Chapter 12 – A Night to Remember
November 8, 2010 0000hrs Sand Island AFB
As soon as we arrived back at Sand Island form yesterday's mission, Kei headed straight for our room and went to sleep. I didn't know if there was something wrong with her or if she was just tired, but none of us saw her for the rest of the day. Chopper was worried that she was just under a lot of stress and that it could affect her flying in the future. I told him not to worry and that I would take care of it, but Chopper wasn't too sure. I went to bed after I packed my bag with everything I would need. My dress blues, three sets of casual clothes, my hygiene kit, and my laptop were all set in my duffel bag again.
It was the dead of night and I was woken up by an alarm of some kind and I sat up in my bed, fully alert. I looked around the room and it took me a second to realize what was going on. I relaxed as I saw Kei get out of bed, press a button on her alarm clock, and turn on the lights. I hated how loud most alarm clocks were which was why I always used my watch alarm, but Harkin still had it after I gave it to him so he could take it to R&D.
"What are you doing with that?" she asked while looking at me with concern as I dropped down from my bunk.
I looked at my right hand and saw that I was holding my KA-BAR. I always slept with it under my pillow ever since one of the guys from Pit bull tried killing me. I carried it around with me almost everywhere, but when I was out in the civilian world, I would always carry around my pocket knife from when I was a Boy Scout.
"I thought we were under attack or something," I said.
"And your first thought was to grab you knife?"
I couldn't think of an excuse as I put my knife back inside its leather holster. I sat down on Kei's bunk and rubbed my eyes. She sat down next to me, leaned her head on my shoulder, and I kissed it. I closed my eyes as I took in Kei's scent. I could smell the lavender scented shampoo along with the Midnight Pomegranate body lotion she always used. Kei grabbed hold of one of my hands and looked at me.
"Anyways, why did you set your alarm so early?" I asked
"We're on leave now, I want to get to as much free time as I can before we have be back here on the twelfth," said Kei.
Makes sense I suppose. I didn't know she had already packed so I assumed she must've been excited about our trip. I guess we'd better get ready. Kei got up and got her things to take a shower and I followed her lead. I grabbed one of my flight suits and my shower kit and headed to the showers. Once I got in there, I turned on the water and took my shirt off.
"Is there a reason you're in here so early, Chopper?" I said. He's still not as sly as he thinks he is.
"Yeah, I'm wondering why you and Nagase are up in the middle of the night," he said as he walked out from behind a wall.
"You worried we were leaving you and Grimm by yourselves in case the brass sends you off without two of Wardog's members?" I asked.
"Exactly, how the hell can you leave me, Grimm, and the others here while you and Nagase screw around? How come you didn't tell us?" yelled Chopper.
I turned around to look at him and saw him still in his white t-shirt and sweat pants. I could tell he was mad to the point of physical confrontation, but he knew he couldn't beat me in a straight up fight. There was a bunch of different ways I could incapacitate Chopper but I needed him at full health. I walked towards him and stood less than a foot in front of him.
"Do you ever check your mail?" I asked as I glared at him.
"What the hell does that have to do with anything?" he asked.
"Answer the goddamn question," I demanded.
"No, I don't," replied Chopper as he glared at me.
"Go check it and then come see me in Pops' workshop," I said.
Chopper gave me an annoyed look and walked off. As soon as I heard him leave, I took my shower and got ready to go. I got back to the room, grabbed my bag, and headed for Pops' workshop. I saw Master Sergeant Rachel talking with Pops as I entered the hanger and they spotted me as I walked in.
"You two are up early," I said as I set my bag down by my F-15.
"So are you, I thought you'd still be sleeping Sir," said Rachel. "What are you doing with your duffel bag all packed?"
"He and Lieutenant Nagase are going to Oured to attend a Ball that the US military is hosting and the Captain asked her to be his date," said Pops.
"Yeah, she wanted to get in as much free time in as she could before we have to come back," I said.
"Aww that is so sweet," said Rachel. "I bet some of you broke a lot of hearts when you went through high school."
I smiled as I put my bag in the storage pod of my plane when I heard that. "Actually, there was only one and she broke my heart, but I guess it worked out in the end," I said and I sat on the floor.
Pops and Rachel walked over towards me and sat down on one of the hydraulic lifts the ground crews use to replace aircraft engines. They asked me to tell them all about my high school girlfriend and I told them. They couldn't stop laughing when I told them about how it all started this one day at band camp. I kind of figured they'd laugh or make one of those kinds of jokes about it, but I'd give almost anything for one more year of band camp.
"You were in a marching band?" asked Pops as he tried to stop himself from laughing.
"Yeah and there were a lot of interesting times," I said. "Like this one time at band camp, almost half of the band collapsed from dehydration."
I said that on purpose and they continued laughing. Thanks a lot American Pie. When they were finally able to calm down, I told them about my ex-girlfriend and the relationship I had with her. I hadn't talked about my ex in a long time and it felt strange telling Pops and Rachel about her. The more I talked about her, I felt this kind of sadness in me but at the same time I felt frustrated. I didn't know if it was because I still had some lingering feelings for her or if was because it was the very first time I had my heart broken.
"Damn Captain, you remind me more of Captain Bartlett each day," said Pops. "He could never fully let go of his old girlfriend either. I tell ya, women are some of the strangest things a man can ever encounter in life."
"Well men are some of the dumbest things a woman has to deal with in hers," retorted Rachel.
"See what I mean?" said Pops as he tilted his head towards Rachel.
I couldn't help but laugh at that and I continued to listen as Pops and Rachel argued their points. I honestly believe men have to suffer more than women. As they continued arguing, I saw Kei, Chopper and Grim walk into the hanger with their bags in hand.
"Glad to see you could all make it," I said as I got up off the ground.
"Kid, how in the hell were you able to put all of us on leave and not tell us about it?" asked Chopper.
"Hey, a flight lead has to be able to look out for his people and that's what I do," I said.
"But what about the others, are they coming too?" asked Grimm.
"I couldn't get all of us to go at once, but I was able to get Nelms and Rockford the 16th through the 20th off and I got Boldman and Hardin the 27th through the 1st off. Right now, we're all on leave so feel free to go or do whatever you'd like."
I saw Grimm smile but it quickly faded away when he realized he didn't have any way to get back to the mainland. Chopper spoke up about the problem and I didn't know what to tell them. I was allowed to take Kei with me in my F-15 and fly to the mainland because I got the 'all clear' from Captain Hamilton.
"So you got us on leave but you couldn't get us a way out of here?" yelled Chopper.
"You're clever, you'll figure something out," I said.
"I can take them to the mainland," said Pops. "I got some things I have to pick up from Winchester today and it's the perfect place to get some R&R on the west coast."
"There, problem solved. Now I don't want to come back and find out that you guys caused some kind of trouble. Be safe and have a good time," I said and we all went our separate ways.
