Whispers

Chapter Six : One Month Later

Time was running out for Noah. He'd have to tell Hailey soon. He didn't have much time. Hardly a fortnight more......

Noah dragged a hand through his hair and placed the letter on the night stand.

Shit.

Hailey was going to be shattered. His parents, they would understand. Heck, his father had even served in the army for a year before he'd been honourably discharged. It was more than just a matter of pride or even patriotism. Noah didn't know what he was going to do with his life. He didn't know what he wanted to do. How was he going to be an independent man, a good husband to Hailey, if he didn't even know what he wanted to do?

Hailey already knew what she would do when she graduated. She wanted to teach kids, high school kids, and he knew that she was perfect for that job. She was already looking at colleges in Colorado, where she could get a degree in Education with a minor in Child Psychology .

But what about him? What was he good at? He was good athlete and a smart student. But what did he want to do with his life?

The army would discipline him. He had thought about it a great deal. He would serve for a couple of years- just until he was sure that when he got out, he'd know what he'd want to do. Then he would get his degree and hopefully by then, he'd have a ring on Hailey's finger and a job that would support both of them. They would get a house a couple of streets from his parents' place- he knew Hailey wouldn't want to be too far away- and in a couple of years they would start working on blonde haired green eyed kids.

He had it all planned out.

He just didn't know how to tell Hailey about the army bit.

Pushing away from his bed, Noah paced his room, his mind playing out different scenarios.

"Noah?"

He stopped mid pace and whirled around, startled to see Hailey standing in the doorway.

A tiny frown creased her eyebrows.

"Hailey." He walked towards her, pulling her into his arms. He nearly groaned in relief when her face nestled into his neck and he buried his face in her hair, inhaling.

"Hailey." he mumbled into her hair, pulling her closer.

"What's wrong?" Hailey pulled back slightly, one hand resting on his chest while the other cupped his cheek. He leaned into her hand, his eyes closed.

"I-" his voice cracked. "I need to talk to you Hails. Sit down."

Biting her lower lip, Hailey allowed Noah to lead her to his bed. She perched on it, one foot under her, the other dangling mid air-she was so small.

"Noah, is this about college? I mean, I know you haven't-"

"Hails," he cut her off. "Hailey, I'm not going to college."

Her forehead crinkled as she frowned. " You aren't ? Honey, what do you-"

She broke off when she saw the envelope on the night stand.

She reached for it but paused, looking up at Noah who nodded at her to read it.

She carefully opened the envelope and slid the letter out, opening it with care.

Noah sat down beside her and pulled her to him as she read the letter. He felt her entire body stiffen with every passing second, with every word she read until finally she slowly put the paper down.

She carefully folded it, sliding it back into the envelope.

"When?"

"Two weeks from today."