Chapter 5

Linka was nervous as she made her way back to Greg's home. Things between her and Wheeler were not really settled and that worried her, but she couldn't help feeling that whatever her intentions, it would be wrong to ask him to make promises, or even make them herself, before she had officially ended things with her boyfriend. She just wasn't the sort of person to cheat on someone.

It didn't help at all when his father informed her that he'd decided to go into work for a few hours, but she smiled and thanked him politely before heading for the factory

"Linka!" Greg smiled broadly and led her to his office. "I didn't expect to see you again so soon, did you forget something or couldn't you stay away from me?"

The young girl took a seat on the opposite side of his desk as if she were at a job interview. "We need to talk… actually I need to tell you something. I should have said something earlier but I was… confused."

"And now you're not?" He looked worried and she wondered if he had an idea what was coming.

Nodding once, Linka began. "Greg, you are a nice guy and I do not want to hurt you."

"Oh." He said coldly. "It's one of those talks."

It had sounded better in the Geo-cruiser she had to admit, but she persevered. "I suppose so… you were surely aware that I have not been entirely comfortable with you."

"I put it down to a natural shyness, but I take it you're going to tell me it was me?" His voice was calm but he still managed to sound annoyed.

"Not entirely… it is… I just do not think we are compatible." She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "When it works between two people it, feels natural, you want to be with them all the time."

Greg snorted and waved the idea away. "Fairy tales. If you're looking for 'true love' you're going to be disappointed, the real world doesn't work that way."

Linka looked down at her lap as if properly chastised but she couldn't prevent the corners of her mouth from turning up. "It can… I do not mean it has to be perfect, just… right."

"I see." A new look had crept into his eyes. "You've met someone else. Do I get to know who it is?"

The Russian girl looked up, tilting her chin in defiance. "Wheeler."

"That Spud Stuffer!" He exclaimed. "All this time I thought you'd picked me and behind my back…"

"Do not call him that! He is a Planeteer and he deserves your respect! Nothing has been going on behind your back, so do not act like I have been cheating on you, I just finally realised why I have been so unhappy. Da, I picked you, and I was wrong. If I am guilty of betraying anyone's trust, it is Wheeler that has cause for complaint."

For a moment she thought he would argue but then he deflated. "I should have guessed I suppose."

Linka's temper ebbed away and she once more became remorseful. "I am sorry Greg, but I do not think I am what you are looking for either."

"You never were impressed by any of the things I had to offer." He said ruefully.

The Russian frowned. "You should not want someone who values those material things, you need to find someone who appreciates you for who you are."

"You didn't appreciate either." She looked stricken and he waved it away. "Oh I'm not angry, I'm just not sure I can be that sort of person. I do value those things, and I think that maybe I want someone that does too."

Linka smiled. "Then we are agreed, we do not suit, da?"

He laughed. "Da. I suppose we are."

When the wind planeteer left her ex-boyfriend's factory she was in high spirits. On the whole the break up had gone well and she was free again. Of course, she didn't want to be free and it was that that occupied her thoughts on the return journey.

What if he has had second thoughts? I could hardly blame him. He never actually said he wanted to be with me, just that I could not kiss him and then pretend that I did not feel anything. But the way he held me and… he does still feel something, he cannot reject me now… please?

She set the geo-cruiser down in its usual spot and spying her friends playing with a ball on the beach, went to join them, wondering as she did so, if Wheeler had said anything.

"Linka!" Gi waved. "Come play with us."

The lovely Russian's stomach was doing back flips but she moved down the beach to join them, her eyes flicking to Wheeler in the hope of gathering some indication of his mood.

The American didn't avoid her glance but he looked almost as worried as she felt. "Did everything go okay Beautiful?"

Beautiful. Now it sounds right. She smiled. "Da, thank you Yankee. It is all settled."

"Settled?" Gi asked with interest, throwing the ball to Linka as if she could only concentrate on one thing at a time.

Linka blushed and threw the ball on to Kwame. "Da, I… I told Wheeler that I was going to break up with Greg."

"Oh no! Why?" The game stopped and she became the centre of attention as her friends all waited for the answer to Gi's question.

"I… it just was not working." She looked for the ball and found it in Wheelers grasp. He smiled and threw it to her and the game began again.

