Chapter Three
She woke up on the bench under the oak tree, in the garden. She stretched and sat up looking about her slightly disoriented. The sun had come out and the storm had long gone, as if it had never been there at all. She yawned, wondering how long she had been asleep and looked up to see that the sun was directly above her; which meant that it was late in the afternoon. Suddenly it dawned on her that she was supposed to be meeting her friends from the Academy. She leapt to her feet and took a moment to become orientated; looking about and realising that she had fallen asleep in the gardens near her home in San Francisco.
She stepped out from under the tree and looked up towards the blue sky again with it's billowing white clouds, it was quite hot and she took off the jacket she was wearing- funny she had sworn she was wearing a Starfleet uniform and black cloak. Maybe she had dreamt it, not to worry she was going to be late if she didn't hurry- and that simply wouldn't do.
She moved off down the road that led out onto the main street, which ran along the riverbank. Various buildings were lined along one side over looking the river. These buildings had been converted into apartments and were owned by Starfleet, and were lived in by the first year cadets of Starfleet Academy. They had been built on the site of the old train station and tracks of the twenty-first century, and the shipyards; for sailing ships that was- not space ships.
She came to the end of the block and turned right into a side street, then walked further up the street and turned right again into a large entranceway to one of the apartments- the one that she lived in. The apartments were a sort of sandstone in colour with a very modern design to them. Her apartment was brand new and had recently been refurbished with lots of new gadgets and equipment. She lived in a two bedroomed apartment and had one other person living with her. There were also five more apartments in the building, making a total of three upstairs and three down. She ran up a few stairs and entered her apartment at the beginning of the long corridor on the first floor. Her roommate Kathleen Hunter was sitting on the couch and didn't look too happy with her. Beverly dropped her jacket on the floor and walked straight past Kathleen.
"Beverly Howard. If I have to tell you once more I'm going to scream!" She said, clearly annoyed.
"What?" Beverly asked rushing into her room to get changed.
"If you're going to survive in Starfleet you're going to have to be a bit more punctual than this. It won't do to have you late when an emergency has been called, it could result in deaths..."
"Alright, Kathy. I'm here now. I fell asleep that's all." She said sighing and trying to think of any excuse that would work, Kathy was always going on at her these days, she was obsessed with promptness and neatness. Kathy was a tall slender woman with dark brown, shoulder length hair, and was very fit indeed. She liked everything just so and was quite house- proud. Beverly had seemed to be completely incompatible as a room mate when they had first moved in together, but Kathy was the kind of person to get along with everyone and chose to clean up Beverly's mess all of the time as well as her own.
"And why did you fall asleep? Because you were out for most of the night, you had me worried sick! Where were you this time, Beverly?" She demanded standing outside of Beverly's room with her hands on her hips and shouting through the door. Beverly re-appeared, changed into something more casual, after all she was only going to meet one of Walker's friends.
"Me? I was rehearsing for the dance competition in St. Louis, I can't afford not to it's in a few weeks and you know how important this is to me, Kathy." She paused and took a deep breath continuing to try and explain. "Please don't go on. You know I have to be the best in order to win first place in jazz and tap, the competition will be very strong." Beverly walked past Kathleen and into the kitchen to get a drink of orange from the replicator.
"Are your exams as important? You know they're in a few weeks as well." God, she was beginning to sound like her Grandmother.
"Yes of course they're as important, if I don't pass these I can forget about getting into medical school next year. Please don't go on." She asked again but Kathy would not let up, which was partly Beverly's fault. She took a gulp of her orange and went back into the sitting area as Kathy picked up Beverly's jacket and folded it neatly.
"You'll do good to remember that from time to time then." Kathleen walked over to Beverly- who was just sitting down, and grabbed the juice off her. Putting the glass down on the coffee table she pulled Beverly back up to a standing position. "Come on, we're already late. Walker's not going to be very happy and he said he wants you to meet someone, and being late isn't a very good..."
"First impression, right." She finished what Kathleen was saying. "Come on then." They both left their apartment and headed for the transporter to take them to the small cafe across town- it would be a lot quicker than walking the whole distance, or taking a shuttle for that matter.
