My obsession with Rafe Vega : Teen Fiction

Chapter 25

‘"Go away?" Where? What do you mean?’ My voice came out in a guttural panic.

Rafe avoided my eyes. He was staring at some point near my shoulder, and I was fully clothed in a long sleeved sweater and tights.

Where is he going? Why is he not looking me in the eye?

‘Can we speak in Roger’s study?’ Rafe gripped me at the elbow.

‘Yea_Yeah’ I stammered, looking at Cade again.

Rafe whispered something to Cade who nodded, then went to sit at the settee he pointed to in the guest lounge.

A million thoughts zipped through my mind as Rafe gently tugged me to Roger’s study. He walked silently, but strode purposefully. His body seemed all tense, he seemed a million miles away.

I tried to look away to focus on his ash coloured wind breaker that fitted so snugly across his shoulders, I wanted to look into his eyes, but he was avoiding mine. The room felt cold.  Roger always had the air conditioner on maximum. If it was any of my other buddies, I would have offered them a drink, but Rafe would blow a gasket.

‘I have been called up,’ he spoke softly, so softly, I almost thought I heard him say he was called back to his country.

‘Oh,’ I laughed stupidly, thinking perhaps Roger had called him, so why did he drag me to Roger’s study?

‘Katy, my country wants me to perform national service,’ he spoke slowly and very gravely.

‘"National Service?" What does that mean?’ I cried out in alarm. Refusing to process what my brain was informing me about duties that constituted national service.

Was Rafe going to leave Australia? Was he going to leave me? Okay granted we are not going out yet. But I mean Rafe can’t leave me! He can’t go back to his country. And what the hell is this national service nonsense? Surely his country is not at war with another country? War! No!  My Rafe can’t go to war.

‘National Service?’ I repeated softly, and felt the tears running down my cheek.

The pulse was beating wildly again. He looked at me, saw my tear stained face and looked away, shifting uncomfortably.

‘Talk to me. What the hell do you mean?’ I gripped his arms desperately.

‘I have received a letter. I’m to report for active duty__’ he waived the letter in front of me.

‘No__ no. You can’t. You can’t go,’ I grabbed the letter and quickly scanned it.

My brain did not understand much of the official sounding language, but my eye caught something about six months, and it named a regiment he was to report to.

I squashed the letter and threw my arms around his neck, holding him tightly.

I heard him breathe heavily, and very slowly his arms closed around my body. I heard him sigh, and then he pressed his lips on my head and kissed me softly.

‘Active duty? I repeated with a sob. ‘You could get hurt. You could__’

No I could not let him go. I won’t. Surely they could find somebody else in Spain. Why should Rafe travel all the way from Australia for whatever the hell the “active duty” entailed?

‘You’re not going,’ I cried unashamedly, ‘I’m not letting you go__’

‘I don’t have a choice,’ he removed my hands, stepping away from me. ‘Besides it’s only for six months

‘We’ll speak to Roger. My dad will get this sorted__’

‘Katy, one does not negotiate  mandatory obligations with one's government!’ his accented voice was filled with thick emotion.