Last Time: Rebecca applies for Airborne school.

"Do one thing that scares you everyday." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Now: Rebecca and Michelle meet up with a friend.


Chapter 4 - The Hard Part

"So, how do you think it went?" Michelle asked, prodding Rebecca in the rib cage with her elbow.

The impending rain that threatened the city pretty much summed up how Rebecca felt as the two began their journey back to the hotel.

Rebecca looked up at the glum New York sky sighing. "I don't know! They asked me about everything; my math scores, my extracurriculars, you name it." She exclaimed.

Michelle saw the distressed look on Rebecca's face and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. She knew that Rebecca tended to worry herself sick over things she had no control over. "You can't worry about it too much. You did your part and that's the only thing you have control over."

"Let's just get back to the hotel before it starts to downpour."

XXX

James sat on a plush velvet covered bench next to the elevator doors, enjoying the last few puffs of his cigarette, when a loud crack of thunder pulled him from his thoughts. He drew a long puff from his coffin nail, his eyes fixated on the revolving door and the rain splattering down on the pavement. James still wondered about what Rebecca was so preoccupied with this morning. The last time he saw the woman, she nearly barged him down in the elevator from excitement, then the next moment she looked like she just lost her best friend.

James sighed, plucking the cigarette from his lips and flicking it in the ashtray beside him. He just couldn't work out female emotions.

The sucking sound of the revolving door drew James's attention to the front of the lobby. He watched as Rebecca and the other girl she left with this morning scurried inside to escape the rain.

Both women had their dress jackets canopied over their heads to shield their hands from the rain. Typical women, James chuckled, always worried about their hair.

He figured they were both headed back to their room so he preemptively pressed the elevator button and strode over to the pair.

"Didn't know it was gonna rain today?" James snickered at the two.

Both shot him annoyed glares as they took their wet jackets and draped them over their arms. James looked at Rebecca and could sense something was still on her mind. Her dark brown eyes flickered with worry and she wore a frown that he knew wasn't just because she was caught out in the rain.

"Very funny, James," Rebecca retorted, as she attempted to slick back her already curling bun.

James felt a little pang of guilt for making the already frustrated woman more upset, so he attempted to make it right.

"Here," he motioned for the gal's jackets. "I'll take them to the drycleaners."

He watched a bit of surprise make its way onto Rebecca's face.

"That's awful sweet of you," Rebecca thanked, handing over her jacket.

The other woman, whom James didn't know looked at him curiously. "I didn't know you two were on a first name basis." She said, insinuating something else.

Rebecca quickly shot a glare at her friend trying to dismiss what she just said.

"Sorry, I don't believe we've been properly acquainted. I'm Michelle." She stuck out her hand for James to shake.

James smiled back at the slightly taller woman and gently shook her hand. To him, Michelle seemed to be the type of gal that had men lining up to dance with her, the type men ogled over. She was a Lana turner type, long legs, delicate features, and doe eyes that could make any man swoon. However, James didn't find himself particularly awestruck by Michelle.

"Pleasure."

James's attention flickered back towards Rebecca who was wiping down her skirt and patting her blouse from the rain that accumulated on it.

"I got the elevator for you ladies," James said, gesturing to the golden doors.

Michelle smirked at the man then at Rebecca. "Well, ain't that sweet. First you take our laundry then you get the elevator for us. Gee, this service is better than Biltmore."

James smiled a toothy grin. "Well, I'm up for a raise pretty soon."

Both laughed and began walking to the elevator. The three stepped in and James followed, pressing the button to their floor.

As the car began to depart, he still wanted to know what happened this morning that made Rebecca so upset. James knew it was none of his business but found himself on the verge of asking.

"So, this morning both of you looked a little upset, mind if I ask why?"

Rebecca looked up and sighed. "Just crazy army stuff, is all. We're deciding what division we want to go in since we graduated OCS. I decided on the Airborne."

James was taken aback. He heard about the Airborne but he didn't know that women were allowed to join. "I didn't know dames were allowed in."

"Neither did I until last night. I saw a Time's article on it."

The elevator made it to their floor and the two women exited, leaving James speechless and slackjawed.

Michelle and Rebecca turned back to see the astounded elevator operator. Both looked at each other and laughed.

"Hey, it's 1943. Times have changed especially since we're at war." Rebecca stated trying to snap James out of his stupor.

The golden doors of the elevator slowly began to close and James shook the shock out of himself. "Yeah, I guess so," He muttered to himself.

XXX

The two officers entered their room and breathed a sigh of relief once they flung their regulation dress heels across the floor. The hectic day was finally over.

However, as soon as Rebecca lied down on her bed to rest her eyes, Michelle flung herself on top of Rebecca's bed causing her to jerk awake.

"So, you and James seem pretty familiar with each other." Michelle smirked, wiggling her eyebrows.

Rebecca sat up in her bed, knitting her eyebrows together in confusion. "Why do you always have to go there? He's just someone I bumped into in the elevator and he can hold a conversation. Big deal."

"Yeah, but you guys really seem to click," She said, emphasizing the last word.

Rebecca rolled her eyes and took one of the plush pillows on her bed and tossed it at her friend. She could never understand how even in the most serious situations, Michelle's mind always went to pairing her up with some guy she hardly knew.

"You know, contrary to popular belief, not everyone is looking for a fella to have linked to their arm 24/7."

"Hey, he could be someone to write to when you're away at Airborne school." Michelle defended, throwing the pillow back at Rebecca. "You're such an old lady!"

"And you're khaki wacky!" Rebecca quipped, fixing her hair from the pillow assault.

Once Michelle finally dropped the argument, Rebecca laid back down on her bed. A sudden pit formed at the bottom of her stomach. Now, came the hard part: waiting.

- End Chapter -


A/N: I hope you liked the chapter, I know it was a bit of filler but I hope you enjoyed it none the less. If you did please let me know how I'm doing; feedback means everything! :3