Kathy and Beverly had been roommates for nearly a year now and both were good friends. Kathy kept Beverly on her toes and stopped her from going a little off the tracks, as she seemed to do occasionally, and Beverly helped Kathy with her confidence, which lead her to constantly nag Beverly. Was it a mistake she kept asking herself, to teach her friend what she had to put up with herself- which was to open her mouth and speak what she felt without thinking about it first? Her 'smart mouth;' as one or two of her instructors had called it, had got her into trouble on more than one occasion.
A few months ago Beverly had introduced Kathy to one of her best friends, Walker Keel. The minute they had met they had hit it off like a spark and had been seeing quite a bit of each other lately, which was doing wonders for Kathy's confidence- she was like another person entirely.
They were off to meet Walker Keel and a friend of his who he thought Beverly should meet- he was always trying to be a matchmaker. Beverly was a little bit nervous about meeting someone new in a social way; she had no problem if they were injured or if it was strictly professional because she would be in control then. That actually seemed silly to have a lack of confidence since she was an actress and a dancer, as well as a potential medical student but that was the way it was, and she couldn't help it.
They got to the transporter at the Academy and were transported across to the other side of town immediately, and to the cafe where they were supposed to meet Walker- and friend. They moved into the cafe to look for them but they weren't there. "See, we've missed them now. Walker's going to think I stood him up and God knows what his friend is going to think." Kathy whined as they both looked around the cafe. It was quite small inside and only seated around thirty people at a time but a lot of seats were out on the patio. The weather was usually quite warm in San Francisco and so most people chose the sit outside anyway.
"Well, we've wasted too many transporter tokens getting here just to go back home now, we may as well stay and have a coffee at least. And stop whining will you, Walker's not that stupid and he knows what I'm like with punctuality. Maybe they've got stuck somewhere as well and are late because of it."
They ordered two cups of coffee and sat at a table out on the patio since it was such a lovely evening that was just setting in. They had been to the cafe numerous times over the last year; in fact it was the main place where Academy cadets went to unwind, and where Beverly had introduced Kathy to her good friend Walker.
"I suppose you're right but if he's late then I'm not impressed." She said and Beverly laughed at her.
"Oh come on now, Kathy. Don't start an...." Just then Walker and friend came around the corner towards them. Walker looked the same as usual, dark haired, very neat and basically a model Starfleet cadet- soon to be ensign. His friend on the other hand was perfect in Beverly's opinion, slightly shorter than Walker, with dark hair, and his eyes... were just so... salubrious- if that was the word for it. Kathy and Beverly both stood to greet them, then all four sat down- Beverly almost fell down as her legs instantly turned to jelly.
"I'm really sorry for being late, Kathy. My friend here isn't very punctual." Walker said apologising and slapping his friend on the shoulder. Beverly smiled inwardly trying not to stare at Walker's friend- he was really quite handsome.
"That makes two of them then, Walker." Kathy said laughing.
"Right, we all know what Beverly's like for time keeping." Walker said smiling at her and knowing that she was getting embarrassed. "Well let me introduce you to Cadet First Class Jack Crusher. Jack this is my healthy side kick Kathleen Hunter, whom I told you about," he held out his hand to her and she knocked it away in mock annoyance. "And her room mate Beverly... What's your second name again, Bev?"
"Walker, how long have we known each other?" Beverly asked though she knew he was just joking with her.
"Of course, Howard. Beverly Howard."
"Pleased to meet you Jack." Beverly said staring at him, caught by his dark eyes and unwilling to try to escape. She held out her hand and he shook it gently.
"Nice to finally meet you in person, Beverly. I've heard so much about you. Pleased to meet you also Kathy." Jack said to each of them.
"Jack." She greeted in return. A waiter came over to the table and Jack ordered coffee for himself and Walker, Kathy and Beverly still had theirs. "How did you two meet?" Kathy asked Walker.
"Jack's graduating from the Academy this year but we're on several teams together, so he's a lot older than me but still single, and we're room mates." He said looking at Beverly.
