The Wings of Love
Chapter II
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The room was packed, couples dancing and others just laughing or discreetly kissing in corners. Most of the men there were in uniforms, and from the look of things, they had all intention of using their permissions to the fullest. Finding Company in this little French town was rarely a problem, as most girls sought to be with whom they considered heroes.
Two such men had found out about it, as they were sitting with two very beautiful girls in a corner, laughing and drinking in a carefree manner.
"Hey, Helene and me will go to powder our noses," one of the girls announced with a very heavy French accent. She smiled brightly toward the man in a pilot's uniform, and this one pulled her to him, kissing her enthusiastically.
"Don't be too long," he said then with a suggestive smile…"
""C'est promis," (I promise)," was the girl's answer, accompanied by a falsely embarrassed laughter.
His companion only smiled to Helene, as she turned away to follow her friend. He was obviously shyer than the pilot was, and his uniform was different. As Cole always told him, he was a rampant…
"Loosen up Leo, we're here to have some fun!"
"I thought that I was doing just that?"
Cole turned a teasing smile at his companion:
"Didn't I tell you that we would find you someone tonight? These French girls are a delight…"
"Well, yes, but I got the distinct impression that they think I am second best…What is it with girls and airplanes anyway?"
"I'm guessing that they would prefer to take a ride in one, rather than lying on your operating table…"
"Ha, ha," was Leo' sarcastic answer.
"Cheer up," Cole uttered joyously, ignoring the sarcasm, "they may want a pilot for some fun, but in the end, it's the doctors that they want to marry… I guess that they are smarter than they look…"
"And that doesn't bother you?"
"Not in the least. I'm not the marrying type…"
"You will want to settle down one of these days, when you find the right girl…"
"Nah! You will see, in ten years, I will visit you in my sport's car with a young blond at my arm; while you, my friend, will be settling down to have Sunday dinner with your wife and kids. Who is going to be the happiest then?"
"Hardly enough, I like this idea very much, Cole. You might want to consider it."
"Don't be so depressing…"
Leo laughed in spite of himself. Cole was always the life of the party, even though he was certain that his life could not be fulfilled by this constant parade of young girls.
Still, he had to admit that this evening had been one of the highlights of his sojourn in Europe so far. As much as he enjoyed his profession, practicing during wartime was not very pleasant. That night, Cole had dragged him to this place, promising that he would forget about his depressing workload, and in truth, he had somewhat. Two days hence, they would be on their respective new assignments, too close for comfort to the front lines. For now, they were enjoying the pleasant company and he was grateful for the respite.
Cole and he were the most unlikely of friends, yet they got along fine. They had met the very day that Leo had arrived from America, when pulled immediately into the action, Leo had helped saving his copilot.
Leo had come to understand that him and Jimmy, the copilot in question, had become very close, but when he was sent back home after recuperating, Cole found himself lonely. Maybe out of gratitude, Leo did not know for sure, he began seeking his company, and they had become practically inseparable. Even so, Leo still had trouble understanding the carefree attitude of his companion. He was exposing himself to danger almost every day, but seemed unconcerned most of the time.
When Leo questioned him about it, he simply answered:
"Hey, what's the point of worrying? I love flying, and I get to do just that. Besides, those planes are like an armor. I am invincible," he had added with a self-mocking smile.
Cole often teased him about his action free job in the army, but Leo knew that he did not mean it. They had developed a respect for each other that ran too deep for that. In spite of all the banter, they were true friends, and he appreciated this. The war was hard enough; it was good to have a friend to get through it.
Outside the bistro, two girls were looking around, obviously waiting for someone.
"Are you sure that this is the place? I would not want you to have dragged me here for nothing," Phoebe said. She was wearing her uniform and a severe hairdo. Phoebe's glasses, as her cousin told her, were so thick and wide that they hid half of her face. So much so that it was difficult to tell if she was pretty or not. Piper, on the other hand, wore a casual dress and her shiny brown hair floated down her shoulders, framing her delicate features. It saddened her to see her cousin so intent on hiding herself like this.
"I told you already. There is not many places called, 'Le bistro de Jouvence' around here."