Rachel towed my F-15 out onto the flight line and Kei loaded her bag into the other storage pod. Pops wasn't allowed to load the plane with any ordinance, but he did load the gun for us and that was good enough for me.
"Do you mind if I fly?" asked Kei as I was about to climb into the cockpit.
"Sure if you want," I said and I climbed inside the back seat. Good thing Pops was able to change out the seat cushions.
Kei started up the plane, taxied onto the runway and took off. It was still dark as we flew into the night sky towards Oured. I looked up and I saw the stars clearly for the first time in a long while. I remember how Kei told me how she would gaze up at them with her sister when she was younger and how she loved spending moments like this with people she loved. She must be really happy right now.
"It's been a long time since I could see the stars this clearly," I said.
"Yeah, they're one of the few things that can take my mind off of everything," said Kei.
"I guess we all needed this, huh?"
"Yeah, I'm going to try and make the best of this," said Kei.
Kei was flying just over Mach 1 and our five hour flight took just under three hours this time. As we approached Oured, I watched the sun starting to peak over the horizon. The moment would've been great if I could've played a piece called '15 years ago' by Keiki Kobayashi. I felt a great sense of comfort come over me as I thought about it and I couldn't help but smile. Kei cut the throttle and I felt the plane slowdown a little.
"It's a beautiful sunrise," said Kei softly.
I wanted to embrace her right then and there. That would've been a perfect moment in time if I could've held her as we watched the sunrise. We'll have plenty of moments like that in two days.
0946hrs Oured Osea Capital District Air Command AFB.
We landed forty miles east of Oured Airport, which was a long ass drive if we wanted to head that way again. It was colder than it was last time we were here and already I hated this place. Anyways, after Kei landed and parked the plane, we grabbed our bags, headed to the locker rooms, and changed into civilian clothes. I wore a thick white long-sleeved shirt under my brown leather jacket, dark blue worn down straight jeans, and my black sneakers. Man, I miss dressing like a civilian. I hung up my flight gear, grabbed my bag, and headed towards the front desk. I asked the receptionist if I could use the phone so I could call a cab and find a hotel while I waited for Kei. When I finally saw her come out of the locker room, she was wearing a green button-up sweater over a white shirt, and blue jeans tucked inside black knee high heel leather boots.
"Wow… you look lovely," I said.
Kei smiled and we walked out of the building into the parking lot where we got inside the cab I called. Once we got in, I asked the driver, Mike, to take us to a car dealership that wasn't too far from the base and I could tell Kei was wondering why I wanted to go there. I wonder if she knows about this place. Kei and I just talked the entire way there. When we arrived at the dealership, we got out of the cab, and grabbed our bags.
"Hey thanks again Mike, I really appreciate this," I said and Kei looked at me in confusion.
"No problem Antonio, you gonna be in town for long?" asked Mike.
"No, I have to get back before the 12th, but tell your mom I said hi."
"Will do man, take care of yourself out there," said Mike and he drove off.
"Who was that, and why did he leave without you paying him?" asked Kei.
"That's one of the guys I helped out in middle school. He was getting beaten up by a group of kids and I stepped in to help him out. Later on, I saved his mom when a dog attacked her. He was one of the very first friends I've ever made," I told her.
"Oh, so is that how you got that scar on your right shoulder blade?" asked Kei.
I felt myself become tense and a little pissed off about how I got the scar on my shoulder blade. I don't think I could've told her about it just yet. I nodded and cover up my melancholy with a smile. I grabbed our bags and walked into the dealership. The man at the front desk noticed us come in and greeted us with a smile.
"How can I help you two today?" he asked.
"Yeah, my wife and I are looking for a vehicle to start our family with," I said as I patted Kei's belly.
The man looked at me surprised because he could tell that we weren't married and Kei looked at me as she blushed. She punched me in the arm and I chuckled as I rubbed it.
"I'm just kidding, is Rico here?" I asked.
"Yeah he's around back, I'll take you to him," said the man and we followed him towards the back of the building. The man pointed Rico out to me and left us.
Rico was working on a car in one of the maintenance bays and I could almost see him smiling as he was turning his wrench. It seems like he's happy to still be working with his hands. Kei and I walked over to him and stood behind him while he worked on a white BMW E92. I dropped our bags and the sound of them hitting the ground startled him a little. He popped is head out from under the hood of the car and stared at me for a couple of seconds before he realized it was me. Rico was more of a Mexican than I was, but not as well built. He was taller, darker, and three years older than me. His dark brown hair was spiked up and he always seemed to have this goofy looking grin on his face.
"Dude, Antonio! How've you been, I haven't seen you in age's man," said Rico as shook his hand.
"I've been great man, nice to see you still fixing other peoples' mode of transportation," I said smiling back as I looked at the car he was working on.
"I'd rather be working on cars than planes with shrapnel in them. So who's your friend?" asked Rico as he noticed Kei.
"This is 1st Lieutenant Kei Nagase. She's my wingman and my date to the Ball," I said.
"Hello," said Kei as she smiled and shook his hand.
"It's nice to meet you. I hope you keep this guy out of trouble in the air," said Rico and he turned towards me. "So, what do you need?"
"I'm here to pick up Lara," I said and Kei looked at me surprised, but she didn't say anything.
"Nah man, you can't have her. I've been taking care of her ever since you left for OCS."
"Dude, come on. I'm only here for three more days. After that, I'll bring her back and you can watch over her again," I said.
Rico stayed quiet for a few seconds and thought about what I had said. "Alright, fine. Wait here," he said and he walked off.
After he was out of sight, I turned towards Kei and saw that she was leaning to one side with her arms folded and raised one of her eyebrows at me. Her body language told me that I had some explaining to do.
"So who's Lara?" she asked.
"My car," I said.
"Your car," asked Kei befuddled.
"It's a guy thing. A car is like a woman; you treat her right, and she'll treat you just as well."
Kei relaxed a little and just decided to go along with what I told her. We waited for a couple of minutes before I finally started to wonder what was taking Rico so long. Kei had walked into the garage and sat down on one of the benches and I sat down next to her.
"So how do you know this guy?" she asked.
"He was one of the ground crew members that took care of my plane when I was flying as Mobius 1. He would always complain about the amount of damage my plane took every time I came back from a sortie," I said.
"There's something I still don't understand," Kei began. "I've seen a picture of you in the paper after you destroyed Stonehenge, but it's not you… Who was that in the picture?"
"I can't tell you who he really is, but he was supposed to be my decoy. If word got out to the public that one of the world's greatest pilots was just a kid, it could've revealed the existence of Pit bull. I honestly didn't care if anyone found out about it, but I had my orders. Anyways, we would switch places with each other whenever I was called on to go on mission. Only a handful of people knew who I really was and they all had to keep it under wraps," I said.
