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Post by AlaskaAirGirl on Oct 30, 2023 19:05:04 GMT -8
Austin thought for a second. "We can go out. It gets me out of the house so that I don't get cabin fever from staying in all day. Gives me a sense of normalcy. I'll just have to take a shower and I can be ready in about 15 minutes," Austin said as he sat up. He reached for his cup of coffee and took a sip of it. Even thought it was cold, it still tasted fine. He then got up to head to the kitchen where he washed his glass and then headed upstairs for a hot shower. He got dressed in a pair of Wrangler jeans, a plain grey shirt and then his black bomber jacket that he liked to wear when it was cold out. He pulled on a pair of dark brown cowboy boots and grabbed his cowboy hat. Meeting Chloe downstairs, he smiled. "Ready."
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Post by Abbster on Oct 30, 2023 19:12:33 GMT -8
Chloe ran up to her room to get dressed. Ellie watched her as she threw things out of her closet. It was kind of like a date, even though neither one of them were admitting it. She finally found the outfit she wanted and she made it downstairs before Austin. "you look very handsome." Chloe said, grabbing his shirt and pulling him in for a kiss. "Good thing I got another car." she said jokingly. She helped Austin into the passenger side and got in the drivers side. "so" she said. "where do you think we should go for lunch?" she asked.
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Post by AlaskaAirGirl on Oct 30, 2023 19:21:51 GMT -8
Austin already knew what he wanted from the moment Chloe asked if he wanted to go out for lunch. "I kind of am craving a good burger. Last time I had a good one was in Oslo with the guys. So about a month ago. There is a burger place near the airport that we can go to. They have good burgers there. Sometimes after a long day of flying and if we have a layover in San Antonio, we head to this little bar and grill to hang out and talk about our flights and all our worries," Austin explained once they were in the car.
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Post by Abbster on Oct 30, 2023 19:29:15 GMT -8
"alright, I know the place" Chloe said as she drove to the burger place. They were seated and a waiter came to take their orders. "I'll have a cheese burger with fries and a sprite please" she said. Waiting for Austin to make his order, she put her menu down and she went on her phone to text Molly.
Chloe- take a picture of my girl for me
Molly- you know I already did. -incert picture-
Chloe- Chloe hearted the picutre
Chloe- thanks mols.
Molly- always, so how's the day going?
Chloe- good, we're at lunch right now.
Molly- oooooo funnn, I should be back around 4.
Chloe- Chloe liked the message and put her phone away after Austin had ordered. "so" Chloe said. "neither of us have said anything, but we're on a date, I hope you know that." she said laughing
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Post by AlaskaAirGirl on Oct 30, 2023 19:45:26 GMT -8
"I'll have the bacon cheese burger with fries and a root beer," Austin said as he handed his menu to the waitress. He then looked at Chloe for a moment. "Oh, we are?" Austin asked with a smile. "Well, I feel a little underdressed for that." He had to chuckle for a moment. He was so used to coming to this place with his uniform on. He felt kind of out of place, but the waitress recognized him instantly when they had walked in. She had heard about the crash and was glad that Austin was getting better. He then looked up as a few pilots walked into the restaurant that he recognized. He gave then a wave before they came over to say hi. They did not stay for long as they were just here to pick up an order as they were going back to the hotel nearby since they had just gotten in from a long flight. He introduced the guys to Chloe before they left.
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Post by Abbster on Oct 30, 2023 19:49:23 GMT -8
(last post for the night)
Chloe took his hand. "I'm really happy to have you in my life." she said, smiling. One day, if she ever married him, she wanted him to become a father, he would be the best father out there, she just knew it. Chloe let go of his hand when the drinks arrived. "did you want bread?" the waitress asked. Chloe looked at Austin. "I would, Austin?" she asked him. Chloe loved there bread, her parents had taken her there when she was a kid, and it was something she always got before her meal, their bread.
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Post by AlaskaAirGirl on Oct 30, 2023 19:57:52 GMT -8
"Why not," Austin said as the waitress put down some bread. He grabbed a piece and a knife to butter up the roll with some honey butter. "The main reason why the guys and I come here is the atmosphere. There is a lot of aviation memorabilia here. He placed his knife back down on the napkin and took a bite of his buttered bread. "We also like to come here to just hang out, have a beer when we are out of uniform, and just chill," Austin said. He had a rule that he NEVER drank a beer 24 hours before a flight. Also known as his Bottle to Throttle rule. He met up with the guys at least once a month here, even if he was not working. He loved it here. It was like his second home.
(okay. Gonna work on my diamond dotz coasters for the rest of the night.)