"Walker! Don't embarrass me like that," Beverly protested. "And he's not that much older than you, only two years."
"Why thank you, Miss. Howard. Walker has a way of making you feel comfortable doesn't he?" Jack said sarcastically. His piercing personality and sense of humor, his charm, wit and good looks to top it all immediately caught Beverly. He hadn't said much so far but she just knew they were going to get along fine, quite fine.
"He sure does, he's been doing it most of his life." Beverly replied, the feeling of nervousness slowly going away from her.
"How long have you known Walker, Beverly?" Jack asked.
"Please call me Bev, it's a lot easier," Jack nodded. "Walker and I have known each other since high school, we were in each others classes for a time and lived right next door to each other for most of our childhood."
"Bev's still single," Walker said cutting in and nudging Jack at the same time. Beverly went bright red.
"Walker, you know how she gets around new people." Kathy said, Beverly went a shade redder and gave Kathy a look as if to say, you really didn't have to mention that.
"Well they both have one thing in common at least, neither of them are very good time keepers." Walker said chuckling.
"Alright you guys, stop match making."
"Oh, I was quite enjoying it, weren't you, Bev?" Jack asked staring at her as if for the first time.
"Well, I believe in.... Are we just going to sit here all night?" She asked drinking the last mouthful of coffee.
"No, we're not. I'm sorry it's such a short meeting but we have exams coming up and really must get going home." Kathy replied. Beverly knocked her arm and whispered to her.
"Kath, that's not very polite."
"No but you were out late last night and you have to get studying."
"Nag, nag, nag." Beverly said under her breath, Jack heard and smiled.
"Say what you want, Bev but you know I'm right, and I'm just looking out for your interests." Kathy told her.
"Alright," she said getting up from the table and holding her hands up in surrender. "Sorry, we have to go. See you again Walker and nice to have met you, Jack. I hope I see you around Starfleet sometime."
"Wait we'll walk you back to your apartment, it's getting dark." Jack offered.
"Okay, that'll be good." Beverly said a little too quickly and felt a bit embarrassed for it.
"Great." They all got up and Walker and Kathy held hands setting off immediately and walking along without a care in the world.
"Well, that's nice of them just leaving us like that." Jack sighed, "I hope you know the way."
"Of course I do, I've lived here for a year." They started to walk along.
"So where are you originally from, Bev?"
"I was born in Copernicus City, it's a lunar colony. I lived there when I was little, which is when I lived near to Walker. Unfortunately my mother and father died when I was young and I moved to the Arvada Three colony where I lived with my grandmother for a time."
"Really? I was born in Ohio, it's not very interesting though."
"No, go on, I want to hear." The truth was that she actually loved the sound of his voice, it was so soft and capturing.
"Well I was raised in Ohio, went to school there. I lived with my parents in the city, my father is in Starfleet and my mother is a scientist in a civilian medical laboratory. I graduated the Academy high school and was accepted to the command school here in San Francisco, which is where I am today." They walked along in silence for a bit taking in the sunset as they walked along the river and over the Golden Gate Bridge. "So, what do you want to do when you graduate?" She expected that he already knew since Walker had told him a great deal about her- apparently, but she decided to tell him anyway, just to keep the conversation going.
"I always wanted to be an actress and dancer when I was little but when I moved to the Arvada colony to live with my grandmother, she taught me all about homeopathic medicine, and I became interested in that. That's why I'm going to medical school next year and then, well who knows what then, hopefully a starship or space station. Anything to get me away from planets and out into the great unknown." Beverly said looking up at the darkening sky and the stars that were beginning to poke through.
"That's exactly why I joined Starfleet, I love challenges and the sense of command, being out there in control of a starship." The night was rapidly drawing in and the temperature was dropping now that the sun had gone in. Beverly shivered involuntarily- or was it. Jack was trying to create a good impression after all, and since he didn't have a coat it was his duty to try and keep her warm. "Are you cold, Beverly?" He asked and she nodded as she shivered again. "I'm sorry I don't have a coat to offer you." He was actually still in his cadets' uniform, apparently he hadn't had time to change.
