Ghostface

1

     Scarlett walked into the all too familiar bar. This is where she spent her most of her free time while she was at Top Gun.  Scarlett didn't hesitate before heading to the pool table in the front corner.  The one she would always play nine-ball at. She was the first one there, as usual.

      Scarlett racked the balls and grabbed a cue stick. Scarlett wasn't bad at pool, but that didn't mean she was great at it either. Scarlett played for a bit waiting for a familiar face to show up.

That familiar face happened to be Hangman. Scarlett didn't know what to think of hangman. Somedays he was kind and others he was plain rude and cocky. Yet, Scarlett remained his friend.

"Ghostface! I missed ya!" Hangman bellows, as he gets to the pool table Scarlett claimed. Hangman side-hugs Scarlett and grabs a cue stick.

(Scarlett's thought are in italics)

What was this mission? Why were we all called back to Top Gun? First me, now hangman?

Hangman and Scarlett start to talk. The two's friendship was a bit odd. Somedays they would be best friends, and others they'd be at each other's throats. Today they were best friends.

Scarlett's friendship with Hangman drove her brother, Rooster, crazy. Rooster had beef with hangman and Scarlett had no idea why.

The door of the bar opened again to reveal the one and only Coyote. Coyote coming in caused Hangman to immediately run to talk to him.

Scarlett took this as her chance to go and get a drink. The bar was mainly empty, considering the fact it was early. Scarlett found a chair on the end of the bar so she wouldn't be squished if someone decided to sit beside her.

"You got a boyfriend yet?"
"Huh?" Scarlett asked looking up from her phone. Penny laughed as she wiped down the bar.
"What would you like to drink?"
"Umm" Scarlett hesitated, not knowing what to order, "I think I'll have a dr. Pepper, please" Scarlett wasn't a heavy drinker, and most of the time she was the designated driver, so she was used to not drinking.

      Scarlett turned around in her seat to see hangman and coyote and hangman playing darts.

      "Twenty bucks you can't get three in a row" Coyote challenges.

    Scarlett hops out her seat and speed-walks towards the two guys, wanting to see how the bet would play out.  Hangman gets two darts in a row causing coyote to cover hangman's eyes. Hangman hit the bullseye for the third time, winning twenty dollars.

    Hangman high-fives Coyote, causing Scarlett to smile.
       "Does you two know who else is coming?" Scarlett finally ask, curiosity getting the best of her.
        "No"
         "No clue"
Ugh. They are useless.
       Scarlett sits on a stool near the pool table. The two boys start to play pool. Hangman solids, Coyote stripes. Hangman is winning when the bell rings. This causes hangman to head towards the bar.
         "Get me a beer!" Scarlett calls as hangman walks towards the bar.

     "What do we have here? If it ain't Phoenix!" Scarlett looks up at the sound of her best friends name. Scarlett gasps before yelling, "Phoenix!"

       Phoenix smiles as she walks towards the group, payback, and fanboy behind her.

      "And here I thought we were special, Coyote. Turns out the invite went to anyone." Hangman leans against the pool table waiting for Phoenix to respond.

     "Fellas,this here's Bagman." Scarlett smiles as Phoenix says this. Scarlett was proud of herself for coming up with the nickname.
"Hangman."
"Whatever. You're looking at the only naval aviator on active duty with a confirmed air-to-air kill."