2016, July 1 – 04:32 – Ted Stevens Int'l Airport, Anchorage, Alaska
People from all over the country — the world — had gone into the Academy in hopes of, according to Raleigh Becket, "joining the big leagues."
As was expected, majority of the people that signed up for the Ranger training hadn't made the final cut; not for their lack of physical prowess, but because they didn't have a potential Drift Compatibility with someone else. Greyson had been well informed of that possibility and was genuinely surprised that she'd been given the green light.
The ones that didn't eventually wash out of Basic were required to finish the six months of continuous training; which, at first glance, appeared highly reasonable and didn't seem so exhausting.
Well, she wasn't completely wrong.
"The five o'clock Alaska Air flight to Kodiak Island has been delayed for —"
"You're kidding me," Yancy grumbled, pulling his ear buds from their snug placement in his earlobes. The blond got up from his seat in the waiting area and headed over to the airline counter, ready to start interrogating the attendants.
Greyson turned her attention back to her phone, adjusting her posture now that her boyfriend's warmth wasn't against her side. She scrolled down her news feed: The Gage twins had been interviewed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. There was an advert for new PPDC merch. A trailer for yet another Marvel movie was supposed to drop soon.
One Buzzfeed News article about Marshal Pentecost had caught her attention. Something about him taking in Tokyo's Daughter and probably raising her alongside his seven-year-old son, Jacob.
"They gave us food vouchers because I complained," Yancy announced, shoving a piece of paper in her face when he returned.
Greyson blinked up at him, staring. Venomously, she hissed out, "Babe, if you're in any way fond of that fucking hand—"
Raleigh snorted out a laugh, reaching over and taking the vouchers for himself. "Hey, your loss, Sonny."
2016, July 5 – 14:28 – Jaeger Academy, Kodiak Island, Alaska, United States
It was only Day 2. Their classes at the Jaeger Academy had started yesterday morning, but Greyson Darcy was still buzzing with excitement.
Sure, living in the cadet barracks with ten other people was a little weird. Sure, the curriculum hadn't yet included their physical training. And sure, this was still a very serious military compound. Despite that, she couldn't believe that they were getting even the smallest chances of getting into those monumental mechas to fight dinosaurs.
Greyson hung onto every word that the Battle Assault Specialist was preaching, following along on their personally issued holoscreens (which were, more or less, just glorified tablets). Her handwriting was legible but bordering on chicken scratch as she took notes; Raleigh wasn't doing any better, she noticed, sitting incredibly still in the seat beside her.
"Hey, you okay?" she asked quietly, shifting her boot to nudge at his army fatigues. "What's wrong?"
Raleigh looked at her sadly, looking concerned. With a sigh, he tapped on his holoscreen before sending something to hers. She made a face at him — maybe the afternoon slump was hitting him finally — before she fully registered the news reports he had shared.
BITTERSWEET VICTORY: TACIT RONIN PILOTS DEFEAT 'RAGNAROK'
WHY DOES THE PPDC KEEP LOSING THEIR RANGERS?
HONORING THE JESSUPS
A harsh chill ran down Greyson's back. The articles were only a couple of hours old, having been posted mere hours after the kaiju Breach from the early morning. Two Jaegers were destroyed — Victory Alpha and Tacit Ronin. One set of pilots survived while the other hadn't.
Duc and Kaori Jessup managed to kill the kaiju that had made its way into Tokyo Bay, in spite of their still battle-damaged Jaeger from their previous drop two weeks ago. The couple never made it out of their rigs, having succumbed to their injuries and overworked in the Conn-Pod.
Her heart felt heavy. As she read on, the blood rushing through her ears and blocking out the voice of their professor, Greyson let out an unsolicited, "Oh, my God."
"Was there something you wished to share with the rest of the class, Cadet?" the specialist sighed, brow raised in a look of exasperation. He had stopped in the middle of talking about coordinated formations, singling out the young Filipina in front of the whole class.
