Arrow Inferno
Chapter 8: Stanley ‘STAN’ Norris vs. Ian ‘WILL’ Williams ~ Danger and charm… Matchmaking!

***

Will closed the door softly behind him and headed for the entrance of the Jungle Warfare School. A naughty smile played around his lips as he went. He really hoped Rosanne would make a breakthrough that night. That was the third time he'd sneakily left her and Stan together. She'd vowed to set a perfect mood that evening and work her wiles on the hunky instructor. He didn't know whether Stan had caught on to what he was doing yet but he hoped it was working. He'd arranged with Rosanne to come to their suite every evening after supper to hang out with them. Stan usually came back from his run to find them either watching TV or playing video games. He would usually join them after his shower to play and chat. But Will always made sure he left the two together by giving any silly excuse that came to mind.

That evening, he'd told them he had to make a call and left the suite quietly to go and visit Akua. He'd decided he might as well go and give her the gift he'd brought her. He knew that Robert and Sarkodie, his military pals would be disappointed because they were looking forward to seeing the shocked delight on Akua's face when she finally saw him. Well, too bad. Apart from the fact that he didn't really have anything to do right then, he wanted those two he'd left in the suite to have some alone time. He was doing his bit. The rest was up to Rosanne.

"Yes Sir." One of the military police stationed at the main entrance of the school grinned at Will.

"Charlie. All good?" Will shook the soldier's hand and snapped his fingers like he'd been taught. Ghanaians sure did have a very interesting handshake. And his name was really not Charlie. In Ghana, Charlie meant buddy.

"All good, Charlie." The soldier looked pleasantly surprised. "Going to town or just picking a stroll?" He asked as Will shook the hands of the other two guys on duty.

"Taking this to someone in town." Wil shook the carrier bag he was holding. "It's a beautiful night isn't it."

"It is, Sir." One of the other two responded. "Want me to escort you?" He asked eagerly.

"No, I'll be fine. I know my way around town. And the name is Will."

"Nice to meet you, Will. I'm Kofi. He's Nii." The soldier pointed at one of the other two. "And that's Owusu."

"Kofi, Nii, and Owusu," Will repeated, drawing chuckles from the soldiers. "Nice to meet you all. I'll be back soon."

With a wave, he went on his merry way.

***

"Enough." Rosanne laughed as she relaxed into the couch. "You're such a liar. You said this was the first time you were playing this particular game."

"It is." Stan threw his control pad onto the center table and relaxed beside Rosanne. "But I've played enough video games in my life so..." He shrugged.

"Shouldn't you allow a lady to win once in a while though?" She murmured, batting her lashes at Stan jovially.

"You mean like Will does?" Stan chuckled. "He's a gentleman. I'm not."

"Really?" Rosanne laughed softly, pinning Stan with a sultry look. "Could have fooled me. You've been nothing but a gentleman since we met."

"And it's killing me." Stan groaned. "Permission to act crude once in a while, ma'am."

Rosanne burst into laughter. "Oh my god, you're terrible." That was definitely not what she had expected. The guy had killed the mood she'd carefully created...again! And she wasn't even pissed off. "Alright, permission granted." She couldn't stop laughing.

Stan moved off the couch to sit on the rug, placed his feet up on the center table, and then leaned the back of his head against the couch. "Whew! Much better."

"But this is not crude," Rosanne exclaimed.

"Don't push me, woman."

"You're only getting comfortable." She moved down to sit beside Stan and rested her head on his shoulder. "See? I can be crude too."

"My kind of girl." Stan chuckled.

"Yeah? I'm sure you and I enjoy the same things." She virtually purred, making Stan's eyes widen briefly.

'No, no no...' He screamed inside. 'Think, Stan, think.' Then... "So tell me, do you like your job?"

"My job?" Stan didn't miss the surprise in Rosanne's voice. He had to stifle the urge to laugh.

"Yep. I mean you're one of only two ladies. Did you have any problems fitting in?"

"You mean with the guys?"

"Uhuh."

She shrugged. "You just have to prove yourself to them to become one of them." She said. "I mean on the battlefield everyone wants to know that they can rely on their teammate no matter their sex." "That's right."

"So once those guys know you're good at what you do, they treat you like an equal."

"If they all treat you like Will does, then you must be having a ball." Stan chuckled. "Unless of course, he's only treating you that way because you're the only two here."

"Oh, Will is an amazing person." She twisted away from him and spoke with all seriousness. "The guys are all great. We do have a lot of fun together."

"I know some of you love to party. Take Will for instance. According to his file, he's a party boy. Doesn't that make him a loose cannon?"

"Oh no. Will is..."

And like the true friend and colleague she was, Rosanne went on and on about Will just as Stan knew she would. And the whole time he sat there grinning like a Cheshire cat.

***

Will let himself into the quiet suite around eleven-thirty p. m. There was no one in the living room. He didn't know whether Rosanne had gone back to her room or was with Stan in his. He hoped the latter was the case for his friend's sake. He'd had a lot of fun catching up with Akua. What a girl! He smiled when he remembered how she'd begged him to stay longer when he said he had to go. But for the dawn session, he would have stayed till the next morning. Let it not be said Ian Williams didn't have his priorities straight he chuckled to himself as he stepped into the shower.

After his shower, he pulled on his boxer briefs and went to the kitchenette. He was famished. In the kitchen, he plugged in the kettle and took butter and ham out of the fridge. He opened the top drawer and stared, contemplating whether to settle for hot chocolate or tea.

"Hot chocolate will help you sleep better."

"Jesus, Stan." A startled Will turned his head to glare at Stan who was lounging in the doorway with his arms folded across his broad chest. "Are you trying to kill me?"

"Now, why would I want to do..." Stan trailed off, his entire body going rigid when Will fully turned to face him. Covering the left side of his chest was a large tattoo of the head of a wolf. Stan stared!

"I thought you were asleep." Will didn't notice the change in his suite-mate. He turned back to grab the Milo and a tin of milk. "Want a cup?" He picked up two mugs. "Oh wait...are you alone? Is Rosanne..."

Stan finally moved, the look on his face one of bemusement. Of all the things Will could have tattooed on himself, a wolf? He pulled out one of the two chairs around the mini dining table and took a seat. "I know what you're doing." Stan prayed he sounded calmer than he felt. "You need to stop."