Fly High and Go Far

HANGMAN-Chapter Four: Just an Annoyance

"Hey, sorry if you're asleep, but I wanted to apologize for earlier today," Jake said, in his text.  Sammy sighed and groaned, not wanting to deal with Hangman whatsoever.  But, Sammy knew that if she didn't respond, he would just bug her later.

  "It's fine.  I know you're cocky.  You haven't changed since the Academy," Sammy wrote back, trying to convey her dislike of talking at almost nine at night.  She saw the text bubbles show up and felt her heart pounding.

  "I know you liked me back at the Academy," he texted back.  Sammy rolled her eyes, remembering seeing him during pleb week.  He wasn't as built as he was now, but he was handsome then, like he is now.  A little less greasy too.

  "We were young and stupid then.  I just grew out of that while you didn't," Sammy played.  The text bubble showed up once more and Sammy grew impatient as it lasted for a couple of minutes.

  "Say I make it up to you.  Are you busy Saturday?  I want to take you out on the town and buy you dinner.  Maybe lunch, if you wanted.  I know several good places to eat at.  You like sushi?"

  Sammy rubbed her face and sighed. "I'll double check my schedule, but I'm pretty sure I'm free," she responded.

  "Good.  I'll pick you up at ten in the morning," Jake replied back.

  "If you're picking me up, you're going to be stuck here.  My mom likes to talk, and you have to deal with my dad," Sammy quickly wrote.  "Good night, Seresin."

  "Good night, Kazansky," Jake replied back, ending the conversation.  Sammy placed the phone back on her stand and rolled over, trying to go to sleep.  Hangman's stupid grin plastered itself in Sam's mind for about thirty minutes, keeping her from sleeping.  It stressed her out, and she kept pleading with the empty room to get it out of her head.  She eventually did fall asleep, but dreamt about him, making her wake up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night.  Panting and sweaty, she looked around and sighed in frustration as she held her head.

  "I haven't liked him since school, I haven't liked him since school.  Come on, Sam, he'll go back to Lemoore and nothing will happen," she thought to herself, hitting her forehead with both hands.  She looked over at her phone and grabbed it, staring at the one single notification that popped up.

  "I hope you're thinking of me," texted Seresin with a winking emoji.  Sammy groaned loudly and threw herself back onto her bed, covering her head with the blanket as she tried to fall asleep again.

  Sammy woke up feeling like absolute dog crap, but knew that it was only because of her poor sleep last night.  She got up, showered so calm her hair down, and then proceeded to get dressed for the day.  A small knock was heard on her bedroom door, causing her to walk over to it, opening it up to see her mother standing there in her robe and slippers.

  "Hi sweetpea, I wanted to check on you," she whispered.  "I heard you tossing and turning last night, and I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

  Sammy shook her head and chuckled to herself, still angry over Seresin.  She gave her mom a hug.

  "I'm okay, Mom.  I just didn't sleep too well last night.  But it's okay because school isn't that difficult," Sammy played it down, trying not to worry her mother more than she already was.  She knew that if she alerted her mother to any issue, it would go straight to her father.  And her father would either pull her from the program or have the worst two hour conversation possible when talking to the admiral in charge, even if he was her dad. 

  Sammy's mom smiled and gave her daughter a kiss on the cheek before telling her to have a good day and that she was going back to bed.  Sam watched her walk back down the hallway and towards the double doors of the master bedroom before heading out for the day.  She grabbed breakfast and left the house for the garage to fire up her motorcycle to head to work.