Ageless War

Eleven || All's Fair in Love and War

Ollie Mcloughlin

Eagle County, Colorado

Wednesday, January 29th, 1944

6:58am

She was shaking; it was distressingly easy to see, though she didn't seem to notice it herself.

    I sat up in my bunk, my feet dangling off the side as I took the earplugs out of my ears. Addy smelled strongly of blood, causing my mouth to water slightly. I wanted to say something to her, apologise, but I couldn't ignore her disheveled state.

    A loud, sustained groan pierced the air, drawing everyone's attention and waking up those who weren't already awake. The noise came from Everett; he laid half on his bed and half on the cement, gradually pushing himself up and opening his eyes to look at us.

    "What?" he asked.

    Seeing nothing special, I looked back over to Addy who was not focusing on Joseph's bunk. Frowning, I did as well, jumping down and walking over to her. My actions prompted her to take a few steps back, as if she couldn't stand to be within a few feet of me. Covering up the hurt I felt, I looked up as Ira climbed down the ladder, red in the face.

    "Somethin' you want to tell us?" I teased him. He huffed and sat down on his own bunk silently. Joseph laughed and shook his head, dropping down and beginning to dress himself in his uniform.

    I didn't notice Harper until he was next to me, smiling brightly. "You look quite red, Ira."

    "It's warm in here."

    "Ay, sure it is, mate," he responded, patting his shoulder and turning to face Addy and Kenneth. Since when did they hang around each other? "You lot okay? They haven't even called for breakfast yet, and—"

    "Wake up! We've got a busy day today so get your asses to the mess hall!"

    Speak of the devil.

    I sighed, searching their eyes with suspicion. "What's going on?"

    Kenneth opened his mouth to speak, but Addy shot him a look, and he seemed to falter. You could see the internal battle on his confused face as he decided whether or not to tell me. What were they hiding?

    "Nothing," Kenneth finally said, "we went for a run."

    Bullshit.

    She was lying to me now?

    After everything we've been through, after everything, she was lying to me.

    I'd had enough of it.

    Everyone had started migrating towards the door, going to breakfast. Addy was the last out the door, so I set my hand on her shoulder and turned her around, pulling her back into the room and shutting the door.

    Her eyes narrowed as she looked at me. "What do you want?"

    "Look, I get that you're mad at me and everything, I know you have your own stuff going on, but—"

    She cut me off, breaking away from my grip. "You don't know a fucking thing, Ollie."

    I grinded my teeth together and tied to keep my head level. "Listen, we both said some things, but you can't just lie to m—"

    "You're not in charge of what I can do and what I can't, Ollie! I know you think I'm some weak little girl—"

    "I never said that."