My Army Boy

chapter 2

Chapter Two

"I thought Id walk you home" I hear Shawn say behind me.

I feel my body sag in relief, I hadn't known I was so worried about his dads threat until that moment when I thought he had come to make good on it.

"God Shawn you scared me half to death" I exclaim turning around to face him.

"I heard what happened with Derek this afternoon" he had never really called Derek dad for as long as I had known him. Not that one could blame him dads were meant to be kind not nasty.

I nod not really knowing what to say. I hadnt really spoken to Shawn since the start of high school.

I slip my jacket on and notice Shawn looking at me intently. I shiver under his gaze and advert my eyes.

"You didnt need to take me home" I say to him as I look down at the ground we both fall into step walking toward my house.

He laughs without much humour"I know" is all he says.

I look over at him, I have the urge to sweep back the hair that had fallen across his eyes. I wondered if it was a soft as it looked.

Shawn looked over and noticed me starring at him, we both laugh and it felt like old times in that moment.

"Why?" I ask as our walking slows, neither of us really wanting to get to our destination as quickly we knew we would.

Shawn didnt say anything for sometime I almost didnt think he was going to answer me.

"I need to get out. To many people are dying out there" he looks over at me. "I need to know I can protect someone".

I nod, not sure I trust myself to speak. I knew what he really meant, he really wanted to protect his mum, so going away to war was like his way of helping people who needed it.

"I heard your going away to school" I hear him say, I look over at him noting that he was already watching me his eyes intent like he really wanted to know about me.

"Yeah I head over at the end of the school break" I tell him, I cant keep the smile off my face, it felt way to familiar. All my old feelings were surfacing, not that they had been to deeply buried if I was honest to myself.

He smiles back at me a genuine smile that reaches his eyes. God I loved that smile.

"look Louie" he says using the old nickname he used to call me. I watched his face go grime and his tone turn serious. "If anything happens to me over there can you promise to check in on my mum?"

I look at him, his face was going through so many emotions. Sad, scared, tired but over all finality like he had already decided the possibility of him not coming home was a sure thing.

"You will come home!" I say with more force then I had intended to.

I watched his face turn to shock at my tone, but I continue "You have to" I say more softly.

He reaches over and takes my hand squeezing it gently. When I dont pull away he leaves his hand holding mine.

As we near my house Shawn comes to a stop pulling me to a halt next to him.

"Louie can I ask a another favour?" he turns me around so I am facing him.

"Of course"

"Can I write to you?" he drops his eyes to stare at the ground like he doesnt want to see my face if the answer was no.

"Yes" I tell him like there was no other answer.

His head snaps up to look at me. His green filled with so much emotion it was hard to tell what he was feeling,