"That's alright, Jack." She said slightly disappointed.
"You could put your arm around me if you like, I'm actually quite warm." She jumped at the chance and did exactly as he suggested. He put his arm around her as well and she felt a lot better knowing that he was close to her. "It's because we're close to the sea here, the temperature always drops in the evening when the sun's gone in." They walked for a short time without speaking. "Where do you live anyway, Beverly?"
"River Walk Campus down by the park." She told him smiling and feeling a bit guilty as he figured it out.
"Well that's not far from where we were and yet it seems to have taken ages to walk."
"We came the long way, Jack." She admitted.
"Oh." Was his reply, well what had she expected him to say.
"Where do you and Walker live?" She asked trying to turn the conversation back to him before he asked her why they had gone the long way.
"We're based on the main campus of the Academy command school, it's a lot easier to get to classes without having to use the transporter. Even first class cadets don't get that many transporter credits."
"Yes, I know what you mean. I hope to be moving into the medical school campus soon but at the moment, we are quite a walk from the Academy itself. At least it keeps you fit though, which is something I especially need to do at the moment."
"Why is that then?" Jack asked interested, there weren't a great deal of fitness tests on around exam time.
"I'm a dancer, tap, ballet and jazz. I've got a competition in St. Louis coming up in a few weeks." Beverly explained.
"Really? That's great. I can't dance a step actually. Maybe you could teach me, it's always a useful thing to have." He said turning slightly to her to see her reaction, she smiled and looked directly at him.
"If you're serious I'd love to." She replied smiling, it meant that she would get to spend some more time with him.
"Sure." They came to her apartment and found Walker and Kathy waiting for them.
"What took you two so long?" Walker asked immediately suspicious.
"We just walked slowly, it was rather pleasant." Was Jack's short defensive reply to his friend.
"Right come on, Jack, let's let these two ladies get some studying done." Walker kissed Kathy goodnight and moved over to Jack. Jack gave Beverly a quick peck on the cheek.
"This is a surprise, Jack. You're a fast mover when you want to be." Walker said making Jack immediately uncomfortable again.
"Well goodnight then, Bev. I'll see you again?" Jack asked staring into her eyes and holding her gaze easily enough.
"Yes, certainly. Just contact me and let me know when you want those lessons."
"I will definitely do that, soon. Goodnight." He said walking backwards away from her and then turning to Walker. "Do you have to do that, Walker?"
"Do what, Jack?" He asked mischievously.
"You know perfectly well what."
"Goodnight Jack, Walker." Walker and Jack went off and Beverly and Kathy went inside.
"I'm in love," Beverly announced flopping onto her bed. "He's adorable."
"You've only just met him." Kathleen sat at her desk sorting the padds containing her study notes out.
"Yes, I know. Isn't it great though? He wants me to give him dancing lessons, and I've learned so much about him already. He's perfect, amazing, wonderful, indescribable, the best."
"That's what you said about Marc English." Kathy replied seriously.
"Yes but Jack is so different, I just know he's right." Beverly said, propping herself up on one arm and looking at Kathy round the door.
"I thought you would like him. Just don't go rushing into anything though, and remember that we have exams."
"Exams, exams, exams. Is there nothing else in your life?" Beverly asked sitting herself up on the bed.
"Well of course there is, I just don't let him interfere." She replied curtly.
"Yes but Jack wouldn't be interfering." Beverly retaliated.
"Just go slowly for a bit, Bev. That's all I'm asking, now go to sleep or get some studying done, I want to get some of this work out of the way."
"Oh how can I sleep after meeting my soul mate? How can I ever do anything?" Beverly asked her.
"I really don't care, Bev. Do anything you want, just so long as it's quiet."
"Goodnight then, Kathy." Beverly said, "Oh, Kathy. Why did you let me go out to meet him dressed like this?" She asked as she got changed into her bedclothes.
"Would you have changed if I had told you to?" Kathleen asked, knowing what the answer would be.
"Probably not. Goodnight." She said as she tried to sleep and dream about Jack Crusher.
A/N: Please leave a review. Thanks.
