Blondie- A Jake 'Hangman' Seresin fanfiction

Chapter 3

Everyone was eager, having not flown in several days, and it didn't take long before they were all out on the tarmac getting into their planes.

"It's the first day, so I'll start simple. Basic group exercise. Payback, Fanboy, Blondie, and Mars, you have three minutes to take out me, Hangman, Phoenix, and Bob, or we win by default. Your time starts in three..."

"Let's split," Payback decided, "Blondie, break right."

"Breaking right."

"Alright, Gigi, time to spill, what are your boyfriend's favourite tactics?" Lainey asked.

"He's gonna try and get below us where we can't see him so he can pop up and make the kill shot," she advised.

"Alright, Fanboy, keep your eyes below," Payback ordered. "Now, are we taking them one on one or working together?"

The next three minutes passed in a blur- Phoenix and Bob were the first out, followed by Payback and Fanboy, but thanks to Lainey and Georgiana knowing each other's minds inside and out they managed to dispatch Hangman and Maverick within the time limit.

"Alright, that's a win for Blondie and Mars. Everybody back to base, and we can get the next group up in the air."

They met the next group coming out as they were walking back inside, Coyote among them. "Nice job," he appraised, stopping to bump fists with Lainey and Georgiana. "'Bout time someone gave the old man a run for his money."

"Good luck!" Georgiana grinned, and they moved off again in opposite directions. Lainey grabbed her arm as they approached the women's locker room.

"I forgot how fit he was," she sighed, sounding disappointed.

"Who? Coyote?"

"Yeah."

"Well, look at it this way. If you make up with Jake, you'll have more opportunities to talk to him," Georgiana suggested.

"I hate it when you're right," Lainey groaned. "Guess it's time for me to apologise to the asswipe."

"Did I just hear that right?" Phoenix asked. "Wait for me, I've got to see this."

They found Jake listening to Coyote's group's turn on the radio, along with Bob, Payback, and Fanboy, and the other pilots who hadn't flown yet, including Rooster.

"Uh, Hangman," Lainey began rather awkwardly, "could I talk to you?"

"Yeah, sure- but do you mind if we wait until their three minutes is up? I'd like to hear how this one ends."

"That's fine, yeah." She dipped her head and went to sit down next to Phoenix and Georgiana.

"What are you so nervous about?" Georgiana whispered, "He's not going to beat you up or anything."

"I hate apologising to people, especially when I know I'm wrong."

"Healthy," Phoenix commented, and Lainey flipped her off jokingly.

Jake got up from his seat once Maverick, Coyote and Fritz had beaten the other team, and Lainey followed him outside. To Phoenix's delight, however, they didn't move far enough away from the door and their entire conversation could still be heard.

"Don't eavesdrop, it's rude," Georgiana told her, but she only shrugged and replied, "it's not eavesdropping if I just happen to hear what they're saying."

"Look, Hangman," Lainey was saying, "I know you and I haven't always exactly seen eye-to-eye, but you are dating my best friend, and I wanted to apologise for all the times I've been rude to you. I've called you some pretty colourful names over the years, but, yeah, I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too, I haven't been the nicest either. Let's just agree to get along, for Georgie."

"For Georgie," Lainey agreed, and they both returned to the room moments later. "Alright, I need a shower," she announced, grabbing her jacket from the chair she had been sat in.

"Me too," Phoenix added, and the two of them left the room together, allowing Jake to sit down next to Georgiana.

"You alright?" she asked him.

"Yep. I told you I was trying to be nice to people."

"You did great," she assured him, rubbing his shoulder.

"Speaking of," he smirked, "that bit where you beat me earlier? That was hot."

"Everything I do is hot," she shrugged.

"And you're never wrong."