Multiple heads turned in her direction, and she felt the weight of their collective gazes on her. Some faces looked bored; others curious. Greyson's eyes flickered to Raleigh, and then at Yancy who sat at his other side, before facing their professor.
"Um. Tacit Ronin's pilots are dead, sir."
"Oh… Hell."
Then, a rush of voices. The other cadets had picked up their own holoscreens to find video footage and news articles right away.
2016, July 12 – 18:39 – Jaeger Academy, Kodiak Island, Alaska, United States
"Alright, y'all. We're done for the day." The Kwoon Fightmaster clapped her hands to grab the attention of the recruits in the training room. "I'll be to see you back here in two days. Dismissed."
As the Fightmaster left the combat room, a handful of Jaeger pilot hopefuls collapsed onto the mats, Greyson Darcy being one of them. Everyone was wiped out, nearly drained solely from the day's drills.
The first week had been rough: conditioning, memorization, maintenance; a chronic buzz that tested the cadets through physical and mental demands. And they were expected to get through six months of this, Jesus Christ.
It was nearing a quarter to seven when people in the center decided to get up and head back to their shared barracks. Yancy managed to drag Greyson onto her feet before finally giving up and taking pity on her. She jumped up onto his back gratefully, and his hands immediately hooked around her knees.
The wave of cadet trainees exited the combat room, either heading to their quarters to crash for the night or go down to the mess hall for a late dinner. Raleigh was making conversation with one of the cadets whose name Greyson never caught.
Yancy's steady, rhythmic footsteps started to slowly lull Greyson into a light drowse. Usually a talkative one, he probably felt as exhausted as she did. The brunette could feel rampant thoughts all but screech to a halt as she descended into a blissful —
"Cadet Darcy, may I have a word?"
Greyson's head whipped up to the distinctive voice of their Marshal, Stacker Pentecost. Despite the nearly three years since she had first met him, Greyson felt like he hadn't aged a bit. He was wearing a different suit from the last time she saw him, back at Opening Day recruitments. This one was more fitting to his lean frame.
The elder Becket carefully let Darcy drop back to her feet. He and his brother promised to save Greyson a seat at the mess hall before giving a quick and proper salute to their commanding officer, heading off in the direction where a food paradise lay in wait.
Greyson blinked at Marshal Pentecost, standing with her hands behind her back. Quietly, she asked him, "Did I do something, sir?"
Pentecost didn't exactly smile at her inquiry, but it was evident that he was amused by it — ever so slightly. "No, nothing of the sort," he replied briskly. "Walk with me, Cadet."
And she did. Greyson followed beside Pentecost as they walked the halls of the Jaeger Academy, passing many faces she had begun to recognize.
"I hope you've been able to acclimate well enough to the Academy," Pentecost began. "Your class has only been in training for two weeks, yet your marks have truly impressed me."
Slightly caught off-guard, Greyson let out a cautious, "Thank you, sir."
As some say, first impressions were everything; it wasn't every day that a commanding officer would go out of his way to make friendly conversation with a cadet for no reason. The former United Nations liaison must have seen something in her that was surely lasting. Greyson was starting to wonder where he would go with this talk.
Pentecost went on, saying, "I assume you're well aware of what happens when cadets washout."
Greyson nodded slightly, inclining her attention. She swallowed nervously, slightly surprised at the abrupt change in subject. "From what I was told, we can be transferred to other strings within the PPDC forums." She kept her eyes forward, watching her footing. The girl avoided glancing at the Marshal, heart pounding in her ribcage with anxiety.
She added, "Sir, if I'm able to be frank… What's this got to do with me?"
The brown eyes of Marshal Stacker Pentecost seemed to soften, even by minuscule lengths, when he took a glance at the hopeful, wide-eyed cadet. "After some deliberation," Pentecost started off, "and with a glowing recommendation from a reliable officer from the Hong Kong Strike Group, the Defense Corps realizes the potential you've got to be both a Ranger and an Officer."
