Gone by Dawn | Harry Styles

Woman

1402

Monday, 11th January 2016

Today was the first day back at work for the new year and to say the least it was the dullest day mostly because I hadn't seen Harry yet but I am sure he's lingering around. No Liv, snap out if it.

"Hey, Liv. Can you please help me for a sec?" Since it's the new year, we've had a lot of newer recruits coming through and unfortunate for me, I'm the only one around right now with experience with the M1 Abrams.

"What you need?" As I turn around to meet the stunning blue eyes; to say that his eyes were blue was like saying that the sun was yellow. Sufficient but not accurate to capture the burning. His short, jet-black hair covered by his cap made his tanned skin stand out.

"I need help with the maintenance for one of the tanks."

"Yeah, okay," I follow him to the end of the shed where one of the armoured tanks sits at bay. He asks multiple questions as I answer them to the best I can. I could feel his eyes burn my skin as I noticed his long and intense stare through my peripheral vision. I look down at him reading the name that was written across on his left side. Slate.

"Is your dad in the Army?" I abruptly ask.

"Yeah. Why's that? Do you know him?" He glances up from checking the links on the tank to look me in the eyes.

"No," I answer all too fast that could even be suspicious. He lets out brief and airy laugh as he continues to concentrate on his tasks.

"How old are you?" I may as well get to know the guy since I'll be seeing him around more often.

"27, you?"

"23 going on 24. Did you join because of your father?" I lean against the tank as I continue to observe him studying the caterpillar tracks.

"I guess. Like, I mean he did influence me to join and whatever since I'm his only son. I guess he wanted someone to follow in his footsteps," I nod my head despite the fact he's not looking at me. "Why'd you join?"

"My father was a Lieutenant before he died. So, I guess you could say that I wanted to follow in his footsteps."

"Oh shit. What happened?" He asks sympathetically as he stops what he is doing.

"He was deployed to Afghanistan and unfortunately died over there."

"I'm sorry to hear," He stands up from his position and gives me an unexpected hug but I just go with it. I look over his shoulder and see a not so happy Harry at the other end of the shed. We pull apart and continue with what we are doing as the footsteps grow louder and nearer. We glance up at the same time and Private Slate immediately stands to his feet to salute Lieutenant Styles. I roll my eyes as Harry doesn't even acknowledge the poor soldier. He has both hands behind his back as his intense gaze remains on me.

"Private Crosby, follow me," I say a quick 'goodbye' to Slate before I follow closely behind Harry. He leads us to the Artillery room where some soldiers were taking inventory. Harry immediately beckons them to leave so that it was just him and I.

"What's up, Harold?" I joke.

"What are you doing?" He ignores my previous comment. I heavily sigh and slouch my shoulders while he leans against the wooden table that sprawled out automatic weaponry.

"So, this is about the dude out there?" I question even though I already know my answer.

"No, it's about you getting cosy. Imagine if Ferris saw that and not me," He slightly raises his voice indicating that he is slightly agitated. Did I mention that I also hate angry Harry.

"Ferris?" I ask dumbfounded.

"God sake, Olivia. Slate, Lieutenant Slate. That's his son you were just with," He says as if it wasn't already obvious.

"Who names their son Ferris?" His jaw visibly clenches and his knuckles whiten as his grip tightens on the table. Not the time for jokes, Liv.

"Is that all you're getting from this? Did you not learn from Afghanistan?"

"Did you not learn from Afghanistan?" I mimicked. "Such a fucking hypocrite Harry."

"Lieutenant Styles," He corrects me. I glare at him.

"Okay, Lieutenant Styles. What do you want? Or is this it?" I ask getting annoyed with him, his changed behaviour towards from since our phone call just after New Years.

"Stay away from Private Slate," How dare he... how dare he think he can do that. "That's an order."

"Fuck you," I spit, "You can't do that."

"I'm selfish, I know, Olivia," His eyes intensely look deeply into mine. "But I don't ever want to see you with him."

"So this is more to do with your ego?" Before he can even get a word in I end the conversation, "Okay, Dad," I walk out slamming the metal door on my way out.

***

1101

Friday, 15th January

It had been several days since Harry's and I's 'incident' and to be blatantly honest, yes, yes, I have been ignoring him and making the extra effort so we wouldn't cross paths. Obviously for drill it was impossible to ignore him. Every morning we would have drill and every damn time, I could feel his eyes burn my skin. I never gave in to look back at him, to give him the satisfaction he was yearning for. And at the end of drill, I would immediately leave within a heart beat to avoid Harry. And to make things extra, I didn't stay away from Lieutenant Slate's son who's name I learned is Joel. Joel Slate. It easily rolled off the tip of the tongue. I guess you could say I loved being petty.

To take things further, after hours, Joel and I would go out with friends to hang out and occasionally we would go out to dinner alone. I wouldn't necessarily call them dates but out of spite, I would tell Janice that they were. I knew Janice would accidentally spill the information to someone and Harry will eventually find out but I didn't think it would happen so fast.

This Friday's drill wasn't going to be as breezy as the rest of the week's drill. In the corner of my eye I noticed Harry was off to the side while someone else was conducting our squads drill for the morning. He was watching intensely. At me? I don't know, I was a little timid to look him in the eye. Drill came to an end which I was dreading because I knew Harry will pull me to the side before I get the chance to sneak away.

"Private Crosby," I hear a voice call my name that wasn't Harry's. It was coming from the man next to him.

Lieutenant Slate.

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A/N

Short update I know but just a quick education thingo.

M1 Abrams are the newest armoured tanks in Australia and caterpillar tracks are the thingos you see on tanks that make them move pretty much so there'es some trivia for you and the links are the equivalent to tread on a car

anyway please don't forget to comment and vote