The Army, The Player, and I

I think you mean whore

Kerr, Tyler and I walked into school the next day. Immediately, I heard whispers.

Did you hear she kissed Gavin Lahar yesterday?

My cousin was there, she saw it happen.

Are they dating? What about Kerr?

I guess Lexi and Kerr aren't fighting anymore.

"Well would you look at that Howell. You just got more famous in the past 24 hours. Hell, do anything else and your ego might explode." Tyler said. I rolled my eyes. "I'll catch you guys later." He said before walking off. I went to open my locker as Kerr stood next to me.

"So, have a date to prom yet?" I asked her. She blushed lightly. "Ooooo spill."

"I did get asked by someone. I hope you don't mind. James asked me." I suppressed the urge to gasp and squeal.

"Aw Kerr! That's cute!" She smiled.

"So what about you?"

"Lots of offers, just none that I want to go with."  She nodded understanding what I meant. There were a lot of gasps so I looked up and saw Gavin strolling over to me. Kerr grinned and nudged me.

"Hey Kerr, can I borrow Lex?" He asked, his eyes trained on me.

"You can borrow her anytime you want. See you later Lexi." She said as I watched her look amongst all the gaping students. "What are you looking at? Don't you have any respect?" She yelled, making everyone turn away. I laughed, turning back to Gavin. His face was worried, making me drop my smile.

"What's wrong?" He didn't respond, just grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the parking lot. I got into his black BMW's passenger side and he slid in opposite me. He sat silently for a couple minutes making me worried.

"I got a call today from Luke. Turns out they are going around to each neighborhood to find men to draft. My neighborhood and yours is on the list. I never made any intentions on this. I planned on going to military academy for a couple years then going into the air force. Now, my fate is decided for me and I don't know what to do." He said, his voice shaking. I was in shock. My hand had a mind of its own, reaching over and clasping his in mine tightly. He reached in the back and pulled out roses, as he handed them to me he smiled. "I was on my way over here to do some grand prom proposal, because you deserve the best, but I won't be here for prom. They come on Friday to draft and then we fly out a week later."

"It's all too soon, I needed more, more time with you. God if I hadn't been so goddamn selfish, we could have been together longer." He reached over and pulled me into his lap. He brought his hand up, brushing some of my hair out of my face.

"It was neither of our faults. We couldn't have seen this coming." I nodded, leaning my head against his chest.

"Maybe they won't take you. Maybe by the time they get to you, they will have enough soldiers." I mumbled, pressing a kiss to his chest. He leaned his chin on the top of my head, tightening his arms.

"I wish that was the case. But there is no such thing as too many soldiers.  I want to ask you to be with me when they come. I can't do this alone, and my parents won't be there." I started to nod before thinking. Tyler was in my neighborhood.

"Gavin, Tyler's in my neighborhood, along with Kerr and her brother. I have to be there for them too." He dropped his arms, pulling away from me, giving me a look of disbelief.

"Seriously? Tyler again?" I looked at him confused.

"He's my best friend Gavin, I just can't leave him." He opened the car door for me, scoffing.

"Just once I wanted to come first in your life Alexa. Just once I ask you to pick me over Hawkins. I don't know why I thought this would be a good idea." He leaned over, scooping me up and placing me on the ground.

"Gavin!" He rolled his eyes, slamming the door shut. "Gavin Lahar, you talk to me right now." I yelled as I watched him drive away. Oh that jackass.

**
The news of the draft has spread around the school like wildfire. All the boys whose neighborhood was being looked at were either not at school or were spending every little second with their friends and family. I had sent out close to a hundred texts and calls to Gavin, praying for him to answer me. I couldn't help myself. Kerr and I were sitting in the stands of the final game for Ridgewood. I watched Gavin warm up. I knew he saw me when I walked in, we made eye contact. He looked annoyed to see me, crushing my heart even more. Kerr nudged me and pointed at someone in the crowd.

"Slut alert." She whispered. Monica Rivers was the biggest slut at Ridgewood. She had made a point and bragged about sleeping with everyone at her school and Campbell, the good looking ones of course. Now I wasn't one to judge, but at least I had class and actually left stuff to imagination. I didn't doubt that she and Gavin had hooked up. She strutted over to me, her reddish hair swinging behind her.

"Alexa babe, how are you." She only pretended to be nice to me because she thought we were similar. At least I wasn't a walking STD.

"Pretty good Monica, what about you?" She smiled at me, showing her annoyingly perfect white teeth.

"Oh just fabulous. Say, have you heard the news ladies? Gavin Lahar is asking me to prom after the game." Her little minions squealed in anticipation and I rolled my eyes. I noticed that the boys were glancing up at the bleachers to look at us.

"That's funny Rivers, cause just yesterday he told me that he wouldn't be here for prom." She smirked at me, not budging.

"Well, that's not what he told me last night when he was over at my house after our little hook up." I glanced at Kerr who was gaping at Monica.

"What are you talking about Monica? He's with Alexa." Kerr butted in.

"Oh please, like that was ever going to last. He told me about your little fight Lexi. Shouldn't have messed up." She sneered. I started to see red. That backstabbing bastard. I glared down onto the field where his eyes were trained on me, looking almost confused. "Odds are he wanted something bigger and better then a little whore like yourself. Though I guess it's genetics right? You can't help if your mom whored around." I snapped. I punched her in the face. Everyone around us gasped and I smiled after hearing a crack. "You bitch!!" She screamed at me.

"I think you mean whore." I said before turning. I didn't make it far before she grabbed my wrist pulling me back and slapping me in the face. We started getting into it, with Kerr taking on her minions. Everyone around us were shouting and rooting us on. Arms wrapped around my waist pulling me back and into someone's chest and I saw some other guy pull Monica away. I looked to see Gavin holding me. I ripped his arms away from me and he looked hurt.

"Fuck you." I said, venom dripping off my voice. "Kerr, let's go."