Army Way of Life

Chapter Five

"I don't have anything to say to you."

"Nothing?"

He didn't answer me and started walking again. I followed him, not wanting to let him walk away again, not without talking first.

Sensing I was following him, he turned around abruptly. "Is he mine?"

"Of course he's yours."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Are you really asking me that right now? Really?"

He looked at me like, Are you serious? "I don't really want to have this conversation right now."

"Well, when's a good time?" I asked, my voice laced with venom.

"Q, look where we are. Do you really want to do this here?"

Hearing him call me Q calmed me. "No, I guess not... But..."

"Listen, I'm going to be home this summer. I'll come over when we get home and we'll talk about it, okay?"

I nodded, trying to hold back tears. Jeremy looked uncomfortable, but said, "Don't cry, Quinn," and awkwardly came over and hugged me.

After 2 years, having his arms around me again brought back all kinds of memories. But I knew nothing was the same as it was then. I pulled myself together and swiped at a few tears that managed to fall. "I'll see you, Jeremy," I said, turning away. I had to get out of there before I broke down. After everything, I refused to let him see me cry.

As soon as I made it into the dormitories, I sank to the ground and let the tears fall. Because of how I felt in this very moment, I wished I had told him when I found out, despite him not talking to me and despite my father telling me not to. I didn't even know why he was so adamant about me not telling him. But I was going to find out.

I was feeling bad for myself, not sure why. But I felt awful for keeping Ryker from Jeremy because he deserved to know. And the look on his face just then broke my heart even more.

"Quinn, are you alright?" Mel asked, rushing to my side. I hurriedly swept at my face, wiping the tears away. "What happened?" she sat down beside me.

I laid my head on her shoulder. We sat there for a long time in silence. "I ran into Jeremy outside."

"What'd he say?"

"He tried to ignore me and when I wouldn't give up, he finally stopped. He was really snappy with me and asked if Ryker was his. He looked like his heart had just been ripped out of his chest."

"Did you talk?"

"No, he said this wasn't the place to do it. We were both worked up and there would have been yelling."

"So..."

"So he said he was going to be home this summer and we'd talk when we got back."

"Well that's a start."

"He didn't even ask what his name was..."

"I'm sorry, Quinny," she said, squeezing me tight.

We sat there for a couple more minutes before I said, "I guess we need to get back in there."

"We probably should go back... But we need to find a bathroom so you can wash your face first."

She got up then helped me up. We walked arm in arm down the hallway and found a girls bathroom. We walked in and I went to the sink, turning the water on warm. When it was warm enough for me, I splashed it on my face a few times and then dried it off.