See You Again

Chapter 4

CASEY POV
So it's been three years and I've gotten used to not hearing from Carter, he only writes every six months and that's only to say happy birthday or to tell me to just move on from him that way I can live my life. I swear this boy makes me so mad sometimes, I told him I liked him and we are dating atleast I think we are, but he can't just tell me to forget all of those feelings. Ugh I just want him to come home that way I can just tell him to stop being a jerk.
***Carter POV***
So only a couple days until I head back home, I haven't talked to anyone in letters or anything lately so they don't know I get to come home early, but I'll call mom tonight to see if I can surprise anyone on a big occasion.
"Hey Carter you geared up" I nodded then grabbed both my assault rifle and my sniper rifle and headed out of the tent, "yes sir" we loaded up into a helicopter and headed out into the mountains.
The mission went smoothly and I wouldn't have to leave base until I actually had to leave Afghanistan. When I got back to the states I would have to go to base and then I would be accepted to the special forces where my team is from, I loved this team. It was me as their sniper and point guy, a nice Florida guy Johnny Hernandez as my spotter, a big ripped guy named Kyle Harp as our explosives guy and our two other assault guys were Mike Johnson and Parker Miller.
"So Gaines you got a girl back home" I looked down at my lock screen and gave a weak smile "I told her to move on because I'm never there I'm always here, she didn't chose this life I did" they patted my back then we loaded onto the plane back home, it was weird to be only us I'm used to my whole platoon being on the plane.
***
When we landed back to the states I rode with the guys back to their base that way I could get this thing done and officially be in their team.
I was an hour early for Casey's college graduation so I stopped by the house and surprised my parents but told them not to tell Jake or Casey that way I could surprise them.
I got dressed in my blues, I had to pick up flowers still but the school already knew my plan to surprise Casey so they would allow me to be on the stage to surprise her when she walks on. I was nervous I messed with the velvet box in my pocket, Casey sent me a letter two weeks ago to stop saying for her to move on.
"Casey Miller" they announced I could feel all the happiness in me start jumping around, I started walking out as they stopped her on stage for me. The second she saw me the tears started coming down, I smiled and hugged her, "now I know you don't like surprises but I got another one for you" I got down on one knee and took out the box, "look I know I'm not here a lot but I learned that life is to short to wait for something you really want, and Casey miller will you marry me?" She nodded and then gave me a kiss, I put the ring on her finger then gave her another quick kiss then went off the stage with her, the applause was so loud.
"How long you here for?" I squeezed her hand because I really didn't want to tell her I was only home for a week. "Not important what is important is that I'm here now and I got some news I need to tell everyone, so we will meet up at your house, and hey good job Casey" the sadness was written across her face but I didn't want to make her more upset by telling her.
***
"So umm I got a promotion and I work for special forces now" Jake shook my hand and then saluted me, I knew I was going to have to tell Casey I leave for officers training in a week. "Hey where is Emily?" Jake motioned me to follow him so I did. "She is at a party with her new boyfriend I know where it's at if you want to crash I nodded my head then stopped him for a second "just me, you can't get hurt" he nodded then gave me the address.
***
"Hey you seen Emily" I was wearing shorts and my USMC sweat shirt, I was asking all these random people until I noticed some people from high school. "Hey you seen Emily" the welcomed me home then told me to go down the hallway and they were in one of the rooms, I ran through the house and busted through every door until I got to the last one. I busted the door open and thankfully they weren't having sex but it looked like they were about to his hand was half way up my sister's dress "hey get away from my sister!" He looked at me enraged and then spoke "go fuck off" I pulled off my hoodie and have it to Emily, "get in my truck" she nodded then left me with her new boyfriend.
"Wow Mr. Marine you saved her from her fiancé, you deserve a Medal of Honor" I threw him against a wall and people started gathering around. "Ya well don't touch my sister inappropriately and don't make fun of marines a lot of us don't make it back like I did" I punched him in the face then walked away, when I got out of the house I saw Casey holding Emily. "Come on let's go" I realized it was cold because I was shirtless I was tempted to grab my hoodie back but Emily looked warm. "You can't attack her fiancé, they've been engaged for three years" I slammed the door of my truck and drove off before I had to hear anymore of the bullshit.
***
"Jake I'm fine I'm just going for a run okay" I finished tying my running shoes then slammed the front door shut. I just kept running and running in the rain until I broke down and cried on the side of the road, all the emotions from the deployment coming out, how I felt in that little town, when I had to kill all those people, when the guy jumped on the grenade before I could. I stayed sitting on the ground until a car pulled up beside me, I got up defensively until I realized it was Casey, I sat back down.
"Babe what's wrong?" She sat next to me and rubbed circles on my back, "my whole squad died back there I was the apart of the five out of twenty guys that made it out of our mission, I should've been the one to jump on the grenade..." The tears came running down my face as I remembered all of their faces.
She handed me my hoodie which I gladly put on, she took my hand and led me back to her car. We sat in silence for a few minutes until she spoke "we are going to go to my apartment, my roommate is Abby so it won't be so awkward with her but it might be with my other roommate" I nodded "I'm used to it plus it won't be long" I realized just how much that must hurt her so I gave her cheek a quick kiss.