I wonder if she remembers what my decoy really looked like. I looked out into the parking lot and I scanned some of the surrounding buildings and I felt like something wasn't right. I knew exactly what it was but I couldn't let Kei in on what it was. Just then I heard a car approaching and I got up to see it. It's her!
I saw Rico pull up in my dark blue 2007 Audi S4. Man I missed driving this thing. I know Kei wasn't really impressed but I didn't care if she was. I could hear the engine purring as Rico pulled it up beside me and got out. It might not have seemed like much, but a lot of work went into putting my car together. The only original part of the car was the frame.
"Here she is, Antonio. Even after everything that's happened, I'm still wondering how they got half of the aftermarket parts for this," said Rico.
"I would've just settled for the engine you put in," I said. "I'm still surprised the vehicle industry rejected your blueprints."
"I'm not complaining. It's making me some serious coin though."
"What are you two talking about?" asked Kei.
I popped the trunk of my car and placed our bags inside. "Well you see, Rico here was able to come up with an engine design that's extremely fuel efficient, but it doesn't sacrifice the engine's power or performance while at the same time, reducing the amount of emissions from the exhaust. I can go almost half a year without filling up my gas tank," I said.
"That's amazing, why didn't they put the design into production?"
"Because they said the concept would decrease the demand for fossil fuels, which would put a lot of the oil companies out of business and cost tons people their jobs. If I was able to get back to Earth, I'd be making bank with this design," said Rico as he walked back into the garage.
Kei got in the car and I followed Rico into the building. He was digging through one of storage rooms looking for something until he found it. I haven't seen this stuff in a while. He walked out of the room and handed me the bag. I looked inside of it and saw a couple of my old pass ports, a few hundred dollars in cash from various countries, my wallet, and cell phone.
"I don't know if you'll need all of it but here you go man," said Rico.
"I guess all I really need is the phone and my wallet. I hope to God that I don't need to come back for the rest of this stuff," I said as I put the phone in my pocket and turned to walk off.
"Wait," said Rico and I stopped. "Harkin wanted me to give you this. He said this'll give you a better way to contact him in case you really needed him."
Rico handed me a rectangular black box and I opened it. It was an iPhone 4 in a protective rubber case that Harkin was able to acquire from Earth by some means. Rico gave me the rundown on how it was upgraded and how to use it. The more he told me about it, the more I thought about leaving it behind. I really don't need anything like this anymore. Rico insisted that I should still take it and I did. At least I can call my mom and my sister now.
"Be careful out there," said Rico.
"I'll do my best, but I have to look out for my team too," I said.
"Glad to see you still have your morals with you," said Rico as I shook his hand and left.
1600hrs
Kei and I drove all over Oured trying to get ourselves set up for our three days of freedom. We had lunch, walked around the city a little, and even saw a movie. Now we had to deal with the stresses of civilian life. Everyone was just getting off work and heading home and we were stuck in congested traffic lanes trying to get to the hotel. What pissed me off more than the traffic were the pedestrians who weren't paying attention when they crossed the street. Kei found out just how vulgar my language was when I was annoyed.
"I didn't think I'd ever see you this mad," said Kei as we slowly moved up the road.
"Yelling at people to get out of the way might make it seem like I'm mad, but I'm not. I had to deal with this all the time when I went to college," I said.
"If this isn't the angry you, then I'm afraid to see what the angry you really looks like."
I smiled at her remark. "Just hope you never have to see me angry," I said.
When we finally got to our destination, it was starting to get dark outside. Our hotel was smack dab in the heart of the city. The surrounding buildings towered overhead and I couldn't look down any of the roads to get a clear view of the sky unless I tilted my head back forty-five degrees. I parked my car in one of the multi-story car parks that was connected to the hotel we were going to be staying at. I wasn't exactly tired from all the traveling we did, but I just wanted to relax and I'm sure Kei felt the same way. We got our bags and headed across the walkway that connected the car park to the hotel and went inside. I honestly thought the place would be a lot busier or at least livelier. I could hear our footsteps echoing off the walls and Kei's boots probably alerted everyone on the first floor that we were here.
"Ugh, I probably should've bought a new pair of shoes while we were driving around town," said Kei.
"Are those the only pair you have," I asked as we continued walking down the hall.
"I could try to find some way to wear my flight boots with my civilian wardrobe."
"Nah, I think you look lovely enough as it is."
Kei smiled and nudged me as we continued walking towards the front desk. There were some people sitting in the lobby reading magazines while others looked up at us when we came into view. Yeah, they heard us coming. When we got to the front desk, I told them I called earlier and reserved a room with two queen sized beds for three nights and the lady behind the counter looked me up.
Once everything cleared, she handed me two key cards for the room, which was on the fourth floor, and Kei and I rode the elevator up. We got inside the room and it was pretty cozy. A simple bathroom, a TV, a small refrigerator, and both beds were a sign of relief after a long day. I set my bag on the bed, opened it, and took out my new phone. I guess I should tell Lieutenant Colonel Harkin what's up. I sat down on the bed and sent my message to Harkin so he knew I was in Oured again and so I could get my tickets to the Ball. Kei was lying down on the other bed with her arm over her eyes. I guess I could rest my eyes for a little bit. I didn't think I would actually fall asleep and I woke up half an hour later. Kei was awake and I saw her lying in her bed as she gazed up at the ceiling. It was right then that I realized I was getting hungry.
"You hungry," I asked as I looked over at Kei.
Kei didn't move when she answered me and suggested that we order room service, to which I protested against. I wanted food that didn't taste like crap and I suggested we could go to this kick ass Italian restaurant that I knew about. Kei perked her head up and looked at me like she didn't want to ride in a car anymore.
"So where's this place you know of?" she asked.
"It's just a couple blocks down the road. We could walk there if you'd like," I said.
It took some persuasion but she finally agreed to go and we headed downstairs. When we got off the elevator, I noticed one of the people that we saw earlier was still sitting in the lobby. He was a bald middle-aged man, wearing a black trench coat. I saw him watching me and Kei out of the corner of my eye as we walked by and headed out of the hotel lobby.
1847hrs
We arrived at the restaurant that I told Kei about. It was an Italian place called Giovanni's that was very popular among the high society people of Oured. Everyone was dressed to impress while Kei and I were dressed casually. I honestly hated dressing in suits because they always seemed to fit me too tightly and I hated that feeling of constricted blood flow around my neck and waist. The host showed us to our seats and handed us our menus. Kei's eyes widened when she saw how overpriced everything was. The average person would spend around $50 on a meal and a couple would usually spend around $110.
"Why would you want to come here and eat?" asked Kei quietly.
"Well, after almost three months of eating nothing but the food in the mess hall, I figure I get at least one good meal before we go back and I honestly don't care about the price," I replied.