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Post by Abbster on Oct 31, 2023 8:42:13 GMT -8
Chloe grabbed a piece of bread and cut it in half, grabbing some butter to put on it. She took a bite and began eating it. She listened to what Austin was telling her. "thats cool" she said, taking another bite of the bread. Soon, the drinks arrived and then the food. Chloe grabbed some ketchup and put it on her cheeseburger. When she finished eating her burger, she went to her fries and started eating some of those. "want one?" Chloe asked, taking a fry and handing it over to Austin
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Post by AlaskaAirGirl on Oct 31, 2023 9:03:50 GMT -8
"Sure, even though I ordered some myself," Austin said with a chuckle as he took the fry from Chloe. After putting some ketchup on his burger, he took a bite. "I know things have been hard recently with you loosing your dad and me being in the crash. But I really think that things are going to look up from here. And I am going to be going back to work in possibly a few days. I mean, it has been a while since the crash. But, I also want to warn you that there is possibly going to be a time that the NTSB may call me in for an interview for the investigation on what the Demons happened up there. I know it worries you when I am up there after all this happens. But I want to let you know that everything is going to be alright. We can get through this together," Austin explained as he looked at Chloe. Austin was about to say something when his phone rang. He pulled his phone out to see it was the pilot that he had been flying with on the day of the crash. He had visited him a few times when he was in the hospital. "Excuse me a moment." Austin got up from his seat as he walked outside to take the call.
After his call with Ben, Austin had received another call from the NTSB saying that they needed him to come in and explain his side of the story with Ben. He returned a few moments later to their table as he sighed. "I just got the call that the NTSB needs me to come in and tell my side of the story."
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Post by Abbster on Oct 31, 2023 9:11:01 GMT -8
Chloe nodded when his phone rang. She sighed and continued eating. "who answers a phone call while on a date?" Chloe scoffed. She glanced at her phone and the picture of her and her dad popped up. She smiled. "I miss you dad." She said. Chloe finished eating way before Austin came back to the table. When he finally did, Chloe was scrolling on Instagram. "so...whats that mean?" she asked, unsure of what was going on. "Is that a good thing?" she asked. "or a bad thing?" Chloe didn't know what NTSB was, her dad had never had to do something like that, so obviously she was confused.
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Post by AlaskaAirGirl on Oct 31, 2023 9:19:09 GMT -8
"It could be good if the National Transportation Safety Board finds my story believable and that they can find the cause of the crash is the same as my story," Austin said as he looked at Chloe. He knew she was upset about him answering his phone while they were together. But it was something he needed to take. "Chloe, I am sorry if I am upsetting you." He then felt like he could not eat another bite as his stomach had sunk when he heard that the NTSB had called Ben. He had been discharged two weeks before Austin as his injuries were not as bad as his. He then called the waitress over and asked for a to go box so that he could finish his food later. "I promise, I will make it up to you."
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Post by Abbster on Oct 31, 2023 9:23:57 GMT -8
Chloe nodded slightly and then she asked for the check. "I can pay if you want" Chloe said, grabbing her wallet and taking out her credit card, she put it on the check. When the check was paid, Chloe stood up. "ready?" she asked him. When he stood up as well, she closed h er eyes slightly as the image of her father laying in his casket came flooding back to her. When they got in the car, Chloe sat there for a second. "I miss him" she said, "So much." she told Austin how she kept seeing the image of her father laying in the casket. "It never leaves me" she whispered
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Post by AlaskaAirGirl on Oct 31, 2023 9:33:10 GMT -8
"It may be hard, but it will take some time to recover," Austin whispered as they walked outside. He looked at Chloe as he felt a pang of guilt. He then stopped in his tracks. "Chloe, I need to know something. And I want you to tell me the truth. Are you afraid of me flying?" Austin felt like he knew the answer to this question. There was something that changed from the moment that he had woken up to now. He did not want to stop flying as it was something he was passionate about. He looked at her from where he was standing, hoping to study her face when she answered him. He knew that the answer he had for her would piss her off. But flying was what made him whole as a person. Being a pilot was his identity. And if that was ripped away from him, he did not know what would happen to his sanity.
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Post by Abbster on Oct 31, 2023 9:36:50 GMT -8
"yes" Chloe almost whispered. She got into the front seat of her car and looked at him. "of course I am." she said. "It could've ended a lot worse. You could've died." Chloe said. "how would I live with that if I lost you?" She asked. "Please don't fly anymore." she begged him. "I know you love it, but I love you, and I don't want to loose you." she said, starting to cry. "Thats why my dad quit flying. He was in a really bad plane accident and ended up in the hospital longer than you. My mom, brother, and I, all stayed by his side, we didn't think he was going to make it." Chloe said, "I just ask that if you still choose to fly after hearing what I said, at least choose to fly planes that allow you to be home more often." Chloe said.
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Post by AlaskaAirGirl on Oct 31, 2023 9:49:42 GMT -8
Austin clenched his jaw as he got into his seat. He sat there for a moment before putting his seatbelt on. "I know this answer is going to piss you off...but no. I am not going to quit flying. You asking me to stop flying is like asking me to breath with no air." He finally looked at Chloe after a long moment. "I will consider becoming a short-haul pilot, though. It depends on how I feel after this next flight. But know that I will be okay," Austin said as he looked at Chloe. He was not sure what to do next. He looked out the window as a raindrop hit the windshield. But he loved flying the 777 planes, which were used on long-haul flights. There was just something about all that power that was controlled by his hands. Something about closing his eyes and just listening to the engines of the plane as he tried to sleep. It was like a lullaby to him. He finally looked at Chloe. But Chloe did make him happy. And all he wanted was her to be happy.
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