Under My Skin

Part 9- The Ball

Emi had never seen the base this decorated since the last ball she went to- the one before her accident. Being here gave her flashbacks, she had declined every invitation since. She couldn't face being back, having gone through so much physically and mentally since she was 16. It was almost surreal, the same venue, same drinks at the bar, same food, same dance floor. Everything was the same. 

"I'll be back." Emi said to Nat, Bob, James, Reuben, and  Bradley before running outside, leaving everyone to look at each other surprised. James and Bradley shot each other the same look, "Who's gonna go out and check on her?" As their standoff continued, Bob whispered in Nat's ear he was going to check on her and, "bet ya $50 their still doing this when I get back." to which Nat gladly accepted his bet and started a timer on her phone. 

---

Emi was standing by a light post, trying to get her breathing under control when she heard the door open and shut. 

"Nat, Bradley, James, whoever you are, I'm okay go back in and enjoy the party," she said, still hyperventilating. 

"You shouldn't talk when you can barely breathe," Bob responded, making Emi turn to face him. 

"Hey." 

"Hey. Why'd you run out?" Bob said motioning next to the spot on the bench next to him, "oh my God. You're having a panic attack." 

"Am not." Emi said taking the seat next to him.

"You so are. I'm not gonna make fun of you, I swear."

"Bob, I know you would never do that." 

"I- I know. Do you wanna talk it through?" Emi shook her head no," okay- I'll just sit here with you then." 

Emi relaxed a bit and put her head on Bob's shoulder, with him putting his arm around her. The two sat there, in silence, but it didn't feel that way. Emi felt comfortable around Bob, and Bob felt comfortable around Emi. The two had become good friends during their time back at Top Gun, as Emi would protect him when other would pick on him (though he said she didn't have to and that he could handle it), and he was always there if she needed anything. Emi joked to Nat and Bradley that he basically knew more about her than she did. They talked to each other about everything- it was nice to have someone who would sit there and just listen, never offering advice, never reacting, just someone who sat there and listened. She loved Bob, and she considered him to be family. Bob told her once about losing his parents in a fire, and that he was alone, to which Emi responded he was never alone and that she was his new family. The two often joked that Bob was Pete and Charlie's second child, a joke that Pete and Charlie got on board with, calling Bob "their unofficial official son." 

After a few minutes, Emi noticed her breathing returned to normal, but she didn't want to move. She felt safe in her friend's arms. Bob then told her one of his iconic dad jokes, making the two laugh before going back to their comfortable silence. 

--- 

James left a few minutes after Bob, but by the time he got to the front, he saw the two with Emi's head on Bob's shoulder and Bob's arm around her. He knew the two were close, but he never imagined this. Waves of jealousy started to move throughout his body, and he went back into the ballroom fuming on the inside, but calm and collected on the outside. He went to the bar when he was approached by another Top Gun pilot, Gwen, callsign Raven.  She offered to buy him a drink, and the two started chatting. James felt that Emi was doing this with Bob to get back at him, to make him jealous. So, he felt the only proper thing was to play Emi's game and see where things went with Gwen.