"Yeah, but I don't think I'll be able to fit a meal like this into my budget. I still have to find a dress tomorrow."
"Have you looked at your bank account ever since the war started?" I asked as I looked up from my menu.
Kei shook her head and I handed her my phone so she could check her account. I continued to look at the menu when she handed me my phone back and I could tell she was surprised. We were still getting paid our regular pay grade and we also were receiving our combat bonuses for every sortie we went on. Since there was really nothing for us to buy on Sand Island, we didn't have much to spend on anything. Kei was still surprised at how much she had made and I told her that dinner was on me. I still have my assets from six years ago, plus the interest I made after I invested it is still accumulating nicely. We were on our actual first date together and we were both having a good time. We ate, drank, and laughed for a good hour and half. The night made us oblivious to everything that was going on in the world. The war, our past, and the guilt we felt before didn't exist at all.
November 10, 2010 0630hrs Oured hotel room
I was becoming too comfortable sleeping with Kei, which was a good and bad thing. The good reason is self-explanatory while the bad reason was that we wanted it to happen more often. I honestly just liked cuddling with her and I considered anything more than that as a bonus. When I woke up this morning, the first thing I noticed was Kei smiling as she looked at me while we laid next to each other.
"Good morning handsome," said Kei.
"Good morning beautiful," I replied and I kissed her.
We got up, got ready to start the day, and headed out so Kei could continue to do her shopping from yesterday. After yesterday, I found out just how annoying shopping with Kei was after she spent, literally, an hour asking me which shoes she should get to go with her dress, which I wasn't allowed to see. She kept asking me if she should get one or the other and every time I picked one for her, she would choose the other one and continue to debate which pair she should get. Today was going to be a lot simpler; all we had to do was pick up Kei's dress and visit Lieutenant Colonel Harkin so we could get our tickets. We headed out to get everything ready for tonight and everything was went pretty smoothly. We got the tickets and we got Kei's dress, which I still wasn't allowed to see.
It was around noon when we got everything done, the only problem was that we didn't want to spend the rest of the day back at the hotel. We decided to walk around Oured to see if we could find anything to do to pass the time. We continued to walk around the city until we came across a huge park where we saw groups of people performing yoga, running along the paths, and we even saw some kids playing on the swings.
"We should join the yoga group," said Kei.
"You can go ahead, I'll just watch from a distance," I replied.
"Oh come on, you might like it."
I decided to try it and we asked the instructor if we could join. The lady said it was ok and we took off our shoes and picked a spot within the group. This should be interesting. We started performing all these stretches and I must've impressed some of the others in the yoga group with how well I was able to perform the stretches. I was nowhere near as limber as Kei, but I was still pretty flexible for a guy. Afterwards, Kei and I just walked around the park until we decided to sit one of the swing sets. I wanted to take a picture of Kei as she swung back and forth. Her white skirt, denim jacket, and black hair fluttered in the air as she smiled. I didn't want to see that smile disappear.
"So, what do you plan on doing after the war," Kei asked me.
"I really don't know… I'll probably stay in the military or become part of the archeological expeditions. I love adventure," I said.
"Is that why you joined the military?"
I wanting adventure was only a minor reason why I joined the military; it also had a little to do with pride, me not having any other options, and so that I could be counted on if people needed help. The biggest reason was entirely personal and only my mom and Lieutenant Colonel Harkin knew about it. The same reason seemed to be my only reason to live also, but the more I was with Kei, the more I felt like I had reason to live and keep fighting.
"A little, but it mostly it was because I love the feeling of flying," I said trying to look thoughtful as I sat on the swing next to Kei. "What about you?"
"I haven't thought that far ahead yet. My original plan was to do my four years and then work with the people at Basset, but…." said Kei and her voice trailed off. I could tell she wasn't really bothered by anything and that she was just unsure about her plan now. "I don't know. This war has given me a new perspective on things. I know it might sound strange but I love the rush I get during a fight."
"You should join the women's MMA league," I said jokingly.
I got out of my swing and stood behind Kei. I held her hands as she gripped the chains that suspended her in the air and as she leaned her head back, I kissed her on the forehead. I wasn't sure what was in my future, but I was going to do my best to keep Kei in it.
1747hrs Oured Hotel
"Come on Kei, we're going to be late," I said.
"Alright, I heard you the first time!" she snapped on the other side of the bathroom door.
I figured Kei would take forever to get ready so I told her that we had to be at the ball at 1800hrs when it actually started at 1830hrs. I just wanted to get there on time so I figured I'd have to trick Kei into getting ready sooner so we could make it on time. I was all ready to go and I was looking over myself in the mirror. My dress blues were tailored to my body, but they felt too snug on me. My black top was decorated with my medals, pins, gold US Marine insignia buttons, and my rank insignias were pinned on my shoulders. I should've gotten my hair cut today. My hair was long enough to just barely pass my regs, but I still liked it because I looked a little like Tom Cruise from Top Gun. I looked back at the clock and noticed it was 1753hrs and I had to convince Kei to hurry up.
"Kei, it's a ten minute drive to get there and it starts in seven minutes," I said urgently.
I saw the bathroom door open and I saw Kei step out into view. She was wearing a dark blue satin dress that shimmered like sunlight reflecting off the ocean water. The dress was held up by one shoulder strap that went over her left shoulder and covered her breast. It hugged Kei's waist and hips and ran straight down her legs. The length of it grazed the ground as she walked and I could see her leg through the slit in the side that ran from her knee on down. Her black high heels were elevated at the front by half an inch so her dress wouldn't drag along the ground as much. Kei was still putting on a pair of sterling silver earrings that dangled a little past her jaw bone when she came out of the bathroom. I was in awe when I saw how beautiful she looked. She wasn't wearing any makeup other than lip gloss and she didn't seem to style her hair at all.
"Alright, let's go," said Kei as she gave me an annoyed look.
I was in a trance as I kept looking at her and I couldn't tear my gaze away from her as she moved around the room grabbing her black sweater and pocket book. I could only stand there and watch until she grabbed the door knob and looked back at me.
"What?"
"Uh, nothing it's just…. I just," I stammered as I tried to complement her. "You look amazing."
Kei blushed as I started to walk towards her and checked to make sure I had everything we needed. The tickets, the room keys, my car keys, my cover, my wallet, and phone were all accounted for and we were good to go. We made our way to the elevators and headed down stair towards the car park. I noticed the bald middle-aged man, who I saw when we went out for dinner our first night here, was still sitting in the lobby. Seems a bit odd that he keeps sitting here, waiting for something. He kept watching us as we walked down the hall towards the car park. Kei put on her sweater when she felt how cold it was outside and she hugged my arm trying to stay warm. When we got to my car, I opened the door for Kei and she got in. I had a habit of acting like a gentleman when I was going to some kind of formal gathering, but only during nights like tonight.
