Fly High and Go Far

BOB-Chapter Five: Progression and True Feelings

  Sam, like every other morning, headed to work.  She found herself early like usual, but this time, walked into the hangar bay with a familiar face standing around looking at everything.  Sam smiled big and bounced over.
  "Morning, Floyd," she said happily.  Bob turned around with an equally genuine smile.
  "Morning, Kazansky."
The two of them talked for about twenty minutes, alone and focused solely on each other, before others started walking in. Sam was so excited to start the day knowing that it was one day closer to her going to the zoo with Bob. That's what she was super excited about.

Class went on and the group of them sat in the hangar bay after flying, getting down their mission obligations down.m and memorized. Sam watched the screen intently, really taking everything in.
"No offense," Hangman piped up after saying some bullshit that Sam didn't care to pay attention to.
"Yet you always manage," Bob said leaning forward. Sam looked over at Bob and Phoenix, who looked annoyed. Hangman kept talking for another minute before Sam groaned, cutting the tension like a hot knife through butter.
"Do you ever shut up?" Sam asked, staring at the back of Hangman's seat. He got up and looked back at Sam who really did not care for anything he had to say.
"Some reports say that your dad killed Bradshaw's old man," he said with a shit-eating grin. Sam stood up and got into Hnagman's face.
"Those reports are meaningless. Rooster's dad's death was ruled an accident. So what bone are you trying to pick?" Sam replied back, staring angrily.
"What I'm saying it that you and Bradshaw are getting special treatment for who your dads are and their relationship with our instructor," Hangman turned around and looked right at Maverick. Sam hated it when they used the favoritism against her. She balled her fists and without hesitation, when Hangman turned back around, his cheek and jaw were met with a full force swing that Sam sent straight at him. Everyone lurched forward and she felt several hands grab her as she watched Hangman fall to the floor in slow motion. He held onto his jaw and cried out in pain before trying to stand back up.
"You're a cunt!" He screamed. Sam's brow furrowed even more.
"At least I'm not a fucking coward!" Sam went to go yell out but got interrupted part way through the sentence by Bob launched himself from Sam's side to onto Hangman.
"You take that back!" Bob screamed. Rooster yanked the WSO off of Seresin, and Maverick placed him in the middle of everyone.
"All of you, at ease," Maverick yelled, getting everyone to stop. Sam stood there panting before running over to meet Bob and Rooster with Phoenix on her tail. Hangman stood there rubbing his jaw and grimaced at the fact that half of his class just launched at him.
"Everyone is dismissed," Maverick responded before walking off. Sam stared at Hangman and gave him the finger before watching him storm off. Sam then turned to Bob who was looking just as pissed, but equally worried. Sam sighed and then turned on her heels to head to the locker rooms.

  Sam changed and sat on the bench between the lockers, sighing heavily and staring down at the floor before getting up to head out for the day.  When she left the locker room, she bumped straight into Bob without even noticing.  She apologized and turned more to get out of his way.
  "Kazansky," Bob piped up.  Sam looked over, recognizing Bob's voice, and gave him a sorrowful smile.
  "I'm sorry I made you—," she was interrupted.
  "You didn't make me do anything," he interjected.  "I did all of that on my own accord.  No lady deserves to be called the c-word.  Especially not someone like you."  Sam stared back confused.
   "What do you mean someone like me, Floyd?" She began to sour a bit, and it made Bob nervous.
   "You are," he steadied himself.  "You are a lovely human being, Kazansky.  You're going through so much right now, and yet you're keeping your work pristine."  He hoped that her disgusted face would change, and it did.  Sam stared off into space towards his chest, letting the words sink in.
  "Thanks, Bob," she smiled a bit.  "I should get home though."
   "Will you text me when you get home?" Bob asked, staring both worried and kindly at her.  Sam nodded with a gentle smile.  Bob breathed a bit easier and watched her walk off.