The Apprentice Starship Engineer: Book One The Link by Daniel Hanks Page B

over, exposing most of her breasts. “Did I bend your rod when I knocked it in the dirt? Maybe I’m just too much woman for a boy.” I smelled alcohol on her breath. She was plastered.
    I laughed. Sandra reached over and kissed me on the lips. She pulled back and smiled. “He’s mine, Tammy. You can’t have him.”
    “Shit,” Tammy said and turned, stomping away.
    Sandra laughed. “Thanks. I didn’t know what to say,” I said.
    She shrugged. “I’m territorial. I guard my friends.”      
    Sandra walked me home, saying it was only fair. She gave me a kiss on my lips at my door, leaving me breathless. I was confused. After taking a cold shower, I decided she was a good friend, and that the kiss meant nothing.
    * * * *
    At next practice, Sandra was sharp and terse as if she was mad at me. She worked me twice as hard as before, and sometimes her demonstrations were rough.
    I studied hard, working late into the night, and three months later, I passed my second-year test with honors. Kathy didn’t proctor it. Ron Thompson did. He was the head pilot.
    After seeing my score, he said, “We aren’t going to walk the halls holding hands.” He laughed.
    “That’s too bad.”
    “I thought you cheated on your first-year test, but now I know you didn’t. Sorry.” He held out his hand. He looked genuinely sad about doubting me.
    After the test, I went to engineering. Jack and Bob both were waiting for me.
    “Did you pass?” Bob asked.
    “Yep. I aced it.”
    “Shit,” Jack said, pulling out his bottle and three cups.
    “I’m not drinking any more of your goat piss,” Bob said as Jack handed him a cup.
    “Thanks, Jack,” I said as he handed me a drink.
    “To Drake, a young man who is costing the company way too much money. Our new third-year apprentice,” he said.
    “To Drake,” Bob said as he took a sip out of his cup.
    I took a small sip. It burned all the way down. I stifled a shudder.
    “To Kathy, the woman who got away.” Bob toasted.
    I took a large gulp. Why did he do that? I wondered. Shit, it always tore my heart out. I took another swallow.
    “Bob, why keep talking about Kathy? Even I can see it hurts the kid,” Jack said.
    Bob sighed. “When I met Vivian, she wouldn’t talk to me. I couldn’t sleep. I hurt so bad I went to her and told her how I felt. We became friends. After she knocked me out, we married and the rest is history. You,” he said, “are avoiding that. You’re hiding behind your studies, using them for a haven. Don’t live safe, kid. Live hard. Tell her, and for better or worse, take her answer on the chin. You might be surprised at what she says, but either way, you’ll never be sorry you asked. Damn it! Cowards can never be happy.” He finished his drink, then left the room.
    We were quiet for a while. Jack filled my cup. “Bob, he’s passionate. He loves Vivian. I’ve never seen a man so in love, but he’s right. No matter what she says you’ll never regret saying what you have to say to her. You don’t want to make your life into a cheap romance novel. Finish your drink and go tell her before it’s too late.” Jack corked his bottle.
    Bob was right, I thought, swirling the yellow liquid around in my cup. Jack’s whiskey had to be made from goat piss.
    I liked Kathy. Hell, who wouldn’t like her? At least we could be friends. I stood and staggered. Shit, if I went to see her now she’d think I needed liquid courage to face her. I picked up the cup and drained it in one large gulp. It almost dropped me to the floor. It was true, I need liquid courage to face her. What if she refused to talk to me?
    Jack laughed. “Well, liquid courage is still courage. Go talk to her. You can’t lose.”
    I left him rocking in his chair, singing. Margret guided me through the ship. I only really saw flashes of hallways and people giving me disgusted looks. After arriving at Kathy’s door, I almost turned around, but Jack’s words came back to me. You have nothing