Rooster and Sophia finished getting ready, both opting to not wear uniform, Rooster was wearing blue jeans, a white tank top and his signature Hawaiian shirt with his aviators covering his eyes. Sophia opted for a pair of jean shorts and a navy t shirt tucked into her bra to give it a cropped effect, her hair was down in blonde waves over shoulders and some light make up.
Rooster walked back into Sophia's bedroom to see what was taking her so long, she stood in front of her dressing table mirror touching up her lip gloss, he couldn't help but rake his eyes over her as he leant against the door frame, she was beautiful, he told her all the time how gorgeous she was, she never believed him, convinced he was obliged to say that to her as they were such good friends. Friends... there it was that word. Rooster loved Sophia, but he loved her way more than friend, he had been in love with her since they slept together for the first time.
He had no idea if she felt the same way, with how often they slept together he liked to think she did. They never actually spoke about what they were, they acted like a couple, they spoke all the time when they were deployed away from each other, when they were together, they did all the things a couple would do, get dinner, sleep together, hang out all the time but it was never spoken or confirmed.
Rooster was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Sophia talking.
"Hey Brad, you with me?" Sophia waved a hand in front of his face.
Rooster shook his head letting out an embarrassed chuckle "Yeah sorry Soph just thinking about what we could be here for" He lied to cover the real reason he was staring.
"We will find out tomorrow, but for now lets go have fun and see who's back" Sophia smiled as she walked past Rooster down the stairs and out the front door.
"Who's driving? Sophia asked as she locked her front door, pausing before she put her keys away.
"I will, lets face it you will drink way more than me tonight" Rooster laughed as they both got into his Bronco.
"Bradley Bradshaw I am hurt that you think that of me" Sophia gasped as she held a hand over her chest.
"Sophia Mitchell, its not a lie" They both laughed, Sophia had a reputation for being a bit of a lightweight when it came to alcohol.
The drive from Sophia's house to the Hard Deck wasn't long, about 10 minutes, it was filled with music and them both singing along.
As they drove Sophia looked out the window enjoying the scenery as it whipped past, her and Rooster singing along to their favourite songs, she noticed Bradley smiling at her as she sang.
"What are you smiling at?" Sophia questioned.
Blushing ever so slightly and the notion of being caught out Bradley chuckled slightly "Nothing, just forgot how good your singing is"
Sophia laughed as she carried on singing, she had always had a good voice, when they were young Rooster always told her she should pursue it but Sophia knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life and it was flying and it had to be with Rooster by her side.
A few minutes later they pulled up in the parking lot of the Hard Deck, they could tell from the outside that it was already busy, bustling with people.
They made their way inside and went straight to the bar both ordering a beer. Sophia turned to take in the rest of the bar, scanning the room to see if she could see anyone she recognised. As she scanned, she saw a group over by the pool table wearing tan uniforms, she immediately recognised the only woman in the group, she took off leaving Rooster at the bar, she snaked a hand round the woman's waist causing her to jump ready to smack whoever had touched her. When she saw who it was, she let out a squeal.
"Oh my god Soph, what the hell are you doing here" Phoenix or Natasha Trace cried as she wrapped her arms around Sophia's neck.
"Probably the same thing as you, Top Gun baby" Both girls laughed as they once again embraced each other. Sophia had met Phoenix in the Naval Academy and at Top Gun the first-time round, they bonded over the fact that they were the only woman in their graduation classes.
"I'm so glad your back too, I was hoping I wasn't the only woman here" Both girls stood side by side as the rest of the group made their presence know.
"What do we have here? If it aint Vegas" Sophia turned her head as she heard her call sign.
"Hangman" Sophia responded giving the blonde aviator a smile as she hugged him. Jake Seresin, call sign Hangman, they were at the Academy and Top Gun together, the pair were friendly, Jake always trying to hit on Sophia every chance he got.
"My my my still gorgeous as ever huh Vegas" Sophia smirked as she pulled away from the hug.
"Still trying after all these years, your consistent Hangman I'll give you that"
"One day you will want me, and I will show you how a real pilot does things"
"Yeah, well let me know when that real pilot turns up" Sophia smirked at Hangman as she walked over to Rooster who had joined the rest of the group.
Hangman scoffed as he watched her walk away "One day Vegas. One day"
"Yeah, the day Bradshaw is dead" Coyote spoke up from besides Hangman. Observing Sophia and Bradshaw as he stood behind her with an arm wrapped round her waist. Hangman walked over to the group where Phoenix was introducing Sophia and Rooster to Payback, Fanboy and her new WSO Bob taking a pool cue in his hand he spoke up so the whole group could hear him.
"Bradshaw as I live and breathe"
Rooster stayed planted beside Sophia his arm still around her waist as she leaned into him slightly.
"Hangman you look… good"
Hangman clenched his jaw ever so slightly seeing the close proximity he had to Sophia.
"I am good Rooster, I'm very good, in fact, I'm too good to be true" Hangman smirked keeping his eyes on Rooster.
Sensing a fight could break out Payback interjected trying to change the subject "So.. anybody know what we are all doing here?"
"No idea but whatever it is I'm totally up for it and ready to lead you all" Hangman stated confidently.
"Hangman the only place you'll lead anyone is an early grave" Fired back Rooster, everyone around them made an ooohh sound watching the confrontation between the two.
"Well, anyone who follows you is gunna run out fuel, but that's just you aint it Rooster, Your snug on that perch waiting for just the right moment… that never comes" Hangman looked down at Sophia as he finished the sentence giving her a wink and walking away. This caused Rooster to protectively tighten his grasp on Sophia's waist.
"Well, he hasn't changed" Phoenix said as she came up next to the pair.
"Nope, sure hasn't" Sophia replied as she took a sip of her beer.
Rooster grabbed Sophia's hand and walked her over to the Jukebox which he swiftly unplugged causing a round of grans and protests from the other bar goers. Sophia knew exactly what he was doing, he did it all the time when they were here before. Rooster sat down at the piano and played a few keys as he attracted a crown including, Phoenix, Fanboy, Bob, and Payback leaving Coyote and Hangman at the pool table. Sophia took a seat next to him, just as they were about to start a bell rang through the bar with shouts of "OVERBOARD" being chanted. Some poor guy was being thrown out but Sophia couldn't see who it was.
After a few taps Roosters voice could be heard throughout the bar with his rendition of "Great Balls of Fire"
One of Sophia's earliest childhood memories was this song. Her mum and Carol always told her stories of how her dad and Goose would sing this song together and with her and Bradley when he was younger, after listening to story after story she was always sad that she never got to meet Goose, she hadn't been born yet when he died. Her mind drifted off thinking about her own dad, she hadn't spoken to him for years, since she was 16, when Bradley had come over to her house screaming and shouting at her that her dad had pulled his papers from the Naval Academy, this meant he wasn't able to apply for another 4 years. After much back-and-forth Bradley finally realised that Sophia had no idea, he had done it and was just as angry as he was about it. After that day Sophia officially moved in with Carol and Bradley, refusing to have any contact with her dad.
It was 4 years later when Sophia was 20 and Bradley was 24, Carol lost her short battle with cancer, it completely devastated them both, Carol had been a mother figure to Sophia all her life, even more so when her own mum died. After the funeral they both applied to the Naval Academy and this time they both got in.
Sophia was pulled from her thoughts when Rooster knocked her soulder as he continued to sing, she smiled joining in with him and the rest of the bar. So caught up in the fun and music neither pilots noticed the man stood outside the bar watching them both intently.