The Red Coral Bracelet

Chapter 4

Navy 

I stuffed my face with food. Almost all the food he had there was gone because of me. I gulped down three cans of Mountain Dew and then passed out on Uncle Danny's couch. I swear he only let me sleep for a minute but it was actually five in the morning. He let me sleep for five more hours.

So many people had been coming and going through his office/living quarters that I had been moved from the couch to the bed in the back. I didn't dream about anything; it was just deep, blissful sleep that I seriously needed. I made sure that no on was in his office beacuse of my attire; I was still in my shorts, combat boots, and large T-shirt. Sneaking through the base wasn't going to work so I decided to run. Yeah, that wasnt my most brillant plan.

"Bye, Danny. See you later. Love ya!" I yelled as I zoomed out of there. I only had about three minutes to get across the base to my cellphone so I could call my family. "Hi! How are you?" I asked people as I ran. I was pretty successful with not running into anything but then I ran into a wall and fell onto the hot ground.

"Are you OK, Navy?" The wall spoke and I looked up. Corporal Tanner Lee Imlay was the wall with beautiful blue eyes and buzzed blond hair. "Why are you rushing?"

"I'm good. Thanks and I have about thirty seconds to get to my phone."

"Where is it?"

"Across the base. Well, I just need a phone to call my family and I need to change."

"Here," he handed me his phone. "Call them and I'll escort you to your quarters to change then we'll meet with the guys for chow."

I couldn't believe it. I threw my arms around his neck and gave him a light peck on the mouth then said, "Thank you."

I dialed Andy's phone and he picked up on the third ring. "Hello?"

"Andy! Hey, I miss you already."

"Hi, sweetie. Whose phone is this?"

"Corporal Imlay. He's really nice and is standing beside escorting me to my place."

"Oh. How is it?"

"Really? It's hot and dry and I'm burning up because I'm in shorts and Luke's shirt."

"NAVY! You know that-" I cut him off.

"It was an emergency! Geez, Andy get off my back. I'm a big girl and I know the rules!"

"Right, sorry. Send me a photo of you and Imlay."

"Yes, sir." I stopped and threw my arm around Imlay's shoulders. I took the picture and I sent it to Andy. He was looking at me funny. "What?"

"What was that about?"

"My brother, Andy, wanted a picture of you and me."

"Make sure it isn't put on anything."

"Can I have him print it out, frame it, and put it on my wall?"

"No." We began to walk again.

"What if it's my bedroom wall? Only me and sometimes my siblings go in there."

"You want a complete stranger on your bedroom wall?"

"Yep! Well your not a complete stranger." I felt the phone buzz. "We'll talk about this later. Hey."

"Navy, you found a good lookin' man!" The voice changed from Andy's deep voice to May's higher voice. She and June are twins.

"Not my man." I replied. The twins are always trying to hook me up with every good looking man that looks my way. They are both married with multiple kids. "Remember what happened last time?"

"We most certianly do not." The girls spoke in unison.

"Y'all are liars. You bring it up everytime I tell someone no."

"You're the one who is lying! We see that sparkle in your eyes! It's as clear as day."

"You can always see that sparkle. Sometimes, families suck." I saw Imlay shake his head, so I moved the phone to where they would hear less. "What?"

"You're over there complaining about families and I've never been able to do that... I don't have one."

"Well, do you want one?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

"When you get back to the States, you are going to be part of mine." We had reached my place. "I'll only be a few minutes."

I shut the door and began to change. I threw on my camo cargo pants, gray shirt with MARINES written on it, matching jacket, brown combat boots. Then threw my hair up in a ponytail, grabbed my camera, phone, extra camera battery, cover, then made sure all my dog tags were around my neck. Looking around, I picked up Tanner Lee's phone and exited the small dark room that is my home away from home.

"Navy," now Forrest, the oldest, was talking. "I have some bad news."

I motioned for Imlay to walk with me. "What did you do?"

"Gronkgothurtanditwasn'tmyfault.ItwasallJune,May,andAndy." He spoke quickly, hoping I wasn't mad.

"You hurt Gronk!!" Tanner Lee frowned at me. "My truck." I mouthed.

"June, May, and Andy did."

"If it isn't fixed by the time I get back, you're all dead."

"Do you want a picture of the damage?"

"Yes, from all angles and send it to my phone."

"Aren't you using your phone?"

"I'm using a friends. Call my phone when you're done. I want to talk to my babies."

"Yes, ma'am. Love you, little sis."

"Love you, too."

I handed Tanner Lee his phone back and smiled. "Are your conversations with your family always like that?"

"Sometimes worse. You'll fit right into your new family."

"You really are the sweetest girl I've ever met."

"You are such a gentleman. Can I sit on your lap when we're eating?"

"Sure, but why?"

"The seats make my ass hurt."

Laughing, we both entered the mess hall and looked around for his platoon. I lifted up my camera and took a couple photographs of them eating. Imlay went and got food and I waited for him to sit down. I took a couple more pictures and got this really amazing one of Imlay turning to look at me over his shoulder. His eyes were so amazing and had this sparkle I never noticed before. I wondered why anyone would give up such an amazing boy. Well, maybe both his parents died at a young age or maybe he was taken away because they were bad parents? But why would no one adopt him? I was really curious, but didn't voice my thoughts. I sat on his lap and leaned into his strong, warm chest. All I knew then was whoever got this man for a boyfriend or husband was going to be a lucky gal. I secretly wished it was me. I was happy for about three minutes, then I got the pictures of my truck.

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On the right is the complete list of the cast for now. Also there is a picture of May and June, played by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. On the other chatpers, there is a picture of Tanner Lee Imlay, Navy, and Dawson. Go check them out and comment what you think of my cast choices.