ATLAS MAVERICK

✆ MESSAGES                                                          now
Diana Nolan :)
Hey, are you free for today?

𝖳𝗈𝖽𝖺𝗒 𝟣𝟣:𝟤𝟣 𝖠𝖬

Hey, are you free for today?

Heyy, yes I am!

Would you like to hang out?

Sure
Shall I come and pick you up?
Are you still with crutches?

Yes and yes

Hahah
Aight, shall I be there at 12?

12 sounds good

Great, see you then

See you then!

I stare at her profile photo, her eyes staring into mine. I close my eyes as I huff a sigh. Her heart is unavailable, I am in love with a fairytale. I press away her chat and finish my coffee. "It is a stupid crush," I remind myself, however, my heart replays what the mind cannot forget.
Years ago, when I was younger. I kinda liked a girl I knew. I assisted the Nolan family and it was where I met Diana. She was mine and we were sweethearts. That was then, but then it's true.
     I interrupt the memory by shaking my head, wanting it to go away. She didn't recognise me the moment her eyes met mine. No hint of recognition. Perhaps I stood a chance when I allowed her in the cockpit and my stupid self actually thought so. I didn't know what I was doing, but then I lost her to Cillian. The man with icy blue eyes. She is a fairytale and I'm in love with that fairytale.
"It has no use," Miles tells me after I told him about meeting Diana. "She is out of reach for you, literally." "I know!" I snap. "And I asked whether we could be friends and she agreed." Miles chuckles, clasping his hands behind his head. "So that you remain in love while she is fucking someone else?" My head snaps in his way, raising my finger at him. "You don't get to talk like that about her, understand?" I grit through my teeth. He is right, however, his words were poorly chosen. I watch him raise his hands in defence, "apologies. Let me rephrase it into: so that you remain in love while another man has her heart." I nod, approving his choice of words.
     "Sometimes, love may not even work and friendship will be more precious than a romantic relationship," I say, partly trying to convince myself that I am better off as a friend. "I just hope that you know what you are doing," Miles then says. I shrug as I say: "I'm already cursed, so it will not matter."

I neatly pull over at twelve o'clock. Diana already stands there, waiting for me. I watch her hop around as she opens the back door to stow away her crutches before taking a seat in the passengers seat.
     "Welcome aboard," I mimic my airplane voice, causing her to laugh. "Hi, Atlas. It is good to see you," she greets and embraces me in a hug. My heart flutters while the corners of my mouth curve into a small.
     "How are you doing?" I question in general, however, I am most curious to that knee. I have read the news, which creepily showed up on my page. I have read the news over her condition and the possible rumours between her and actor Cillian Murphy. I cannot deny that I envy Cillian and I think it is most logical to think. "I am alive," she replies with a snort. "No, I am two months into rehabilitation and I must say, it is frustrating. I can take a few minutes of walking with crutches but that is it and I know I need to be careful but I just want to fly." Of course, she wants to fly. It is all she does. "Well, that but how are you?"
     "You need to be careful indeed," I reply, keeping my eyes on the road. "Otherwise you will cause further damage to your knee. I am well, I too have arrived recently because I flew Christopher back to London." A smile graces her lips as the name of her father falls. "It was quite a surprise that he picked me up from the gym," she smiles. "But it is good to see you as well." I cannot tell if she means talking about this love triangle issue.
"Where do we wish to go?" I question, changing the subject before she could start on that issue. "Shall we search a cafe? I find it too cold to sit outside yet," she reasons. I agree with her idea before she tells me to take care of it. Luckily, I know a cozy cafe just outside London. "I know one just outside London," I mention.
     "As long as you don't kidnap me," she chuckles. A chuckle ripples from my throat, meeting her gaze for a brief moment. She looks pretty. "You mustn't interfere with the plan," I sigh. "Now you know my plan which forces me to keep you for an eternity." I glance aside with no emotion in my eyes. Her startled expression causes me to smile, "I am only kidding."