"You look handsome in your uniform," said Kei as I got in.
I thanked her, started up my car, and head to the place where the Ball was being held. Our destination was a luxury hotel and we could see the valets helping the other attendees out of their cars and entering the driver's seat so they could park their cars. I could tell Kei wasn't expecting to see as many people here, but there were a lot of Marines still stuck on Strangereal.
"I thought you said it started at 6:30," said Kei.
"Yeah, but I had to trick you so we'd get here on time. I know how women are," I said and Kei jabbed me in the arm.
I pulled up beside one of the valets and he opened the door for Kei and she stepped out. He was just a kid and he was in just as much awe as I was when he saw Kei. I got out of my car, put on my cover, and handed the kid my car key. I hope to God he doesn't damage my car somehow. I walked with Kei into the front door and handed the receptionist our tickets and she allowed us inside. I wasn't expecting the Ball room to be as big as it was. There were a lot of other people sitting everywhere and I scanned the room trying to find Lieutenant Colonel Harkin who was supposed to be here. I continued looking around and finally found him when he waved at me over to the table he was sitting at. I was wondering why he was wearing a tuxedo because he was still in the Marine Corp. Harkin got up as we approached him and he shook mine and Kei's hands.
"So, how's your time back in Oured been treating you?" he asked Harkin.
"It's not so bad once you get used to the freedom of doing what you want without a guard breathing down your neck," I replied. "I was also able to catch up with a few old friends."
"Yeah, so I've heard. How's Rico? I haven't spoken to him in a couple months."
"He's doing well, he gave me your little gift you left for me," I said as I pulled out my phone and showed it to him.
"What about your sister? Have you gone to see her?" asked Harkin.
"I haven't been able to get a hold of Amanda ever since she quit her job at the gym," I replied. "Do you know if my mom was still stationed at Cornwall?"
"I got transferred to McNealy," said a voice behind me.
I looked back and saw my mother standing there behind me. I felt myself choking up as I got up and hugged her. I hadn't had any contact with her ever since I headed back to Heierlark to finish flight training. I released her and looked at her as she stood there in uniform. She was wearing her Ball dress blues and I saw she had finally gotten her rank sewn onto the sleeves of her jacket.
"I missed you so much," said my mother and she noticed my rank. "When did you become a Captain?"
"The day after the war started. My flight lead go shot down and there was no one else to take command of the squadron, so they chose me. I wasn't sure about leading them but they seem to trust me," I said. "Speaking of which, this is my wingman; 1st Lieutenant Kei Nagase."
"It's very nice to meet you ma'am," said Kei as she shook my mother's discolored hand.
"Please, call me Liz. I should be calling you 'ma'am'," replied my mother.
We all continued talking as we waited for the ceremony to start and when it did, we all stood up as we watched the Commandant's speech, listened to the US national anthem, and the cutting of the cake. There was one tradition where the oldest Marine in attendance would hand down a piece of the cake to the youngest Marine here. It shocked the hell out of all of us when we found out that she was only had turned seventeen three months ago. Afterwards, the General in charge of the US forces on Strangereal made a toast and mentioned the war, saying that we must help the Osean army bring Yuktobania to its knees. For once, I'd like to be under the command of someone who isn't a war monger. I wasn't the only one who felt that way. No one showed it, but I could feel the tension in the air from the other people who didn't like being part of this war. I found it weird that civilians always supported the troops, even though the troops didn't support the war. We might get paid to fight, but that doesn't me we like doing it.
After the opening ceremony ended, the Ball went into full swing. The buffet line was moving, the alcohol was flowing, and the people were dancing. The DJ would take turns playing music with the band that was made up of wind, string, and percussion instruments. Everyone ate, drank, and had a good time. I spent a lot of time talking with my mother, Lieutenant Colonel Harkin, and Kei about what we've been up to since the war began. Eventually, the subject of our war crimes came up.
"I have to use the bathroom, excuse me," I said.
I didn't want to talk about that day anymore because I've had it with no one believing us. We might have been cleared of all charges, but that didn't mean people believed we were innocent. On the way to the restroom, a major who was about seven years older than me stopped me in the crowded hallway. I've never met him before, but he seemed to know me.
"You're Captain Castillo, aren't you?" he asked.
"Yes Sir," I said.
"I've heard about you. Only twenty-three years old and you've already become one of the most popular people in the war."
"Thank you, sir," I said and I tried to walk off, but he stopped me.
"I bet you love all the glamour and praise you get from everyone in the Osean military, but I guess you think that's a sign that you can push your luck," scoffed the Major. "I bet your mother must be proud."
I knew what he was talking about and I was so close to running my fist through the Major's face when he said that, but the last thing I wanted was another court martial for striking a superior officer. I could only clench my fist and look into the Major's eyes in anger, trying to hold back my rage. I wanted a reason to fight him but the only way I could get away scot free was if he threw the first punch.
"Is there a problem here?" said a Colonel as who had walked up beside me.
"No problem sir," said the Major. "Just giving the Captain here a couple pointers for when he's out there taking care of our boys on the frontline."
"Don't give me that shit Major, I could tell you were trying to get a rise out of him. If you give the Captain anymore trouble, I'll have you written up for disregarding code of conduct," said the Colonel and I walked off with him. I don't know who this man is, but I owe him one.
"Sorry you had to deal with that Captain, not everyone believes that you and your team were guilty. Colonel Arthur Knight, it's a pleasure to meet you," he said as I shook his hand.
"Mine as well, sir. Thank you for helping me out back there," I replied.
"I believe I should be thanking you. If it weren't for you my son would've probably died during Operation Footprint and never would've gotten to hear that he became a father," said Colonel Knight.
"That was your son?" I asked surprised and the Colonel only looked at me, wondering what I was talking about. "Sorry, during that mission, I overheard some guys talking over the radio and one of them told Terry that his son was born."
"Sergeant Terry Knight is my son and my grandson, Leon, was born the day of Operation Footprint," said Colonel Knight.
I continued talking with Colonel Knight about military related stuff. He even gave me a few tips on how to deal with the brass whenever they got on my case for making a decision they don't approve of. After a couple of minutes, Lieutenant Colonel Harkin came up beside me and told me some news that made me want to run for cover.
"Listen Kid, you're not going to like this next bit of news, but umm…. She's here."
I felt my heart take off racing when he told me that and I saw who he was talking about. My ex-girlfriend from high school, Becca, was here with her boyfriend. I heard that she was dating someone in the military, but I didn't know she was dating a Marine.
"It's… okay sir, I've moved on," I said.
"We both know that's a load of horse crap, Kid. I know you'll never be able to let go of her, no matter how hard you try."
Harkin was right. Even after six years of not seeing my ex-girlfriend, I still held onto the thought of her for some reason. Maybe it was because she was the first girl I've ever fallen in love with, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Kei and I have been through more than me and my ex. I continued to look at her over Harkin's shoulder and I looked away when she saw me. I excused myself from Colonel Knight and quickly walked back to the table we were sitting at.
