I thought today I might share a bit of one of my WIP, Fly Boy.  I started this for NaNo but of course the ‘pressure’ to complete the required words stifled my creativity so I have shelved it for a while and have a big change I want to make to the plot... so for now it sits.  Following is the opening chapter.  Would love to hear thoughts on it... might inspire me to do the changes and write more ;)

 

Elle rushed down the stairs shouting a ‘seeya’ at her parents as she went to answer the door.  She ignored her father’s usual questions about where she was going and when she would be home.  After opening the door to her best friend, Bianca, she pulled it firmly shut behind her to avoid the continued questions.  She adored her father, Lucas, but his protectiveness wore on her.  Being the daughter of a police captain wasn’t always easy.

“Where’s the fire?” Bianca said.  Her rounded pretty face broke out in a grin.

“You know what my dad is like.  I would have been another fifteen minutes answering his questions.”

Bianca proceeded in her normal effervescent way to tell Elle about the club they were headed to.  Elle half listened as Bianca talked about ‘men in uniform’ and ‘shore leave’.  Apparently whoever they were had completed training and would be out and about celebrating at ‘The Pines’ a popular club by the beach.  How Bianca knew all this information Elle didn’t know or particularly care.  As Bianca continued to tell her about the ‘navy boys’, Elle tuned her out.  She loved Bianca but sometimes her endless stream of chatter, though endearing, was too much.  Instead she let her mind drift to Taylor, the one guy she would like to see out tonight but knew he’d be the last one she would.

“Elle, are you listening?”

“No.”  Bianca knocked her playfully with her shoulder.

“Did you see Taylor this morning?”

“How do you know I was thinking about him?”

“You have that glazed over screwed up face look.”

Elle smiled.  “No he wasn’t at work today, sick or something.  Mum didn’t elaborate and I didn’t ask.  His dad worked instead.”  Elle sighed and imagined Taylor’s usually olive complexion sallow with sickness and wished she could be the one holding his hand and brushing his chestnut hair from his brow.

“So again you worked for free with your mum for the sole purpose of seeing him and he wasn’t there.”

“You know I don’t mind though.  I like working at mum’s shop.  Besides I see him at uni.”

“Yeah but he’s with her though isn’t he.”

Elle nodded. 

“Was he there on Friday?”

“Yes.”

“Weird.”

Elle shrugged.

Bianca then launched into another monologue about all the hot guys that would be at the club but Elle blocked it out again.  She didn’t want anyone else.

For as long as she could remember she’d had a crush on Taylor.  The son of her mother’s florist shop delivery driver, Elle had known him forever.  When Taylor started working the Saturday shifts for his dad, Elle had volunteered to help her mum.  As it also happened they attended the same uni and shared a class together.  For the past two years of uni, her secret crush had grown to ridiculous unrequited love.  Elle wished she didn’t love him but she also didn’t know how to stop.  Whenever he looked at her with his pale blue eyes she melted. 

“Elle,” Bianca snapped her back to reality again.  She halted Elle with a hand on her arm.  “We’re here.  You really should pay more attention.”  Her voice sounded a little hurt and guilt niggled at Elle.

“Sorry, B.”

“It’s OK.  Now let’s see what we can find in here.” 

Her blonde bob swung as she pulled opened the door and towed Elle along by the arm.  Bianca may be considerably shorter than Elle but she always walked at a frenetic pace.  Her boundless energy lifted Elle’s spirits and she decided to stop wallowing and have a good time.  How could you not with Bianca bouncing around?  She smiled and followed her friend to the bar.

Elle glanced around the room as they waited at the packed bar to order.  Bianca’s source had been spot on; everywhere she glanced she saw white uniforms and buzz-cuts.  As they stepped to take their turn she glanced across the bar and noticed a small group of uniform clad guys.  In an instant her eyes locked with pale blue ones.  The tall blond stared for a few moments before turning his attention back to his friends.

“What can I get you?”  The server behind the bar startled her. 

She dragged her eyes away and ordered.  While she waited, she flicked her eyes back to find him staring once more.  A jolt of electricity shot up her spine and fingered her neck.  She couldn’t and didn’t want to look away.  His mouth curled into a brief half smirk before returning his attention to his friends again.

With a reluctance she couldn’t fathom, Elle turned, paid and retrieved her drink.  As though they had a mind of their own, her eyes flicked back to find him gone.  Disappointment caused her to frown.  Why do I care if he’s gone?

