The Pilot's Lover • Collins (Dunkirk)

Twelve.

safety
ˈseɪfti/Submit
noun;

noun: safety
1.
the condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury.

(Betty's POV)

After the boat went down, Collins didn't leave my side. It felt like he was hanging on to me for dear-life as we swam towards the small boat.

After reaching the small vessel, a strong set of arms pulled me onboard.
I stood up and wiped the salt water from my eyes I could hear Collins clambering onto the boat, cussing in the process. I couldn't help but let out a slight giggle.

I looked up to face the man who had so graciously pulled me from the waters, or should I say boy.

Or to be even more specific... Peter.

I stumbled back slightly, my mouth drew silent words. Nothing would come out, no matter how hard I tried.

"Betty?"
His voice echoed

My words finally rose from my throat.
"Peter? I thought you..."
I trailed off, holding back sobs. I had thought he was dead? Gone, submerged in the sea forever?

"I thought you were..."
Peter repeated my words, he seemed to be as confused as I was .

"Peter, what? Why? How?"
I continued to ask. Tears filled his eyes, I'd never seen him cry before. I'd never even seen him show much emotion before.

Before anybody could say anymore a low voice arose from the side of us both.

"Betty?"
I turned to who had called my name. My heart dropped, all my blood seemed to rush from my head, making me feel extremely lightheaded.

"Dad?"
I questioned back at the man before me. My dad. My father. My dad, was standing on a ship, in the middle of the English Channel, in front of me.

His large arms embraced me tightly and my sobs could no longer be withheld. The tears and the wales flooded out, I cried like an absolute baby in my dads arms.
For once, I felt like I was allowed to be weak; it was a feeling I'd only been able to feel with Collins. It was my dad, he'd came to save me, Collins, Alex, Tommy, more soldiers. He didn't only save me, he saved my family.

Regret suddenly washed over me.
"I-I'm so sorry dad. I really am. I'm so stupid, I thought I could help"
I apologised with my whole heart.

"Shhh, why are you apologising? You did the same thing which I'm doing now! I'm immensely proud of you. Don't apologise."
He stroked my hair assuringly in the embrace.

We eventually broke the hug and dad walked back over to the wheel, giving me a slight nod.

I turned to face Peter who seemed to be shaking hands with Collins.
I turned to face my father once more, then walked over to the two.

"Thank you again, for taking care of her. I owe you, mate"
My heart felt like it could burst at any second.

I grabbed Peter and hugged him tightly, maybe a bit too tight because it felt like if I let go of him he'd be gone again. I didn't even notice I was crying until I heard his soft whispers.

"Shhh, Bee. It's okay."
A wave of all different mixtures of feelings washed over me like a tsunami:
Love
Heartache
Homeliness

Bee was his nickname for me, he thought of it when we were young. He insisted on calling me it, as I thought it would be amusing to name him Pee.

"I missed you so much, Pee"
I lightly giggled and half-cried.

"Me too Bee, me too"
He nuzzled his face into my neck.

After minutes of hugging, we broke away.

"You two go below deck, it's warmer down there."
Peter said.

I turned, uncertainly, towards Collins. Below deck was probably the last place I wanted to be right at that moment, due to recent events.

"C'mon love, we'll be okay."
Collins assured me grabbing my hand and grazing his fingers over my knuckles.

I immediately felt safe in his touch, and walked towards the ladder which I then began to climb down.

To my surprise I was faced with many other people. Including Alex and Tommy one of whom seemed to be sleeping. I looked at the position they were in, Alex's head lay on Tommy's lap while Tommy's hands ran through his hair.

I turned to face Collins, who stared at the two boys in awe with a big smile on his face.
He decided to break the moment by letting out a fake cough.

"Shush, he's asleep"
Tommy hissed.

"Whoops, sorry I didn't notice"
Collins remarked sarcastically. I couldn't help but let out a giggle.
Collins turned to face me again.
"Why do you always do that?"
I questioned, speaking my mind.

"Do what?"
He asked back, confused about what I was asking.

"Whenever I laugh, you look at me weirdly. Do I have something wrong with my mouth or something?" I responded covering my face.

Collins blushed and removed my hands from my face.
"Most definitely not, it's b-because you look adorable when you laugh and smile."

My cheeks turned a shade of dark crimson and I immediately faced the floor.

"You two pack it in, i'd rather not see babies being made thank you very much"
Tommy remarked from in front of us.

"Oh shut it you"
Collins playfully replied, pointing towards how the two boys were positioned.

Tommy immediately blushed and turned away from us both.
I let out another small laugh and guided Collins to a small gap where we could sit down.

I immediately snuggled into him, stealing all the warmth from his body.

"Rest my darling; I'll wake you when we're home."
He said.
I turned to face him, then his lap, then him again.
"Yes I'll be your pillow"
He winked at me and I giggled again.
I rest my head on his lap and began to drift off, the last thing I felt was something hard poking my head. 'It must be his zipper off his uniform' I thought to myself.

-----
IM SORRY ABOUT THE END BUT IT POPPED INTO MY HEAD AND MADE ME LAUGH AND I DIDN'T WANT TO CHANGE IT SKSKSKKSJS

Anywayss, there's been a lot of flirting between Tommy and Alex oooo ;). What can I say, I'm a sucker for love :)

So, anyways. I really hope you're enjoying this book so far, and I'm pretty sure there's gonna be quite a lot more chapters to come so don't worry about it ending soon!
Anyways, thank you sososo much for reading! I really appreciate it! Please do keep doing so and don't forget to vote! Again, thank you sososo much

Yours truly,

E xx