Soldier

Chapter 26: Kairi

Damn it Alex... why does he have to be like that! It's not fair! How come he is always putting me ahead of himself? Can't he just think for himself sometimes! He has always protected me...In such a way I can't argue with him.

I caught myself blushing.

Well... it's not that I don't like it... it's just... Alex needs to take better care of himself. I just couldn't stand for it if he died for me. I-

*Achoo!*

I started to sneeze.

I bundled up in Alex's jacket and scooted a bit closer to the small fire. I looked around at the others. Since Alex and the other person left, a few more people had landed onshore. Not in much better shape, but there are about eighteen of us altogether right now. A few of them brought actual jackets and supplies for the cold weather.

Three Landers are onshore as a few other students are using them for shelters. Most of the students are either around a fire or on a lander.

The snow stopped for quite a while already too. So it isn't all that cold anymore. However, no one has talked much. It really bugs me; the silence. Another cold shiver ran down my spine.

I used Alex's jacket as a blanket and wrapped myself tighter in it. I thought he had forgotten though... about that day. But even after all these years he remembered...

I felt a warm feeling in my chest as my heart skipped a beat. Alex really does mean well... Just, I would rather do things on my own sometimes. But the way he freaked out when we got to shore... it surprised me. It made me remember something from when we were back at the orphanage. Although, I don't remember much about it.

I was playing on some ice at the river next to the orphanage. Alex really didn't want for me to walk on the ice, but he was too shy to say so back then. He was a really timid back then...

I had probably done it for a dare or something, but I stepped out on the ice. It had cracked under my feet and I fell in.

I can still feel the cold from the water from that day. How I struggled and kicked but couldn't swim out. How everything grew dark and cold... But Alex saved me. He jumped right in after me and saved me. He dragged me to shore as he sent another kid for help.

After that, the only thing I remember is waking up to see him holding her hand alongside a bed. Sound asleep with his head on the blanket. However, he learned something that day about me. He would just never say what it was. Always doing his best to protect me and make sure I was alright. No matter how badly hurt he was, or how hurt he got. He was a bit more serious since then too...

I stared off into space as I remembered memories from the past. Honestly, when he was stabbed, I was right at his side like he was for me that day. If only I could do more to help around here. Then maybe Alex would start taking a little more care of himself-and less of me. That idiot...

I giggled softly to herself. Someone else overheard me and asked,

"So... heard you had a partner."

I looked up to see the girl who had driven them here on the lander. She stared down at me with a half frown, half smile, and blank eyes with no expression in them.

"Is he... is he still alive?"

I looked at her confused, and answered,

"Yes, why?"

The other girl looked at her with tears building in her eyes. She took off her sailors cap to let her hair fall down her shoulders. She held the hat with both of her hands and answered,