CHAPTER ONE
GATHER 'ROUND
[01]

song: Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis

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"you shake my nerves and you rattle my brain,
too much love drives a man insane."

The Hard Deck was full of Navy pilots ordering drinks and playing pool. Celia swerved around to a group's table to give them their drinks. She helped out at her Aunt Penny's bar when she was in town.

Just then, a man walked in, he wore aviator sunglasses and a Hawaiian shirt. He headed to a group of pilots surrounding the pool table.

"Hey waitress!" Hangman shouted to Celia when she was closer by. "Can we get a couple beers?"

"Bagman, don't be an asshole." Phoenix scolded.

"Hangman." He simply corrected.

Celia walked up to the group and put her hands on her hips. "Phoenix is right, Bagman. Don't mistreat the staff or you'll have to buy everyone a round of drinks."

"It's Hangman." He whined and crossed his arms.

The man in the Hawaiian shirt stared at Celia with a mixed look of confusion, surprise, and curiosity.

Hangman noticed his look and introduced Celia. "This is Celia Sariwati, aka Bali. We went to Top Gun together."

"Bali, this is Bradley Bradshaw. His call sign is Rooster."

But she didn't need the introduction. "Nice to meet you, Rooster." Celia gave a small smile.

"Nice to finally know your name, Bali." Rooster said.

Phoenix's back seater, Bob, set up his hit for the pool table before Hangman snatched the stick.

"So..." Payback started. "Anyone know what this, uh, special detachment is all about?"

"Well a mission's, a mission." Hangman said as he positioned himself for another hit. "What I wanna know: who's gonna be team leader?"

He hit the ball and landed it in the pocket. Hangman straightened and looked around at the group, smirking. "And which of you has what it takes to follow me."

Celia scoffed. "I guess that's why you finished second-best to me, right?" She gave him a closed lipped smile.

Fanboy and Bob burst out laughing before catching themselves when Hangman sent a glare their way. Phoenix hung her arm around Celia's shoulders in pride.

"Hangman the only place you'd lead anyone is an early grave." Rooster shook his head.

Everyone went silent when he said that. Hangman tsked and walked off, to get another drink was Celia's guess.

Rooster scoffed and shrugged before walking away; or rather walking towards the piano. Everyone abandoned the game of pool and followed him, carrying their drinks.

"Gather 'round for a great time!" Rooster hollered to the whole bar.

His fingers danced as they pressed down on the piano keys to form an oh-so familiar sound. A crowd soon formed. People danced and sang and drank and smiled.

Celia never thought she'd hear these notes again nor the sound of his voice, but here she was singing along with the crowd.

"Goodness gracious! Great balls of fire!"

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All heads turned when the sudden sound of music cut the silence like a sharp knife. From where Celia was, wiping down a table, a man wearing a floral Hawaiian tourist-y shirt sat at the piano.

"You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain." He sang. "Too much love drives a man insane."

Celia had never heard this song before, but the man certainly knew how to sing and play it. Not many people were at the bar at this time of the day, so she abandoned her station and walked over.

"You broke my will, oh what a thrill. Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!"

The man stopped playing instantly when Celia stood next to him. He froze and turned his whole body to face her. "I'm Bradley. And you are?"

Bradley scooted over on the piano bench and Celia sat down next to him. "Celia. Nice to meet you."

He picked up his playing again at where he left off. "I laughed at love cuz I thought it was funny.

You came along and you moved me honey!
I've changed my mind,
this love is fine.
Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!"

Bradley nodded along and smiled at Celia while singing.

After he finished playing, they talked for bit, still sat on the piano bench. "Are you in town visiting family?" Celia asked curiously.

"I am, I'm visiting my mom." Bradley replied. "I just graduated from Top Gun last year, so this is a normal hang out place."

"How long have you worked here?" He asked her.

"Oh... Since I was 21, I've been working here on breaks and during the summer when I visit my aunt Penny. She owns the place."

"Then I'll have to visit often." Bradley smiled. He really was charming.

Everyday that week, the mysterious and charismatic man whom Celia had grown fond of went to the bar everyday, where they sang great balls of fire together until the other customers grew sick of it.

They never got the chance to exchange numbers. They never did anything really, other than talk, and they never saw each other again.

Until now a couple years later...

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A/N: hii guys! i hoped you enjoyed this new first chapter

i only have about two more chapters to prewrite before this story is completed 💔

i may have to take a few breaks or update not as frequently (ive been updating daily) due to some things happening

if you are a new reader completely disregard these messages as theyre not really relevant

love you readers ❤️❤️