She woke up on the bench under the oak tree, in the garden. She stretched and sat up looking about her slightly disoriented. The sun had come out and the storm had long gone, as if it had never been there at all. She yawned, wondering how long she had been asleep and looked up to see that the sun was directly above her; which meant that it was late in the afternoon. Suddenly it dawned on her that she was supposed to be meeting her friends from the Academy. She leapt to her feet and took a moment to become orientated; looking about and realising that she had fallen asleep in the gardens near her home in San Francisco.
She stepped out from under the tree and looked up towards the blue sky again with it's billowing white clouds, it was quite hot and she took off the jacket she was wearing- funny she had sworn she was wearing a Starfleet uniform and black cloak. Maybe she had dreamt it, not to worry she was going to be late if she didn't hurry- and that simply wouldn't do.
She moved off down the road that led out onto the main street, which ran along the riverbank. Various buildings were lined along one side over looking the river. These buildings had been converted into apartments and were owned by Starfleet, and were lived in by the first year cadets of Starfleet Academy. They had been built on the site of the old train station and tracks of the twenty-first century, and the shipyards; for sailing ships that was- not space ships.
She came to the end of the block and turned right into a side street, then walked further up the street and turned right again into a large entranceway to one of the apartments- the one that she lived in. The apartments were a sort of sandstone in colour with a very modern design to them. Her apartment was brand new and had recently been refurbished with lots of new gadgets and equipment. She lived in a two bedroomed apartment and had one other person living with her. There were also five more apartments in the building, making a total of three upstairs and three down. She ran up a few stairs and entered her apartment at the beginning of the long corridor on the first floor. Her roommate Kathleen Hunter was sitting on the couch and didn't look too happy with her. Beverly dropped her jacket on the floor and walked straight past Kathleen.
"Beverly Howard. If I have to tell you once more I'm going to scream!" She said, clearly annoyed.
"What?" Beverly asked rushing into her room to get changed.
"If you're going to survive in Starfleet you're going to have to be a bit more punctual than this. It won't do to have you late when an emergency has been called, it could result in deaths..."
"Alright, Kathy. I'm here now. I fell asleep that's all." She said sighing and trying to think of any excuse that would work, Kathy was always going on at her these days, she was obsessed with promptness and neatness. Kathy was a tall slender woman with dark brown, shoulder length hair, and was very fit indeed. She liked everything just so and was quite house- proud. Beverly had seemed to be completely incompatible as a room mate when they had first moved in together, but Kathy was the kind of person to get along with everyone and chose to clean up Beverly's mess all of the time as well as her own.
"And why did you fall asleep? Because you were out for most of the night, you had me worried sick! Where were you this time, Beverly?" She demanded standing outside of Beverly's room with her hands on her hips and shouting through the door. Beverly re-appeared, changed into something more casual, after all she was only going to meet one of Walker's friends.
"Me? I was rehearsing for the dance competition in St. Louis, I can't afford not to it's in a few weeks and you know how important this is to me, Kathy." She paused and took a deep breath continuing to try and explain. "Please don't go on. You know I have to be the best in order to win first place in jazz and tap, the competition will be very strong." Beverly walked past Kathleen and into the kitchen to get a drink of orange from the replicator.
"Are your exams as important? You know they're in a few weeks as well." God, she was beginning to sound like her Grandmother.
"Yes of course they're as important, if I don't pass these I can forget about getting into medical school next year. Please don't go on." She asked again but Kathy would not let up, which was partly Beverly's fault. She took a gulp of her orange and went back into the sitting area as Kathy picked up Beverly's jacket and folded it neatly.
"You'll do good to remember that from time to time then." Kathleen walked over to Beverly- who was just sitting down, and grabbed the juice off her. Putting the glass down on the coffee table she pulled Beverly back up to a standing position. "Come on, we're already late. Walker's not going to be very happy and he said he wants you to meet someone, and being late isn't a very good..."
"First impression, right." She finished what Kathleen was saying. "Come on then." They both left their apartment and headed for the transporter to take them to the small cafe across town- it would be a lot quicker than walking the whole distance, or taking a shuttle for that matter.