Piper pronounced the words with a heavy accent, and if Phoebe had not been so upset at being there, she would almost have cracked up at this.
"Oh, the names those French people can come up with. As if alcohol and dancing all night could make you look younger…"
Piper snickered:
"Maybe you should try more often. You are too tense, you will age before your time…"
Phoebe just mumbled an annoyed:
"Hum…"
She looked around again and shrugged impatiently.
"If your friend does not arrive soon, I will call a cab and go back to the barracks. I do not even know why I followed you here…"
"Oh come on, Phoebe. Don't be such a party pooper…"
Piper turned toward an incoming car and smiled wildly.
"See, there he is," she told her cousin brightly.
The car came to a stop almost next to them, and when two men in uniforms got out of it, Phoebe immediately turned an irritated expression toward her cousin.
"I thought that I told you no blind date!'
Piper looked up in exasperation, but did not bother answering, as the first man came close to her with a bright smile.
"Thank god, you are still here. We thought they would never let us go…"
"Of course, although I was getting worried, Ted," she pouted teasingly.
"So, who is your friend," she asked casually, pretending that she had nothing to do with his being there.
Ted was a little startled, as he was certain that she asked that he brought a friend, but he played along.
"Piper Halliwell, this is Clay Bartlett…"
The handsome man in an obvious airforce uniform came to take her hand and shook it gently.
"Delighted to make your acquaintance."
Piper giggled. Then, she turned to Phoebe.
"And this is my cousin, Phoebe Halliwell…"
This one was put off, and she barely acknowledged the young man.
He seemed surprised as well, but he still offered his hand to her.
Phoebe hesitated. Then she shook his firmly, albeit very quickly.
"Well, shall we," Ted asked enthusiastically, while slipping his arm under Piper's. This one smiled up at him and nodded happily, before they took the direction of the bistro, barely looking back to see if the others were following.
Clay turned to Phoebe, as they were starting slowly behind the first two.
"I hope that you are not angry?"
Phoebe tried her best to hide her displeasure, although she had to admit that the man was reasonably pleasant.
"Not at all, let's just go inside and see what the fuss is all about."
Clay smiled frankly:
"I am sure that you will like this place. It is very lively."
Phoebe smiled timidly, preferring not to tell him what she thought of very lively places.
Upon crossing the door, they were assaulted by the loud music and people shouting over it. The place was packed, and obviously an indeed popular spot with the military personal. In spite of her resolve, Phoebe almost turned back at this. She hated large parties, as she felt that she could not fit in. Although, she had changed a lot since her teens, she was used to being ridiculed at the time for her slightly overweight appearance as well as her love of books and studies. While other girls were mostly interested in attracting the attention of the most popular boys in the neighborhood, Phoebe had come to be happy to go unnoticed. She thought that boys were too superficial to be of interest to her. That is until she met Lewis. The thought of him was painful even now. Lewis had been two years her senior, but with the same aspirations for calm and studies as she. Or so, Phoebe had thought then. At first, he had been sweet and patient with her, apparently not in the least deterred by her shyness and reserve. In time, Phoebe had grown very fond of the young man, and believed that the feeling was reciprocal. However, shortly before she enlisted in the army, she had found out that Lewis had been less than candid with her. In fact, she had surprised him with another girl one evening, after he had promised to pick her up for an evening of cinema. That memory was burnt in her mind… Even two years later, she felt the pain of his betrayal.
