They had been there for three days, and as usual, Jack Sauce was flirting at a table while Billy ate with the elite members of the Air Force. The unfolding story was that of a guy who always ended up with the girl. They weren’t slow; they spoke in low voices, whispered, ughed, and lived in their world, much to the annoyance of six people, especially Billy, Andrew, Gray, David, Jack, and Thomas, who pined like nervous women. It was amusing to witness how the mood of the room had shifted after three days.

  -He’s always like this. Treats me badly and then trades me for any woman, - Billy remarked in plete disgust. The five soldiers didn’t know it, but it was a stant exaggeration from Billy every time someone ignored him. For those who knew him, it was always funny.

  - Calm down, buddy. It’s just unpleasant when the girl leaves, - said Ahe most cheerful of the five and usually in the best mood. The military guys were somewhat serious.

  -It tends to be that way, - Billy replied, stretg his muscles as Gray reminded him of the sadness in his life. Without seeing beyond, Billy could sense in the young pilot the loneliness of a life only buried and hidden away by either hate or sorrow.

  - It’s a little suggestive… We thought the life of musis was entirely different, more intense, and far removed from the ordinary, - ented David.

  -Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn’t. It depends on how deep you are into it. You have to get drunk on gin and tonic; those people are crazy, and the parties are out of trol. But the rest, it’s just work, work, and more work. It all spirals into a feeling of madness, - Billy easting the pudding. - That’s not the important part, though. You should know, that the life of a pilot also sounds intehere are some movies that you simply ’t fet. -

  -Well, I guess they romanticize the profession, don’t they? Hollywood, the press, and people’s chatter make it seem entirely different from what we think at first gnce, - Jaented.

  -Though the pension system is good, - David added with a sigh, making the pilots ugh.

  - Getting sick is perhaps the most refreshing time, especially when you don’t have to pay for the medical treatments... and of course, your wife’s,- David tio joke.

  - And what about the G-force? When you take the pne in your hands and feel pressure that’s different from what you imagi’s like a punch of force. You feel it twisting your insides, but then it’s the blue sky ahead of you, time unfolding in front of you like an aurora, - Andrew responded.

  -It’s like standing on stage, an adrenaline rush that shakes your whole body, a surge that makes you want to look at the crowd with wide-open eyes while they scream, - Billy tered.

  They fiheir breakfast. For the first time, Billy was too tired to exercise, and luckily for him, they had rest until noon, after which they’d tih more parachute training. So, for the first time in four days, Billy grabbed his phone.

  He had a message from Leightoer and a few missed calls from her. He sent a long reply about how exhausting his week had been. At that time, the maximum number of characters allowed in a message was 2,000, and for reasons Billy didn’t quite uand, he hoped the phone service would improve soon.

  She was a very sweet woman, always so willing that Billy narrowed his eyes as he thought of the young woman he had embraced in her apartment. She had nded a small role in CSI. She had some talent and would most likely succeed iing world, just as in her past life, even if she didn’t want to bee a superstar.

  Two long messages, along with other replies to Gwen Stefani and Avril... and from there, he kept answering his messages. Unfortunately, the first only responded with monosylbles. Time and distance were like daggers, cutting deeper, but she was the one who had reehat Billy leave her life pletely—at least until they could reunite.

  …

  Avril (Pinky): I have a new song. I think I could use a soloist to help out.

  Billy: We do it whenever you want, darling... But I’m holed up. e to Great Britain for my birthday, bring that cute behind, a’s go party now that I’m eighteen.

  The message was automatic.

  Avril: Juh. I’ll be there, I’ll talk to yent.

  Billy: I miss you. e sooner.

  Avril: Liar. Even if I wao, I ’t... I’ve got some itments.

  ...

  Avril had many things to do, but the smile she earned from the message was enough to make her happy. The poor young woman did the opposite of what all the other women had told her—pull away. Like a moth to a fme, she drew closer to him, even though it would bother those involved.

  Billy checked his other tacts, and there was ohat caught his i: Amanda Seyfried. She was elusive, and she believed Billy wasn’t someoo be taken seriously. Though it might seem na?ve, Amanda had a deep desire, different from eople usually expected from an actress in a romantic retionship. They only had sporadiversations. A message with the note "e to my birthday," was sent, and with that, he moved on.

  Another message from Avril arrived—Emma (buzzkill).

  Billy: Of course they know! The best singer in history!

  Emma: Boooo... I bought your album to listen to all your songs, don’t be surprised when I have feedba your records.

  ...

  Billy: I hope you’ve had enough time to bey biggest fan. Send me your review and yero see me... You o hide your infatuatioer, darling. What we have ’t happen.

  The reply came instantly.

  Emma: What are you talking about? Stop saying things that are total lies... I’d never be in love with a jerk like you.

  Billy: Sure, whatever you say. Denying things is never a good strategy.

  Emma: You’re still as pretentious as ever. By the way, your music is... acceptable. Better than I expected.

  Billy: Wow, still affirming... Denying something doesn’t make it untrue. Maybe if you’re more ho, I give you an autograph.

  ...

  Billy turned off his phohout paying more attention and stretched his muscles. Even the showers in this pce were depressing, cold as ice cubes. It was the lifestyle that disgusted him.

  Meanwhile, Emma could only stare at the versation with an almost obsessive i, reading each word carefully. The words were silly, full of pyful banter.

  She couldn’t help but let a ugh escape, trying to hide her iions. She was in dance practice, sneaking g her phone. For some reason, she kept her versations with Billy entirely secret. Even though her parents remained silent about her behavior, she held everything close. The fact that she kept cheg her phone was a sign.

  Emma: Who wants your autograph, anyway? That’s just dumb.

  Emma: What are you up to? The press says you’ve moved from Engnd, but they don’t show any signs of you in the U.S. either.

  ***

  Billy, after three days, was refreshing his spirit. He o prepare for his interview for The icles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. For that reason and many others, he felt pletely ready to take on the film. He ractig relentlessly, and as he looked at himself in the mirror, he khis would be one of his best auditio.

  -Ta-ta-ta...- he hummed along to Dance Justibsp;as he took a long shower. The song, a wild blend of rod eleic, was one of the racks on his uping album. It was something different from what he was used to delivering. His team, pressured by Billy's talent, tried their best to keep up. Even Jack Sauce, in his spare time, couldn’t stop listening to rock music. His little musi was filled with a library of thousands of records.

  ..