can we do this again?" He pulled the plane to a stop. "Anytime you want." Before I could respond, we immediately got yelled at. Danny practically pushed me out of the plane. "THAT PLANE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BACK AN HOUR AGO!" "Quick! In the parachute anchor!" I did as I was told and ran into the parachutes. Just meaning to be a tease, I kept twirling in them. But he caught up with me. I smiled at him, and he smiled back. And then, we both leaned in for a kiss. It was the first time I had kissed him, and I think it was the most powerful one. I laid myself down on the parachute covered floor, and he came with me, kissing me some more. "My heart is pounding." He whispered. I put my hand on his chest, and I could feel it. Mine was too, but that was added to the list of numerous things that he didn't have to know. Gripping his dog tags, I pulled him down for another kiss. With the passion that came from that kiss, I made my decision. Maybe it was stupidity in some people's eyes; in mine, it wasn't. Not even later would I consider it a move of stupidity. How could I?