Kathy and Beverly had been roommates for nearly a year now and both were good friends. Kathy kept Beverly on her toes and stopped her from going a little off the tracks, as she seemed to do occasionally, and Beverly helped Kathy with her confidence, which lead her to constantly nag Beverly. Was it a mistake she kept asking herself, to teach her friend what she had to put up with herself- which was to open her mouth and speak what she felt without thinking about it first? Her 'smart mouth;' as one or two of her instructors had called it, had got her into trouble on more than one occasion.
A few months ago Beverly had introduced Kathy to one of her best friends, Walker Keel. The minute they had met they had hit it off like a spark and had been seeing quite a bit of each other lately, which was doing wonders for Kathy's confidence- she was like another person entirely.
They were off to meet Walker Keel and a friend of his who he thought Beverly should meet- he was always trying to be a matchmaker. Beverly was a little bit nervous about meeting someone new in a social way; she had no problem if they were injured or if it was strictly professional because she would be in control then. That actually seemed silly to have a lack of confidence since she was an actress and a dancer, as well as a potential medical student but that was the way it was, and she couldn't help it.
They got to the transporter at the Academy and were transported across to the other side of town immediately, and to the cafe where they were supposed to meet Walker- and friend. They moved into the cafe to look for them but they weren't there. "See, we've missed them now. Walker's going to think I stood him up and God knows what his friend is going to think." Kathy whined as they both looked around the cafe. It was quite small inside and only seated around thirty people at a time but a lot of seats were out on the patio. The weather was usually quite warm in San Francisco and so most people chose the sit outside anyway.
"Well, we've wasted too many transporter tokens getting here just to go back home now, we may as well stay and have a coffee at least. And stop whining will you, Walker's not that stupid and he knows what I'm like with punctuality. Maybe they've got stuck somewhere as well and are late because of it."
They ordered two cups of coffee and sat at a table out on the patio since it was such a lovely evening that was just setting in. They had been to the cafe numerous times over the last year; in fact it was the main place where Academy cadets went to unwind, and where Beverly had introduced Kathy to her good friend Walker.
"I suppose you're right but if he's late then I'm not impressed." She said and Beverly laughed at her.
"Oh come on now, Kathy. Don't start an...." Just then Walker and friend came around the corner towards them. Walker looked the same as usual, dark haired, very neat and basically a model Starfleet cadet- soon to be ensign. His friend on the other hand was perfect in Beverly's opinion, slightly shorter than Walker, with dark hair, and his eyes... were just so... salubrious- if that was the word for it. Kathy and Beverly both stood to greet them, then all four sat down- Beverly almost fell down as her legs instantly turned to jelly.
"I'm really sorry for being late, Kathy. My friend here isn't very punctual." Walker said apologising and slapping his friend on the shoulder. Beverly smiled inwardly trying not to stare at Walker's friend- he was really quite handsome.
"That makes two of them then, Walker." Kathy said laughing.
"Right, we all know what Beverly's like for time keeping." Walker said smiling at her and knowing that she was getting embarrassed. "Well let me introduce you to Cadet First Class Jack Crusher. Jack this is my healthy side kick Kathleen Hunter, whom I told you about," he held out his hand to her and she knocked it away in mock annoyance. "And her room mate Beverly... What's your second name again, Bev?"
"Walker, how long have we known each other?" Beverly asked though she knew he was just joking with her.
"Of course, Howard. Beverly Howard."
"Pleased to meet you Jack." Beverly said staring at him, caught by his dark eyes and unwilling to try to escape. She held out her hand and he shook it gently.
"Nice to finally meet you in person, Beverly. I've heard so much about you. Pleased to meet you also Kathy." Jack said to each of them.
"Jack." She greeted in return. A waiter came over to the table and Jack ordered coffee for himself and Walker, Kathy and Beverly still had theirs. "How did you two meet?" Kathy asked Walker.
"Jack's graduating from the Academy this year but we're on several teams together, so he's a lot older than me but still single, and we're room mates." He said looking at Beverly.