The only person she knew in Hong Kong that would do that was – "You've been in contact with my uncle?"
"I have. He was the one who suggested it to me, initially."
The crease in Greyson's forehead only grew deeper. Glowing recommendation? Potential? "Sorry, Marshal, but I still don't… follow. And what do you mean both?"
Pentecost almost smiled. Almost. "It's rare for new cadets to be considered to take on Officer and Ranger training from the get-go, especially one as fresh as yourself. In fact," the Marshal added, "there have only been a select number of Rangers given the chance."
Greyson thought for a moment before answering him: "I heard that Secretary-General Kreiger promoted you as the Command Marshal just last month, after Japan. My uncle mentioned that you…" She trailed off, not even bothering to finish. A guilty look washed over her face at the realization that she was likely prying into his business.
Sheepishly, Greyson voiced, "Senior members are more likely better for these things. What even qualifies me?"
Upon realization, she added a quick: "Sir."
"Compatibility, Ms. Darcy," was the straightforward answer the Marshal gave her. To Greyson, it was anything but.
"Compatibility, sir?"
"Drift Compatibility," he clarified. "Being able to trust the person you are with; having the ability to really connect with that person. Or persons." Marshal Pentecost stopped walking. Greyson was confused as to why before she realized they had gone the long way to the mess hall.
They both looked into the hall and immediately spotted the two Beckets off to one side, speaking animatedly to one another. It was then that she understood: The three of them were likely Drift Compatible. There was no other explanation as to why the Marshal had pulled her aside.
"I thought the Pons System was designed for only two pilots," Greyson wondered.
"For now," Pentecost answered. "Dr. Lightcap is overseeing further developments with the Pons. Your Compatibility-match with the Beckets opens a door for the Jaeger Program; you are the only other group to have three compatible partners, apart from the Wei-Tang triplets." He turned to her again. "As of now, I'm afraid to say, that advancement may take years, which explains focus on Officer training. You show promise."
Greyson nodded, accepting the compliment for once. "Thank you, sir. I'd be happy to help anyway I can."
2016, July 22 – 18:32 – Jaeger Academy, Kodiak Island, Alaska, United States
"It's been good. Definitely not boring." Greyson Darcy was out on the tarmac to the Academy, walking around as she spoke with her father over the phone. Reception inside the facility was next to shit; anyone could and would vouch for that.
"Rich has been worrying about his boys," William mentioned of the Beckets' father. Almost sarcastically, he asked, "Tell me some good news."
"I've been keeping the boys in line, if that's what he wants to hear." She laughed into the phone, enjoying the responding sound of her father's own laughter. Greyson hadn't heard it in so long. Despite only being gone for two months, it felt like a long time since she'd called.
"Paano ka ba?" he asked; how are you?
"Okay naman, 'Tay." She moved her phone from one ear to the other. "I think Tito Jazz pulled some strings somewhere. The Marshal said he'd be putting me on an alternating schedule for both Ranger and Tech Officer training eventually."
"That's my girl," William crooned over the phone. "Naks, ang galing ng anak ko!" Wow, my child's so good!
Hope and yearning stitched her heart. She wished that it didn't take a fight and her leaving for them to get to this point. But her dad was proud, and that was all that mattered to her.
Greyson swallowed the lump in her throat when some staffers passed her, barely giving a second glance. "I have to go soon. I'll call you when I can."
William made a sort of hum affirmation. "Sige. Ingat, be safe."
She hesitated. "Dad, mahal kita."
"Mahal kita rin, anak."
2016, August 29 – 13:33 – Jaeger Academy, Kodiak Island, Alaska, United States
There was a buzz rippling beneath her skin as they watched the last pair of pilot hopefuls in the Simulation Room; they wore DriveSuit mock-ups, hooked into the stationary rigs, and fought off the augmented kaiju that showed up in their heads-up displays.
Greyson stared in awe as they finished up the simulation, nearly defeating the Category 1 kaiju before it had snuck on them from behind. The two pilots, sisters who were a few years older than even Yancy, detached from the motion rigs with a slump to their shoulders.