As Clay took her arm to encourage her to follow the others inside, she remembered the humiliation that she had suffered when, thinking that he was delayed for an innocent reason, she had decided to go to his house directly. There, she had found him kissing and fondling one of the popular girls from her school. As rage and shame had invaded her, she had tried to run away unseen, but Lewis had spotted her, and his guilty stare had done nothing to help. Ever since that night, she had returned to hiding her blossoming womanhood, decided to make it on her own, as she believed that men were not worth this kind of pain. What she was witnessing in this bistro did nothing to change her mind. The people in there were for the most part rowdy and oblivious to conventions. Most girls wore outrageous outfits in her opinion, with way too much make up, and not enough clothing. Not surprisingly, the men were obviously enjoying this tremendously, acting in her mind like the beasts that they had not evolved from. Piper and her friend Ted were already at the bar, and Clay pressure on her arm intensified, as he directed her toward them. Phoebe felt claustrophobic in this crowd, as they were navigating through the packed dance floor. They were almost there, when a weird sensation coursed through her. She had no idea what provoked it, but she suddenly felt out of place, as if she was not meant to be there, or the person she was. Almost instinctively, she turned toward a corner of the room and spotted two men talking animatedly. One of them was blond and wore an army uniform. He was accompanied by a pilot, even sitting, obviously taller than his companion. His dark hair contrasted with his companion's almost as much as the uniform. Pilots usually fraternized among themselves, as she had noticed in the time she had spent around them. The man was handsome and smiling joyously, but that was not what struck her. In the same manner that she felt out of place, she sensed that they too should not have been there. Suddenly pulling away from Clay, she took one step in their direction, startling her companion.
"Miss Halliwell," Clay asked in puzzlement.
Phoebe ignored his question but stopped short as a strange shimmering light danced in front of her eyes.
Clay called again:
"Phoebe," he asked, more familiarly this time.
Phoebe seemed as if pulled out of a trance, wondering what was the matter with her, as she turned back toward Clay. This one had strained to see what she was looking at, but could not pinpoint it.
"Did you see someone you knew?"
Phoebe replied hesitantly.
"No, I don't know what got into me."
Clay frowned, suddenly wondering if the disappointing date was not going to become worse.
"Are you alright," he still asked politely.
"Yes, I am fine," she finally answered. "I guess, it's all this agitation. I am not used to this."
"Strange," Clay uttered, "I thought that you were supposed to have been to the front as a nurse? There would have been more than enough agitation there, wouldn't it?"
Phoebe shook herself, and got her countenance back before replying firmly:
"One has nothing to do with the other. I do not like useless activities. My work is important and I concentrate on doing it the best that I can…"
Clay frowned anew:
"Surely, you do not mean that a little distraction is wrong?"
Phoebe toned down her apparent reproach.
"I am saying that this sort of activities is not what I aspire to, I am sorry if I sounded too harsh."
Clay only smiled weakly, and instead of answering, he took her arm, as they turned back toward Piper and Ted.
Cole was beginning to wonder about the girls.
"These girls take their jolly time. I did not think that they needed that much powdering," he said with a hint of annoyance.
Leo replied calmly:
"I would not worry too much about that. That Lise seems to be into you a lot. I am sure that they will be back soon."
Cole turned an amused expression toward his friend:
"Oh, I was not worried about that. It is simply that I had other ideas for this evening than waiting here like a log…"
Leo faked to be offended:
"Am I boring you that much?"
Cole chuckled.
"Let's just say that what I have in mind does not involve you…"
"Oh dear," Leo uttered, repressing an amused laughter.
Cole looked up suddenly, sensing something but not knowing what it was. Looking toward the bar, he caught sight of a girl in uniform, one that he normally would not have noticed. She wore thick glasses and was severe in appearance. Yet, for some reason, he felt that he should have known her. The feeling of unease deepened, as she turned away and a strange shimmering light blurred his surroundings for an instant. As quickly as the sensation had come, it had gone away, leaving him confused.
Leo called to him:
"Hey, where did you go?"
Cole answered distractedly:
"What do you mean?"
"Well, for a moment there, you were not even listening to what I was saying."
Cole turned a puzzled expression toward his friend and was about to question him about it, when he spotted Lise and Helene coming back.
He decided to put this aside, and smiled widely at the girls, as they sat beside them…
As the evening continued, Phoebe found herself slightly more at ease, even though, she was still puzzled by her earlier reaction. She could not even remember who, or what, had caught her attention then. However, Clay proved to be a witty conversationalist, even with the noise level. She even found herself smiling a few times, and he called her up on this at last.
"You know, you have a beautiful smile," he said, surprised himself.
"Appearances are not really what matters," Phoebe answered, although she could not help being flattered by the seemingly sincere compliment.
