The Military School (En)

Friday Night

The first week of school had gone smoothly. It was Thursday.
Maya and Carina had seen each other almost every night of the week. They had talked about everything but love.

- "Are you doing anything Saturday night? "

- "here? It's a bit complicated. I was thinking of going to the shelter, I haven't been there yet, well not much, once or twice."

- "or else... I'm going to meet some friends off base with Andrea, do you want to come? "

- "I have to ask my dad, but it might be cool to get out of here."

---

Maya: hello partner, we're on for Saturday night!

Carina: top! You'll see our friends have a little trouble with English but they're doing fine. And then the guys will be there too.
Jack will be there....

Maya: and...?

Carina: I think he really likes you

Maya: ok

Carina: sorry I didn't mean to throw a spanner in the works

Maya: it's ok, but once and for all nothing will happen with Jack, he's not my type

Carina: and what is your type?

Maya: I don't know... But not him anyway

Carina: noted

'Why is she trying to set me up with him? We get along well, I thought we had a deeper connection...' thought Maya.

---

So Friday night they had gone to the shelter. It was a multi-room space dedicated to youth with arcade games, TVs, game consoles, couches, two kitchens. And mostly off limits to military adults. Everything to make the young people of the base feel 'normal', at least.

Carina had gone to get drinks with Jack.

- "so were you able to tell her about me?"

- "Yes, and I'm sorry to say that she doesn't like you or so... She hides it very well."

- "and she didn't say anything?"

- "yes, you weren't his type"

- "ah and what's her type? "

- "I don't know, we have... Never talk, we don't talk about these things".

-"But you are girls! "

- "and so ... Your macho sentences you sometimes.... It suits you to have come to Sicily! You have your place there" she says rather amused knowing the boy next to her.

Jack was a handsome boy, not as handsome as Andrea. But the fact that Carina was laughing shoulder-to-shoulder with him earned her some sideways glances from the other girls in the shelter.

/In the meantime/

-"Maya, Maya, Maya... You should know that I am a very protective big brother."

- "aren't you twins?"

- "yes, but I was born 3 minutes before her! "

- "I'm sorry, Mr. Elder," she said with a great air

-"What are your intentions towards my sister? "

- "what do you mean?"

- "I saw that look you just gave Jack... When they left together"

-"she tried to set me up with ... But maybe she wanted to see if I liked him... Because she is on it? "

Andrea burst out laughing: "my sister and Jack?! Impossible!"

- "you laugh like I said the dumbest thing in the world! "

- "she didn't tell you about Arizona?"

- "why would she tell me about Arizona state?"

- "it's not that..."

They were interrupted by the return of Carina and Jack.

-"Why didn't you tell me about what happened in Arizona? Maya asked Carina quietly, which earned a cold look towards her brother. He apologized with a look.

- "We'll be right back" she said to the group as she stood up. "Come with me for two minutes, please," turning to Maya.

They went outside the building. It was September but still very mild, 26 degrees and the sun was setting.

- "Arizona... Does not refer to... A state."

- "ah it's a boy from Arizona?"

- "no Arizona that was, well that's, her first name"

- "ah!" Said Maya before adding "oooohhh" as if to explain that she had understood what Carina was getting at

- "that's exactly it... ah!' ... Then 'ooohhhh' you got it all" seeing Maya's look she resumed "at first it was 'ah!' and then it ended in 'ooohhh' "

-"Was it... Your girlfriend?"

- "yes, we dated for 6 months before her father was transferred to Spain where she met someone else"

For Maya in her mind it was unthinkable that one could move on to someone else after knowing Carina, she was beautiful, humble, intelligent, shy, she seemed perfect.

- "hmmm okay. So... is it ridiculous that girls are jealous of you or...? "

- "where?"

- "or you like both..."

- "I don't label myself, but I've always preferred girls"

- "yes, so that's why... They are ridiculous and they don't even know it... It's their boyfriends who should be jealous".

- "or even no one, I wouldn't date military kids anymore"

This cast a slight chill. Maya was a little embarrassed.

- "well, never say never" added Carina

This made the beautiful blonde smile again.

- "Are we going back inside?" asked the American

- "si" [yes]

---

- "I'm sorry about Arizona, I thought you told her about that"

- "it's okay it's in the past, but why did you think I told her about it?"

- "do you like her?! "

- "no"

- "Carina not to me..."

- "ok maybe a little. But I don't even know if she likes girls. Or even if she likes girls if, me she likes me"

- "the way she watched you go off with Jack... I think she likes you... Like really like you."