"They could've rolled onto their haunches and avoided the barbed tail," Raleigh muttered somewhere behind her.
Greyson watched through the glass window as the sisters checked over their simulation recording, talking amongst themselves. She had to agree with Raleigh on that one; she probably would've thought to do the same thing.
Yancy made some sort of hum from the back of his throat, stating, "Not even. Could've taken the kaiju down three moves earlier."
"Only if you could move fast enough," she replied, throwing a smirk over her shoulder.
2016, September 11 – 09:48 – Jaeger Academy, Kodiak Island, Alaska, United States
The phone kept ringing. And ringing. No one ever picked it up. Greyson Darcy was out on the tarmac of the Academy, trying to call her father.
He's probably just out of the house, Greyson thought. It was her father's birthday today; he was turning 48. Neither of them had made the attempt to speak since the second term started again.
Greyson tried calling his cell phone. Nothing. She decided to just leave a message: "Hey, Tatay. I'm just calling to tell you happy birthday. At ano… Sorry I couldn't be with you. I'll make it up to you. I'll make you proud, Dad." She sighed, hot breath condensing in the cold atmosphere. "Call me back. Please."
2016, September 12 – 12:23 – Jaeger Academy, Kodiak Island, Alaska, United States
"He's probably fine," Raleigh Becket said, forking mashed potatoes into his mouth. Through a full mouth, he added, "Probably drank to his heart's content — again."
"He usually calls me back right away, though," argued the worried daughter. Greyson sighed dejectedly. "Even if he was drunk."
They all knew how much William Darcy was capable of drinking. The worst hadn't come around for a while. Yancy had seen the bruises on the particularly bad days. By the look he was giving his girlfriend, Greyson could tell he was remembering them, too.
"If anything, Will must still be asleep." Yancy turned the cup in his hands, as if examining its contents.
Greyson sighed yet again, shifting the pork and beans across her plate. "I hope so."
"Hey, so how are those online classes going?" Raleigh asked, decidedly changing the subject. He forked a bite of food into his mouth. "Aside from training in the Kwoon and the shit they throw at us in the classes, I'm surprised you still want to finish high school."
"In my defense, I made it through three years, so I don't want to waste it. And no classes yet. My dad requested for me to take the GED after we finish in the Academy."
Raleigh chuckled, raising his glass of water. "To the craziest girl in Alaska's stark-white ass."
"Hear, hear," Yancy called, tapping his glass with his brother's. He winked at his girlfriend when she kicked him under the table.
2016, September 13 – 16:35 – Jaeger Academy, Kodiak Island, Alaska, United States
The cadet trainees were scattered in the Kwoon Combat Room. Raleigh and Greyson were practicing their hand-to-hand combat. Currently tied. It looked like the latter was going to get the upper hand until an Officer interrupted their sparring match.
"Cadet Darcy," he bellowed, standing stiff-backed at the entrance.
The young woman in question stopped what she was doing, and her partner followed her lead. Many people snuck glances in her direction and looked at the man to continue.
"Marshal Pentecost is requesting to speak with you, about an urgent matter."
She was out of breath. Hair had been long falling out of her ponytail. Raleigh and she shared a look, and the two of them turned to Yancy. "Yeah," was all she said; this ought to be good. "I'll be there in a second."
It took all of five minutes to put her shoes on and shrug on her over-shirt before the officer led the way to the Marshal's office (though he didn't necessarily need to; Greyson had been sent and called to that single office too many times to be good thing).
She was ushered into the familiar, cubic room. Her eyes spotted the Marshal at his desk with another person facing away from her. In greeting, she said, "Sir, you had requested for me?"
"Yes, Cadet," he answered, motioning to the figure seated before him. "I believe you know our visitor."
When Greyson saw her uncle, she didn't care for any formalities. Jasper Schoenfeld stood and opened his arms, engulfing his only niece in a warm hug. "Tito Jazz, what are you doing here?" she asked, looking up at him. "I thought you were stationed at the Hong Kong 'Dome."
