Mil SO (Military Significant Other)

7. How It All Happened

I think I spent every day with the guys from then on out for the next two weeks. We got a steady routine going. Heath and I would go to the cave at the beginning of our fourth period, I would eat my lunch in peace with Heath and Nash in the cave, and then we all would hang out at Heath’s house after school. I even had dinner over there with all of his siblings and Piper sometimes.

The bell rang and I went to my locker. I sighed and opened my locker to put my things inside. I could honestly say that for the first time since the accident, I could talk about it in passing without wincing, and I was happy. I didn’t forget them; I would never forget them. But it was getting easier.

“What are you thinking?” Heath asked me. We were in the man cave during lunch. It was just Heath and I for once. Nash had opted for eating with the others in the cafeteria this time.

“You know how when we first met, I told you how my family died?” I started. He hesitated before he nodded. “We were at the hospital on base to get a check up for the kids of our family, me included. Everything was going great. Anders, Emmett, and Willow… those are my, were, my brothers’ and sister’s name. It was like any other check up except this random… he wasn’t random. First Sergeant Matthews, he was being seen for PTSD at the ward at the time, and I guess he just, snapped.

He came out to the waiting room with a gun. We were held hostage for what felt like hours, and it wasn’t just my family. He shot 15 people that day, including my family.  Four doctors, my family, three civilians and three soldiers were shot. Right as he turned the gun on me, a sniper got him in the head. He still shot me; it just didn’t kill me. My parents were still holding hands when they died,” I said, getting lost in my own world.

I felt Heath squeeze my hand and looked at him. His other hand came up and brushed over my cheeks. I didn’t even realize that I was crying. I sighed and closed my eyes. Heath shifted me onto his lap and brushed my cheeks again.

“Thanks… for telling me. You really didn’t have to,” he said softly. I shook my head and looked at him.

“I wanted to,” I sniffled. His eyes flickered to my lips before they brushed against mine softly. I gasped as his lips connected fully with mine. I found my hands snaking up around his neck and I pulled him closer. His hand held my cheek and my hip as his mouth moved with mine. I pulled away and rested my forehead against his.

“Dude, you’ll never believe who’s back,” Nash burst into the room. Heath and I pulled away from each other just in time.

“What?” Heath said slightly irritated. Nash looked at him confused for a moment before he moved on.

“Your girlfriend is back in town,” Nash said. I felt like my heart stopped.