The Military Girl

Confrontation

"I'm confused." Harry said. He laid back on the floor and watched the fan spin around. "Why does any of this matter?"

"Are you really asking me why the Shot Heard Around The World is important?" I asked him. "Because, if so, I must be dating an idiot."

"I thought you were ok with that."

I giggled and laid down next to him. I laid my head on his arm and wrapped an arm around him. He kissed the top of my head.

"I don't want to do homework." Harry said. "We should do something more fun. Oh! I want to watch a movie! Please!" He pressed his face against my cheek and repeated the word "please".

"Oh my gosh." I said. "You're being annoying." I pushed him away. I sat up and picked up the history book. "Look, we have a test tomorrow. I don't want to fail so close to leaving."

"You're not going to fail." Harry covered his face with an open book. "You're going to succeed like crazy. You're smart and fun."

I sighed. "I just have so much to do. I've got the play and all this homework."

He sat up and the book fell off his face. He put his arm around my waist. "You're going to be fine." He kissed my forehead. "Ok, you're boring. I'll talk to you later." He got up and left my room. "I love you!"

He shut the door. I sighed and pressed my legs against my chest. "I love you, too." I whispered.

The next day at school, I looked for Jade at her locker, but she never showed. I went to homeroom and I sat down next to Harry. "Did you see Jade or Devon yet?" I asked him. I set my backpack beside my chair.

"Devon is with Jade, at her house." Harry told me. "Jade quit school. Devon is helping her pack."

"Pack? Why? Why is she packing?"

"Her dad got a job uptown and just left in the middle of the night. Jade has to go live with her grandparents."

"Why didn't she tell me?" I asked, but the bell rang and Harry fell silent. Why didn't she tell me? When the bell rang again, I followed Harry through the halls.

"Why didn't she tell me? Harry? Stop walking so fast!" I tried to catch up with him. "Come back! Harry!"

I grabbed Harry's coat sleeve and pulled him back. "What is going on?" I asked.

"I don't know. That's all that Devon told me." Harry shrugged. "I'm sorry, honey." He pulled me in for a hug. Then the principal pulled us apart and continued walking. Harry stuck his tongue out at him.

"I have to go." I said. "I have to go see her. She could use my help. I understand the...I know the process...I-"

"Olive. Olive, chill." Harry told me. He put his hands on my arms and looked me in the eyes. "It will be alright."

Once school was over, I got on Jade's bus instead of mine. I got off at the bus stop by her house. I pounded on the door. No one answered. I rang the doorbell.

I could hear someone shuffling around inside. A middle aged woman with a binder opened the door. "Can I help you?"

"I'm sorry.  I'm looking for Jade." I said. "This must be the wrong house."

"Oh, no this was her house. She left yesterday. I'm currently showing it. It's on the market." She pointed to the sign in front of the house. I had no idea that I passed it.

"She already left..." My voice trailed. "I should've known." I walked away from the steps and headed down the street. I hailed a cab, which I had never done before. The cab took me to my house.