CHAPTER TWELVE Dark Circles

Kate drove, hoping Pete was going to show up at some point to graduate. Kate fixed her uniform collar and walked towards the yard.

She couldn't see him anywhere when she walked to the group. Kate knew it was Ice and Slider who were getting first place. She had a feeling that's how it was going, even though she probably wanted Pete and Nick to receive it, but she knew they wouldn't.

Kate listened to the speeches, not really paying attention to it. She walked over to Ice and Slider when they weren't crowded by pilots and their RIOs.

"Kerosene." Ice greeted.

"Congratulations, Snowman." Kate congratulated. "Slider."

She shook both of their hands, when she let go, she put her aviator sunglasses on. The sun was blaring into her eyes, and she could barely see.

"I'm like you now." Ice joked to Kate.

Kate scoffed, "when you start flying like a psychopath, and light things on fire, then we'll talk."

Kate snuck around, finding coffee, and immediately drinking it. Viper walked over to her, "Kate." He greeted.

"Sir."

"What did Mitchell say he was doing?" He asked.

"He was still debating by the time I left." Kate replied honestly.

Viper patted her on the shoulder then walked back over to Ice and Slider, who were now surrounded by a crowd. Kate saw a shadow by her feet, and when she looked at who was there, she smiled.

"So, you showed up after all, Pete." Kate mused.

Pete smiled, then he smirked after looking at her. "The uniform looks good on you." He told her.

Kate rolled her eyes, and crossed her arms. Pete wrapped his arm around her, kissing the top of her head. "I'm gonna go talk to Kazansky and Slider for a second. I'll be right back." He whispered, heading off.

Kate poured herself another cup of coffee. She went to the bathroom again, her best guess was it was caused by the copious amounts of coffee. She looked at the one carrying a handful of letters of assignments or missions. She knew what that meant.

Viper handed her one of the letters. "Be careful." He said. "I know you probably won't." He added

Kate nodded, knowing what he was saying. "If I don't come back... thanks for being there for me. Even when I was a shithead." Kate told him.

"Was? I have to keep finding ways to get you out of being permanently grounded because of all the stunts you pull." Viper stated.

Kate laughed, looking at the paper. "Anyone else here going?" She asked.

"I believe so... why?"

"Just wondering." Kate said, shrugging.

Kate got a strange feeling in her stomach. "I'll be right back." She promised, walking to the bathroom again.

She came back thirteen minutes later. Pete was standing where she was beforehand, confused. Kate seemed scattered to him, more than usual. He furrowed his brows at her, knowing something was going on.

He saw the paper in her hands, "you got the assignment too, huh?" Pete wondered.

"Yeah." Kate replied, not looking at Pete.

Pete pulled her to the side, further from everyone. He cupped the sides of her face with his hands. "Hey, what's going on?" He asked gently.

"Nothing. I'm fine." Kate denied.

"If you can't do the assign—"

"I can do it. I just haven't been sleeping." Kate half-lied.

"Yeah, I know." Pete didn't pry, but he knew something else was going on.

Kate let out a deep breath, "first task after being a TOPGUN graduate." She said.

"Yeah." Pete breathed out.

Kate looked over to see Ice and Slider staring at them. She looked back at Pete, and she moved to stand beside him. "There's not really a difference. Believe me, I love this place, but the missions, the assignments, tasks, they don't really change after graduating here." Kate told him.

"We'll have missions together, assignments..." Pete hoped.

"Probably." Kate replied.

She still sounded distracted, but Pete knew not to push. He knew she would snap if he did. So, he left it alone, but it still irked him that she wouldn't tell him, but he understood at the same time.

He glanced at the dark circles underneath her eyes, growing concerned for her. In the time that Pete had become close with Kate, he noticed a few things: she was extremely stubborn, she was closed off, she was as reckless as him, and she'd die for the people she cared about.

Kate fiddled with the fabric of her sleeves. What was left of her biological family, they assumed that every time she flew into the air with her tail on fire, she worried. They assumed she worried about whether or not she would make it back or not. But Kate learned a long time ago that you can't only think about the possibility of death. Maybe that's why she was so reckless even after her RIO died. Pete just wants to protect Kate at all costsAnd Kate saying 'Snowman' instead of 'Iceman' will always be >>>Okay, bye!

Pete just wants to protect Kate at all costs

And Kate saying 'Snowman' instead of 'Iceman' will always be >>>

Okay, bye!