The War that I Fought.

Chapter 2

"Sky! Skyler can you hear me?" A voice faded in and out, "Skyler!"

I groaned, as I lifted myself into a sitting position. I looked around the room, fearful faces staring at me. 

"Hey hey, it okay." Nick said, as he wiped the tears slipping down my face. Why did I have to be such a coward? 

"W-what happened?" I asked, hating how my voice quivered. 

"I thought you died!" Jake screamed as he ran to me and wrapped his skinny arms around me.

"It's okay Jake. I'm okay." I replied, pulling away from the hug. I turned to my grandparents. 

My grandfather was staring at the wall, his eyes glazed. I knew he was remembering the war that he fought in, the war that took his brother. My grandmother was leaning against him, her head cradled in her hands. 

"I'm sorry Sky. I should have shown your dad after lunch." Nick said his voice shaking. "I should probably go get my uniform." That part came out in a whisper, but I still heard it.

"What?" I shouted as I jumped to my feet, "You're leaving me?" I sobbed.

"Sky I have too." He replied, calmly but I could see the fear in his eyes.

"No you don't! You're still seventeen! You still have time!" I said, my voice raising. I grabbed his arm before he reached the door.

"Skyler please! I lied about my age. I have to do this." Nick pleaded, tears welling in his eyes, "I need to do this. For my country, my family, and most importantly for you. For us."

"No!" I yelled, "if you leave we can't be together! How will I find you?" I cried. 

"Skyler, it's okay. I'll write to you every day if I have to. Now I have to get my uniform. I ship out in three days." He said as he pried my hand off his arm and ran to his bike.

I ran after him and tackle hugged him before he got on his bike.

"Please Nick! Please don't go!" I pleaded as I clung to him.

"Skyler." He replied as he pulled me away, "I told you already I have to go. I promised that I'd protect you even if it was the death of me. If joining the military protects you, I'd do it a hundred times." 

"I can protect myself! I can't protect you if you're off in another country!" I said, my voice cracking.

"Skyler, you and I both know that when it comes to war, you can never protect me, but I can protect you. I won't let anything or anyone near you."

"Nick, you can't promise that! You don't know where you'll be stationed. For all we know you could be put straight on the battlefield!" I countered back.

"They may be true, but no matter what, I will do everything in my power to make sure you're safe."

"I know! You've said that! I've already lost someone! Don't make me lose you too!" 

I could see the pain in his eyes, like I had just rubbed salt in a still open wound.

"I know Sky, but this is different. I need to go." He replied. 

"Why are you so freakishly stubborn?!" I exclaimed, not wanting to admit that I was losing this battle.

"Because I I know what to fight for and what not to. You are something to fight for, you always have been." He answered, his eyes filled with mixed emotions. 

He tried to pull away, but I held on tighter.

"I love you Nick Lexton." I said in a small voice. 

He stroked my hair and pulled me back so I could see his face.

"I will love you forever and always." He replied, tears streaming down his face, his strawberry blonde hair roughed up.  

I reached up to smooth his hair and letting my hand linger on his tear soaked cheek. He leaned against it like it was the only thing supporting him.

We sat there for away before he pulled away, got on his bike, and left me alone. 

"Please remember me." He yelled back. 

"Forever and always." I called after him. 

As soon as he rounded the corner and disappeared from sight, I collapsed and sobbed until I couldn't breathe.

I slowly walked into the house and ran up stairs before anyone could say anything. I needed to be alone. 

I ran to the attic, locked the door, and buried my face in Mr Kitty's fur.  More sobs shook my body and I felt ready to throw up. Why did he do this to me? I thought he cared!

I sat up, grabbed an old vase that was sitting in the corner, and slammed it as hard as I could. I was so sick and tired of being strong like everyone thought I was. I couldn't handle it any more. I tore one of my dad's old dress shirts like a mad woman and scattered the pieces around the room. I screamed until my voice was horse. I was so sick and tired of being the perfect girl everyone wanted me to be. 

A soft knock on the door interrupted my fit. 

"Yes?" I snapped. 

"Skyler, Dad wants you to make him more coffee." My brother's voice said through the door.

My boyfriend just left and my country is at war, and all my dad is worried about is more coffee?! Anger burned like a flame inside of me

"Tell him to make his own coffee." I yelled back. 

I heard Jake scrabble down the stairs. I was done being my dad's puppet. My mom died too not just his wife, he needs to learn that I'm not just here to replace my mom. 

I slammed another vase on the wood floor, satisfied by the loud sound of breaking glass and the sparkling shards sprinkled across the ground.

Another knock. 

"Jake go away!" I screamed.

"Sky bug, can I please come in?" My grandfather's deep voice asked. 

I walked over the broken glass and unlocked the door, letting my grandfather come in. 

His eyes were red and puffy and his strong shoulders were hunched over.

I took a step back, not use to seeing my grandfather in this state.

His eyes widened when he saw the mess that I had created. He looked at me in disbelief, which slowly softened into understanding.

He opened his arms to me and I curled up against his embrace. didn't think I had any tears left, but I sobbed into him like there was no tomorrow. He sat there his arms around me, stroking my head like he did when I was younger. 

"Skyler, I promise everything is going to be alright in the end. It's going to be extremely difficult though before it gets better. You're stronger than you think you are. You'll get through this. So will Nick. For the brief time that I knew him, I saw his loyalty to you. He will fight with everything he's got to come home to you. He is determined to make it through for you. I believe he will. He's a strong kid."

"I'm not strong like you think I am. I can't get my mind to think that way. I know that Nick is strong, he's probably the strongest person I know, but I want him to fight for himself too, and not just me."

"I know that feeling, Sky bug, but you have to get past that feeling and believe in your heart that he is going to do everything in his power to make it through for you. You have to believe."

I wiped tears off of my face in with the back of my hand. I knew that my grandpa was right. Nick was going to come home to me. I had to believe in my heart.