"I guess not," he answered, unmoved by her rebuff.
"Still, I cannot help wondering what other beautiful features you might be hiding behind this severe appearance of yours…"
Phoebe thought that the man was going a little too far, but for some reason, she did not discourage him. Instead, she smiled anew in spite of her reservations.
"There you go," he said happily. Then, he asked, "would you care for a dance?"
Her smile faded, as she looked upon the couples on the dance floor.
"I…I would not know how…"
Clay smiled encouragingly:
"There is nothing complicated to it. Besides, we are here to have some fun, aren't we?"
Phoebe had not even believed that she would stay this long, let alone have fun. She hesitated still, and Piper, who had heard the last part, came beside them:
"Come on, Phoebe, one dance will not kill you…"
Phoebe glared at her, but deep down, she was glad for her cousin's insistence.
Awkwardly, she followed Clay to the dance floor and let him lead her in a slow dance, for which she was grateful.
She had managed to relax some, when she noticed that her partner was tensing against her. Looking up, she noticed his staring behind her, and soon she heard him calling:
"Cole," with a very edgy tone of voice.
The man in question answered with the same edge:
"Clay, fancy meeting you here…"
Clay pulled away from her, and she found herself facing the newcomer. He looked strangely at her and she tried very hard to remember why he seemed so familiar, but without success.
The man named Cole continued:
"I had not expected to see you in town, as you said you would not leave the camp until our departure."
The way he spoke, Phoebe sensed that the two men had an underlying conflict but Clay answered pleasantly enough.
"As luck had it, my friend Ted came by and told me of this nice place in town. I figured why not?"
An awkward silence prolonged between them, even as the surrounding noise did not seem to cover the malaise.
"Well," Cole finally asked, looking toward her once more, "who is your friend here?"
Clay seemed slightly embarrassed and Phoebe thought that for the first time this evening, he had made her feel unwanted.
Still, he pursued:
"Phoebe Halliwell, this is Cole Turner. We fly together…"
At this, Cole smiled at her:
"I am the pilot of course," he added to this, with obvious pride.
Then, he pursued, ostensibly wrapping his arm around his own escort:
"And this is my new friend, Lise Delporte."
The blond girl had an impressive bosom and heavy make up. Phoebe could not help a grimace at this. She was the embodiment of all she abhorred.
The girl did not seem to notice, as she answered happily:
"Enchantée!"
However, Cole did, because he frowned toward her.
"Something the matter, Miss Halliwell?"
Phoebe hated having been caught, but she sustained his stare:
"Nothing that you would find of interest," she answered with a hint of disdain.
Cole did not know if he should get offended, or just ignore the woman's attitude. Still, he could not help getting a strange feeling of "déjà vu".
Choosing the latter, he questioned instead:
"Have we ever met before?"
His question startled Phoebe, as she had been asking herself the same thing. However, an irrational anger was swelling in her at the way he was holding the bimbo by his side, and her response was much harsher than she had meant.
"How original of you," she said, with even stronger disdain.
This wiped what was left of the smile on his face.
Rather than responding however, he turned back toward Clay:
"Well, I see that you are having a lot of fun here, don't let me interrupt," he uttered with a fake smile.
Phoebe watched him go, still holding the girl way too close for a public place, in her opinion. After a moment though, she turned toward Clay, and remembering his attitude of earlier, she knew that she could not enjoy herself anymore.
"I think that I have had enough for this evening."
Clay looked at her with a hint of disappointment, but he remembered his faux pas and simply accompanied her back to the bar.
Cole looked preoccupied to Leo when he came back to the table.
"What is it?" He asked immediately.
Cole instinctively denied:
"Nothing…"
"So why the long face?"
Cole directed Lise toward a seat before answering his friend.
"Oh, well, Clay is here…"
Leo frowned in puzzlement.
"And?"
"Oh, it's nothing, it is just that he was with this annoying girl…"
"Coming from you, it's shocking," Leo replied with a teasing smile. "What did she say to you?"
"Oh nothing of consequence, and what's more, she was a dog…"
Lise interjected for the first time:
"That girl was so cold…Are all American women like this?"
