Chapter 5
2197 Words
~Christa~
Miller
“Now that’s what I call a s**t load of fun! Don’t you think, Princess?”
I look at him with my eyes as big as saucers… Did he just make the world's biggest move on me? My question must have been written all over my face.
Freddie “Hey! Hands off our girl!”
Miller grins at me and then lets me go.
Miller “You didn’t mind me kissing you, did you? I mean, you know it was all just to piss him off? I hope I didn’t just make you uncomfortable and ruin our friendship?!”
I’m still a little stuck on “We will take them all” and trying my best to process the rest of what just happened when I finally find my voice.
Christa “Dude! If you ever pull a stunt like that again… I might just kiss you with my tongue! That was priceless! But you gave me the shock of my life, and I’m not buying all of these. There is no way in hell I can afford them all. I think I’m just going to take this one.”
I nod at the salesgirl and walk back to the dressing room, still reeling in shock and a bit of a giggle at Blake’s face. Who knew he would get jealous after breaking up with me so easily?
Walking out of the dressing room with the ones I’m not taking in my one arm and the one I like in my other, I can’t get the image out of my mind, but when I look for the boys, they are gone.
The salesgirl walks up to me and takes the lot from me that I don’t want and shows me that they have moved on to the undies section. Oh, brother, this is going to make things really awkward! Especially after Miller just kissed me!
I walk down the far end of the aisle and wave at them to get them out of there so we can go pay, but all they do is wave me over and grin…
I turn my back on them and roll my eyes, throwing my arms in the air. I hear them laughing. They are going to give me grey hair before the weekend is over!
In all honesty, I hardly know the two of them, and now they are in the lingerie section!! I almost stomp over, putting my free hand on my hip.
Christa “Can we pleaaase get out of here?”
I’m sure I’m blushing redder than I’ve ever done before.
Miller
“Why?”
Christa “Because?”
Freddie “Because why?
Christa “Because you two are such beasts! And I don’t want to be your friend anymore!”
I make a proper one hundred and eighty-degree turn and walk to the tills, hearing them laugh, a small smile forming in the corner of my mouth. I hear Miller calling for me to wait for him, and when he catches up to me, he falls in line behind me. I walk to the first open lady and pay for my swimsuit and when I look up… They are busy wringing up the rest, and he is grinning at me from ear to ear! W.T.F!!
Christa “What are you doing?”
I ask feeling shocked. Where is he getting all this money and why is he spending it all on me? If he is interested… I’m not so sure if it’s going to work. He is my friend. It might just stuff everything up!
Miller
“Buying Freddie and my best friend some gifts, what does it look like?”
Grabbing his bag, he hooks his arm in mine, Freddie takes my bag and hooks his other arm in mine, and we walk out of the store.
Christa “You two are insane. Miller! You can’t spend your entire month’s salary on me on one shopping trip. What are you going to do for the rest of the month?”
This time it’s Freddie who waves his hand and starts to walk like a runway model.
Freddie “Oh, honey… His parents are filthy rich. Didn’t we tell you? Going into the service is just something he does just to do something. He doesn’t have to work as we do.”
Christa “Huh?”
I look at Freddie then at Miller.
Miller “My parents are rich. Which makes me rich. I don’t have to work; I’m doing it, so I don’t get bored out of my mind. Now stop complaining and let a friend spoil you for once in your life. From what I saw of that ex of yours… You deserve it, baby.”
I’m about to broach that baby subject when he interrupts me.
Miller “No, I’m not expecting a relationship. We are too good friends to ruin that. Freddie and I just decided to do something special for you for welcoming us into your home without a second thought. Girl! You are our girl! We aren’t going to let a dud like him hurt you anymore.”
I can’t help but tear up. I feel like Cinderella, only I have two princes by my side. We leave the shops and go home for well-deserved cocktails next to the pool. Tonight, we are going to spend some time with my parents, just having a BBQ outside and chilling.
We really don’t want to get into trouble for being late. We are planning on just chilling by the pool on Sunday morning and then leaving for the barracks in the late afternoon. Then there will be no rush on Monday morning to get through traffic and be on time.
When mom sees the shopping, she reacts the same way I did, thinking Miller meant more than just wanting to be my friend and warns me to be careful of rich boys who try to buy your love.
All I can do is roll my eyes at her and hope that she isn’t right.
***
The visit with my parents is wonderful, and the boys and I swim and play like primary school kids. In the evening, we all curl up in the living room and watch a comedy that has us all laughing so much we are crying! My parents say goodnight after the first movie, and we decide to watch another and then another.
Only going to bed after midnight, but at least this time there is no alcohol involved.
***
I’m woken up by the smell of coffee right under my nose and the guys hanging around my room.
