Letters To My Soldier

Letter Nine

May 2018

It's official now. When that talent scout from Baylor came, so did a huge packet including an acceptance letter. After replying to the acceptance and getting the schedule for summer practices, the only thing I had to worry about was prom.

Ugh!

"P, are you going to talk to me?" Valerie waved her hand in front of my face. I took a bite of my apple, ignoring her.

"Seriously? It's been two weeks!" Valerie crosses her arms in frustration, "It wasn't my fault that some idiot spiked the drinks at that stupid party."

I whip my head to glare at her, "Yeah, it was. You knew it was spiked but you kept them coming! You know we can't afford to be caught with that shit!"

"I know! I'm going to UCLA in the fall for Christ's sake!" she picks up a fry and bites into it roughly.

"And I'm going to Baylor with a full ride scholarship! With a baby coming, I need all the financial support I can get."

Valerie looks up from her tray and raises an eyebrow, "Why do you say that? Dean and Jess can't afford it?"

"That's not it..."

"You can't use your inheritance from your biological parents?"

"No," I sigh and run my hand through my hair, "It's just that...I'm the adopted kid that they got as a teenager. I'm going to college in the fall. With a baby coming I'm not going to be their first priority."

"In other words..." Valerie shoves another fry into her mouth, "They won't care about you, forget about you, and you'll be on your own...for the rest of your life..."

"Not exactly, but-"

"That's the stupidest load of bull I've ever heard, P!" Valerie shouts and I look around to see some people staring at us now.

"Look, that's not even the point," I say and I look up briefly to catch Riley looking at me. he grins with a wave and I grimace, looking back at Valerie. "Point is, we can't party. If we get caught, all we have will be taken away. I just can't risk it."

Valerie shakes her head, "This is the time to really have fun. Live life right now cause it isn't gonna get easier."

I shake my head, "If you want to party, go ahead. Screw yourself over. But I'm not getting into that, okay? So don't drag me down with you."

"What are you saying? You're not my friend anymore?" Valerie asks, her fists are clenched on top of the table.

My hear lurches at the thought of my best friend...not being my friend at all. We won't see each other for a long time after the summer. I wish it wouldn't end like this. I hope it doesn't. but I have to think of my future. If Valerie wants to risk throwing it all away, then she can't be in my future.

"Yeah, that's what I'm saying," I say and there's a moment that passes between us. When we were both new to the school as freshman, both vulnerable and shy. Stubborn but shy. She was there to help me. she was the only one who could see passed my past and accept me.

And here we are now, saying goodbye.

"Okay," her expression is eerily calm and passive as she gets up, grabbing the basket of fries with her.

~X~X~X~X~X~

I stop by my locker after lunch to get my book for physics class when he comes up. I had plans to tell him no. To say, "Sorry, but I was inebriated when you asked. I told my pen pal, my friend who is a captain in the Marines, and he said it wasn't cool to ask me while I was drunk. He thinks you're a dick, by the way. And I realized I don't love you anymore. What does that mean? Well, I have no idea, either," was probably not a good idea.

Those plans died instantly.

"Hey Priscilla," Riley said leaning against the wall of lockers and I smile at his boyish face. Cause that's what Riley is, a boy.

"Um, so I was thinking I could pick you up tonight around 5. I know we didn't really get to talk much these past two weeks."

Because I was avoiding you.

"Um, that would be fine," I say and start to walk off to class.

Riley walks next to me because we have the same class and I try to ignore the awkwardness.

"Why'd you say yes?"

I look at him, "Huh?"

"You said yes even though we were drunk at that party," he says and I sigh.

"Cause I was drunk?" I laugh breathlessly at the stupidity of it all.

He stops me with his hand on my wrist, "Would you say yes if I asked you right now?"

I cross my arms and try not to look at him in the face, "Truth is, I don't really know you, Riley."

He opens his mouth but I continue, "I think you're really sweet...but I don't like you like that anymore."

Riley's eyebrows crinkle in that way they do when he's confused, "Anymore?"

I blush and say, "I used to like you a lot...but-"

"Is it someone else?" he looks genuinely hurt.

"No?" I say hesitantly. Green eyes suddenly come to mind and I'm in a daze.

I clicked on the attachment and the picture begins to load. My fingers drum the table anxiously as I wait to see the first clear picture of Heath Black. The man I've been talking to for months now.

My breath catches as the picture pops up.

Tanned muscles under a dark green T-shirt are crossed over his broad chest. I stare at the chain of dog tags hanging around his neck. I can see freckles splattered over his neck and my breath catches as I finally glimpse at his face.

His eyes were a deep green, there was a scowl on his face but even then it was undeniable how handsome he is.

Oh, who am I kidding? He's effin HOT!

I let out a giddy laugh. I mean, it was more than just the fact that he was hot that made him beautiful. But it was definitely a plus to know the guy you were talking to for months (sometimes almost flirting) wasn't some sleezy old guy.

I can't help but smile as I remember the adorable pout on his lips from that picture, no doubt angry at Josh and Rebecca for interrupting our phone call.

"I'm taking that as a yes," Riley says, defeated.

I blush slightly and sigh, "But I'll still go to prom with you, if you still want to."

I promised Heath a prom picture, and I'm going to get one.

Especially because I think I have a crush on my captain.

Oh my, I really, really like Heath.

"I'd like that," Riley smiles slightly as we get to class, "Pick you up at 5?"

I nod and smile.

"Five."