Cole turned with a big smile toward her.
"Actually no, but none of them are as warmhearted as you."
The girl giggled, pleased.
Cole chased away the remaining malaise, determined to enjoy the rest of the evening, and he had a pretty good idea of how.
"Well, personally I think that it is time to move on."
Pulling Lise to him, he offered:
"Do you know of a more intimate place that we could find in this town," he asked suggestively.
The girl giggled anew, but nodded in the affirmative.
Leo was rather uncomfortable then.
"Maybe I should go back to the camp. We only have one more day of leave…"
"Oh come on Leo," Cole exclaimed, "you don't want to go so soon, the night is young," he added, looking at the girl, who smiled knowingly.
Helene had been rather quiet herself that evening, but she spoke up then, having obviously gotten the gist of the conversation in spite of her limited English:
"Vraiment, vous devez finir la soiree…"
Leo turned questioningly toward Cole and Lise.
The latter informed him:
"She wants you to stay with us."
"Ha, well, I guess then…"He said turning a timid smile toward Helene.
This one smiled happily and took his hand in hers.
Cole stood up and pulled Lise to him again.
"Then, it's decided."
Just before they left, Cole could not help looking back toward the dance floor. He could not see her anymore, but no matter how hard he tried to forget about her, she stayed on his mind afterward…
Phoebe went straight to Piper, and firmly announced that she was leaving.
"Why?" Piper asked, in surprise.
"I thought that you were enjoying yourself," she added.
Phoebe was not in the mood to soften anything for Piper. Even less for the fact that Ted seemed to be all over her and her cousin did not mind in the least. She started giggling, as he kissed her neck brazenly, even while the two girls talked.
"Well, you were wrong. However, I am sure that Clay will find some company to finish the evening," she added, looking around the room with obvious contempt.
She had not been looking at him while saying so, but he knew that she had meant it as an insult. Hardly enough, it did shake him.
"I have no intentions of letting you go by yourself," he said then impulsively.
"Let me make sure that you have returned safe and sound, that is the least that I could do for the pleasure of your company tonight."
Phoebe turned an incredulous gaze his way:
"Pardon me, but I got the impression that you were not so pleased…"
Piper asked with concern:
"What do you mean?"
Clay answered for Phoebe:
"Just that I was less than considerate, but I would like to make up for it, if Phoebe doesn't mind?"
This was said with such an accent of sincerity that Phoebe thought that he might just have meant it.
"Well, if you really mean this…"
Clay replied quickly:
"Yes, of course I do."
Piper still tried to convince Phoebe to stay:
"See, that was not so bad, why don't you continue the evening with us?"
Phoebe was not going to be deterred, however. In truth, she had had enough of all this agitation:
"No really, I want to go. Thanks anyway."
Piper pouted for a moment, but she refused to let this put a damper on her night out.
"If you really want this, then I'll see you later."
Phoebe frowned:
"Are you sure that you want to stay here by yourself?"
"I'm not by myself," Piper answered, smiling back toward Ted.
Phoebe did not ad that this was what she feared. Instead, she smiled warily at her cousin, and turned toward the exit, soon followed by Clay.
Before going out, Phoebe turned in the direction Cole and the girl had taken, as if trying to find him in the crowd. He was nowhere in sight, and she tried to put this thought aside. Outside the bistro however, and as they were waiting for a cab, she asked Clay:
"That man, Cole? There seemed to be some animosity between you two. You say that you are a team?"
Clay cleared his throat ostensibly.
"Well, let's just say that if I had had a choice, I would have sought another assignment."
"Why?"
Clay shrugged:
"It is really not important…"
"Still, I wonder…"
Clay gave her a suspicious side look, but quickly changed expression.
"Well, he is rather reckless. And that is not an exaggeration. He is a very good pilot, but with a tendency to take risks uselessly."
Phoebe stayed quiet then, and Clay asked:
"Why did you want to know?"
"Oh, I was just curious, it's in my nature."
Clay smiled gently, and changing subject:
"Will you forgive my earlier attitude. I assure you that I did take a lot of pleasure in your company. Intelligent conversations are so rare in this place."