He smiled at her, but there was a look about him that made Greyson feel like he was masking something behind it. "I was in the neighborhood." Simply stated, and it made her even more suspicious.
"Did you go to see Dad?" Greyson asked hurriedly. If he did, then he must know what's been happening with him. "He hasn't returned my calls, I was —"
"Gracie, that's why I came," Jasper said in a low voice. Sighing, he licked his lips, almost like he was stalling. "Greyson," he started again, "Richard Becket called me on the ninth. He said your dad was in an accident."
"Was he booked? Is that why he hasn't called?" Please. Please; it was written on her face. Greyson only hoped that was the worst of it. But she knew when it came to her father, nothing was ever so simple.
The look on her uncle's features helped her read him like an opened book. Ice immediately filled her veins. Greyson didn't need for her uncle to explain. She just didn't. Instead, she asked in a whisper, "What… what happened to him?"
"Black ice and drunk driving, by my guess," he replied. Coming off of her look, Jasper elaborated, "Someone else, not him. Mr. Becket was told that he was just walking; a hit-and-run. A pedestrian at the wrong place, at the wrong time."
Greyson felt like the life was just sucked out of her. There was a moment where she felt a good cry coming, but she swallowed it down. She blinked away the tears and cleared her throat; the two of them weren't alone.
A question was at the tip of her tongue.
"Dr. Schoenfeld's arrival here is entirely unprecedented," Marshal Pentecost started, closing the folder on his desk. "Now I understand the want to leave at a time like this. However, I cannot recommend it; especially considering you may miss term qualifications."
To say Greyson Darcy had shot daggers into the ground would be an understatement. It was like being hit with a semi-truck. She exhaled a breath, and loose tears fell from her cheeks. "What would I need to do to be granted an emergency leave, sir?"
The Marshal answered, "Once the request has been pulled through the proper channels, it ultimately would be up to your commanding officer."
Greyson's lips pressed into a thin line, fully aware that he was her CO. But was she willing to risk going home before the next cuts happened? Joining the ranks would have been for nothing, and as morbid as it was to think about, her father was still going to be dead no matter what she chose.
Jasper spoke up for his niece, questioning Pentecost. "Stacker, what are the chances she'd be recycled and left behind by this class?"
"Fairly high." He looked at the cadet, taking a moment before speaking. "Ms. Darcy, it is your decision. You can go home now and stall your training, or you can graduate with this class."
2016, September 13 – 16:35 – Jaeger Academy, Kodiak Island, Alaska, United States
"Mr. Schoenfeld, sir, surprised to see you here," Yancy said in greeting, reaching out to shake the scientist's hand firmly.
He smiled warmly, even though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Please, it's just Jasper. Mr. Schoenfeld was my father."
Yancy nodded once. "Right, of course." His eyes flickered to Greyson's form, narrowing slightly when he noticed just how… detached she appeared. For a moment, he wondered what Pentecost had to say to her, and what her uncle had to do with it.
No one ever paid a visit to the Jaeger Academy.
"Where's your brother?" Jasper questioned the blond, clearing his throat.
"Ah – hit the showers. Though I'm sure he'd love to catch up if you aren't planning to leave to soon?"
"I'm actually –" He paused abruptly, turning his head when Greyson reached for his forearm. She jerked her head once, shaking a silent 'no'. Very briefly, a pained expression ghosted over her features, and Yancy had almost missed it before she masked over it with a tight-lipped smile.
His brows knitted together, worried. Something was definitely going on.
Later, in the middle of the night, Yancy watched Greyson shift in bed, restless. He blinked into the darkness as her shadow moved from her bunk and slipped out of the cadet barracks, sniffling as she went.
2016, September 28 – 02:35 – Jaeger Academy, Kodiak Island, Alaska, United States
Greyson Darcy had tried to be strong. Those first few days, she had cried only maybe once; had let the shock and pain roll through her along with the wracking sobs. That first night she had snuck out of the barracks and found her way out to the roof, not caring too much when her tears dried on her cheeks and the cold air bit into her lungs.
