My Soldier, My Hero

Chapter 3

"Hey, it's time for dinner." Aaliyah said walking out in the backyard where Shawn and Savannah were. The both turn their heads to look at his younger sister.

"Okay, we'll be in a second." He smiles looking back at his girlfriend.

"Kay." Aaliyah said walking back into the house.

"What are we having?" Savannah asked starting to stand back up.

"Requested roast for my last meal at home." He grabs her hand, pulling her back.

"What are you doing? We have to go."

"I don't know what this meal is gonna be like, I just want to make sure you're okay."

She leans into his side, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I'm fine."

"I hate when you say you're fine." He rolls his eyes.

"I'm okay, it's a little emotion. Especially when you say things like you 'last meal'. But it's the truth, I know that. But I have you for the rest of tonight and tomorrow morning, so I'm gonna make the best with what I have."

"You'll always have me."

"I know, would you stop trying to make me cry. I wanna go eat." She says standing up, hiding the tears that want to fall.

He keeps making comments about his last meal, or the last time in this bed for a while, or last time mom ask me to go get groceries. Like he's dying or something.

"About time, let's eat." Manny says as the couple walks into the family room. The food has already been dished and everyone takes a seat silently.

They all eat in silence, awkwardly looking from one person to the next.

"Okay, can we stop acting like you are going off to die?" Savannah says, not being able to handle the silence anymore.

Shawn chokes a bit on the bite he had just taken.

"I am not going off to die." He says, covering his mouth.

"I know that. But we keep acting like it. You are going to bootcamp. You'll be gone for 10 weeks and then you'll be back. So it's not the last meal, or the last time you're asked to get groceries."

"Hey." He says touching her leg under the table.

"She's right." Aaliyah speaks up. Shawn looks over at his sister and back to his girlfriend. "We are gonna miss you, but you will be back."

"I know." Shawn says nodding.

"Then act like it."

"I am."

"No you aren't, you keep making comments that suggest that you aren't ever coming back. And for the love of god stop asking if I'm okay." Savannah says setting her fork down.

"Wow I am really bugging you aren't I?" He chuckles.

"A little bit. I'll tell you if I'm not okay, but for the time being I'm perfect. You are here, and I have you right next to me so I'm perfect."

"Okay, I got it." He nods.

"So, what are we doing tonight?" Karen pipes up, trying to break the awkwardness for the rest of the family. Sitting through your son and his girlfriend kind of but not really arguing at the dinner table is a bit uncomfortable.

"Um, game night?" Shawn asks, still looking at his girlfriend.

"That sounds like so much fun, we haven't done that in a while." Aaliyah says clapping.