Matches

Chapter 4: First day back

The morning sun cast a golden hue over the Naval Air Station as Evan "Matches" Buckley stepped onto the tarmac. The familiar roar of jet engines, the scent of aviation fuel wafting through the air, combined to stir a mix of excitement and nostalgia. Dressed in his crisp flight suit, he felt a sense of purpose he hadn't felt in years.

Off to the sides, pilots milled around, some joking with each other, others studying flight plans. Evan's eyes scanned the crowd, locking onto one figure all too familiar—Jake "Hangman" Seresin. Jake's eyes met his, and a subtle smile started playing on his lips. A warm flush rose into Evan's cheeks, but he steeled himself.

"Attention!" a commanding voice called out.

Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell strode to the front of the assembly. His presence was a command of respect, and a hush fell over the group.

"Welcome back to Top Gun," Maverick began, his gaze sweeping over the pilots. "You've all been called here because you're the best of the best. But this time, the stakes are higher. The missions are tougher. And the skies are less forgiving."

Evan listened intently, his focus darting occasionally to Jake further forward a few rows in. Now and again, Jake turned around, and they caught each other's eye. The charge that passed between them meant they never held the gaze for longer than a moment.

"Your first training exercise starts in one hour," Maverick went on. "Dismissed!"

The pilots peeled off, one by one, toward the lockers or the briefing rooms. Evan walked his pace, adjusting his gear as he went. He detected someone falling into step behind him and spun to see Jake at his shoulder.

"Ready for this?" Jake asked with a hint of mocking in his tone.

Evan snorted. "Always. You think you can keep up?"

Jake laughed. "Guess we'll find out."

They fell into an easy walk toward the locker room, side by side, as if no time had passed. Other pilots fell in around them, but the silent understanding between them dimmed the bustle to a hum in the background.

In the locker room, Evan reached for his combination lock and opened it, to find a small note taped inside: *Meet me at the old lookout after training.* In an instant, he knew Jake's handwriting. Evan turned to him; he was fiddling with his gear, a slight grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

The intense flight maneuverability, the simulated dogfights, and complicated air fighting tactics being performed to their limits. Maverick was pushing them hard, demanding precision and excellence.

"Matches, you're up next!" Maverick's voice crackled over the comms.

Evan took a deep breath and grasped the controls of his F/A-18 Super Hornet hard. "Roger that," he said, beginning a steep climb. This was his world up here, and with every twist and turn, he came alive.

As he flew through a difficult maneuver, the voice of Jake hit his headphones. "Not bad, Matches. But can you handle this?"

Jake's jet dove in, doing a faultless barrel roll around Evan's aircraft.

"Show-off," Evan muttered, a grin spreading across his face.

"Just keeping you on your toes," Jake returned.

The rest of the session continued in much this vein as some friendly rivalry sparked between them. It challenged them enough to commit to performing at their best and kept the spark alive that had always characterized their relationship.

From there, he walked to the old lookout point—a private place where they had spent some quality time, with an ocean view. The sun was setting and was casting a golden glow on the water.

Jake was already there, standing with his back against the railing. He turned to Evan as he approached. The softness of his expression shocked Evan.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Jake said, nodding toward the horizon.

"Yeah," Evan agreed, coming to stand beside him at the railing. "Reminds me why I love this place."

They stood in comfortable silence for a moment, the sound of waves crashing against the rocks below filling the air.

"I'm glad you're here," Jake finally said, his tone sincere. "Flying today-it felt like old times."

Evan looked over at him; their eyes met. "I felt it too. We make a good team."

Jake smiled. "Maybe it's time we stopped avoiding what's right in front of us."

Evan took a deep breath. "Jake, these few years. I've missed more than flying. I've missed us."

Jake reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against Evan's hand. "So have I."

They stood there, the distance between them closing not just physically, but emotionally. The words unsaid hung in the air, each waiting for the other to make the next move.

"Do you think we can make it work this time?" Evan asked softly.

Jake nodded. "I do. If we're both willing to try."

Evan smiled, a weight lifting off his shoulders. "Then let's give it a shot."

With the sky turning pink and orange, they came to some sort of silent agreement that they would still be in each other's lives. Not through some unique moves or declaration but through silence and the understanding of being together.

This reverie was cut off by the sound of tinkling boots. They turned to see Maverick sashaying toward them.

"Thought I'd find you two here," he said, knowing. "Good work today. You two were brilliant."

"Thank you, Captain," they replied together.

Maverick snorted. "I see some things haven't changed. Keep pushing each other. It's how you'll get better."

With a nod, he left them alone once more.

Jake sighed contentedly. "Ready to head back?"

"Yeah," Evan replied. "But maybe we can grab dinner first?"

Jake's eyes lit up. "I'd like that."

With each step of their walk back to base, words grew easier between them-intermittent bursts of storytelling and laughter. The hurdles that lay ahead would be daunting, but they were finally together; whatever lay ahead could be met head-on.

That night, Evan lay on his bunk and replayed the day's action in his mind. Flying, the camaraderie of the team, the recaptured connection with Jake-all these combine to give Evan a sense of optimism.

He reached for his phone and found a new message from Jake himself: *Can't sleep. Too excited for tomorrow. Breakfast together?*

Evan typed back: *Wouldn't miss it. See you then.*

He closed his eyes, put the receiver down, and smiled for a very long time. The future would be what it would be, but he was ready to meet it for the first time in a long time-with Jake by his side.

The first day back at Top Gun turned out to be more than just a return to duty; it was the first day of a new chapter in his life. And as he drifted off to sleep, Evan knew that whatever lay ahead, they would face together-their shared looks and smiles a silent promise of what was yet to come.

Sorry I have not been posting I'm trying! I still have to go through and edit! Love ya