Phoebe wondered if she should be flattered or not. He thought of her as a good conversationalist, probably no more. It suddenly annoyed her.
She smiled weakly nevertheless, but looked impatiently around.
"Aren't there any cabs in this town?"
The next afternoon, Cole was walking fast toward a larger barrack, where he found his copilot, apparently waiting for him. Suppressing a grimace, he motioned him inside.
A clerk barely lifted his head at their entrance, and Cole moved quickly toward his desk, impatient to know what this was about.
"Captain?" The clerk asked distractedly.
Cole sighed impatiently:
"You called for us…"
"Oh yes, you are the pilots…"
Cole rolled his eyes. Why were those scribes so cryptic and disdainful? Really, he would take a pilot every day over those…
"So," he asked when the scribe in question was taking his time to answer.
"You have new orders," he said at last.
"What new orders? We are supposed to fly to the front tomorrow morning. I don't see what could be more important than this." Clay uttered, breaking his silence.
Cole disliked the man, but in this instance, he tended to agree.
"Indeed, what?"
The clerk was obviously used to people abusing him as the bearer of bad news. He did not even flinch at their questions:
"As you know, we are short on pilots these days, and a contingent of medical, and other staff is to be sent to the front as well. It so happens that they are slated to depart at about the same time as you two. The orders call for assigning you to get them to destination. Then, you can move on to your original assignment."
"What?" Cole exclaimed loudly.
"I am not flying a taxi. We were supposed to go back in our own plane."
"Apparently, planes are not a problem to find there, Sir. On the other hand, personal is short at the present time. I am only relaying the orders to you."
Cole advanced threateningly toward the clerk, who this time seemed to recoil slightly. However, Clay grabbed Cole's arm.
"Come on, you know perfectly well that there is no point in killing the messenger. Let's do this babysitting job so that we can go back to business, shall we?"
Cole rudely shrugged his arm out of Clay's grasp, but still backed down.
Angry, he turned toward the door without another word.
Clay followed while frowning, both of them ignoring the relieved expression on the clerk's face.
Cole did not stop until he had reached the mess hall, and there, he spotted his friend but did not smile while sitting down in front of him.
"Hola, you seem pissed. What did they do again," Leo asked. However, before Cole could answer, Clay unceremoniously sat by them and gave him the news. Unlike them, it brought a smile to Leo's face:
"Hey, you should be glad, we will have some more time together…"
"Leo, that is not the point…" Cole answered irritably.
Leo smiled anew, ignoring his friend's mood.
"Oh I know, it's not your plane. But really, what hurt is it to fly a safe aircraft for a change? You will be back in your flying coffin soon enough."
Cole found that his friend had once more deflated his temper, even if through some dark humor.
"Didn't I tell you that my plane was like an armor," he then said, with the beginning of a smile showing.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Leo replied, amused. "At any rate, there are quite a few female passengers. I would think that both of you might appreciate that…"
Cole turned to Clay at this, and asked casually:
"Speaking of females, how did it go for you last night?"
Cole did not even know why he asked, but tried to tell himself that it was only to mock his copilot.
"I do not think that this is any of your business!"
Cole smirked while turning back toward Leo.
"What did I tell you? Sharp tongue and very little else…"
Leo did not answer, made uncomfortable by his friend's apparent disrespect of a lady. However, he knew him too well, and this was not his usual attitude. It left him wondering, even as Cole pursued, while getting back up.
"For my part, I had quite a tiresome evening, although satisfying," he added with a smug grin. "I think that we need our rest, don't we Leo?"
Being reminded of the previous evening pulled Leo out of his wondering and had him blushing.
"Cole!" he exclaimed, albeit weakly.
Cole' smile widened, as he waited for his friend to follow.
Leo turned an embarrassed smile toward Clay, and soon followed Cole out of the mess.
When they were only a few steps out, they practically bumped into Phoebe and Piper, coming in turn.
Piper was now sporting her uniform, but that did not hide her looks, on the contrary. Leo was immediately attracted to the young woman, and for this reason, barely noticed Phoebe, or the darkening of Cole's expression.
