H_NGM_N

Chapter 1

Elise Loitte sat at the bar, watching her cousin pour drinks for the many people that were there. She couldn't help but look around, surveying the different groups of people. A few were alone--but that was normal at any bar--families sitting at the tables, couples flirting in dark corners, and--of course--the navy men all standing near the dart board.

As a pilot herself, she quite hated the navy pilots. They were always so confident--no, arrogant--in themselves and she felt they never took their jobs seriously, which only angered her more. As a woman, she knew how much she had worked to be here, but these men? It sent a shiver down to the bone.

Someone squeezed in next to her and, when she saw who it was, a wide smile grew on her face. "Maverick! It's been a while. Last time I saw you--"

"I was being escorted from the naval building for going below the hard deck...again."

"Am I surprised in the least?" Maverick shook his head and smiled, taking a sip of his beer. "They brought you back to teach, did they?"

Maverick nodded this time and was about to say something, but he was stopped by Penny's voice. Elise watched in knowing as she watched the two talk, love obviously in their eyes. When she turned back to her drink, she was greeted by Amelia, smiling up at her.

"Oh, there's my favorite little cousin! How are you?"

"I'm good."

"You see Maverick's back?"

"He always comes back." Amelia said, not quite excited.

"Yeah, but look at them," her and Amelia turned to the two love birds, "I don't think he'll be leaving anytime soon."

Amelia smiled up at her. "You really think so?"

"I really do."

Before another word was said, the loud bell rang and everyone, including Elise, roared with cheers. Maverick looked to Elise who was still laughing. "Cell phone." Was all she said as she ordered another Vodka Tonic. Maverick looked over with a pleading look with the words please don't make me pay for more written all over it. Elise just shook her head and laughed.

As she surveyed the room she saw the one and only Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw walk through the doors. She immediately got up out of her seat to see him. She'd worked with him for a few years before his papers were pulled, so she was a bit ahead of him—but only three years older than him.

"Bradley! You got called in as well?"

"Hell yeah. I'm one of the best." He winked and Elise just laughed. "You too?"

"Something like that."

"Want to come meet the newbies since you've left?"

Elise shook her head. "No, no. I'll get enough of them soon. You go have fun." She gave him a peck on the cheek before squeezing him tightly in a hug. "I'll see you tomorrow. Don't get too hammered."

He smiled. "Can't make any promises."

She wasn't even able to sit back down before three navy men carried Maverick out of the bar and dumped him outside. Elise knew that feeling far too well. Of course, she was never carried out, but when she couldn't pay...she was escorted out.

As Elise sat back down at the bar, she was greeted by someone sitting next to her. When she turned to look at him, her eyes didn't know where to go.

His dirty-blonde hair was gelled—not too much, but enough—he had piercing hazel eyes and a gorgeous smile as he looked back at her. She looked down to see many a pin on his navy shirt and when she looked back up, his eyes were still pinned on her.

"Hello there." He said as he took a sip of his beer and Elise couldn't help but follow his movements as he did.

"Hello," she looked down at his pin, "Seresin."

"The call name's Hangman."

She turned to fully face him and watched as he looked her up and down. "Oh yeah? And why's that?"

"Don't worry about it, Darling. Want another? I'm paying. And then after, we could head back to-"

"I am gonna have to stop you there, Seresin. I don't plan on going home with any navy man tonight, no matter how good looking you are."

Hangman smiled a cheeky smile. "So you think I'm good looking?"

"Not happening." Elise said before turning away from him and pulling out her phone—not putting it on the counter, of course.

She heard Hangman sigh slightly before getting up. "You don't know what you're missing." He whispered into her ear as he left.

Elise was going to respond but couldn't as she heard the piano start. Rooster's hands twiddling on the keys brought her so much joy, she basically jumped out of the seat to go sing. It was one of her favorites: Great Balls of Fire.

"You shake my nerves and you write on my brain," was just the beginning of a very stupid version of the song.

About halfway through the song, she felt an arm wrap around her waist and when she looked at who it was, she couldn't help but laugh. It was Hangman. Who else would it be? And, well, Elise was quite fine with his hand there. As much as she would not go home with anyone, she didn't mind a little careless flirtation.

...And maybe a little careless kissing.

She didn't stop him when he turned her toward him and put both of his hands around her waist. And she definitely didn't stop him when he tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and pressed his lips against hers. And she definitely didn't stop him when he pulled her closer.

As she pulled away, she looked into those green eyes that had quite a cute spark in them.

"Not happening, hmm?" He said with a cocky smirk.

Elise rolled her eyes and gave Rooster a peck on the cheek and a small goodbye--to which he respond with a question about Hangman, which she didn't reply to--and then left, heading back to her apartment she had rented.

The next morning, she woke up and got ready quickly: brushed her teeth, put her hair in a ponytail, dressed in a nice button up white shirt, gray blazer and a skirt, and got ready to go. She grabbed a bagel and was out the door, driving her 1985 Mustang.

Maverick greeted her at the entrance with a big hug and the two of them walked in. "Are you ready?" He asked her, giving her one of his award winning smiles.

"Ready as I'll ever be." She smiled softly.

As the two of them walked in, Elise's heels echoed through the room and the instructor was just finishing his little introduction for the two of them.

"...Please, give a warm welcome to your two new teachers, Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell and Elise 'Legs' Loitte."