Sappho's Commando

TWENTY-SIX (ISELEN POV)

"Dakota and Hanna will regret not having come with us," Tara laughs amused while leaning her elbows on the counter next to me, nodding with her head to the rhythm of music. "They'll be super mad."

"It's not our fault," I admit gesturing at the bar tender to catch her attention. "Some of Dakota's marine friends were visiting the city and invited her to dinner some burgers, she extended the invitation to her sisters but only Hanna accepted. In the meantime, we were supposed to explore the city, go shopping and back to the base for dinner. We didn't expect to find a lesbian bar open so early in the evening, nor we knew that it'd be packed because this is the week they invited some bands to play rock and roll life."

"What it'll be, ladies?"

"Four beers, one of them alcohol free," I answer smiling. The pretty Latina bar tender with curly hair smiles back, nodding.

"Did you designate a safe driver tonight? Good job, I like women that have clear priorities."

"Poor Nora..." Tara grimaces, looking back over her shoulder. "She lost at rock-paper-scissors... although she doesn't seem to care. She can't drink alcohol tonight but is still having fun dancing with Ruby."

"Come on, take these two beers to them while I pay for this round of drinks," I answer laughing, handing the bottles to the French pilot and grabbing my wallet.

I wait patiently for the Latina girl to come back with the other two beers and my check, humming the song coming from the blasting speakers and the stage. The truth is that we were very lucky finding this bar today and Dakota and Hanna will wish they had come with us even if going shopping seemed boring to them. I'm sure the Colonel would love to be here too instead of attending the umpteenth meeting with some big shots from the US Navy. I guess she makes up for it making good contacts. Luckily, they can't watch our training sessions while they're busy with their NATO stuff and they gave us a day off. It was about time, in my opinion, we deserved a break after spending a week soaked in the Pacific Ocean cold water.

"Oh, sorry."

"No problem," I shout so the beautiful girl with black long hair and almond-shaped eyes who's just tripped over my foot can hear me over the noise.

"I've never seen Eden so crowded before," she smiles, leaning her elbows on the counter next to me and taking a look around till she notices the bar tender getting closer with my drinks. "Hi, Elena, can you get me three beers?"

"Sure," the Latina answers smiling, taking my note before pulling away. "I'll be back with your beers and her change in a minute."

"You're not a regular, I've never seen you before. Did you move to the neighbourhood recently?" the brunette takes advantage of the fact that the band is taking a short break between two songs to talk to me in a normal tone of voice. "I'm Seo-Yun. It's nice to meet you."

She's still smiling, leaning her head closer to me, and it's obvious that she's interested in knowing more things about me. I can't help but smile back. It'll be rude of me not to answer and I'm not usually rude to very cute Asian women that made an effort with their makeup and their elegant yet casual clothes to go dancing rock and roll on a Friday evening. Although I can't give her details about my life because, well, I don't think she has a NATO high security clearance.

"No, I'm visiting San Diego with some friends and stumbled across this bar while we were shopping. I'm Issa," I answer using my favourite nickname from my high-school days. I never tell my real name to a stranger. I guess my job has turned me into a paranoid person who's obsessed with security.

"Here you have your drinks... and your change," Elena turns around again while I put my wallet back in my pocket and grab the beers.

"Nice to meet you too," I smile at the brunette, turning around and moving one step away from the counter... but I have to stop abruptly because Ruby is in front of me, looking right into my eyes, deadly serious, with her tattooed arms crossed over her chest. The colourful designs stand out under the lights contrasting with her black T-shirt. "Hello, honey. Here's your drink." I give her a bottle while she keeps staring at me quietly, clenching her jaw.