Emerald Flight: Homecoming: The Worst of Both Worlds

Elizabeth walked onto the porch and tossed her wrap across one of the faux wicker chairs. She heard of the whisper of sand grains as they fell to the deck, knowing that her father and mother would be annoyed—each for different reasons. She promised herself that she would clean it up later. Right now, though, she just did not care.

She had been looking forward to seeing her friends from college and University again. Her contact with many of them had become infrequent at best after she had started her final year at the Academy. She was not entirely at fault for that, she knew, for she had placed a priority on her studies over trying to keep up with messages from her friends.

Her face felt hot from the sun. In her hurry to leave that morning, she had foolishly forgotten to apply sunscreen and knew she was now working toward a moderately bad sunburn. It just added physical discomfort to the emotional sting that she was already experiencing.

The day had started off well enough. Most of them had seemed genuinely pleased to see her. She had noted with some amusement, along with occasional jealousy—and even surprise—at some of the pairings since she had left. Although she as not the only one who had arrived alone, it immediately made her feel slightly out of place. Hardly an obstacle, she had thought, as she could remedy that situation.

The morning began with shared stories of their daily lives, accompanied by a steady flow of drinks. Elizabeth limited herself there, knowing that she was out practice, managing to nurse a large rum and cola until it was well-diluted with melted ice. Many of those around her exhibited no such level of self-control. Still, it was pleasant enough. She was openly propositioned by two young men. One of whom, she was certain—and had she been interested—would likely have been unable to do more than fumble open his shorts before passing out. There might have been others, but too oblique or tentative for her to notice.

There was also a husky young woman with auburn-tinted hair who made what Elizabeth believed to be the most subtle, yet provocative, come-on she could ever recall being on the receiving end of. Although it was not the first time in her life that she had been tempted by such a proposal, she just did not feel that [jolt] from the woman. Her awkward rejection was received with polite acceptance, and a complete lack of disdain that made Elizabeth, for a moment, want to reconsider.