The Recruits

Chapter 3 - You can't be serious

I have no idea how long I've been staring at Tristan, but it must've been a while, since other people started looking at me weirdly. Sydney nudged me and I broke out of my stupor. I cleared my throat awkwardly, and looked down, trying to hide my embarassment. "Are you okay?" Sydney asked me in a whisper, her eyebrows furrowed together in confusion. I nodded my head. "Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry." I replied, trying to keep my voice as steady as possible. I bit my lip and just kept my eyes on the ground, trying hard not to look up again. If I did, I'm pretty sure all I'd do was stare at Tristan again, and I really don't wanna come off as weird. Okay, maybe that ship had already sailed, but I wanna keep my weirdness to a minimum.

After introducing our instructors, Colonel Link told us about the rules in this camp and a bunch more stuff that I really wasn't listening to. I guess it was important, but I was way too busy keeping my eyes to myself to acknowledge any of it. All I could think about was this very attractive guy, who was also my instructor, which is kinda like my teacher and dating a teacher would be weird as hell. Okay, Ashtyn, you're getting way too ahead of yourself. Calm down. It's just a guy. Nothing special. Maybe it is though, since I haven't been interested in a guy since I broke up with Jasper like 3 years ago. It was more like a forced break.up since I found him fucking a guy in the shower, but oh well. A break-up is a break-up, doesn't matter what caused it. I sighed, trying to shake off these thoughts, before I looked back up, which was a big mistake. My gaze immediately went to Tristan and his angel-like face. Why did he have to look so damn handsome?!

I kept staring at him, with a dreamy look on my face until everybody in my unit started leaving. I snapped out of my trance and started to leave as well, when I felt a strong hand on my shoulder. I turned around and my breath hitched in my throat. There he was, in all his glory, standing right in front of me. Tristan. "Hi. I couldn't help but noticed you spaced out during the meeting. Are you okay?" He asked me, and I almost fainted. His voice was like liquid sex. It was deep and raspy and god in heaven, I think I just came. Just from his voice. God, get a grip Ashtyn. Go and answer him, don't just stare at him weirdly. "I...uh.....fine....yeah..." I stammered out. I could punch myself by how stupid I sounded. How old am I? 15? God, I sound like a little school girl, who has a crush on the Quarterback. He seemed unfazed by my lack of words and just gave me a warm and gentle smile. "Okay. Good. I just wanted to make sure you're okay." He said softly, his voice seemed even huskier than before and it was driving me fucking crazy. I gave him the best smile I could, before nodding my head slowly. "Thanks." I whispered, my voice barely audible. He grinned at me, obviously amused, by how I was reacting to his charms. "I'm Tristan." He announced, sticking his hand out towards me, obviously wanting me to shake it. I looked down at it. I couldn't help but stare at it. Even his hands looked sexy, oh my god. I couldn't help but imagine those strong hands running all over my body, exploring every inch of my skin, entering.....Okay, nope. Stop it, Ashtyn, this is going to far. You just met this guy god damn it, get a grip woman! I looked back up at him and saw him stare down at me with a curious look in his eyes. I broke the gaze and reached forward to grab his hand and shook it. A bolt of electricity ran down my spine and for a moment I forgot how to breathe. Did he feel it too? Or am I just completely freaking him out with my weird behavior. I didn't know, but I didn't even wanna get the answer to that question. "Ashtyn." I breathed out before I pulled my hand back and cleared my throat awkwardly. "It was nice meeting you." I said with as much confidence I could muster, before turning on my heels and walking away from him. I didn't turn around before I reached my room, where I fell face down onto the bed and screamed into the pillow.

"Wow, are you okay?" I heard somebody asked me. I looked up and saw Benji, Sydney's brother, staring down at me with wide eyes. I cleared my throat and sat up, before nodding my head. "Yeah sure. I'm fine." I told him, not looking him in the eye so he wouldn't catch my lie. "Okay. If you're sure." He said with a shrug. That's what I always liked about Benji, when he noticed you're uncomfortable about anything and you don't wanna talk about it, he just lets it go. Which is just what I need right now. "What are you doing here, anyway? This is the girls quarter." I asked him, with furrowed eyebrows. "Oh I was just picking something up for Sydney. She forgot her phone here this morning and asked me...well more like ordered me to pick it up for her." He said with a chuckle. Yup, that sounded a lot like Sydney. These two had an odd relationship to be honest. I mean they loved each other, yes, but they also bickered a lot which was sometimes very annoying. I loved both of them nevertheless though. I nodded my head absentmindedly at his response, before I bit my bottom lip. "Okay seriously, what's up? You always bite your lip when you think too hard about something." He said with a knowing smile as he sat down beside me on the bed. I sighed before I turned to him. "There's this guy I've just met, who completely threw me off. I mean....I don't even know anything about him. It's just...I don't know." I told him as I let out a sigh of defeat. "Is it that Tristan guy? Our instructor?" He asked me with a smirk. My breath hitched and my eyes went wide. "How....how do you know?" I asked him, breathlessly. "Are you kidding? You've been staring at him all during the assembly earlier. It was kinda obvious." He told me. "Do you think he noticed?" I asked him, the feeling of panic rising in my chest. "I don't think he did. You were standing a few rows back so you should be fine." Benji reassured me and I let out a sigh of relief. "He did notice me spacing out though. He talked to me after the meeting ended and asked if I was okay, because he noticed me spacing out." I explained to Benji and he chuckled. "Girl, you've got it bad for this dude, I'm telling you." He chuckled along with him before punching his shoulder playfully. "It scares me a little bit though. I haven't felt like that in forever, and after what happened with Jasper I'm kinda wary of any guy that comes my way." I told him honestly. He sighed before placing a hand on his shoulder, trying to reassure me. "I know what Jasper did wasn't the best way to break up. I know that. But that doesn't mean that every guy is like him. You deserve someone who treats you right and even though that dude is your instructor doesn't mean you should hold back if he show interest in you okay?" He told him with a soft smile, before he stood up from the bed and walked out of the door. I bit my lip and just spaced out for a few seconds, letting Benji's words sink in. He's right. I shouldn't let my past define who I'm dating. Well, I'm not even dating anyone yet so we'll see how that goes.

