Days later, Alice finds herself out in the field with Krystina, clipboard in hand as 20 or so agents stand lined up in front of them. Duncan's just finished giving them instructions - hit the target with only 3 bullets.
"Okay, ladies and gentlemen, show us what you've got. This is all going back to the big guys, so make it count. I'm headed back to the office, but don't think that that means these ladies will take it easy on you." Sinclair nods at the group as he finishes his speech, and turns to head back across the field towards the main building.
"Alright," Krystina barks, and Alice eyes the group as they step to the front. "Three bullets, and you'd better hit that target."
The agents step forward, two at a time, readying their guns. Alice, Krystina, and another girl from inside step behind them, clipboards at the ready.
Alice walks down the line, observing the men and women as they shoot off their rounds. She tries to keep her face neutral as Tom steps up, but she's really curious to see what he'll do. There's been talk about his lack of ability to shoot, and she wants to know if it's true.
She watches as he hesitates, taking note of how unsteadily he's holding the gun. The agent to his left finishes and a new one steps up, and Tom still hasn't fired a shot.
"Let's go, Agent Cummings."
He glances at her quickly, as if he's surprised she's standing there. She raises her eyebrows and he looks back at the target, lifting the gun slowly. It takes a moment, but he finally pulls the trigger - and completely misses the target. She scribbles on her notepad as he lets out a noise of annoyance, before lifting the gun again.
"Come on, America, step it up," she says as he hesitates again, lowering her clipboard. He sighs frustratedly, turning to her with an exasperated look.
"As if you could do any better, Scarlett."
It's a challenge - one she knows she should ignore - but the competitiveness in her is eating away, and so she stands up taller, handing the clipboard off to Jane. She extends her hand for his gun, and he rolls his eyes before placing it in her palm.
She steps up to the marked 'x' on the ground, lifting the gun to eye level. She closes one eye, her finger on the trigger, and takes a deep breath, holding it. She pulls the trigger, and with smooth swiftness, the gun unloads. She knows immediately that she's hit the middle of the target, and watches smugly as the bullet hits red.
She turns back to Tom, extending the gun to him. He takes it back begrudgingly, and she nods.
"Your turn to impress me, Mr. Cummings."
Later that night, Alice is on her way to the cot for her hour of sleep when Duncan asks her to check in quickly on the agents in the lounge. She knew they'd been drinking - something Duncan had encouraged - and she also knew he'd have them up at the crack of dawn to run laps around the camp. It was a surprisingly efficient training exercise, as Duncan liked to say.
She's surprised when she enters the lounge to find it empty save for one person. She supposed the others had finally left for bed. She's unsure if she should speak, since the man looks lost in deep thought, but he saves her a decision by looking up and nodding as he acknowledges her presence.
"Hey."
Alice bites her lip as he takes another sip of his drink. "Hey, Cummings."
He stares down at his feet, silent for a moment before adding, "I looked like an idiot out there today, Scarlett."
"It wasn't my intent to upset you," she says, immediately defensive, crossing her arms. "And I didn't mean to offend your masculinity, or bruise your ego. I simply did what had to be done."
He stares at the glass in his hand, and to her surprise, he shakes his head. "No," he sighs. "I'm the one who made myself look bad."
She's taken aback. She had been expecting a snide remark, but the blond man says nothing more. She stands on her toes awkwardly, the room thick with the silence that surrounds them. Just when she's wondering if she should leave, he speaks up again.
"Do you think I can do it?"
She's confused. "Do what?"
He waves his hand in the air around him. "This."
She's surprised to hear genuine concern in his voice as he speaks, and she's not sure how to respond. She opts for a professional answer.
"Your scores are going up by the day, Tom," she tells him. "And I'm sure you know better than anyone that you can talk your way out of anything," she tries to joke, but he doesn't smile. It's quiet between them for another moment, until he speaks again.
"How long have you been here?"
She's startled, yet again, by his question. "Camp?" She clarifies. Tom nods, and Alice pauses. "It's been... almost 7 months now, I suppose." Tom nods slowly, taking another drink.
"Can I ask you something?" She nods. "How do you…" He pauses. "How do you not tell your family everything?" He finally speaks again, and shakes his head. "How do you lie to them every time you talk to them?"
Alice is genuinely surprised by his sudden questions and subject changes, and for a moment, she's not sure how to respond. He's a little bit drunk, she can tell, and she tries to choose her words carefully. "By telling myself I'm protecting them. That's the easiest way," she tells him softly.
He nods again, his eyebrows furrowed as if deep in thought. She turns to leave, her mind racing with the new side of the man she's just seen. She's almost out the door when he calls after her one last time.
"Hey, Scarlett?"
She rolls her eyes at the name, but turns back to him. "Yeah?"
"Sorry I'm a bit of a jerk."
Guys, I am SO sorry this took so long! I'm back in uni, and trying to get my life together. Here's hoping updates come soon!