After getting over my blushing- mess off the floor, I stood in the kitchen, hands on my hips.

"What are we gonna do today, Brooke?" I ask myself, before retreating back into the living room and plopping down on the couch, phone in hand.

Instagram bores me after about and hour and I stand, getting dressed in shorts and a baggy shirt. I give myself a peace sign in the mirror, before running a brush through my hair.

  I sigh, digging through my bag of makeup, finding concealer, I start working on my face.

  The house is extremely quiet, the occasional sounds of a jet making the house shake. I start playing my music, dancing a bit.

  With a shaky hand I do my eyeliner, the line getting continually thicker each time. I sigh, leaning back, deciding that this was the best it was gonna get.

  I wonder if Jake remembers me at all. He hasn't hinted it.

Three years ago:

I sit next to Rooster in Hawaii at a shaved- ice stand. It was warm and hot and sticky, and the ice was a refreshing treat.

  "Can I get more?" I ask my brother, peering at my empty cup. It is my birthday, and I am turning twenty- one... Bradley has promised me unlimited shaved ice.

"Sure." He says, handing my five bucks. Phoenix looks up from her place across from him. A few select pilots where brought to the military base for three weeks of difficult training, most of them ex- TopGun pilots.

"Need me to come with you, birthday girl?" She asks, and I shake my head.

"I've got it. Trust me." I say, glancing at the table behind us. Three male pilots sit there, enjoying their shaved ice. One looks up at me, his mouth twisted into a smirk.

He winks at me, and I am a bit taken- aback. I hurry away, my hand gripping the five dollar bill.

I stand in line, tapping my foot. I glance at the menu, even though I already know what I am going to order.

"What are you getting, beautiful?" A voice asks, and I tilt my head to look at the man standing next to me. He's the pilot who winked at me.

"Are you talking to me?" I ask, surprised. His smirk wavers slightly.

"Of course." He says, confused. I meet his gaze.

"Pineapple is my favorite." I say, glancing away from him, a blush creeping on my face from his sharp gaze.

"Perfect." He says, stepping forward to the booth's window. "Two pineapple, please." He says, smiling at the woman behind the window.

"What are you doing?" I ask him sharply, standing next to him as he hands the lady his credit card.

"Buying a pretty girl dessert." He says as the woman hands him two small, yellow shaved ice.

He holds one out to me, and I hesitate before I take it.

"Thank you." I say quietly, and he grins.

"It was my pleasure." He holds out his hand. "I'm Jake."

I shake his hand, giving him a light smile.
"My name is Brooke." I say. He smiles.

"Brooke!" Bradley calls, waving me over to the truck. I give Jake an apologetic smile.

"I have to go. I really appreciate the ice. See you around?" I say.

"Of course, Sweetheart." He says. "You better hurry. Rooster is calling for you."

I jog over to my brother, handing him his five dollars.

"Guess who just got free Ice?" I ask, grinning. My brother frowns.

"Is that why you where talking to Hangman?" He asks. I grin.

"Hangman, huh? That's a badass callsign." I say, climbing into the front seat and starting to eat my shaved ice. Bradley grumbles.

"It ain't got nothing on 'Rooster'." He says.

***

I cartwheel across the beach, Phoenix following closely after me. My wrist gives away, and I collapse. My friend doesn't see me, and cartwheels directly into me, causing me to burst out in laughter. We sit next to each other in the sand, our legs on top of each other.

Bob, Coyote, and Hangman are playing catch with a frisbee not too far from us, and Rooster, Payback, and Fanboy sit on the deck sipping beers.

"Hangman is such an asshole." Phoenix mutters as he whoops, throwing the frisbee towards Coyote.

"Oh no," I say, sitting up. "What did he do now?"

"He freaking left Bob and I during a flight." She mutters, throwing sand with her left hand, causing it to fly in every direction. "Captain Maverick shot us down. We had to do push- ups."

I groan.
  "Yeah, Bradley was telling me about that deal the boys made." I shake my head. "It's really not working in your benefit, is it?"

  "Of course not." She mutters. "They are stupid."

I shrug.
  "Well, they are men, so it does go hand- in- hand."

