Your War, My War

| Chapter XII |

I never really felt like I slept. My eyes stayed parted through my supposed rest. I heard everything around me. I didn't dream. I heard sounds of footsteps nearing and passing. I felt comfortable in my position. Soon, I felt a looming presence over me. I jolted awake to find Charles over me. He parted his legs over my crossed ones and looked tall over me. 

"You lied." I said. 

"I surprised you." He corrects.

"It was a great surprise." I say, slight sarcasm in my voice. I bend one leg to get comfortable. He pulls his legs together, standing to my side. 

"Who's that?" He asks, I see him chin-pointing to Oscar. Oscar was face down in the cards. 

"Oscar." I reply. "I met him the day you went into the infirmary. We've been keeping each other company."

"He's not a part of the crew, is he?" 

"No, he's a foot soldier." I get up, stumbling to my feet. "How long?"

"Were you asleep? I don't know. It was late when you visited. It's morning now. Early morning." He puts his hands on his hips. "You got a good chunk of sleep and that's all that matters."

Later on in the day, we met up with Lieutenant Bennet, who at this point, was fully recovered. 

"My boy! Charles, how are you feeling?" The lieutenant said. 

"I'm fine. Are you doing well yourself?" He answered and ricocheted the question. 

"I'm all healed." He said, moving his shoulder in circles. "Now, you didn't very well get to meet the new recruits."

He turned to the two other boys at the new tank. 

"Hello, glad you didn't die out there." Max said. I internally facepalmed. 

"Hello," said Garrett. 

After the introduction, the full crew went through commands and training. With Charles, the training felt complete. It felt finished. I did like my companion being by my side again. Beside me, poetically, that is. For I had changed roles for the sake of the newer recruits. 

The training wasn't as grueling as the first times I did it. When I back at the training camp in America. I realized how far away I really was from everyone. I shiver went down my back. 

Soon, the training was over. Garrett, Max, Charles and I talked afterward. We stood in a circular formation next to the take. 

"Did any of you go to school?" Garrett starts. 

"'Course we went to school." Max said sarcastically, slapping him harshly on the back. 

"I mean tank school." Garrett says. 

I shook my head. Charles nodded. 

"Interesting," Garrett ends. There was a pause in the conversation. 

"Excited to shoot up some germans?" Max said, leaning back and holding up figure guns. 

"Be more mature." Garrett says. He looks away from Max, not able to keep eye contact with his madness. 

"If I wasn't mature, I wouldn't be here. They wouldn't put a psycho behind a gun." Max retorts. 

"Glad you there and not anywhere else in tank."

Max scoffs. "I'd make an excellent driver."

"You would be the one to disobey and driving straight into a hidden enemy tank."

"I wouldn't!" He says, his voice heightening in pitch. 

"You would." Garrett says. 

Charles and I stay quiet, watching the two bicker. We share a confused glance. The two soon end their dispute once they remember we were still here.