Shaking it off, Elle followed Bianca through the crowd and they located a high rounded table to place their drinks.  Elle watched Bianca scanning the throng obviously, as usual, looking for someone to flirt with. 

“Elle, I think I’m in man heaven.  Have you seen all the hot guys here?”

“Yeah, I guess.”  For some reason she couldn’t understand she only wanted to see one.

Bianca laughed and shook her head.  “You are impossible.  You need to get over Taylor already.”

“I wish it was that simple.”

“Oh my, Elle, that guy over there is fully checking you out.”

Elle didn’t have to look far to find him.  Once again he wore a small smile as though he had a secret he couldn’t tell.  He was a little closer to them this time and she realised he was tall, lean and broad shouldered.  A good thing for her, as Elle was taller than the average man.  What are you doing, Elle?  It doesn’t matter how tall he is. 

“Elle!”

Turning to Bianca, she tried to keep her face indifferent, encouraging Bianca was never a good idea.  They would be over there in a flash if Bianca got a sniff of a chance for an introduction or an opportunity to not only flirt but to push Elle onto some unsuspecting guy.  Again endearing but not always wanted.

“Sorry, B, what did you say?”

“Go over and talk to him.”

“Why?”

“He’s cute in that ‘his cheekbones could cut glass’ kind of way.”

“So?’  Elle didn’t want to admit she had already noticed his prominent well defined cheekbones and jaw.

“Too late, he’s gone.”

Sure enough when Elle turned to the spot where he’d been a moment before, he’d vanished again.  That niggle of disappointment reared its head once more.  What is wrong with me?  Elle shrugged, if she encouraged Bianca now, they would be weaving through the crowd before she could blink.

“So have you picked out your victim for tonight?” Elle asked teasing, in the hope of shifting Bianca’s attention.

“Ha Ha, very funny.”  She poked out her tongue before returning to her usual verve.  “There are far too many to choose from.”  She grinned.

“Seriously though, would you really want to hook up with one of these guys?  Don’t they go out on ships for long periods of time?”

“I don’t want to marry one, Elle, just have some fun.  It wouldn’t hurt you to get in some practice flirting.”

“I’m sure I’d be capable if I needed to.”

Bianca rolled her eyes and went back to perusing the room.  Shaking her head at Bianca, Elle glanced around the room again, as though an involuntarily reflex urged her to seek him out.  After a couple of quick sweeps of the club, Elle didn’t spot him again.  For some reason this bothered her far too much.

One of her favourite songs came on and Elle wanted to dance.  This time she dragged Bianca across the room and to the dance floor.  Elle got lost in the music, letting the rhythm guide her and everything else drifted away.  After several songs they decided they needed a drink, went to the bar and were fortunate to find the table they occupied earlier empty. 

Again without conscious thought, Elle swept the club but couldn’t place him amongst the other broad-shouldered uniforms.  The fact they all wore the same short haircuts didn’t help either.  Controlling the urge to do another sweep, she turned to Bianca, hoping her friend would launch into another long one sided conversation and she didn’t let Elle down.  Yet even as she listened her eyes searched the room.  What is wrong with me?

Bianca suddenly stopped mid sentence and her mouth gapped.  As Elle went to follow the direction of Bianca’s stare a deep voice sounded near her ear.

“Are you looking for me?”  Elle stifled a gasp and turned.

Close up he took her breath away.  His broad shoulders, the square cut of his jaw and those icy blue eyes almost caused her to wear the same expression that Bianca did.

“No, why would I be?” she said feigning an indifference she didn’t feel. 

Her heart pounded a rapid beat that she thought could surely be heard over the music, betraying her.

“What’s your name?” he asked with another half grin.

“What’s it to you?”  She knew she was being rude and totally out of character but her jumbled mind and erratic heart made it difficult to string a thought together.  What made it even more confusing was he was totally not her type.

“Elle!”  Bianca said with a frown, a rare occurrence for her.  “I’m Bianca.”  Now she smiles.

“Nice to meet you, Bianca.” 

In a flash she came around the table and stood next to Elle.

“This is Elle,” Bianca said and gave Elle a little shove.

“Yes, I caught that.”

This time his smile was full and added a dimple to one cheek.  All rational thought flew from Elle’s mind.

“I’m Alexander, Alex.”