After a few passes the young Asian spoke again. "You know what, Linka? We don't meet enough people socially, we should go out to a club or something."

Wheeler rolled his eyes. "To pick up guys I suppose?"

"Nyet!" Linka said, a little too quickly. "Gi, I really do not want to do that."

"You can't sit moping at home." Her friend persisted. "You need to get back out there."

This time Wheeler was glaring. "Leave her alone, she doesn't need to go trawling for some low life just because you think she should make herself available. She ended things with Greg because it wasn't right for her, let her make up her own mind about what she wants next!"

Linka's heart was pounding in her chest and she wished very much that she had settled things with Wheeler earlier in the day, it would have made it so much easier to tell the others that she had ended her relationship for him. As it was they were both skirting around it, while Gi was trying to blast right through.

"I suppose you'd have her shut herself up in her room for the next few years? Maybe if she skulks around the island long enough she'll even consider going out with you!"

Wheeler looked for all the world as if she'd slapped him, and when he spoke it was almost a whisper. "That was low Gi, even for you."

He turned without another word and stormed off along the beach, leaving the others in a stunned silence. Even Gi looked shocked. "I didn't mean… I… I never meant to…"

Linka was nearly in tears. "I know you did not and when Wheeler calms down he will probably know it too but… oh Gi!" She shook her head and swallowed nervously. "You should know, I told Greg I was breaking up with him because I wanted to be with someone else, with Wheeler."

The water planeteer closed her eyes and said softly. "Oh God Linka, I'm sorry. Did I just screw things up completely?"

"Nyet… I hope not." Linka swallowed again. "He knew, we talked earlier, I just… I need to talk to him."

"Go ahead Linka." Kwame said quietly, "We will make sure you have some time to yourselves."

The others nodded in agreement.

Linka smiled gratefully. "Thank you."

The wind planeteer ran along the beach until she spotted her red-headed friend, sitting still looking out over the waves, then she slowed to a walk and eventually dropped down beside him.

There was an awkward silence between them as Linka struggled to find the right words but in the end it was Wheeler who spoke. "So you're officially unattached again, right? Greg didn't talk you out of it?"

"I am single, da. Greg could not talk me out of it any more than Gi could talk me into anything." She hesitated and then added. "She is sorry by the way."

"I bet." He rubbed his face with his hands and sighed. "I can't really compete with what he could give you, you know?"

Linka wasn't sure if he was warning her or trying to let her down gently but she was sure that one way or another he was doing himself a disservice and it was that she responded to. "You have always given me far more than he knew how to Yankee, and what you give me is worth so much more."

He looked sceptical so she continued quickly. "You are caring and generous, you worry about me and look after me. All he ever wanted was for me to look pretty and agree with him. You do not mind if I know things you do not, we have fun and we laugh together…"

"Geez Babe." He said, half laughing. "If he wasn't any of those things, why did you ever go out with the guy more than once?"

She hung her head. "Because I was listening to my head and not my heart."

"And now you're not?" She shook her head. "And what does your heart say?"

Linka looked up into his eyes, hers shinning with unshed tears. "That I love you. That I need you… That I do not deserve for you to forgive me."

"Oh shush." Wheeler gathered her up in his arms and held her tightly against him. "Babe, I love you too, and I've done more than my fair share of stupid things, if you hadn't forgiven me, where would I be?"

She gave a watery laugh against his neck and pressed herself closer.

"Do you want to be with me?" He sounded hopeful and it made her smile.

"Da, very much." Her tone was hushed as if she was still expecting to be rejected.

Wheeler smiled. "Kiss me?"

The lovely young girl sat up a little straighter and tilted her head so that she could bring their lips together. Once again it was a perfectly balanced union that made them forget the world around them. After a while Wheeler lay back, taking her with him and still kissing her thoroughly until they were finally forced to part.

Linka sighed and rest her head on his shoulder, one arm slung over his waist and their legs tangled together. He in turn held her securely with both arms, pressing his lips to her head.

"Is this better than being with Greg?" He asked after a while.

"So much!" She raised her head to look deeply into his eyes so that he would see the truth of her words. "There is no comparison."

A/N: Thank you all for reading and reviewing, I hope you enjoyed this final part!