Freddie “Hi sleeping beauty. We thought you would never wake up.”
Miller “How is it that you always get up so early at work, but you sleep so late at home? We went to bed at the same time at the barracks.”
I giggle like a typical girl, making them look at each other then at me.
Christa “I’m really not a morning person, but being there is something I’ve always dreamed about. Even when we do those damn drills every day. I’m just so happy to be there.”
Freddie “Yup, you are definitely one of us. Crazy!”
I pretend to feel offended, and mom walks into the room.
Mom “Breakfast is ready, kids. Christa? Slept late again, I see. Well, come on.”
She waves at us, and we all follow her to the dining table. Breakfast is lively as we tell my parents about our antics at the barracks. After breakfast we catch some last rays next to the pool, and then it’s time to pack and go back.
Mom “Boys, look after our girl, okay. I know she can be a handful, but you make sure she stays safe.”
Christa “That’s my mom’s way of saying she likes you. Bye, Momma.”
I wink at the boys and hug my mom.
Dad “I like them too, so you boys are always welcome to come and visit anytime.”
He shakes their hands, and I give him a huge hug.
Christa “Bye, Daddy.”
We grab our bags and walk through the gate. I might have been their princess over the weekend, but we are back at the academy, and I don’t want it to look as if anything is going on. When Miller offers to take my bag, I pop it over my shoulder and say thanks but that I’ve got it.
He nods, and we walk to our rooms. Back to basics… After the relaxing weekend, it feels weird to be back.
We split up outside our rooms, and I walked into the woman’s room to find Chante was packing her stuff into her bag and not out.
Do I ask her or not?
Chante “I’m not going anywhere, Bradley. Or at least I’m not leaving if that is what you were hoping for. I’ve simply decided to move to the opposite side of the room. I didn’t know you were coming back today.”
I don’t say anything and decide to just ignore Miss prima donna and unpack my things, which now include a picture of me, the boys, and my parents at the restaurant.
When I’m done, I leave for the dining hall and meet the guys outside.
***
At 4:30 am I’m dressed and ready. Chante is still busy getting ready, and we haven’t said a word to each other since the night before, but I did notice that the frame moved a couple of millimeters after I left last night.
Ready and lined up at five as instructed, it is sad to see that there are a couple of spots open. Oh, brother, we are going to pay dearly on Monday for the guys who are late! Two of them are from the prep squad…
Miller
“Here we go.”
He whispers under his breath when he sees Cappie and Tank walking up to us. Tank starts by walking between the rows and Cappie takes roll call when the two prep guys come running into line.
Cappie “Stop right there.”
He tells them before they can join the group. There is still one spot open, and Tank takes up that spot for some odd reason.
Too scared to look in his direction, we wait for Cappie to finish roll call. When he is done, he lowers the clipboard and looks up. You can see that something is seriously wrong.
Cappie “At ease, morning squad.”
Squad “Morning, Sir!”
I can see that he is struggling to say what it is that he is going to say.
Cappie “You are all probably wondering why Tank took up one of the open positions today and why I didn’t let these slugs take their places. You see, I call them slugs because I instructed all of you on Friday to return today at five am sharp. They were late. Usually, I would just punish all of you, but today… Today I have some sad news. One of you didn’t follow my instructions at all.”
Tank lowers his head, and I can’t help but look in his direction… What the hell? If someone didn’t come back, why would they be so…
Cappie “Cadet Smith was killed in an armed robbery at his home over the weekend. When you are late on a day like today, you become the worst of the worst in my eyes. For now, it might just be the anger I’m feeling because we lost one of you, but you will not take up your positions. Squad, today we grieve, tomorrow we will be visited by his family and prepare for his memorial service. Bradley, come and see me and Tank, we have a job for you to do. Squad dismissed.”
I notice that his shoulders are hanging low. Tank follows him to the office. I look at the boys, shrug and follow them.
One of us was killed! We walk into Cappie’s office, and I’m lost for words.
Cappie “Bradley, I want you on family duty. I don’t trust anyone else to treat them with the respect they deserve. Their son might only have been part of us for a very short time, but he was still part of us. A young man was taken too soon.”
Christa “Yes, Sir.”
Cappie “I hear you, and the other one is still at odds with each other. Is this true?”
Christa “Yes, Sir. But it’s from her side. I haven’t said a word to her, Sir.”
Cappie “After what happened, I don’t want division under my ranks.”
Christa “I will make it work, Sir.”
He nods, and I turn around, leaving his office. When I see the boys waiting for me outside, it hits home. I didn’t know the guy that died, but it could have been any one of us. It was a random act of brutality, and one of us is gone forever.
- Writer