The other cadets quickly noticed her silence during their class lectures and her almost robotic movements during their training in the Kwoon.
They also noticed how Yancy Becket would slip into her bunk after lights out, and he'd hold her until she fell asleep. When word got around that her father had been killed, and that she opted to stay for Basic despite the fact, it became a nonverbal agreement that no one would talk about it.
Even as cadets, the Defense Corps took care of their own.
2016, November 7 – 16:09 – Jaeger Academy, Kodiak Island, Alaska, United States
Yancy stared across the Kwoon Combat Room, shooting daggers with his eyes at the two cadets that were making a beeline to his girlfriend. His hands rolled into fists at his side when they shoved her, and before he could even process the action, he was already on his feet.
Blood boiled in his veins as he crossed the mats, angered that they dared harass her. What assholes. "Hey! Lay off her!"
"You need your boy toy to fight your battles, eh, ya little –"
A satisfying crack echoed in the room, followed by a yelp and a body collapsing to the floors. Greyson was wincing slightly, shaking out her hand. Yancy froze for a couple seconds, surprised that she'd landed a swift punch to the guy's jaw and sent him sprawling.
Absolute pride filled his chest before a resounding "Darcy! Marshal's office! Right now!" came from the back of the room. Everyone looked to their Fightmaster before returning their gaze to the short Filipina, whose shoulders were squared back in defiance.
"Someone bring Stevens to medical," the Fightmaster sighed in exasperation. The guy – Markus, or something – could only groan.
Greyson sighed quietly, catching Yancy's eyes as she moved to grab her combat boots. His brows rose up on his forehead as he approached her, kneeling down to help tie the pair of laces that she wasn't working on.
"You okay?" he asked quietly, barely a huff from his lips. Yancy's eyes focused on the aglets and tying the laces with the bunny ears.
"I think so," she said in a whisper, flexing her fingers. "Clocked him square with my knuckles like you taught me to."
Yancy gave a half-smirk, one side of his mouth quirking up in a grin. He took her hand in his, leaning forward to press his lips lightly on the reddened skin. "That's my girl."
2016, November 24 – 16:35 – Jaeger Academy, Kodiak Island, Alaska, United States
It was a good day, even though it was Totally Not Thanksgiving in the Jaeger Academy. The mess hall had served turkey and mashed potatoes and beets and a ton of extra rations for lunch, and most of the cadets had decided to sleep off their food comas.
Greyson and Yancy were snuggled together in his small twin bunk, hands twined together. A majority of them were back in their barracks, lounging lazily in their respective beds and going around taking turns with sharing what they were grateful for.
"My parents are what I'm grateful for," a girl named Jocelyn revealed. "And my little brother, even though he's super annoying sometimes."
"Mood," Yancy chuckled, full on cackling after Raleigh threw one of his thin pillows at him. He tossed it back harshly, sitting up in bed and preparing to tussle with his brother, before Greyson pulled at his collar.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders when he folded into her embrace; a broad smile graced her lips as she looked down at him, leaning to press a kiss to his lips briefly.
"How 'bout you, Sonny? What are you thankful for?" someone called from above Yancy's bunk.
Greyson's warm brown eyes locked onto Yancy's icy blues, a blush rushing to paint her cheeks pink. He looked back at her with half-lidded eyes, the ghost of a smile on his mouth. She wondered if he could feel her heart beating incredibly fast in her chest.
"Yancy," she breathed, lifting a hand to comb her fingers through his short-cropped hair. "I'm always thankful to have Yancy."
A few other cadets gagged and crowed and blew out wolf whistles when they both dipped their heads to slot their mouths together, grinning so wide that their kiss become more teeth than lip. Yancy gave Greyson another lingering kiss as he inhaled. Against her lips, he whispered, "I love you."
