Page 76 of Forever Flirting

In fact, it was quite the opposite.

“Tell me about Paradox,” Mallory said quietly, not looking at anyone – and Alex set down his fork, glancing at Everly, and spoke bluntly about the strange man that obviously made a mark on her friend. She had expected Mallory to ask about Killian – and was partially afraid that the person her brother had been talking to was indeed Mallory.

Her best friend felt like family – and to think of her with Killian was just strange, because they were close, but didn’t ‘fit’ quite right. It was like someone ringing a bell that had a slight crack. You could tell there was something different, not right, between the two of them – and that was why it bothered her so much to hear Mallory consider her brother ‘hot’.

“Thank you,” Mallory said openly, and looked at Caleb, before getting to her feet. “I’ve got to head out for work. Be good for Alex, okay?”

“M’kay,” Caleb said distractedly, picking up his rice and smashing it between his fingers before putting it onto his blue plastic spoon.

Within moments, it was just them.

Alone.

“Do you think she’s got something going on with Paradox?”

“I thought she was interested in your brother?”

“No, I thought so at one time, but this was different.”

“He’s different,” Alex countered. “I really like the guy – but he’s strange, and earned his call sign for a reason.”

“How did you earn your call sign?”

“Some of the guys earn their call signs by how they fly, act, or if they get in trouble. Most of them are either funny – or fierce,” Alex smiled. “I got mine for doing something stupid.”

“Like what?”

“Well,” Alex smiled shyly, and pushed his food around on his plate for a minute before looking up at her. “When I first got to Flight school, it was sheer chaos. We were going through check in, trying to find our classes, our places, learn the layout of the place… and they had given us a packet of information – but most of us were too arrogant to think we would need to use it.”

“I could see that,” she teased, and heard him laugh softly.

“It was bad,” he admitted, smiling. “I was in the main hallway, with my packet, and looking at the list of names on the wall, getting shoved and pushed around by everyone else trying to do the same – when I lost my temper…”

“Uh oh,” Everly uttered, grinning and trying to picture him actually getting upset… only to have Caleb echo her immediately, putting down his spoon. “Oh no sweetie, it’s okay. That’s nummy. Your Daddy did an ‘uh-oh’…”

“Keep eating buddy,” Alex joined in, and then turned to Everly.

“So I got mad, pushed several guys away from me who kept bumping into me – and started hollering out names, ordering people where to go, and dissipating the crowd quickly… and by the time I got to my first class, my very first day, to get assigned to my wingman – it was already decided.”

“You were dubbed Maestro for conducting traffic in the hallways?”

“I was mocked by my instructor, and he explained how call signs worked with the team,” Alex grinned. “I walked in the first classroom, and my instructor got to his feet and clapped slowly causing everyone to stop talking. He said, ‘Look here, we’ve got ourselves a real Maestro in the works… I don’t care what your name is anymore, flyboy, nor do I want to hear what you want your call sign to be! Everyone is going to call you Maestro from here on out. Am I clear? Because this newbie thinks he’s got all the answers, tells everyone where to go, what to do, how to get there, and thinks he’s obviously got all the answers… you’ll lead by example. Nobody… and I mean NOBODY calls Cadet Wilcox by his name – or you will be running laps. So, since you know it all – Maestro? Why don’t you show the team where the path is – and start us out with a few laps…”

“What did you do?” she asked, smiling.

“I dropped my books and folders on the table – said, ‘Yes, sir’ – and ran laps,” Alex grinned, causing Everly to laugh easily. “When I got back, I was informed that by me ‘covering’ for those that lost their paperwork and didn’t pay attention, I wasn’t doing any of my teammates any favors. It was the first of many ‘tests’ to see who could act, think, or do on their own – and a test to see who would step up or take control.”

“And you did?”

“I did,” Alex smiled wryly. “So, I was the first example made… and others followed. They preach, teach, breathe, and eat the ‘Team’ mentality, but no one needs a hot shot that stands out from the crowd. They want you to stand out, but only as far as acceptable… and it’s an invisible line in the sand.”

“That seems harsh…”

“No,” he began easily, looking at her. “I completely understand. Renegades and rogues are dangers to the team – they draw attention. They want leaders to lift the team, push for greatness, and excel as a whole unit… but you don’t want to tip the scales and create a target.”

He took a bite of his meal and chewed thoughtfully.

“Besides… Maestro sounded pretty cool, and seemed to fit.”

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