"I just hope he's able to find what he's looking for…. What took you so long? Are you trying to avoid your date?" asked my mom as I took my seat.
"No, a Colonel wanted me thank me for saving his son during Operation Footprint. So, what were you talking about?" I asked Kei.
"Your mother was just telling me some embarrassing stories about you when you were younger," said Kei.
"Well, I hope you're still in a good mood, because I'm pretty sure I saw Becca walking around here with her boyfriend," said my mom.
"Yeah, I know…" I said as I ran my fingers through my hair.
"Who's Becca?" asked Kei.
"She was Antonio's high school girlfriend. She was a very sweet girl but she always seemed like she didn't know what she wanted in life," said my mom. "Becca was 'The one who got away'."
"It's all in the past. I've moved on," I said trying to reassure Kei.
"Is that her," asked Kei as she looked past me.
I turned around and saw Becca coming towards our table. She was wearing a lilac dress with silver trim that seemed to accent her tan skin. Her brown eyes seemed to be locked onto me as she walked towards us and her dark brown hair with blonde highlights flowed behind her like the contrails of my plane. I noticed she was also wearing the necklace I gave her for her eighteenth birthday.
"Hey Antonio," said Becca as she moved in to hug me.
"Hey, I didn't think I'd see you here," I replied trying to be friendly.
"Yeah well, my boyfriend asked me to come with him tonight. Is this your date?" she asked as she looked at Kei.
"Yeah, this is Kei Nagase and Kei, this is Rebecca Morrison," I said.
"Hi, so how do you know Antonio?" asked Becca.
"I'm his wingman," replied Kei and Becca looked totally confused by what Kei had just said. "I protect him while were flying together."
I guess she was surprised when she figured out that I was a combat pilot by how much her eyes widened. I remembered when she started to talk about a future together while we were dating and she thought my plans to become a pilot were too farfetched. Just then, Becca's date walked up beside her and he wrapped his arm around her waist. He was only a Corporal and he just seemed like one of those guys who had to be better than everyone else because he looked like he didn't want be here. I didn't even know the guy and already I didn't like him.
"This is my boyfriend, Tyler Blum. He's a tank mechanic," said Becca.
"Sup," said Tyler.
I know I wasn't the only one who looked at the guy in disbelief when he said that. Everyone in the military should know that's not how you greet an officer. I looked at everyone at the table and I could see that my mother wanted to go off on him, but I gave her a look that said 'let me handle it'.
"It's Captain, Corporal, but I'll let that one slide," I said and I shook his hand.
"Sorry Captain, I'm still trying to get used to all of this. I'm in the reserves," he said.
Regardless, you should still know better. "Oh? So how long have you been in the military?"
"About four years now. I'm trying to finish school under my GI Bill and I plan on working as an engineer once I get out," said Tyler.
"Well I hope that goes well for you, Corporal," I said and they walked off.
It was right then that I remembered why I always felt mad every time I saw Becca. I can't believe I dated that idiot. I kept thinking back to the time when we broke up and Becca told me it was because I was smothering her after she complained that I didn't pay enough attention to her. I even remembered when I called her a dumbass when I found out that she had a long distance boyfriend, whom she ended up cheating on. I turned my focus off of her and set my mind on Kei, who was looking at me like she wanted to know more about my relationship with Becca.
"She seems…. Alright," said Kei.
"And dumb," I added as I took a drink from my wine glass.
"Am I sensing some jealousy, Lieutenant?" my mother asked.
Kei looked at her, wondering what she was talking about. If there was one thing that my mother was good at, it was reading people. She could sense Kei's envy when Becca came over to our table. I noticed that in Kei as well when I saw her shoot a jealous glance at Michelle when I told Kei that she was supposed to fly with me.
"What? No, why would I be jealous of her?" Kei asked.
As Kei and my mother talked with each other, I looked around the room and saw a familiar face. It was the bald middle-aged man I saw from the hotel lobby. I knew that he couldn't have been here by coincidence and I could tell he was watching us. I started up some small talk with Lieutenant Colonel Harkin to make it seem like I hadn't noticed him.
"You see that bald middle-aged Gunnery Sergeant towards your eight o' clock?" I asked and Harkin nodded when he spotted him. "I noticed him sitting in the lobby of the hotel ever since we got here and he's been following us since we went to dinner our first night back in Oured."
"Are you sure about that?" asked Harkin.
"I'm pretty damn sure. I could tell we were being followed ever since we went to pick up my car from Rico. I don't know what their motives are, but I know it can't be good."
Harkin smiled as he listened to what I was saying and he knew I had that keen sense of telling when something didn't seem right. Harkin pulled out his cell phone and made a call. Within minutes, I looked back to see the man, who I claimed was following me, being escorted away by some of the security guards that were overlooking the Ball.
"We'll see what we can get out of him, but in the meantime, I'll think I'll go for a dance," said Harkin.
"With who," I asked.
"Who do you think?" he said looking at my mom.
"But sir, what about…" I started to say but he cut me off.
"Way ahead of you," said Harkin as he stood up and emphasized what he was wearing. Harkin knew the regs of an officer fraternizing with an enlisted Marine and he tried to be clever with getting away with dancing with my mom.
Harkin used to be married, but his wife divorced him after ten years of marriage. I only met his wife, Elizabeth, only a couple of time and she seemed like a very nice lady. Their son, Andrew, was a good kid, but I never really knew him. I guess Harkin's job interfered so much with his family life that his wife couldn't take it anymore. That was my theory anyways, but Harkin never really talked about it. I watched as my mom took his hand and he led her to the dance floor. I smiled as I watched them dance and Kei smiled too. I guess I should get one dance in with Kei before the night is over.
"Shall we dance?" I asked as I held out my hand towards Kei.
"I'd love too."
She grabbed my hand and I lead her towards the dance floor and picked a spot. Kei wrapped her arms around my neck and I held her waist as we swayed back and forth to the song 'Far Away'. I gazed into her eyes as we danced and sang along to the lyrics of the song. We were the only two people in the world and I felt right at home. That is until Becca backed into me as I was dancing with Kei. She did that on purpose.
"Sorry, I didn't see you there," said Becca as she brought her uninterested boyfriend to the dance floor.
"Don't worry about it," I said and I continued dancing with Kei until the song ended.
