Pretend It's Okay (Bluestone 42 Fanfic)

Chapter One:

"Oh sweetie, I am going to miss you!" My mom exclaims, her extended out arms pulling me to her chest, tears collecting on the edge of her eyelids. I pat her gently on the back, not a person who hugs anyone.

"Mom, she is going to suffocate!" My older sister jokes, her heels clicking against the concrete of the runway for the jet I am to take to Afghanistan. My mom lets go and I turn to my sister, her lips pulled into a smile as she runs her hand through her blonde waves. "Bye, little sis," She winks, waving to me. I wave back, my feet beginning to depart from the place where I grew up.

"Karmin!" I hear a familiar male voice call out hurriedly. I spin on my heel, black airwalks skidding against the black tar of the lonely U.S. airway. I run to my boyfriend of two years, Carlos, and hold his hands in mine, foreheads resting against each others. I stare into his crystal blue eyes, dark lashes framing them perfectly. He kisses my cheek, my heart racing. "I love you, babe." He smiles, my lips curving into a real smile.

"I love you, too." I whisper, pulling away, his hands pulling something from his pocket. He hands it to me and I smile, holding it to my chest. I wave to them and turn my back to the only life I've ever known. I get onto the plan and watch out the window as my sister collects my mom in her arms, tears falling rapidly as she watches her baby girl leave her. I turn my head forward, refusing to let myself watch that because I would change my mind.

I lean my head back and put my earphones in my ears, turning my Ipod on, deciding to listen to country's "Whatever She's Got" by David Naill. I close my eyes, excitement overtaking my body, ready for the path that lies ahead.

TWO HOURS LATER:

I feel the plane land, my eyes cracking open a bit, adjusting gradually to the bright, hot sun peering in from the glass window, Rihanna's "Unfaithful" playing in my ears, barely audible. I stand to my feet and the flight attendant nods at me. "Do you want me to grab your bags, m'am?" He politely offers, my head shaking.

"No thank you, sir. I am capable." I smile, gently declining his offer. He smiles back and I reach up, grasping the strap of my backpack, all my clothes filling the small knapsack. I walk down the open plane door and am met as soon as I walk out, with a tall blonde man. I step off and onto the tan sands of Afghanistan. I stroll to the man, his hand stuck out with a lopsided smirk on his face.

"Hello. I am Captain Nick Medhurst. I presume you are Karmin Jessie Jacqueline Bloom?" He speaks, my head nodding. "Well follow me and I will show you to your personal quarters and after, I will show you to where we have our lunch which will take place in fourteen minutes." He explains, my head nodding as I fall into step beside him. He shows me to my quarters and I throw my stuff onto the bed, his smile showing. "You don't want to unpack?" He chuckles.

"Nope. There are only a few journals and sketchpads. Some clothes too, but eh. Let's go get something to eat?" I smile, nodding out the door. He nods appreciatively and walks me over to this large tarp in the middle of the camp. I watch as he walks up to two tables and the boys look at me, jaws dropped, eyes wide. I give a small wave and introduce myself. "I am Corporal Bloom."

A man of about 6'2 stands to his feet, walking over to me, circling me like I am prey. I cross my arms over my chest and stand hipshot to the right. "Excuse me, what do you think you're doing?" I scoff, my eyes scanning his facial features. His hazel-ish eyes with a lot of green specks meet my eyes for a split second before he continues to practically check me out. "I asked a question!" I demand, hinting toward the necessity of an answer.

"You don't seem like a solider type. You seem too girly, too foofy perhaps." He taunts, my mouth dropping in disgust.

"Excuse me, but you don't seem so manly yourself. You shouldn't judge me because I am short, because everyone is shorter than you other than Mr. Medhurst here. So if I were you, I'd take a seat before I kick your ass and no that isn't a threat, it is a promise." I interrupt the question coming from the Scottish- accented man to the right of me, eyes intently trained on the annoying teammate I now have.