Fighter Pilot

2.

Sunday, we got the evening off. Lucy and Ann managed to wire up the radio to get a music broadcast and nearly the whole camp was dancing in the mess tent. Not me. I was sitting on a large rock out by the searchlights.
"Shouldn't you be with your tent mates?"
Simon was stood about three feet from me, hands stuffed in his pockets. He looked a bit surprised to see me.
"I could ask why you aren't letting the girls throw themselves at you. You're the most eligible bachelor in camp."
"And the lads all wouldn't mind you warming their cot but it looks like neither of us had those thoughts tonight."
Simon climbed up next to me, nudging me a bit so that we could sit side by side. I looked out at the ever darkening countryside and sighed. I'd loved trips to the countryside as a girl. They'd been a chance to get away from Great Uncle Winston and live like a normal English girl. My brother and I had always raced in the fields next to the cottage our family stayed in. Where was George now?
"Vivi?"
"What? Sorry, I wasn't listening."
"I asked if you were okay. With your mum being killed last month...most girls would return home."
"I'm alright. My father was home, that's what matters."
"Do you have any other-"
"A brother. George. He's in the Navy. Captain of a submarine."
"Bloody captain of one of those things?"
"He's quite proud of his rank. One of the quickest to climb in the Navy."
I smiled, thinking of him. George and I had been a lot friendlier than most siblings. He was four years my elder and had never much teased me or picked on me.
"And what about you? Is there only one Minter?"
"No, I've two older brothers. Johnny's an intelligence officer back in London and Nick is a crewman on a battleship."
"And you're the prestigious fighting ace."
"Don't know about prestigious."
I was about to reply when a defining boom rattled the ground. Simon and I were both knocked clean off the rock and fell to the mud below. He took my shoulders and pulled us both up against the rock, hoping to cover us from arial attack. My ears rung, deafeningly so. We were under attack.
"We have to go ba-"
"They're after the planes, Vivi. They won't go at the camp unless we try to make a run for it. We have to stay here."
"I don't want to! I want to go back to camp!"
"Vivi, shut your mouth. I don't want bloody shot."
I turned my head and hid my face in Simon's shoulder. I didn't want to watch. I didn't want to watch them blow us to bits. Simon held my hand, trying to rub his thumb over my knuckles reassuringly.
"We're going to die."
"We're not going to die. Vivi, we're far enough from the planes they won't hit us."
"Simon-"
His hand came down over my mouth and he gave me a warning look. I stayed quiet and then I heard boots behind us. Their voices were gruff and I didn't understand them. I looked at Simon, fear making my eyes grow wide. He shook his head. The footsteps retreated and he moved his hand off my mouth.
"Come on, we need to go now."
Simon took off back towards camp, all but dragging me behind him. I was stumbling along, boots sticking in the mud. I kept looking over my shoulder, ready to scream if I saw a German.
"Vivi, stop looking back."
"But-"
"I don't bloody care, stop looking back."
I stared straight ahead the rest of the way. Lucy and Ann were quick to pull me from Simon's grasp and into their tight embraces. Evelyn and Kitty were watching with concern as they waited to fawn over me.
"What were you thinking, Minter? I don't care if you've got your bonny arse fancying one of the searchlighters, you lot can't go sneaking off."
"It wasn't Simon's fault."
My voice silenced the whole of the mess tent. Simon's commanding officer turned and looked me up and down.
"So you're a little whore and willing to admit it?"
"For your information, sir, Simon and I both needed to clear our heads. I don't smoke and I don't know what his excuse is. I went to sir out by the searchlights and he ended up sitting with me. And before you call someone a bloody whore, don't make so much noise with your own."
Everyone was stunned at my outburst. I was usually quiet and respectful when I wasn't in my tent. But the near capture had me angry.
"You'll not-"
"I'll not speak to you like that? Do you know who I am, you bastard? Vivienne Churchill. You'll shut your mouth or I'll make sure you get demoted."
"We've a Churchill?" one of the pilots called. Everyone erupted in chatter. Very few at camp new I was a Churchill. Until now. Now they were all well aware.
"Vivi, I believe maybe we should step out."
Simon took my elbow and led me out into the night air. My pins must have been coming loose because I had curls escaping my hair cover and blowing in my face.
"You didn't have to defend me, Vivi."
"You didn't do anything wrong. You don't deserve punished."
"After yesterday I thought you'd be hoping I was stripped of my ranks."
"You're a good ace. Arrogant, but good."
"You seem to be a bit arrogant yourself."
"I'm a Churchill, we're all arrogant."
"Come on."
Simon took my hand and headed towards the bunk tents, and the men's at that. I tried to pull away, but his grip was firm. My attempts to escape became increasingly more noticeable and he stopped.
"Is there something wrong, Vivi?"
"I don't want to do whatever you're planning. I want to go to my own tent."
"Alright fine, but I'm still coming along."