"Hello," he said to Piper, barely keeping his wits to himself.
This one smiled happily.
She then uttered an appreciative:
"Hello…" this while looking up the doctor without reserve.
Leo felt himself blushing again, and stayed silent.
"Well, well," Piper pursued, "are you also transferred to the front tomorrow," she asked, in a very direct manner.
"Huh, yes," Leo answered, suddenly feeling like the mouse to a cat.
Piper continued with a larger smile:
"Hey," she said, half turning toward her cousin, "this assignment might not be so bad after all." Then to Leo:
"I will enjoy the pleasure of your company…?"
"Leo," this one babbled, "Leo Wyatt…"
"Call me Piper, honey." She answered playfully, winking suggestively.
Meanwhile, Cole watched Phoebe with an uncertain expression. What was it about this girl?" He asked himself. Through the thick glasses, she was looking back with obvious contempt, and yet, there was something, like curiosity in her expression as well.
"We meet again," he uttered at last, his voice trailing.
Phoebe hesitated, almost tempted to smile and not even knowing why. However, she was quickly reminded of the previous evening and his rudeness, or what she considered such.
"Not by choice," she uttered then.
Cole recoiled at the tone of her voice even more than the words.
"Rest assured mam, that I have no intention of bothering you."
With a fake corner smile, he saluted her quickly, and went around her, feeling that once again, he had been missing on something. Phoebe, for her part, grabbed her cousin's arm, even as this one was trying to continue flirting with Leo.
"Let's go," Phoebe said curtly, ignoring the doctor, "I'm starving…"
Piper cast an apologizing look toward Leo, and then let Phoebe pull her away. Leo watched them go with a vague smile trailing on his lips. Then, realizing that Cole had left without him, he hurried to follow him.
"Hey," he called, when he was almost by Cole' side, "where are you going so fast?"
"I told you, I need some rest," this one answered too harshly.
Leo chuckled:
"I have never known you to be in such a hurry to do nothing…"
Cole stopped abruptly, turning to his friend with an apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry, I did not meant to take it out on you. It's just this woman is so infuriating."
Leo questioned in confusion:
"Who?"
Cole shrugged:
"It's not important anymore…"
Piper turned an irritated expression toward her cousin as they entered the mess.
"Hey, what was the big hurry?"
"I told you that I was hungry, let's eat."
Piper almost jumped at the snappy tone of voice.
"The way you are acting, one would think that you already ate lion…"
Phoebe only then realized how rude she had been.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking. Or rather, I do know, it's that stupid pilot…"
Piper asked, uncomprehending:
"Who? Not the guy you went back with last night, is it?"
Phoebe shrugged:
"No not that one, although I am not certain that I want to talk about him either…"
Piper frowned.
"You know Phoebe, you have to loosen up. You cannot live your life like this."
"I can very much live without men… You should try…"
"Speak for yourself," Piper answered, with a pretend horrified expression.
"You might have sworn off men, but I certainly have not…"
By then, Piper had already forgotten about the motivation for her cousin's bad mood. Particularly that this little banter seemed to have a positive effect on her.
Phoebe could not help smiling at her cousin. She was so genuine in her affirmations, although she was still convinced that Piper would only get hurt eventually. This brought back the nagging thoughts about Cole. Something about him made her at once curious and wary. Even her was not this snappy usually.
Just as she was thinking about this, she caught sight of Clay. He was waving at them, and rather than go to him, she simply nodded in his direction, and then quickly led her cousin to a table on the other side of the mess. Not today, she thought…
She believed that it would be the end of it, considering how coldly they had said goodbye to each other the night before. However, a few minutes later, as she looked up, she found herself facing him again. He was smiling.
"May I sit with you two? I found myself alone and it's always a sad way to have lunch…"
Phoebe repressed a shrug and acquiesced.
She was still wondering why he would bother at all, but the conversation was pleasant enough and she found that she could relax here and there.
When it was time for him to leave, he turned to her, smiling softly.
"Well, I am glad to know that we will be going together tomorrow. I will enjoy your company some more."