"Walker! Don't embarrass me like that," Beverly protested. "And he's not that much older than you, only two years."
"Why thank you, Miss. Howard. Walker has a way of making you feel comfortable doesn't he?" Jack said sarcastically. His piercing personality and sense of humor, his charm, wit and good looks to top it all immediately caught Beverly. He hadn't said much so far but she just knew they were going to get along fine, quite fine.
"He sure does, he's been doing it most of his life." Beverly replied, the feeling of nervousness slowly going away from her.
"How long have you known Walker, Beverly?" Jack asked.
"Please call me Bev, it's a lot easier," Jack nodded. "Walker and I have known each other since high school, we were in each others classes for a time and lived right next door to each other for most of our childhood."
"Bev's still single," Walker said cutting in and nudging Jack at the same time. Beverly went bright red.
"Walker, you know how she gets around new people." Kathy said, Beverly went a shade redder and gave Kathy a look as if to say, you really didn't have to mention that.
"Well they both have one thing in common at least, neither of them are very good time keepers." Walker said chuckling.
"Alright you guys, stop match making."
"Oh, I was quite enjoying it, weren't you, Bev?" Jack asked staring at her as if for the first time.
"Well, I believe in.... Are we just going to sit here all night?" She asked drinking the last mouthful of coffee.
"No, we're not. I'm sorry it's such a short meeting but we have exams coming up and really must get going home." Kathy replied. Beverly knocked her arm and whispered to her.
"Kath, that's not very polite."
"No but you were out late last night and you have to get studying."
"Nag, nag, nag." Beverly said under her breath, Jack heard and smiled.
"Say what you want, Bev but you know I'm right, and I'm just looking out for your interests." Kathy told her.
"Alright," she said getting up from the table and holding her hands up in surrender. "Sorry, we have to go. See you again Walker and nice to have met you, Jack. I hope I see you around Starfleet sometime."
"Wait we'll walk you back to your apartment, it's getting dark." Jack offered.
"Okay, that'll be good." Beverly said a little too quickly and felt a bit embarrassed for it.
"Great." They all got up and Walker and Kathy held hands setting off immediately and walking along without a care in the world.
"Well, that's nice of them just leaving us like that." Jack sighed, "I hope you know the way."
"Of course I do, I've lived here for a year." They started to walk along.
"So where are you originally from, Bev?"
"I was born in Copernicus City, it's a lunar colony. I lived there when I was little, which is when I lived near to Walker. Unfortunately my mother and father died when I was young and I moved to the Arvada Three colony where I lived with my grandmother for a time."
"Really? I was born in Ohio, it's not very interesting though."
"No, go on, I want to hear." The truth was that she actually loved the sound of his voice, it was so soft and capturing.
"Well I was raised in Ohio, went to school there. I lived with my parents in the city, my father is in Starfleet and my mother is a scientist in a civilian medical laboratory. I graduated the Academy high school and was accepted to the command school here in San Francisco, which is where I am today." They walked along in silence for a bit taking in the sunset as they walked along the river and over the Golden Gate Bridge. "So, what do you want to do when you graduate?" She expected that he already knew since Walker had told him a great deal about her- apparently, but she decided to tell him anyway, just to keep the conversation going.
"I always wanted to be an actress and dancer when I was little but when I moved to the Arvada colony to live with my grandmother, she taught me all about homeopathic medicine, and I became interested in that. That's why I'm going to medical school next year and then, well who knows what then, hopefully a starship or space station. Anything to get me away from planets and out into the great unknown." Beverly said looking up at the darkening sky and the stars that were beginning to poke through.
"That's exactly why I joined Starfleet, I love challenges and the sense of command, being out there in control of a starship." The night was rapidly drawing in and the temperature was dropping now that the sun had gone in. Beverly shivered involuntarily- or was it. Jack was trying to create a good impression after all, and since he didn't have a coat it was his duty to try and keep her warm. "Are you cold, Beverly?" He asked and she nodded as she shivered again. "I'm sorry I don't have a coat to offer you." He was actually still in his cadets' uniform, apparently he hadn't had time to change.