"Good afternoon, would you like something to drink?" the waitress asks with a gentle smile. I glance at Diana, who then nods while scanning the menu. "May I have an orange juice?" she questions. The waitresses writes her order and then glances at me. "I'll have a coke," I smile. She nods and walks away while we inspect our menu's.
     "Everything sounds so delicious," Diana groans. My eyes flicker to her and I notice she is biting her lip. Hot. Fuck. She must have felt my stare because she met my eyes. "I agree," I answer quickly. "It is hard to choose from such options."
The waitress returns with our drinks and questions us which food we want. I glance and gestures at Diana, wanting her to go first. "I would like your salmon," she smiles. "What bread do you prefer?" the waitress replies. "Multigrain," Diana smiles and closes her menu. She then turns to me, "I would like the club sandwich on white bread." "Coming right up." We watch her leave as I rub my hands.
     "So, you have this crush on me?" she then questions, sipping her orange juice. A heat creeps up my neck as my heart accelerates. "Don't you remember me from years ago? During my flight study, I visited your house often to assist Emma or you," I say. Creases form in her forehead as she remains silent. I watch the creases disappear and her eyes widen. "That was you?" she gasps, clasping her hand to her mouth. A faint smile graces my lips, playing with my ring. "Yeah."
"So, the ... I don't know, that relationship we shared that was with you?" she questions, still shocked. I slowly nod my head. She reaches for my hand and I accept her hand, watching our fingers entangle. "I'm sorry that I didn't recognise you," she apologises. "You must have been feeling awful, knowing all this and only to be ignored once reunited."
     "It indeed was difficult," I reply. "But then I hoped to win you back by asking you for a dance but then Cillian swept by and literally snatched you away from under my nose." I experience a bitter feeling once I have spoken these words out loud. I lift my head, meeting her eyes. All I could see is compassion. She feels sorry for me. "However, it cannot be undone and he must be a real gentleman to win your heart," I add. She nods and I notice her smiling which makes my heart ache. She is happy with him. "He is a true gentleman," she replies before looking me in the eyes. "But that wouldn't have ruled out any chances of love if Cillian hadn't swept in." Don't say that.
"Look, I don't want things to get complicated between us," I say. "I am more than happy to remain friends, because I do not want to lose you. I know that your heart is unavailable and I will have peace with that, eventually. I just wish to remain friends." A smile graces her lips as she says: "I like you as a friend. You are a lovely man, who deserves a lovely woman who will return your romantic feelings and I will gladly help you with it as your wing woman or best friend." The corners of my mouth curve into a small smile. "Thank you," I smile. "Shall we finish this subject?" She nods.

"As we are friends huh, tell me about your lover," I smile, arching an eyebrow at her. She shifts in her seat, not knowing whether she should. "I will not make any nasty comments about him and I will be fine," I add. I watch her relax in her seat as she starts smiling. It stings a little but I can handle it.
"Well, you knew where we met and I never thought I would see him again but then he appeared to be playing in my father's film," she explains. "So, we met again meaning we would spent the weekend together. He seized every moment to talk to me and we hit off or something." The waitress stops by with our food. She places it in front of us and wishes us well. We both reach for our utensils before we start eating.
"Of course, we flew back to England and I didn't see him for several weeks. He appeared in the audience at the qualification of the World Champions when I tore my ligament and since then ... he seemed not to stray away from my side. He stood with me before, during and after the surgery." He sounds like a true gentleman. I have to admit, it does make my heart warm, knowing she is happy. Only, I am not in the picture.
I watch her shoulder slump as if something is bothering her. "What is it?" I question before munching on my sandwich. "We had a few dates and we were experiencing a great time and I don't know why, but I somehow expected him to ask me to be his girlfriend since he was so keen on it. He kept asking and asking but I always declined him because he asked me before our dates. Which is why I perhaps expected him to ask me," she speaks.
     "And he didn't?" I question, causing her to shake her head. "I am sure he will, I mean, yes. I am sure he will." She sends me a faint smile and huffs a chuckle. "Thank you, Atlas," she smiles. "Always," I reply. 

After lunch, we take ourselves outside to make a small stroll. "I am ready for Spring," I speak, sniffing the fresh spring air. The sun is shining, hinting on an early spring. "I don't want the Winter to come to an end," she replies. "The cold, the coziness of a blanket with a cup of tea." She has a point. "But the warmth of the sun," I argue. She chuckles and agrees that Spring is nice as well.
"When is your birthday?" I question. "March sixteenth," she replies which makes my stomach drop. No way. My eyes widen as I gasp. "March sixteenth? My birthday is literally two days earlier," I gasp. Her laughter fills the chill air as she throws her head back. "No way," she laughs. "how coincidental is that? How old will you become?"
"Twenty-one," I reply. "And you?" "Nineteen," she replies. "By the time we will head to the next Olympics in 2008, I shall be twenty-three." "That isn't that old for the Olympics, as long as you follow your dream." She smiles and motions to speak but a ringtone cuts her off. She reaches for her phone and answers the caller.
"Hi, Cillian," she smiles, leaving me feeling awkward. "I am with Atlas, right now. Shall I call you back?" She puts away the phone and sends me a smile. "You look happy," I mention.
     She is a fairytale.

CILLIAN MURPHY

"Hi, Cillian." A smile plays on my lips. "Hello, love," I smile. "What are you doing?" Her next words makes my heart sink.
     "I'm with Atlas, right now. Shall I call you back?" I swallow the lump in my throat, absently agreeing to her. "I will call you back." After that, she ends the phone call, leaving me stunned on the other side of the line.
     Am I losing her to the pilot?