Just Friends by k71

Chapter 3

Rick took Lisa home after dinner and said goodnight. They had yet another day
of training ahead of them and both decided they should turn in early.

Rick lay wide-awake in bed and thought of Captain Wilson. Why did Jeff's
interest in Lisa bother him so much? He decided that he really didn't feel
exactly "brotherly" toward her as Jeff had suggested. He definitely had
affection for Lisa, he admitted to himself, "But just because she's a good
friend," Rick said out loud, trying to convince himself he was speaking the full
truth. "OK, so maybe she's a really good friend," he said aloud, "but still,
just a friend."

Rick exhaled loudly in frustration and got up out of bed. He thought he would
try to take his mind off of the situation by looking at his beloved Minmei photo
album. But, even as he tried to fill his mind full of Minmei fantasies, his
thoughts kept returning to Lisa.

"Minmei eating cake. Mmmm, Lisa and I shared that really good cream cake at the
restaurant tonight," Rick thought.

"I love this one of Minmei by the fountain… Lisa and I met at the fountain in
the new park last weekend when we went to the movies."

"Wow, Minmei looks great in this bathing suit," he thought, looking at one of
the Miss Macross glamour photos," I bet Lisa would look great in that suit, or
even better, a bikini," Rick thought with a small laugh.

He was trying to picture Lisa in a swimsuit when he realized what he was doing
and started shaking his head.

"What the hell is wrong with me? Why does that woman have to drive me crazy all
the time? Why can't I get her out of my head?" Rick thought with frustration.

He had to admit this was happening a lot lately. As he and Lisa became closer
and closer friends, he found her in his thoughts almost constantly. No problem,
she was a very good friend and he enjoyed her company more than anyone's. She
was sweet, intelligent and funny. He couldn't believe how funny she could be
sometimes.

And he was discovering that, although they came from different backgrounds, they
had a lot in common. They both loved old science fiction movies. They both
loved all kinds of music and all kinds of books. They both loved to watch the
history channel and the nature channel. She was always up to a friendly debate
with him over almost any subject that came up. She challenged him
intellectually more than anyone he had ever known and he loved that.

They spent much of their off-duty time together and he was beginning to realize
that she was fast becoming the best friend he had. And with Ben gone and Max
spending most of his time with his wife, Lisa was the best friend Rick had since
Roy died.

Then there was the one day when they were debating something about the
U.S.-Korean War- he didn't recall exactly what- Lisa gave him one of the nicest
compliments anyone had ever given him. He had said something about not being
fairly matched in the debate because Lisa was so much smarter than he was. She
had responded that she had always considered them well matched in intelligence.

He was honestly taken aback by her comment. He thought she was one of the most
intelligent women, Ok, one of the most intelligent PEOPLE he had ever met. For
her to say that he was smart- much less as smart as her- flattered him more than
she would ever know.

Not that he thought himself stupid. He considered himself above average
intelligence. His father had made sure he had a well-rounded education, even
after he dropped out of high school. He had passed the high school equivalency
test and all the tests the army had given him the past few years with almost
perfect scores.

But most women he met just weren't interested in things like test scores. Women
he had been interested in told him how great he looked, what a great pilot he
was even what a great body he had. But he honestly could not remember a woman
ever complimenting him on his mind.

But then Lisa wasn't LIKE any other woman he had ever met. She was so strong
and courageous yet vulnerable at the same time. She was certainly attractive,
but didn't seem to know it, as most attractive women did. She had a great body
but covered it up most of the time. She was a perfectionist, but as he got to
know her he realized that she could be pretty flexible outside of work. And no
matter how much they fought, no matter how crazy she made him with her
perfectionist ways, he was always drawn back to her.

Sometimes it even seemed as if fate kept throwing them together. On Mars, when
they were POWs, on Alaska base. Even now, as senior squadron leader and senior
flight coordinator, they were always working together. Then after work, they
always seemed to end up together, too.

This led him to remember a few weeks ago when they ran into each other at the
kitchen store in the new mall. He had just moved into his new off base housing
and needed some pots and pans. He had been browsing the aisles, when he walked
around the corner and spotted Lisa in front of a big display of cookware.

>>>>FLASHBACK>>>>>>>

"Hey Lisa, what are you doing here?" Rick asked as he approached her with a big
grin on his face, "Shopping for some kitchen supplies?"

"Why hello, Rick," she had replied with an angelic smile, "Oh no, I'm actually
looking for a birthday present for Claudia."

"Oh, I didn't know her birthday was close. What are you getting her?"

"I'm looking for something called a 'saucier'. Her sister-in-law, Jean, has one
and Claudia always borrows it when she makes sauces. Claudia is a GREAT cook.
Anyway, I thought she would like one of her own, but I they have several here
and I can't decide."

"Yeah, I remember Roy talking about her great cooking," Rick replied, "I can
help you out if you like."

"You know about cookware?" Lisa asked, surprised.

"Sure, my Dad and I used to cook all the time. We were bachelors for a while
before Pop remarried. Nothing fancy, but I know the basics. I think I can help
you out."

