041:

The gym time invigorated and inspired her, and Tracy took to the slopes once again that evening, racing Richard and Austin down the faster runs, jumping moguls, getting munched a couple of times and watching as they munched it as well.

They hit the showers at eight, had a gourmet Mexican fiesta for dinner and thought about going dancing and then decided they were simply too tired, and would rather watch a movie or play a game.

Sabrina called while Tracy was going through Austin's video collection looking for something new, so he got up and left.

Richard came back with his mixed drink and set it on a coaster on the end table, then scooted in behind her on the floor, one leg up and bent behind her, resting his chin on her shoulder. Tracy turned to look at him, smiled and kept flipping through the cardboard box.

"Why aren't you pissed at me?" He whispered.

"I don't know you well enough to be pissed at you. The only person I've really ever been pissed at is Casey." She tried to keep it nonchalant, even though his hands clasped around her middle kept her from breathing deeply. He was far too free with her person, but she'd given him that right from the start, beginning with a slap.

"Everything I like is in direct opposition to your beliefs."

"I told you. I'm not your judge and jury."

"I'm not afraid of Mormonism."

"I never said you were. Why would you think that?"

"I just wanted you to know. It's okay to be yourself."

"I am myself. Most of the time. At least I think I am. Do you think I try to be someone else?" She felt his thumbs stroking the outside of her wrist. "As myself and an engaged woman, I have to ask you to stop flirting with me."

He reared back in mock offense. "I would never----."

She scooted away from him, leggings bunching under her on the tapestry rug. She turned around, so she was no longer in the framework of his legs. "You have been--- you always are. At my dad's party for instance--- the dance there? That was very flirty."

His eyes sparkled. "I wasn't flirting with you at the doctor's. That was purely because I care about you."

She cocked her head at him, he stared into her eyes one long moment, and then busied himself looking through the box of videos. Finally, he came up with a slightly squarer plastic sleeve and held it up triumphantly.

"What about this? Let's play Asteroids. I used to be really good at it."

Tracy crawled over to the TV cabinet and opened the lower cupboards. Sure enough, an Atari 2600 sat nestled among the cords. Richard loaded the game and then took a controller and plugged it in. She used the remote and turned it all on.

"You may have been good at it, but I'm the Queen."

"Oh ho, so you say! I say that's a challenge!"

He scooted closer, knees bent, while she was up on hers, both of them adjusting the controllers as the screen lit up with little round aliens and space ships.

She butted his arm as he got ready to fire. "No holds barred, you're going down."

"Oh, yeah? I see how it is. We once were friends, you're saying?"

The hours slipped by with Pac-Man and Pong bleeps and buzzes filling the room, the fire burning down, the hot chocolate mugs steaming to congealed powder in the bottom cold. And finally, when Richard had won, over and over, Tracy threw her controller at him, jumped up and would have run downstairs in disgust, screaming that he cheated. He happened to snag her leg, causing her to slide in socks on the slippery floor. So he rolled with her, taking the brunt of her fall, and landing her in his arms, rolling on the floor.

"Eh? What's all this?" Austin came out of the room then, disheveled and bleary from talking on the phone in the dark, running his hands in frustration through his hair.

Tracy scrambled away, adjusting her too-big long johns shirt as she scooted up next to the couch, and Richard lay there, laughing.

"Pac-Man marathon." Richard grinned, finally rounding to an upright position. "And I won!"

Tracy gave him one very disgusted look and then scooted up onto the couch seat, adjusting her socks which were almost off. "You cheat, loser!" She made the giant L-sign on the middle of her forehead.

Not able to let that ride, Richard squirmed around and pinned her, tickling her ruthlessly, as she screamed. "Admit I'm the King! Admit it, Minion! I rule the Austin McQueen Pac-Man room!"

His hands were under her shirt, going for her sensitive sides, and it was all she could do to kick him off and keep her shirt down. "Never!" She yelled. "Austin, help me!"