Greyson's heart skipped a beat. Or multiple. The three words were so pure, so filled with sincerity, that she took a second to register that her boyfriend had finally said it coherently for the very first time. Her face split into a smile that reached ear-to-ear.
"I love you, too," she whispered just as quietly, running her fingers along the line of his jaw.
2016, December 13 – 12:39 – Jaeger Academy, Kodiak Island, Alaska, United States
There were five known stages of grief, and Greyson originally lingered in a state of denial about her father's death before jumping straight to the middle of anger and depression. It was both sad and surprising at how well she hid it, even in the midst of their training at the Jaeger Academy. Raleigh and Yancy noticed the change in her demeanor, of course. They'd known each other for so long — how could they not have?
Yancy was always trying to get her to open up again, hoping she would talk to him or Raleigh or hell, even their Marshal about reevaluating her options. But every time he'd bring it up, she would snap, and it was the end of that conversation.
At the very least, she was talking with her uncle. Yancy only met Jasper Schoenfeld a couple of times before his last visit, whenever his family used to come by for holidays or birthdays on the rare occasion. Being a senior officer in the PPDC, he had more flexibility when it came down to dealing with the preparations after William Darcy's untimely death.
There were still the good days, though, and Greyson basked in those when she could. With Yancy by her side, most days became good days.
2016, December 23 – 15:10 – Kodiak Benny Benson State Airport, Alaska, United States
"I don't know if I can do this."
Greyson shared her worry with Yancy as they waited in the airport gate. (Almost all the flights to Anchorage starting from yesterday morning to tomorrow afternoon had been booked by Jaeger Academy cadets and staff.) The Filipina had decided to finish her training up to their break, having gone too far to be left behind.
She looked around the crowded terminals before focusing on him again. Quietly, Greyson muttered under her breath, "I don't think I can walk into that house alone."
"You won't be…" Yancy was going to say something else when the overhead PA announce the boarding of their flight.
The two of them gathered their belongings and fell in line with the other passengers. After scanning their boarding passes, Yancy made sure to hold his girlfriend's hand as they walked down the ramp. Greyson breathed through her mouth, hoping to avoid smelling that god-awful airplane musk. She masked her distaste with a stiff smile when the flight attendants greeted them with their own plastic smiles and feigned kindness.
Yancy, slightly ahead of Greyson in the silent shuffling of feet, turned his head back as he moved forward and marveled at the spiral staircase that led to the second floor of the large plane.
She watched as he examined his ticket once more, keeping an open eye out for his seat number. Greyson made sure to follow him as her seat was partnered with his. After a few short moments, both she and Yancy came upon seats 21F and 21G. Like the overgrown man-child he was, the latter called for the window seat, leaving the former with the dreaded aisle.
When all was stowed and snug, and the two of them were belted into their seats, Greyson took the liberty of time to scan her immediate surroundings, craning her head. She saw a handful of her fellow cadets here or there, scattered among the numerous seats. Raleigh was not three rows behind them, earbuds tucked in his ears as he listened to music.
A tap at her elbow soon took her attention. Greyson turned to her left, blinking at the man across the aisle. "Do you have any gum?" he asked, blinking back at her.
From what Greyson could remember, he was a few years older than she was, with an older brother going into K-Science. Noah Geiszler was a J-Tech hopeful and wasn't one people would forget.
Greyson chuckled a bit. "Nervous flier much?"
"You could say that." Noah smiled sheepishly.
Within twenty minutes, the cabin doors were closing, and the stewardess started the same plane spiel as always. When the plane drove onto the strip and waited to take off, Greyson braced herself, holding the armrests firmly. She'd never had a problem with flying before, but today was different: It would be the first time she would return to an empty house.
Yancy took Greyson's right hand into his left, linking his fingers between hers. She stole a glance at him, only to see he was staring out at the tarmac. His hands were cool, a nice contrast to her warmer ones. Greyson focused on the strong heartbeats that she felt pulsing in her hand.
Maybe she was going to be okay.