"Great, so this is the size Jean has," Lisa said pointing to a three quart sauce
pan, "But should I get non-stick or stainless?"

"Well, sometimes the non-stick can mess up a good sauce, I would go with
stainless. It heats evenly and will last forever."

"Then stainless it is," replied Lisa, happily picking up one of the stainless
steel sauciers.

"Do you want to help me pick out my new pans?" asked Rick.

"Well, as you see, I really don't know a lot about cookware. But, sure, I'd
love to help."

"See any you like?" Rick asked her.

"Well," she began shyly, "I kinda like the shiny ones over there."

Rick stifled a laugh. 'Shiny' she says. He had never seen Lisa outside of her
element before and the kitchen store evidently was not where she was most
knowledgeable. Watching her look confusedly at the large assortment of pots and
pans, he thought she looked adorable. Nonetheless, he decided not to make TOO
much fun of her.

"Good choice," Rick said, "Those are heavy duty stainless. But they are a
little out of my price range for a whole set. I think I'll get one good
stainless pot- uh, that's the 'shiny' one," Rick said as he gave her a teasing
look, "and a non-stick skillet. I know they don't match, but it's all I need
for now."

Rick and Lisa spent a few more minutes talking about cookware when a saleslady
approached them.

"Do you need any help?" she asked.

"No, I think we've about got what we need," replied Rick.

"Good. Have you two registered yet?" the saleswoman asked.

"Registered?" asked Rick.

"Yes, we have a wonderful wedding register. Ten percent off for all purchases
on your list," said the saleswoman cheerfully.

Lisa already understood what she meant by 'register' and had begun to blush and
shake her head. Upon hearing the word 'wedding' Rick began blushing also.

Embarrassed, they both quickly replied, "No, no."

"We're not a couple," Lisa explained.

"Oh, too bad," the lady said with disappointment, "You look and act so cute
together, I assumed you were a couple."

"No, we're just friends," Rick said.

"Well, I consider myself quite the matchmaker and I could definitely see the two
of you as a couple," continued the lady undeterred, "Maybe one day."

"Uh..." Rick began. He absolutely did not know how to answer that remark.

"Uh, I think we're ready to check out now," Lisa said, trying relieve their
embarrassment.

>>>>>END FLASHBACK>>>>>>

Though he had been very embarrassed at the time, Rick now looked back on that
scene with amusement. Did he and Lisa really act like a couple? Certainly a
lot of people on the base seemed to think they were and then the lady at kitchen
store, too. What is it about us that gives that impression?

Then a disturbing thought entered his mind. What if Minmei ever sees us
together? Will she think I'm seeing Lisa? That would be bad.

Not that there was much chance Minmei would see them together. He rarely saw
her at all these days. Almost immediately after the end of the war, she had
taken off with her cousin and began touring. He had tried on a few occasions to
call her-just to make sure she was OK- but he had to leave a message with her
assistant and she never called him back.

Despite their different careers and time spent apart, he still felt strongly for
her and could not help but hope they would be together again one day.

Of course, they had been growing apart even before her career took off. In part
because of Lynn Kyle's possessiveness and in part because he felt she really
didn't understand him at all. She seemed to live in her own world, where people
catered to her every wish.

He lived in a world of harsh reality, where every day could be the last.
Although he wasn't ready to give up his dream of her yet, he realized he might
never be with her again. And when he thought of how selfish and immature and
irrational she could be, he found himself thinking it might not be the dream he
really wants, anyway.

This brought him back to thoughts of Lisa. What was it about that Jeff guy that
he didn't trust? He had liked the gut at first. "Right up until the time he
showed interest in Lisa," Rick thought to himself, "Why is that?"

"Am I jealous? Of him?" Rick thought, "Or of the possibility that Jeff may be
able to give Lisa something I'm not willing to offer her? Or is there really
something about the guy I don't trust?"

Rick pondered those questions. He wanted Lisa to be happy, he honestly did. He
wanted her to have someone; he didn't want her to be lonely. But a woman like
Lisa had to be careful. She was beautiful and smart and held promise of a great
military career. It could certainly boost a guy's professional pursuits to have
her by his side.

Not to mention, she would be quite a conquest. He had heard many men on the
ship brag before about how they would like to be the one who melts the 'Ice
Queen'. Although no one did that around Rick anymore after he nearly decked a
crewman a few months ago for saying all she needed was a good f**** and that he
wanted to be the one to 'give it to her'. Max had stopped him from punching the
guy, but Rick had gone on a tirade at him about being disrespectful of an
officer.

Rick knew the trauma Lisa had gone through when her fiancée died. He could not
bare the thought of anyone hurting her again. Rick decided he would ask around
about Captain Jeff Wilson in the morning, just to be safe.

"Oh, man, it's late," Rick sighed to himself. I've got to get some sleep. He
lay back in his bed and tried to clear his mind of his romantic problems.
Finally, he was blessed with sleep.

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