"Looks like you got to give the King his due, baby." Austin snorted, watching the comradery with no little interest. But he went in the kitchen and pulled a beer from the frige, popping the top audibly.

"I will never----!" She screeched amid frantic giggles and squeals. "Richard, leave my shirt alone!"

"It's just gonna get worse! Admit it, or face the consequences! I am the Pac-Man King of the house."

"Now wait a minute!" Austin came from the kitchen to the dining area. "Before, you said just King of the living room, and I purposefully didn't set foot in there and make you a liar. But if you're going to say the whole house, then you'll have to challenge me to a duel for it."

Richard looked up. "You're on, bro. Let me teach this little usurper a lesson." And then he lifted her shirt and blew raspberries on her belly, while she curled into a ball and kicked at him as best she could. When he was done, he rolled her over onto her knees, patted her bum like a kid and went back to the controllers where Austin had just taken her space.

"What? Booted out? Replaced?" She pouted.

"We can go par-tay." Richard called suggestively, knowing she wouldn't take him up on it--- as he and Austin settled in and the tell-tale digital music started.

Tracy went to the piano and put her foot up, as she started to play.

Her mind wandered to Raine, wondered where he was. He knew she was up here at the resort, he knew she'd worked with these guys all week, he didn't know there weren't any women with them, and that she was enjoying their company alone. She glanced over at them. Austin's fair head, bent close and jerking with his hand movements, Richard's darker one, straight and intent.

Friends.

She felt comfortably like she'd made two really good friends.

"Do you know anything about this conflict in Lebanon?" She called as the thought struck her.

"Yeah." Austin broadcast knowledgably. "The President of Lebanon was assassinated by Habib something of Syria. So, Israeli forces went in and occupied Beirut the next day. I think something like two or three thousand terrorists were killed by the Lebanese Christian Army and the PLO was expelled from Beirut. There is still isolated fighting and the UN and the US have sent peacekeeping forces. There are two carriers always in the Med. Raine said he'd be deployed to the Kennedy." Austin said this matter-of-factly.

"How long will they be deployed there, do you think?"

"He told me six months for sure, once the float starts. His wing will be stationed there six months. So, he'll go out in March and be back in August if all goes as planned. Why? Did you guys set a date?"

There was something weird about discussing her life with Richard and Austin whom she'd only known less than three weeks. Even if they were friends now, they'd met at the conflux of a few other drastic changes in her timeline. Including knowing Raine for just over six weeks---- and planning to marry him.

"Summer." She replied with less than sure tones. She quit playing and pulled the lid on the piano closed, swiveling on the shiny bench. "I think I'm going to bed. I've got church in the morning."

"Are you leaving early then? What time?" She saw Richard's eyes blink up to catch her answer, and when she didn't immediately reply he went back to his game.

She wasn't sure what time. She had to plan her week. "Why? Do you need a ride?"

"Back to LA? Yeah, that would be amazing. What a cool thing you have your pilot's license. Makes so much more sense. How long did it take you?" Austin flipped his controller in the air and Richard beat him soundly on the next run.

"Seventy hours in Cali, it should have been only thirty-five, but I opted for the dual engine, PPL. Took a little longer, but leaves it open for international flight, if I ever upgrade my plane, or buy another with a longer range. Right now I cannot fly to my dad's in Wales without about four stops for fuel, going through Iceland, which is stark and beautiful, but takes a while." She turned at the top of the stairs. "We start pre-production on Monday?"

Austin looked up. "I have the schedule, you want a copy? I can get you one." But he'd said it absently.

Tracy waited at the top of the stairs just a second longer, letting herself bask in the sudden warmth of having friends, even if they were guy friends, and not related, like her former band members. The sense of association was so strong.

They were goofy, just guys---

They were accepting. Interested.

Austin wanted her to stay with him whenever she wanted, to treat the place like it was her own, move her stuff into her room and use it whenever she wanted. How thoughtful! How bizarre!

She skipped down the carpeted steps, feeling lighter than she had for a long time.

*******