The War on Love

Chapter 14

I never imagined I would see him on my doorstep again. But there he was. Staff Sergeant Dylan Hale stood on my doorstep. Yes. The ex-boyfriend, Dylan.

He had stood there as Thomas answered the door. Dylan had his dogtags hanging around his neck. The chain of the single tag that Thomas still refused to return to me was slightly visible before disappearing under his shirt.

Thomas crosses his arms. "Who are you?" He asks.

"Staff Sergeant Dylan Hale. I was looking for Tech Sergeant Emmalyn Taylor."

I push my way through the door at the sound of my name. Big mistake... "Oh. Hi, Hale..". hmm. Current boyfriend and ex-boyfriend within five feet of each other.... Should be interesting.

"Hey, Taylor," he says, with a smile. "I just wanted to make sure your recovery had gone okay."

"Oh, yeah. I'm okay. I've been doing much better than I was a few months ago."

"That's great. You getting along with the whole one arm thing yet, Taylor?" He asks, a smirk playing on his face.

"I can put skinny jeans on. I take that as a first rate accomplishment."

He laughs, a clear, cheery sound that echoes through the neighborhood. "Well, anyway, I was wondering if you would like to come to a party tonight."

I raise an eyebrow. "A party? What time?"

He smirks. "7. You know the place."

"Great, Hale. See you then," I say with a smirk as I close the door.

"You're seriously going?" Thomas asks me, arms folded over his chest.

"Yes. Hale throws the BEST parties! You should come!"

"I wasn't invited."

I roll my eyes. "You don't understand how these things work. There will be people nobody even knows there tonight! Hale invites the whole town. You are more than welcome to come. Invite Ki Hong and Dylan if you want. No one will mind."

"Fine."

"So, you'll come?" I ask eagerly, bouncing on the balls of my feet.

"Well, I sure as hell am not letting you go to a party with your ex alone!"

I roll my eyes and scoff. "Please. I probably won't even talk to him."

----------------------------------------------------

We were on our way to the party. Thomas and I were in the front seat of my car with Dylan O'Brien and Ki Hong Lee sitting in the back.

I was dressed in a blue plaid shirt with dark skinny jeans and cowgirl boots, typical dress for this kind of party. The boys on the other hand were dressed like 'city slickers' as some of the folks in town would say.

I park my car in the field by an old barn with lights filling the place. Music is already blaring out the speakers. We all pile out. They follow me inside the double red barn doors.

"Hey, Em!" People shout.

"Hey!" I shout back, giving a little wave.

Someone is already pulling me out onto to the dance floor. "C'mon, Em! Let's show these boys how to line dance!" I laugh as my friend, Lily, drags me to the center of the floor where the music is the loudest.

We get everyone into lines. 'Good Time' by Alan Jackson begins to play. Lily and I lead the dance. Thomas and the boys are leaning against the wall, watching my every move.

I turn to Lily and gesture her to follow. Together we jog over to the boys, our boots clomping against the concrete floor. I grab Thomas by the wrist as Lily grabs the hands of Dylan and Ki Hong.