Returned..... Different

Wanted

Miranda's pov

Jason called everyone and set up a bonfire to tell everyone about our engagement. Luke finally arrives and I hug my older brother so tightly he pretends he's choking. "Whoa, what was that all about?" He asks laughing. Jason wants to surprise everyone so I don't wanna tell him yet. "Nothing." I say, smiling. I run to find Jason. "I'm not good at keeping secrets. When are we gonna tell 'em?" I whisper in his ear, holding Jason's hand. He smiles. "Be patient baby girl. We gotta wait for your parents. Tully is picking them up now." I smile. "Ok I'm so excited!" I say. He laughs and grabs my waist. "Hey Luke play me somethin' my man!" He shouts. Luke laughs and heads to the stage playing his spring break hit if you ain't here to party. Jason twirls me and dips me, my hands clasped around his neck. "I'm in love with my best friend's sister." He says, kissing me. Just then Tully returns with my parents. He laughs. "Ready darlin'?" I nod. We get up on the outdoor stage that was set up. The fire illuminating Jason's face. I fight off a flashback of war. Jason holds my hand. "We have an announcement." He says. Luke raises an eyebrow. I smile, trying not to laugh. Then my eyes are drawn to the road and my heart stops. "Jason!" I gasp, grabbing his shirt. "Wha- Oh shit!" A government vehicle. I hear the sound of the door closing and I bury my head in Jason's chest. "Make them go away Jay! I don't wanna go back!" I cry, miserable. He wraps an arm around me. "I g-got this honey." He says, his voice cracking as the government official stands before us. "Sorry to interrupt this party but we need you back." "Y-You can't!" Jason gasps. "And why not?" "C-Cause.... Uh.... She's pregnant!" My eyes go wide. No I'm not! "Is that why you called everyone together?" Luke asks wide eyed. He shakes his head. "No. Because we're getting married." He tells my brother. "Jason, I can't lie!" I gasp, shakily. "It's against the law!" "You can't go back, baby! I won't let ya!" He says, holding me tighter. I fight back the tears and kiss him. "I have to. I'm sorry. I'll always love you." I shakily break free. "Luitenant Brown reporting for duty sir." I whisper shakily. He pats my shoulder and we walk to the car. "Wait!!" I hear my fiancé scream. I sigh and turn around right as Jason wraps me in his arms. "I'm going too." He says, making my eyes go wide. "W-What?! You can't!" I gasp. He kisses me, my hands landing on his cheeks. "I can and I will baby girl. I'm not letting you go over there alone again." He wipes the tears from my eyes. "I can't let you do that." "You can't stop me." He whispers, kissing me again. The government official opens the door. Jason holds my hand. "We're in this together." He says. We get in the truck.

*later*

Jason's pov

We land at her army base and she walks over to some guy dressed in tan camo. They both salute each other. "It's great to see you alive and well." She says, hugging him. She waves me over so I walk over to them. "Jason, this is Tyler my Sargent. Ty, this is Jason my fiancé." We shake hands. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing. They're talking all kinda stuff I don't understand. They salute again and he walks off. "So what are we doing?" I ask. "We gotta go to the neighboring camp and get recruits first off then I gotta train 'em." She says swinging the keys. We walk to a Humvee. "What am I supposed to do?" She sighs. "Jason, I know you meant well by coming with me but there's really nothing you can do. You're not trained for this like I am. You don't know all the technical terms and hand signals." "You could teach me." "No I've gotta train the new recruits." Hm.... I could be a new recruit then! I tell her that and she shakes her head again. "They just need weapons training." She pounds the steering wheel with her fist. "Oh my God! I'm so stupid! Why did I ever think signing up for the fucking army was ever a good idea?!" I force a smile. "Cause you had dreams too big for our little town." She sighs and smiles. "You still remember what I said after all these years." "I could never forget. No matter how many years go by. I was terrified. I thought I was gonna lose the only girl I've ever loved. Not to mention thoroughly pissed off." She glances at me. "What do you mean?" I look away. "I don't wanna talk about it." I remember that day like it was yesterday.

~flashback~

It was three weeks after the day she turned 18. Luke called me up and said that my girlfriend wanted to tell us all something. I was nervous since she never kept a secret from me. And she usually came to talk to me first for anything. I drive over there faster than a speeding bullet. Miranda and Luke were waiting outside. I hug her. "What's goin' on hun?" I ask. She glances at Luke. "Let's wait til everyone else gets here." He says. So thirty minutes later, she drops the biggest bombshell ever on our group. The news that she's signed up for the army. My whole body freezes up. I shakily get to my feet. I can feel the rage building up inside me. "How could you do this to me?!" I screamed without even thinking. She stares back tears in her eyes. "Cause Jason, I'm gonna make my mark on the world. I'm gonna be remembered!" She yells. "No! You can't do this! You can be remembered in some other way! I don't want my girlfriend coming home in a coffin!" I cry desperate. "I'm doing this and if you can't accept it, we can't be together. I have dreams too big for our little town." She turns away. Tears fill my eyes. If she dies I don't want her to die hating me. I shakily turn her back around. "Ok I can accept this. Just.... Promise me one thing... Please." Tears are in her eyes too. "Anything, Jay." "You'll come home.... In one piece and not in a coffin." "I promise Jason. I'll come home and when I do we'll be together and live happily ever after." I choke back a sob by making it come out as a laugh. "God, I love you so much... I'll be waiting." I whisper, hugging her. "I love you too. I'll come back."

~flashback over~

I look over at the very determined, brave girl driving a Humvee into certain death and think one thing. How'd I become the lucky one she fell for?