The Pilot's Lover • Collins (Dunkirk)

Five.

Safety:
ˈseɪfti/Submit
noun;
the condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury.

~

Collins' POV:

Betty's cheeks flushed as I thanked her, a small smile creeped onto my face.

"You're very welcome, sir"
Her voice sounded like the finest piece of music I had ever heard.

The way she thought very carefully about what she was going to say and the way she hung on to every single word had me mesmerised. She was so determined in everything she did, even if it was just cleaning or dressing a wound. I didn't even know her personally, yet I could tell she was strong but somewhat gentle at the same time. She must've been extremely brave.

It felt like I had been looking into her eyes for a lifetime yet I didn't even notice I was staring at her until I heard her clear her throat. I quickly realised must've made her feel massively awkward, I shook my head at my stupidity.

"Sorry."
I apologised for making her feel uncomfortable.

"No need to apologise, you did nothing wrong. Get some rest, you must me terribly tired."
Her sweet voice rang throughout the boat, making a warm feeling settle throughout my body.

I just now noticed how beautiful this lady was, I shook off my thoughts. This was war, not some sort of love story.

"There's a room below deck, it has a small bed inside. You can rest there for a while"
She continued, I nodded in response.

"Thankyou."
I replied, she responded with a slight smile. I made my way down the ladder and into a small room  taken up by a single bed.

I plopped myself down onto the bed and began to doze off.

********

(About an hour later)

I tossed and turned in my sleep, hushed voices could be heard from above deck. Disturbing my sleep.

"Betty, I'm just saying! I don't want you flirting with this guy. You just met him and you're already blushing whenever he bloody breathes!" It sounded like someone didn't approve of her helping me.

"Flirting? So apparently helping a soldier,who just crashed into the bloody English Channel , is flirting now! I'm only trying to help!"
Betty seemed mad, my heart sunk slightly at the fact that I couldn't intervene and help her. But it really wasn't any of my business, I continued to listen to their conversation helplessly.

"Maybe if you hadn't snuck off and decided you wanted to save some soldiers, I wouldn't be having to say this to you! You're so stupid sometimes Betty, I wish you would just listen to what people say for once."
These words infuriated me.
I clenched my knuckles by my side and waited for her response. I felt bad for eavesdropping, but I wasn't able to sleep through this.

"Me? Stupid?"
Her voice had risen and she sounded ten times angrier than before.
"You were the one who didn't want to help! You were the one who followed me onto this boat! You're the one who wanted to sit back and watch all these men be stranded on a beach for God's sake!"
She carried on.
"These men, they're doing it for us! They're suffering and dying for us! They're doing it for everyone in the country! And if you're not greatful for that, t-then you're evil and don't deserve to be here right now!"
Betty voice was shaky and she sounded extremely vulnerable.

Silence filled the boat.

A loud bang could be heard, echoing throughout the vessel.

Without thinking, I sprung up onto my feet and dashed up the ladder.

When I reached the top, I was faced with a sight which made all blood drain from my body. Betty stood, with her hand over her cheek and tears streaming down her face.

"What the Hell?!"
I shouted at the boy, he staggered back into a corner making it obvious he was intimidated by me. I towered over him, grabbing him by the collar.

"You do not hit any women, even if she says something which makes you mad, you never hit a lady."
I was absolutely livid. I dropped him onto the ground, leaving him gasping for air.

I made my way over to Betty, and held her in an embrace. Her cries deepened.

"Hey love shhh, it's okay. I'm here don't cry, everything's okay."
I assured her knowing that it wouldn't make all her pain go away, but hopefully a slither.

It seemed like she was clinging onto me for dear life, it left me distressed knowing that I could have interfered before this happened, yet I didn't.
I was foolish.

After I realised this, I made it my mission;

I had to keep her safe; I had to get her home.
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Hi again! I'm sorry for all the A/N's but I'll probably do them at the end of every chapter, sorry. This chapter wasn't that long but I'm still working on trying to add more detail and things like that. As I said at the start of this, I'm not the best writer because this is my first book. But I am trying really hard to make this as good as it can be.

Again, thank you so much for reading and please continue to read! And don't forget to vote also maybe follow me? ;)
Also, I have like zero friends...so if you would like to be friends, don't be scared to message me. I don't bite; unless you want me too ;). I'm joking lmao.

All the love
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