I quietly open the door, checking my watch as I turn the door. 7:57. Not too early, but by the sounds inside, everyone’s there. I walk into the room and take a quick headcount. I never knew so little people could make so much noise.
I got a count of twelve. Eight men, four women.
“Well, well, well, look who showed up. You’re the man of the hour,” Marshall West hailed as he spotted me.
A round of introductory handshakes followed; I was expecting this and gave everyone a confident, firm handshake.
As we all reviewed what happened today, I sat back and thought about how lucky I was to have lived. Most of them just talked about my future as a pilot, and there was talk of me becoming an ace if I kept this up.
“Say, Marcus… what do you think of your future wingman?” asked Captain Raynor asked?
I craned my head around, looking for another pilot. “Where is he?” I inquired.
“It’s she, actually,” a cool, coy voice interrupted from the back of the room. And that’s how I met her.