Burnt (book1)

Before

     Evan was 14 years old when he saw his older brother, Cameron pack up and head off to join the war. Evan saw that his parents were terrified and they hated the idea of Cameron leaving, but they knew that he was set on helping his country and once he got something in his mind there was no stopping him. Evan didn't think what Cameron was doing was reckless or terrifying though. Evan thought Cameron was the bravest, most amazing person ever, and Evan couldn't wait to be just like him.

When Cameron went through basic training he was at the top of his class, his parents were shocked at how good he was doing because he just barely passed all his high school classes.

"Honey, this can't be right" Marline, Evan's mom said when she received a letter of excellence in the mail. "He has never worked this hard at anything, ever."

"You thought he wouldn't pass?" Evan stated as he emerged through to the kitchen. "That's why you stopped worrying and praying every day? Why you stopped screaming at God to bring him back?" Marline tried to hide a brief smile of 'you got me' but her youngest son now knowing the truth behind her actions made her feel horrible. He saw past her weakness and Evan couldn't believe it. "Mom!" Evan screamed, outraged that she would wish Cameron to do poorly at something he cared so much about.

"I didn't want him to get hurt and you know your brother" she scrubbed at an already clean cat print mug, avoiding Evan's glare. "He has never tried at anything. He hates studying and learning and-"

"But he wanted this" Evan started, "he hated school because he knew he wanted to go and fight and school was getting in the way of that..." Evan gave a slight pause knowing that his words would hurt his mother. "He knew you were getting in his way." Marline knew this was true but the words still hurt all the same.

"I thought that if he failed" her mug cracked from the pressure and sent a shard into her thumb, "Damn it!"

"Mom" Evan said sliding towards her in his Avengers socks "you okay?"

"Yes, Ev..." she ran her hand under the water and looked to back at Evan. "No, Evan... I'm not okay. I'm am mess because he wasn't supposed to be top of his class and shipping out sooner. He was supposed to fail like every other class he took and... and..." she shut the faucet off and grabbed a hand towel. "He was supposed to come home." Evan opened his mouth to speak but closed it instantly. She just wanted him to be safe, she wanted him to be here.

Evan missed his brother and wanted him to come home too but Cameron had never wanted something more than he did when he left. A smile was plastered on his face for days as he packed up, said goodbye, even when his girlfriend dumped him he said whatever with a smile and headed off. Nothing could kill his mood.

"I miss him too mom but..." praying for him to fail is wrong, Evan thought as looked down at his feet the words not coming out. "I miss him to" he said quietly as he turned and headed back to his room to cry. He had to be brave for them. He had to put on a face that said he was alright because if his parents saw that he was just as miserable about Cameron leaving... he just had to be brave.

Evan had always looked up to Cameron but after he shipped out, Cameron became Evan's role model. When Cameron started flying, taking lessons to become a pilot, he was the best flyer, and to think that Cameron used to be scared of heights. He sailed straight to the Air force honor guard. He was a top pilot and he was amazing, Evan wanted to be just like him, and to his parents dismay, was already wanting to enlist. Just two years later, two years wanting to be just like his big brother, army, navy, air force posters plastered his walls, he didn't know which branch he wanted to go into but he had two more years to decide. Two years away from enlisting and Evan never felt closer to his brother.