6. Friendly Gestures

A couple of days later Finley sat in her classroom during her prep period marking papers. You could tell the students who went above and beyond, the ones who struggled but put in such a great effort, and then the papers that were clearly done the night before.

She had read through ten already - only twenty more to go. For this class at least. She sighed.

She was happy for the distraction and break when her phone buzzed. She found a text from an unknown number.

Unknown Number: Hi Finley, it's Pete. Good news - I got the bike working properly again! Not making anymore weird sounds

Finley: Hi Pete - awesome! That's such a relief! Thank you so much!

Pete: All good, glad to have been able to help

Finley: Would it be possible to pick it up/drop it off after work?

Pete: Sure thing, I'll come to you. Which school you at?

Finley: Eleanor Roosevelt High

Pete: Okay can be there by 4:30?

Finley: Sounds great!

Pete: Great. And is it OK if I give it a test ride? That way if something goes wrong I take the fall for my own actions.

Finely: Go ahead! But I'm sure it's fine :)

Pete: Guess we'll find out

Finley: Better yet, you could hitch it up to the back of yours and drive it here!

She added a laughing face emoji here to show she was joking. She had always struggled with figuring out meanings over text and didn't want anyone getting confused.

Pete: Not a bad idea! We'll see... See you around 4:30

She finished off the conversation with the thumbs up emoji. Then she clicked his number and created a new contact and conversation. She did PETE with both a jet and motorcycle emoji.

At 4:25 she headed out to the front of the school to await Pete's arrival. Soon she heard the familiar rumbling of her bike and it came around the corner, Pete driving.

Her jaw dropped - not just at the sight of Pete driving her bike, which was a sight to behold - but because of how new it looked. It looked like it had just rolled right off the sales floor.

"Wow, it looks amazing!" she cried when he stopped in front of her.

He swung his leg over the side to step off. "She's running fine, the tires are full, and I gave her a polish. Isn't that right, Sweetheart?" He patted the bike.

This time she knew he was talking about the bike, but the 'Sweetheart' sent a shiver down her spine.

He really had gone above and beyond, and it clearly showed. And he was very humble about it all.

"It's amazing! Can I pay you for it?"

"Oh no." He waved this away. "Really, tinkering's a hobby. Glad it worked out."

"Or, we could use the money I would have sunk into towing and fixing into drinks and food?"

He chuckled. "I could do that."

Despite both loving the Hard Deck, they decided to switch things up a bit. Pete had a place in mind.

She was driving, as it was her bike, and she couldn't wait to try it out in its new and improved state. "Hop on, Captain." He got back on. "Hang on." She wasn't driving away only to have him fall right off as soon as they started moving.

He leaned forward, chest against her back, reaching his arms out to hold the handlebars on either side of her own hands. "This okay?"

He didn't immediately go for her waist, and she appreciated him for that. That, and she was extremely ticklish. "I'm good if you are."

And off they went, Pete calling directions in her ear. "Turn left here, make a right here. Just up ahead..."

The O. A club on the waterfront decked out in fairy lights and service photographs.

"Hey Captain Mitchell," called the bartender, Pete calling a greeting back.

"A regular?" she asked.

"Yup, been coming here since I was at Top Gun. A long time - a very long time."

"Not that long," she insisted.

"I'm on the wall, see." He led her over to some photos. "I'm kinda famous around here."

She chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Clearly."

He led her over to one photo of himself standing next to the tall blond man she had seen in the photo back at his hangar. "That's Ice, one of the greatest guys you'll ever meet. And greatest pilots - but don't tell him I said that, we've got a playful rivalry going thirty-five years strong about who's the better pilot."

"And, who is the better pilot?"

"Eh." He shrugged in a way that said "I would say me and he would say him", but clearly with a lot of respect for each other. "I owe a hell of a lot to him. He's the reason I'm still here." He suddenly looked sad, defeated almost.

"You okay?" she asked gently.

"Yeah, work was just stressful." He seemed to consider before adding, "Bradley got into a fight."

"Oh! With who?"

"Another pilot."

"Did anyone get hurt?"

"No, they were held back by the others, there was just a lot of shouting and swearing."

She was shocked. "That doesn't seem like Bradley at all."

"Yeah, he takes after his dad in that sense. Goose would always try to talk down a fight, whereas I was always more prone to throw a few punches."

"Somehow that doesn't surprise me."

He chuckled a little, but it quickly faded. "And it's already tense enough, so everyone's all the more on edge."

"Sounds like you need a drink and some bar food."

"That does sound good."

She sat down at the nearest table and flipped open a menu. "Let's order."

He made her laugh, and she made him laugh. They enjoyed each other's company.

"Oh yeah," he said as they ate away. "This is much better than my soup disaster."

"I liked that simple soup dinner," she said.

"Well then maybe it wasn't such a disaster after all."

"Maybe not."

This time, she offered him a ride home.

"Oh no," he waved this away. "Thank you, but it's out of your way."

"Not a problem, really. And I want to drive this baby some more."

He accepted and they drove to his hangar. His hands moved to her shoulders as he stepped off her bike. Should she have offered him a hand? Like he had for her? Next time.

"Just let me know if there's any further problems."

"Will do, thanks again."

"Anytime. And thanks for the food and drinks, and the ride home."

"Anytime." The word slipped out. "Good night," she quickly added.

He lifted his hand in a wave. "Good night, Finley."

When he said her name, she felt another shiver up her spine. Yikes, what was with her? Yes, she was touched by the friendly gesture, and she wanted to know more about him, her curiosity spiking and her mind running wild.

Very wild indeed.

Loved writing this chapter! ;)

As always, thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)