I stood up from the bed and walked out of my room, looking for Sydney. I'm wondering what she's up to. I walked across the training's yard when I spotted a familiar brunette, who was just working on something that looked like a robot sorta thing. I walked over to her and tapped her shoulder, making her jump at the sudden contact. "Hi, Hayley." I said with a soft smile. She rolled her eyes in annoyance and sighed. "It's Hallie." She corrected me and I blushed in embarrassment. "I'm really sorry. I keep forgetting." I quickly apologized, not wanting to upset her. "Watcha doing?" I asked her as I looked over her shoulder, trying to figure out what she was doing. "Fixing my father's suit. He crashed into a wall and damaged some things and he told me to fix it, since he's too busy with the new recruits. I don't mind honestly, I like working with this stuff." She told me with a smile and I couldn't help but let out a light chuckle. "He flew into a wall?" I asked with a smirk. She chuckled and nodded her head, returning my playfulness. "Yup he sure did. He can be very clumsy sometimes. And he's getting old so his vision isn't the best anymore but he thinks he doesn't need glasses." She told me, rolling her eyes playfully. "How are you Ashtyn? Are you enjoying your stay?" She asked me as she kept working on the Iron Man suit. "I'm good thanks. I haven't had much of a training yet but I'm sure I'll be fine. I've always been very athletic so it shouldn't be a problem." I told her with a shrug of my shoulders. "Yeah I can see that. You totally have the body for it." She said with a chuckle, not taking her eyes off the suit. I blushed, not used to people giving me compliments and mumbled a quiet 'Thanks' in response. After a few seconds, Hallie pulled back from the suit and smile in victory. "All done. I better bring this back to my dad. He isn't the most patient person on this planet." She joked with a chuckle, before picking up the suit. "See ya later, Ash." She said before she walked away.

I looked after her for a little bit, before I turned the other way. I immediately felt something, or better someone, colliding with my body, just before I felt a cold liquid all over my skin. I looked up into the most amazing ocean blue eyes that I've ever seen. I could get lost in them. Tristan was standing in front of me with Iced Coffee all over his shirt. I looked down and saw that I my clothes were also drenched in the cold coffee. "I'm really sorry, Ashtyn. I didn't pay attention to where I was going." He apologized, a look of panic in his eyes. I shook my head, waving it off. "Don't worry about it. It was totally my fault." I said with a soft smile, trying to stay cool. "I'm sorry about your Iced Coffee though....and your shirt" I added after a second. "Don't worry I can buy a new one and the shirt is old anyway. Though I don't like how it sticks to my skin now." He said, looking down at his shirt. "Can you hold this for a second?" He asked me as he handed me the empty plastic cup. What he did next, made my heart race and my panties wet. He took off his shirt, revealing his chiseled chest and abs. He was a god. I couldn't help but stare at the newly revealed skin and let out a whimper. I really hope he didn't hear. "That's better. It's hot outside anyways, so who needs a shirt." He joked with a chuckle as he looked down at me. I snapped out of my stupor and gave him the best smile I could muster. "Yeah...it is....hot. Really hot." I stammered out, my face flushed. "Well, what do you say we go for some Iced coffee? You're hot, I'm hot and just spilled my beverage all over you so why not? As a peace offering?" He suggested with a smile. My breath hitched in my throat and I found myself nodding my head. "Yeah sounds good....Um....just let me go get changed okay? I'm feeling kinda sticky." I told him and he nodded his head. "I'll meet you at the café." He said with a smile before he turned around and walked towards the café. I turned around as well and walked as fast as possible to my room to change. I can't believe it. I'm having a coffee date with Tristan. God help me.