Another slow song started to play and I pulled Kei even closer to me. We were both blushing uncontrollably as we continued dancing. I had never held a woman so tenderly in my life as I did Kei. She rested her head on my chest as we swayed along with the music. Kei was holding onto me for dear life and she wasn't about to let me go. I had one hand placed on her lower back and my other hand was placed on the back of her neck. For the first time in a long while, I actually felt alive and it didn't take a high G maneuver and someone trying to kill me in order to feel this way. Kei pulled her head back to look at me. We gazed deeply into each other's eyes and smiled. Nothing in the world mattered except for the fact that we were together like this. The intimacy we felt was incredible and it was like we knew we were made for each other. I knew I'd never find another woman as amazing as Kei and for me, that was worth fighting for. I continued to hold her until the song ended and Kei glanced over at the band as they left to take a break.
"Do you think the band will let you play the piano they have over there?" asked Kei.
"It couldn't hurt to ask. Why, you want me to woo you with a song?" I asked sarcastically.
Kei smiled at what I had said and I could tell that's exactly what she was thinking. Crap. Oh well, I guess I can make this work for everyone here. I walked over to the band director and he said it was alright for me to play a song on the piano when the others of his group came back from their break. In the meantime, I continued dancing with Kei to some more upbeat music. Of course, it wasn't so much dancing as it was grinding up on each other. Even so, Kei and I were still having a great time, despite some of the incidents that occurred during the Ball when some drama broke out between people and caused commotion at some points during the night. Two Marines got into a fight after they started a metaphorical pissing contest and some lady started screaming at her date because, I guess, she found out he cheated on her with another woman that was here. Jeez, it's like high school prom all over again. Except for the fact that people are more intoxicated and are trained to kill.
"You'd think that people would learn to grow up a little," said Kei as we sat back down at the table.
"That's the thing about most Marines, they know not everyone can become one of us and their pride gets to them. That's why you might hear about the argument between which branch is better; the Army or the Marines," I said.
"Yeah, I've heard Corporal DaVaughn arguing about that with one of the Army guys. What's the difference between the two branches?" asked Kei.
I took a drink from my wine glass before I started talking. "The difference is that the Army is its own branch of the military while the Marine Corp is actually a subsection of the Navy, but we don't actually see it like that. The Army is actually limits itself to ground and rotary aircraft operation. They also have their airborne and spec op units. The Marines on the other hand are actually more of a spearhead operations group. The US Marines have a saying that 'Every Marine is a Rifleman', which is pretty self-explanatory. I'm not sure if that applies to the Osean Marines, but they're structured the same way we are. We operate fixed winged aircraft, helicopters, tanks, and infantry while working closely with the navy," I said.
"So you're kind of like the perfect fighting group," said Kei smiling.
"Hey, you said that, not me," said and we chuckled at the joke.
Kei looked around the Ballroom and started asking me more questions about the Marine Corp, like its history and why the English bulldog was our mascot. I answered her questions the best I could and we continued talking for a little bit longer until I noticed the band director waving me over towards him. Kei undid the shoe straps around her ankles and followed me over to the band director who was standing on stage. I asked him if his band knew how to play 'Back at One' and he said they did.
"Sweet, but I can't sing worth a damn," I said.
"Don't worry sir, we got you covered," said the director and he called over one of his people to the microphone.
I sat on the piano bench and adjusted my seat so I was comfortable and Kei sat next to me. Here we go. I grabbed the microphone near the piano and got everyone's attention.
"Uh, my date wanted me to play a song for her and it looks like I'm not getting out of this one, but why don't I just do this for all the lovely couples here as well?" I said and I looked at my mother and Harkin as they stood on the dance floor, smiling at me.
I had terrible stage fright and I felt as if everyone in attendance would laugh at me if I messed up. Just picture them in their underwear. I cracked my knuckles, took a deep breath, and started playing the beginning of the song. My fingers glided over the ivory keys as I moved my body to the music. As the finished the introduction to the song, the vocalist began to sing and the crowd awed and cheered as they heard the song come to life.
It's undeniable...that we should be together...
It's unbelievable how I used to say that I'd fall never...
The basis is need to know, if you don't know just how I feel,
Then let me show you now that I'm for real...
If all things in time, it will reveal...Yeah...
As the vocalist began to sing the chorus, couples started walking towards the dance floor and started swaying to the rhythm of the song. Kei swayed with me as I continued playing along with the piano. I looked at her and saw her smiling as I continued playing past the second verse.
One...you're like a dream come true...
Two... just want to be with you...
Three... girl it's plain to see...that you're the only one for me...and
Four...repeat steps one thru three...
Five... make you fall in love with me...
If ever I believe my work is done...then I start back at one.
I looked out to the crowd and saw my mother smiling as she danced with Harkin. I'm really happy for the both of them. I saw almost everyone in attendance dancing to the music and Kei leaned her head on my shoulder as I continued playing the piano. Even after the song ended, I continued playing and made a smooth transition to another piece that I learned. It was a slow, yet moving piece that seemed perfect for a couple who were having a moment. Kei stayed by my side and I could feel her heart beat as she moved closer to me. I closed my eyes and took in the moment as I continued to press down on the keys of the piano. I was free. I had no worries about anything and I felt that if I died at that very moment, I would forever be at peace.
As I opened my eyes, I heard a couple of the string instruments join in on my improvisation. It was like they knew just how to blend into what I was playing. I couldn't help but smile as they followed my lead and I led them into playing '15 Years Ago'. Everyone applauded as I finished playing and Kei hugged me as I stood up and we walked off stage together. We danced a little more and got our picture taken together before the night ended. It was actually felt like I was at my high school prom. I liked coming to formal gatherings like this for some reason because I usually had fun. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, until the Major who stopped me earlier, came over to our table, heavily intoxicated. He had a glazed look in his eyes and he was staggering all over the place. I knew drinking made people act stupid and after what he said to me earlier, I figured he was going to try and start something with me.
"Captain, you're an embarrassment… to this Corp. I would've had your ass locked up… And left you to rot in prison for those people you murdered," slurred the Major.
"You're drunk, sir, you should go lay down," I said trying to make him go away.
"I'm not drunk you little shit, I just a little buzzed."
"Major, you should probably go home and get some rest before you hurt yourself," I said as I stood up and grabbed his arms.
He threw my hands off of him and he struggled to keep his balance. "Who the hell are you to tell me what to do? Do you know who I am?"
"No sir, did you forget?" I said sarcastically.
"Ah, screw you," he stammered and he looked over at Kei. "Well hey there little lady, how 'bout you ditch this jerk off and come with me."
"No thanks," replied Kei while she gave the Major a disgusted look.
"I wasn't asking, now get your little ass over here," said the Major as he grabbed Kei arm.