"That's alright, Jack." She said slightly disappointed.
"You could put your arm around me if you like, I'm actually quite warm." She jumped at the chance and did exactly as he suggested. He put his arm around her as well and she felt a lot better knowing that he was close to her. "It's because we're close to the sea here, the temperature always drops in the evening when the sun's gone in." They walked for a short time without speaking. "Where do you live anyway, Beverly?"
"River Walk Campus down by the park." She told him smiling and feeling a bit guilty as he figured it out.
"Well that's not far from where we were and yet it seems to have taken ages to walk."
"We came the long way, Jack." She admitted.
"Oh." Was his reply, well what had she expected him to say.
"Where do you and Walker live?" She asked trying to turn the conversation back to him before he asked her why they had gone the long way.
"We're based on the main campus of the Academy command school, it's a lot easier to get to classes without having to use the transporter. Even first class cadets don't get that many transporter credits."
"Yes, I know what you mean. I hope to be moving into the medical school campus soon but at the moment, we are quite a walk from the Academy itself. At least it keeps you fit though, which is something I especially need to do at the moment."
"Why is that then?" Jack asked interested, there weren't a great deal of fitness tests on around exam time.
"I'm a dancer, tap, ballet and jazz. I've got a competition in St. Louis coming up in a few weeks." Beverly explained.
"Really? That's great. I can't dance a step actually. Maybe you could teach me, it's always a useful thing to have." He said turning slightly to her to see her reaction, she smiled and looked directly at him.
"If you're serious I'd love to." She replied smiling, it meant that she would get to spend some more time with him.
"Sure." They came to her apartment and found Walker and Kathy waiting for them.
"What took you two so long?" Walker asked immediately suspicious.
"We just walked slowly, it was rather pleasant." Was Jack's short defensive reply to his friend.
"Right come on, Jack, let's let these two ladies get some studying done." Walker kissed Kathy goodnight and moved over to Jack. Jack gave Beverly a quick peck on the cheek.
"This is a surprise, Jack. You're a fast mover when you want to be." Walker said making Jack immediately uncomfortable again.
"Well goodnight then, Bev. I'll see you again?" Jack asked staring into her eyes and holding her gaze easily enough.
"Yes, certainly. Just contact me and let me know when you want those lessons."
"I will definitely do that, soon. Goodnight." He said walking backwards away from her and then turning to Walker. "Do you have to do that, Walker?"
"Do what, Jack?" He asked mischievously.
"You know perfectly well what."
"Goodnight Jack, Walker." Walker and Jack went off and Beverly and Kathy went inside.
"I'm in love," Beverly announced flopping onto her bed. "He's adorable."
"You've only just met him." Kathleen sat at her desk sorting the padds containing her study notes out.
"Yes, I know. Isn't it great though? He wants me to give him dancing lessons, and I've learned so much about him already. He's perfect, amazing, wonderful, indescribable, the best."
"That's what you said about Marc English." Kathy replied seriously.
"Yes but Jack is so different, I just know he's right." Beverly said, propping herself up on one arm and looking at Kathy round the door.
"I thought you would like him. Just don't go rushing into anything though, and remember that we have exams."
"Exams, exams, exams. Is there nothing else in your life?" Beverly asked sitting herself up on the bed.
"Well of course there is, I just don't let him interfere." She replied curtly.
"Yes but Jack wouldn't be interfering." Beverly retaliated.
"Just go slowly for a bit, Bev. That's all I'm asking, now go to sleep or get some studying done, I want to get some of this work out of the way."
"Oh how can I sleep after meeting my soul mate? How can I ever do anything?" Beverly asked her.
"I really don't care, Bev. Do anything you want, just so long as it's quiet."
"Goodnight then, Kathy." Beverly said, "Oh, Kathy. Why did you let me go out to meet him dressed like this?" She asked as she got changed into her bedclothes.
"Would you have changed if I had told you to?" Kathleen asked, knowing what the answer would be.
"Probably not. Goodnight." She said as she tried to sleep and dream about Jack Crusher.
A/N: Please leave a review. Thanks.