Delta Force

Vol 6

Vol.6
"Graduation"

His head was sunk in a book. It was 1pm. The sky was solid blue as far as the eye could see. Around him were distant sounds of shouting and the kind bird song from the native oak tit, an eagle eyed, brown beauty of a bird that lived in the surrounding oak trees that were scattered around. Mike sat under a tree, a singular tree in an area of field hidden closely to the camp. The air was sweet from the blooming season as well as the smell of what smelt like recently cut grass yet, the common plant reached ridiculously high - except from the patch underneath that had been pressed down by the weight of his body. The wind, occasional, warm, blew softly around, playing gently with his hair and twirling the blossom in its influence. He lifted his head and inhaled slowly, taking in the fresh afternoon of Spring surroundings of 2695. Graduation day, the ceremony took place at the fall of day. Around 7pm (due to the time of year). The atmosphere of it was a complete juxtaposition to the atmosphere he was currently in. Parties never killed anyone, nor did a bit tranquil. He lowered his head back into his book. "Heya." He jumped and his eyes shot up to a figure looming over him. The figure cleared it's throat. "My eyes are up here, you know!" Stela barked, hitting him with full force. He dropped his book and stood up abruptly in an aggressive posture. "Hey, dickhead, it wasn't my fault!" Mike yelled back, "you were standing right on me!" She crossed her arms and looked at him in disappointment. "What do you need anyways. I'm trying to read." She sat where he had previously been seated and signalled for him to take a seat. "Weeeell, today is our last day of camp and god knows where we end up next." Stela sat with her arms holding her back up behind her, looking up to the clear skies. "So, if we end up in different places, I want to make the most of our time together. I mean, we probably won't have time for each other after today. Especially you, mister. The most famous soldier in the camp in years." Mike bit his lip, she was right. But if she wasn't happy about not being able to hang out anymore, why reject his proposal a few years ago? "Hey, that offer is still up." Her eyes widened slightly, she knew what he was referring to, yet, she purposely ignored it. "Did you hear that Bellerose graduated as a commander of the New Earth Empire?" She gossiped, "that's why she disappeared last December." Surprised by the news, he still felt a sense of disappointment; he knew she was ignoring what he said, anyone could tell that from a mile away. Not obvious by just her sudden subject change, but Mike was an observer. He noticed her body language, the eye widen, the tensing up, the nervous posture. She would grow up to be the woman who regrets. Despite this, he knew not to edge her on. "Cool..." the atmosphere felt incredibly awkward. Mike had killed it. "Why spend the day with someone boring like me who shoves their nose in a book when you could be with someone like Madeleine who-" her finger presses against his lips and she tuts. "Because I love you, moron." Stela lifts her finger, "besides, any second and-" two figures stumble through the bushes in front of them. "Heya." Bruno spoke out of breath, he had been starting to get unhealthy since their regimes became relaxed towards the end of their time at camp. A volleyball was strangled under his arm. "Up for a game?" He continued, "Last day, we might as well do something fun together." Mike pursed his lips, despite his strong desire to read, if this was truly his last moments with his friends, he should make the most of it. "Alright, we can play some games." So they played, and played, and played. They drank, they laughed, they cried, and did it all over again. Life hadn't been better for any of them and it was going to end. The sun peeked over the horizon and painted the landscape a majestic orange, the clouds in the sky were sprayed a pink haze and the wind was still. A blanket was laid out under the tree that Mike had been with almost all day. "I wish we could stay like this forever." Madeleine sighed, lying on her side and resting her head on her hand. "Same here." Bruno added, copying her position. Stela sat on her knees with her arms folded and Mike sat cross-legged, playing with a blade of grass and watching it closely. "If I had the chance, I'd stay with you guys forever." Stela stated gloomily, "it's easy for you and Bruno. I imagine you too are going with each other since your love has flourished." The two laughed and confirmed her hypothesis. "What about you two then?" Bruno was curious about what would happen between his two best friends in the future. "Nothing." Mike butted in dejected, "nothing will happen. We will go on to do what we must. We'll grow old or die in battle. That's just the average life these days, isn't it?" It didn't take long for him to kill the mood again. He looked down at his watch, 6:23pm. "It's almost time for the ceremony. We gotta go."