Chapter 11

After the hanger incident we were both more aware of our surroundings as we attempted to control our emotions to prevent anymore accidental engine flares. Tomorrow was the start of the race so I decided to relax in a spa but because of how I was a guy I went in disguise until I was just outside the pits. When I arrived the tug in charge was on the phone and when she saw me approach she ushered me to take a seat until she was finished with her call. I went over to one of the plane chairs and relaxed as the padded chair felt really good against my wheels after the many days of training and my previous military life. It wasn't long before the receptionist finished her call and motion for me to approach the desk.
"Name?"
"Jet Jetstream and I'm here for the sauna, massage, and wax combo."
"ah here you are, Jet Jetstream. One of our staff will lead you to the sauna shortly."
The receptionist pressed a button on the desk and instantly a tug appeared from the door on right.
"Right this way sir."
As I followed the tug out of the room I heard the receptionist mutter under her breath, "that's two Frogfoots today."
I was curious about who the other Frogfoot could be while at the same time afraid that it was someone I knew. I didn't have to wait long because as soon as I entered the sauna there on the opposite end of the sauna was Natalie and Nissa. At the same time Natalie and I said, "What are you doing here! Me? What about you?"
The other occupants of the sauna ignored our outburst but I quickly parked in the spot next to Natalie after thanking the tug that lead me there.
"Since when did you like spas?"
"I could ask you the same thing Jet? Why are you here?"
"I'm here for the relaxing sauna then a relaxing massage then a wax. What about you and Nissa?"
"we are both doing the same thing as you."
The three of us sat in silence until I cleared my throat and said, "well this is awkward."
"agreed"
"agreed"
"well I'll be right back."
As Nissa left I failed to see the evil smirk on her face. After Nissa left we both decided to relax and enjoy the sauna. As the steam relaxed my joints I saw Natalie lean so that her left wing was touching the ground and her right wing was raised up. I found it strange that she would do that but then I heard a small snore come from her. I just chuckled and gently tapped her right wing with my left wing waking her up.
"Wh-What?"
"you fell asleep."
"oh heh. I guess saunas are as relaxing as they say they are. How long was I out?"
"not long. You kind of tipped though."
At the mention of her tipping over she blushed a bright red.
"did anyone else see me tipped over?"
"No. Everyone else is focused on relaxing."
"few. That's good...well I'm going on to the massages. You coming?"
"sure."
When we both exited the sauna we came face to face with Nissa and a staff tug.
"oh hey Nissa."
"where are you two going?"
"Jet and I are going for our messages; want to join?"
"Nah I'm going to relax in the sauna for a few more hours. You two enjoy yourselves."
Nissa went back into the sauna leaving the staff tug with us.
"so you two want to go for your messages yes?"
"yes please."
"right this way."
We followed the tug until we reached an outdoor patio with a beautiful garden in full bloom. We both stared at the garden with our mouths down and our eyes dilating to pin points.
"Wow!"
This was the only word the two of us could think of as we looked at the cascading waterfall in the back and the cherry blossoms lining the river. I don't know how long we stood there but we were interrupted by the messagers at the two message tables. I allowed Natalie to choose first then I followed suit and drove onto the other one. We both retracted our landing gear at the instructions of the massagers and relaxed in the padded table. After we were secured to the table so we wouldn't rock when the massagers were working the massagers started their work. I was admiring the garden and the peacefulness it contained when Natalie called my name.
"Hey Jet?"
"Yes Nat?"
"first don't call me Nat and second don't you think this garden is beautiful."
"yes the garden is very beautiful but your beauty outshines it and it will never fade."
At my compliment Natalie turned a bright red while closing her eyes. I sat there for what felt like ages relaxing and admiring the garden while Natalie remained quiet. I was starting to doze off from relaxation when Natalie opened her eyes. I looked over at her and saw that her eyes were shining with tears. I couldn't tell if they were tears of happiness, pain, or sadness but the tears were there. Natalie cleared her throat and looked me in the eyes.
"Jet. Do you love me?"
I steadied my breath and said, "yes I do love you Natalie."
At my response she let a deep sigh of relief and said the four words I thought I would never hear being said to me. "I love you to."
Since the tables weren't that far apart Natalie reached her wing over and put it on top of mine in a loving way. We stayed like that for the rest of the massage but at the back of my mind I had a feeling that Nissa had a wheel in this. When the massagers were finished we left and got our waxes and when we left the spa we were both shining bright from the wax. When we reached the pits we found the racing official waiting at the gate tapping his wheels and he had a cross look on his face.
"where have you two been?"
"um we were at the spa."
"oh that makes sense that Jet wouldn't want the other guys to find out that he went to the spa but at least he told me that he was heading out while you missy didn't so much as leave a note saying where you were going."
"and I apologize for that. I'm not used to having to tell people when I'm heading out."
"alright I'll let you off the hook this time but you can't be doing that during the races."
"yes sir."
Satisfied that he chewed Natalie out for leaving without telling any of the officials Frank left us to continue into the pits. As we rolled up to the new hanger we could hear laughter inside. We gave each other questioning glances and silently agreed to sneak up to the hanger door to see who was inside. Inside were our two mechanics laughing up a storm.
"I can't believe you did that to them."
"it's not like you wouldn't do it either."
"did you really change their order so that those two would be alone in the romantic room?"
"yes and I can't wait to see if they've fallen for each other because it's pretty obvious to us that they like each other."
"yeah I agree. My question is; when are they going to be back?"
"I don't really know. If they just went through the spa and nothing happened then they should be here soon but if they went out on a date then who knows when they'll be back."
After hearing that I rotated by mini-gun under my nosecone to make a low whirring noise. As soon as the noise entered the hanger Luke froze because he knew that sound.
"um Nissa."
"yes Luke?"
"they're here and heard everything we just said."
When Luke said that Nissa turned as pale as Luke. They slowly turned around to face two irritated war planes.
"I can't believe that you did that Nissa. I trusted you to stay out of my love life."
"heh in my defense I just changed around where the message was taking place at nothing else."
Just as she said that Ishani drove in to the hanger.
"Hay Nissa do you think you could..."
Ishani froze when she saw the two irritated war planes.
"um did I come at a bad time?"
The two tugs and Natalie said in unison, "yes"
"um I'll come talk to you later Nissa."
"alright."
Then she said under her breath, "If I survive."
"well by."
Ishani backed out and rushed away from the hanger. Once she was gone Natalie continued her lecture to Nissa when the two girls noticed that I hadn't said a word.
"Jet? Aren't you mad that she set us up in an awkward situation?"
I remained silent but my angry gaze made Nissa cringe in fright. After a few minutes of silence Natalie gave Luke a questioning glance.
"you don't want to know what he is capable of doing when you get him mad. In my opinion if you get him mad enough you are signing your death wish."
That statement from Luke only made Nissa cringe in even more fear and it caused her to back away from me. The room was deathly quiet until I finally spoke, "we will deal with this after the rally."
Nissa let out a sigh of relief.
"But!"
She froze in her sigh.
"it doesn't mean your off the hook."
She seamed to wither on the spot when I said that.
"now if you three don't mind I would like to get some sleep for the race tomorrow."
After I said that I rolled over to my sleeping mat and fell into a deep sleep and the rest quickly followed.