Kei yanked her arm out of his hand and the Major tried grabbing her again. Kei slapped the Major across the face and he fell to the floor while bystanders watched as everything unfolded. Dammit, not now! The Major got onto his feet and looked at Kei in anger. He raised his hand and was about to strike her but I caught his arm before he could touch her. The Major looked back at me as I shook my head at him and he used his other hand to punch me in the jaw. I knew that was coming, but now I can't get in trouble for trying to defend myself. I let go of the Major's arm and he turned towards me to try and throw another punch at me. I deflected the punch and caught his other arm when he tried to follow up with another. I put him into an arm bar but he stuck me in the jaw with his elbow and again, I let go of him. I staggered backwards and saw a couple of Marines try and hold him back, but he knocked them out and got free of their hold. How can someone this drunk still do all of this? Once the Major got free, he grabbed one of the steak knives off of one of the nearby tables and came at me again. He tried to thrust the knife into my gut and I grabbed his wrist with both of my hand. I pulled his arm to my left side, which pulled him closer to me, and I followed up by elbowing him in the nose, wrapping my right arm around his neck, and struck him in the chest three times with my knee until he let go of the knife. The Major finally broke out by hitting me in the groin and kneeing me in the head, causing me to fall to the ground. As I got back up, I saw some more Marines make an attempt to restrain the Major, but he picked up the knife again and swing it at them. I got up again and he came towards me one last time. Time to end this! The Major swung the knife like he was trying to cut my throat and I ducked to avoid it. As I ducked, I struck him in the groin, which made us even, and as he was bent over, I wrapped one arm around his neck, grabbed him by his pant waist and I suplexed him through a table.
I quickly got to my feet so I would be ready for him if he got up, but he didn't. The Major was knocked out and everyone who saw what happened could only look at me in awe as the Major laid there unconscious. Harkin made his way through the crowd, trying to get to me and see what all the commotion was about. I saw my mother right behind him and she had her hands placed over her mouth when she looked at me. I looked at the unconscious Major and my eyes caught sight of my reflection in a silver tray that was lying at my feet. Blood ran down my face from a cut that I received when the Major kneed me in the forehead and my eyes were full of rage. I hoped my mother would never have to see me like this. I noticed how heavily I was breathing and felt my hands shaking from the adrenaline rush, but then I noticed I was gripping the knife the Major pulled on me. I don't know how I got hold of it but the Major I knocked out didn't seem to be bleeding from anywhere other than his nose. I dropped the knife and walked off to the restroom where I tried patching myself up. I had to take off the entire top half of my uniform so that I didn't get blood or water on it while I dabbed my wounds with a wet paper towel. Not long after I got undressed, Harkin busted into the restroom, full of anger.
"What the hell was that?" he bellowed.
"Self-defense against a superior officer," I said as I dabbed the wet paper towel over forehead.
"Did you star that fight?"
"No sir, he tried striking Kei and I stopped him, but then he struck me first," I said calmly.
"Why did he try hitting her?"
I told Harkin what happened as I continued cleaning myself up. Kei wouldn't have gotten into any trouble but I, on the other hand, could be in a world of crap if most of the witnesses say I started the fight. The worst I could get was demoted and put on suspension of a period of time. If I was put at fault, Harkin wouldn't be able to help me at all. I finished cleaning myself up and Harkin followed me out of the restroom after I told him everything that happened while I put my shirt back on. When we entered the hallway, we saw the Major that I knocked out being hauled off on a stretcher with Becca's date holding his hand and calling him 'dad'. I can't believe this. Becca spotted me and I could see the anger in her eyes. She stormed up and slapped me as soon as she was close enough.
"What is your problem?" asked Becca.
"I don't have a problem, but your date's father seems to have one with me," I retorted.
"So you felt the need to slam him through a table?"
"If it kept me from dying then yeah, it was necessary," I said annoyed.
"How dare you," she yelled.
"How dare me?" I said in a low voice. "How dare you! You would've never come here if you hadn't thought that I'd be here and you act like all of this is my fault?"
"Don't flatter yourself; I came here to support my boyfriend."
"Really, because from what I could tell, he didn't seem all that interested in being here. Instead here you are asking me what my problem is when I should be asking you the same question!"
Becca tried slapping me again, but Kei grabbed her wrist as she brought it up. They exchanged jealous looks with each other until Kei finally said something. "If you so much as lay a finger on him again, I'll make sure you end up in the next ambulance," said Kei as she stared down Becca.
"I ain't scared of you, bitch!" said Becca.
"Walk away if you know what's good for you. I could barely hold my own in fight against her," I told Becca.
"Oh really?" said Becca as she tried to keep her composure.
"Try me," threatened Kei as leaned closer towards Becca and she released her wrist.
I could see how nervous Becca was becoming and Kei just kept staring her down. I could see tears building up in Becca's eyes and she turned to walk away from us. I don't know if it's my adrenaline or if Kei is just that awesome but she got me so hot for her right now. Kei turned to look at me and saw how bruised my face was. She placed her hand on my cheek and I winced at the pain, but she still kept her hand there.
"I think it's best if you two head out for the night," said Harkin.
As much as I didn't want to leave, I had to agree with him on this. We headed back inside the Ballroom, grabbed our things, and I said my goodbyes to my mother. She still had the worried look in her eyes when I approached her.
"Be careful out there," she said as I hugged her.
"I will mom… I'll see you later," I said trying to hold back my tears.
Kei and I left the building and we drove back to our hotel. It was around 2230hrs when we got back to our room. I took off my jacket and placed it inside my bag. Kei took off her shoes and sat on the bed. She curled up her knees to her chest and rested her head on them. I sat down on the edge of the bed as I unbuttoned my shirt and threw it on the floor. I rested my hands on my thighs and felt something in my pocket. I forgot about this. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the necklace I gave to Becca for her birthday. I had taken it off of her when she first hugged me and I don't think she would've noticed or thought that she would've cared after all that happened tonight. It was a silver necklace with a heart inside a bigger heart as the pendant. As long as you have this, you have my heart with you. I remembered those were the words I told her from when I first put it on her.
"Where did you get that from?" asked Kei.
"I took it off of Becca when I first hugged her. I've been trying to get this thing back for the longest time and I almost gave up on it too," I said as I danged it in front of my face.
"That's kind of a messed up thing to do."
"Yeah, but to her I'm a messed up kind of guy," I said and I set it in one of the small pouches on my duffel bag. I rubbed my hands along my face and sighed as I thought about tonight and leaned back on the bed. "I had a good time tonight, but I wish it didn't have to end."
As I laid there on the bed, Kei scooted closer to me and placed her hand in my chest. She was still wearing her dress and I ran my fingers along the fabric. I was glad I was able to get a picture with her before we left. Kei sat up a little, leaned over me, and kissed me on the lips.
"The night still isn't over," said Kei.
She got up and dug out her MP3 player from her bag. She put on a slow song she had and I sat up in the bed. I smiled as she placed her MP3 player on the TV stand and I walked over to her. I wrapped one arm around her waist while I wrapped the other around her back and I pulled her close. She rested her head on my shoulder and wrapped her arms around my back so that her hands tenderly gripped my shoulders. We were the only two people in the world again as we swayed from side to side to one last song for the night.