  We sit quietly, watching the water lap at the shore.

  "I brought a peace offering." Fanboy says, plopping down in the sand next to us and handing us each a beer. We thank him, popping off the tops and taking sips.

  "I'm so going to be drunk." I mutter, and Rooster sits down next to me.

"I'll carry you back to the house." He jokes, and I roll my eyes, taking a swig of my beer just to prove a point. I might not be able to handle much alcohol, but I sure as hell can handle snark remarks from my brother.

Soon, Coyote and Bob sit with us, each taking a beer from the cooler. I notice Jake doesn't join us, instead making his way back to the house. I wait for him to come out, but by the time I am on my second beer— and the conversation around me is starting to get louder— I get worried.

"I'm going to head up." I say, setting my beer down. "I'm starting to feel dizzy."

It is only a part- lie— I am in fact feeling light headed.

"Walk slowly." Bradley jokes.

"I have advil in my room if you need it!" Phoenix says.

"Drink lots of water!" Coyote calls.

"Yeah, yeah yeah, I've got it!" I say, grumbling as I make my way up the steps.

"Hangman?" I call, stepping into the hall. He is sitting in the kitchen, looking out at the water through an open window. The ocean breeze rolls in, ruffling his white shirt, his dog tags jingling together.

"Ah, there you are." I say, pulling a chair out and sitting next to him. "What are you doing in here, Jake?"

"Enjoying the quiet." He says, glancing at me.

"I can leave, if you want." I say good-naturedly, but he reaches out, placing a hand on mine.

"Stay." He says, and I swallow, nodding.

We sit in silence, and I notice he is drinking out of a small glass, the amber colored liquid inside swirling around.

"Whiskey?" I ask, and he nods, holding out the glass.

"Want some?"
His voice is the slightest bit slurred, and I pluck the cup out of his hand.

"That's enough for you." I say curtly, walking over to the sink and dumping it out.

"I'm sorry." He says; I can feel his eyes on my back as I wash his cup, putting it in the dishwasher.

"It's alright, love." I say, before cringing.

Why on earth did I call him that? I ask myself frantically, my face heating. Darn alcohol.

I hear the sound of his chair being pushed back, and then I feel his presence behind me. I turn around, meeting his sharp gaze. My breath catches in my throat at our close proximity.

He smirks at me, his hands traveling up my arms.

  "Hello, Darling." He says, his body pressing against mine, his hands moving to my hips.

"Hello, Jake." I reply, resting my hands on his chest, playing with his dog-tags. He smirks, leaning down and ghosting his lips to mine. I try to deepen this kiss, whimpering when he pulls away.

"That's not fair." I say, pouting slightly. He presses me against the counter, and my hands instinctively snake up to his neck.

  "Don't tell me you aren't enjoying this, sweetheart." He hums in my ear, before pressing his mouth to my neck. I moan as he bites at the soft skin, tugging on his hair with my hand.

  "We're drunk, Jake, you are going to regret this in the morning." I say slowly, holding back moans. Fuck, he knows how to torment me.

  "I'm not going to regret anything." He whispers against my skin, raising goosebumps. "I have wanted to know what you taste like since I first met you."

  I swallow as he leads a trail of kisses along my jaw, moving towards my lips.

  "You mean three years ago, or on Friday?" I ask, and he tugs away, looking at me with big brown eyes.

  "Years ago, darling. I could never, ever forget you. God, when I saw that creep flirting with you at The Hard Deck, I swore I would make you mine." He says, and I raise my eyebrows.

  "I didn't think anyone really notices me." I whisper, my eyes leaving his as I run my hand along his jaw, his stubble pricking my fingers.

  "Baby, I have always noticed you." He whispers. "I was just terrible at showing it." 

I meet his gaze again, my mouth slightly parted.
  "You really are perfect, aren't you?" I say to him, smiling slightly. He smirks at me, and my knees weaken.

  "I'm only human, darling." He whispers, his lips meeting mine again.

Heh. Hangman could run me over with a bus and I would thank him.

Good Day/ Evening/ morning to you all!!

-❤️Kena