Phoebe smiled, although still doubtful about this.
After he had left, Piper watched her cousin with interest.
"Hey, I thought that you did not like him very much? Could it be?"
Phoebe let out an annoyed sigh:
"Don't count on it…"
Piper seemed to think about this. Then she smiled suddenly.
Phoebe could not help her curiosity, even as they were preparing to go out.
"What is so funny?"
Piper grinned:
"Nothing…"
Phoebe opened big questioning eyes at the vague answer.
In reaction, Piper pursued:
"Really nothing… Although, you should really consider taking off these glasses Phoebe," she added teasingly.
"When you make that face, they make you look like an owl…"
Phoebe should have formalized herself of this, but instead, she chose to ignore it.
"Come on, let's get out of here…"
Piper shook her head with a hint of sadness, as she watched her cousin going… She knew too well that Phoebe was hiding from life. She also knew for a fact that behind this severe look, hid a lovely person, with a heart of gold. Now, if only others could see this as well, she thought, before following her outside.
Cole was extremely annoyed, even as he concentrated on his piloting. Clay had deserted his seat, leaving room for Leo. However, Leo had found that his friend was not talkative that day.
"Hey, what's up with you," he finally asked, "is there something the matter with the plane?"
"Other than the fact that it is large as a whale, full of people that I have to baby-sit, and that I would infinitely prefer to pilot my own plane? That my copilot prefers to chat with the passengers rather than doing his job…"
This had all been told in one breath, and Leo jumped at the sudden outburst.
"Wow, you are in a bad mood!"
Cole twisted his mouth without answering, mostly angry with himself for blowing off like this. In the last hour, his mood had gone from bad to worse. Before the take off, he had once more met with Phoebe, but this time she had blatantly ignored him, while smiling gently at Clay. For some reason, this had infuriated him more than he would even admit to his best friend. Then, as if it was not enough, Clay had requested to leave his post, since there was no need for the both of them at all time in the cockpit. Cole was convinced that Clay's intention was to go join Phoebe back there. He was mostly annoyed that he would get himself so worked up over an insignificant girl.
Shaking himself, he cast an apologetic look toward his friend:
"Don't mind me, I'm just in a foul mood today."
"That's ok…It's also what friends are for. If there is something specific that you would like to talk about…"
Cole felt very self-conscious at this, thinking that maybe Leo had understood the true motive for his bad attitude of earlier. He was not in the habit of letting any woman get to him, let alone one like her…
"Nothing, really…"
"Suit yourself, but I'm there for you."
Cole reported his attention to the controls. He was losing himself in thoughts again, when he believed that he saw something strange.
The compass needle seemed oddly steady, unlike the usual. He had been so preoccupied that until now, he had not noticed other than to confirm their direction. Now, he tapped the instrument lightly at first, with no results. Trying again a little more forcefully did not have any more effect. A bad feeling course through him, as he voluntarily caused a deviation in their course. No change there either. The bad feeling deepened, so much so that Leo noticed. However, before he could question him about it:
"Go get Clay, please," Cole told him in a tense voice.
"Cole?"
"Everything will be fine, I just need you to get Clay here. It is time for him to get back anyway."
Leo eyed his friend suspiciously but he went out nevertheless.
Clay had barely entered the cockpit that another bad news came in the form of a growing point on the horizon. Cole had not wanted to alarm Leo, but in truth, he had no idea of where they were. The compass was totally useless, and for all he knew, they might have deviated toward the Mediterranean Sea.
"We have a problem," Cole simply announced to his copilot, as Clay was taking his seat with obvious irritation.
"This better be good," He uttered, "I do not like to be summoned like this…"
Cole was not about to make nice:
"You have a job to do, and it is most certainly not to entertain the passengers."
Clay was about to protest, but Cole lifted his hand imperatively:
"No time for this! The compass is scrapped, I have no idea where we are, and I am afraid that we are getting company," he said quickly, indicating the horizon.
This deflated Clay. He watched intensely, as the growing point was becoming more defined:
"Friendly?"
"Let's hope so…" Cole answered, the tenseness almost palpable in the cockpit…