I stand in front of my 'home'.
So much more different than the apartment I lived in with my best friend Luke in California. He is a fellow comrade that is leaving me to go on a humanitarian mission with the rest of the section.
With a sigh, I pull my suitcase up the long grey drive with my heavy bergen slung over my shoulder.
"Eden?" A voice asks and I turn to see a middle aged woman, standing with a watering can in her right hand.
Who I do not recognise.
"Um hello" I say but comes out more as a question
"It's me Jane, your neighbour" she says and i nod with recognition
Yes.
Jane with the gorgeous children.
Honestly her son... wow.
Like god hand crafted him, himself.
I mean the last time I've seen her kids was... well I was sixteen.
My hormones were everywhere, luckily I'm more controlled now.
I don't even remember her sons name, we didn't talk though. I didn't really talk to many people in school.
"Ah yes, I remember. How are you?" I ask her
"I'm good, it's nice to see your back from living with your dad" she says
"My dad?" I ask
"Yeah, that's where your been all of these years" she says
What?
"Sorry? No I've been in the ar-"
"Eden!" My mom says happily rushing out of the front door and she ushers me inside
"Mom why do they think I've been living with dad?" I ask her
"Because I never got round to tell them that my daughter had joined the army because... well I didn't actually think you'd get in" she says and i gape at her
"Your kidding right? I didn't get this medal for nothing!" I say outaged
"Oh I know! I'm so proud by the way!" She says with a big smile on her face
My mom.... well she's.... she's a nut case.
Absolutely fucking mental.
But I love her.
"Umm a lot of things have happened since you've been gone" she tells me and I scoff
"Like what?" I ask her
"I got married" she says
"You what?" I shriek
"His name is Oliver. He's a lawyer, he has a daughter your age and a son and another son... they are triplets" she tells me
"Dear lord" I mumble
"Where's my siblings?" I ask, "you know the cute four year old I remember and the grumpy going into puberty thirteen year old?"
"Well Casey, shes seven now and Zac... he's a complicated sixteen year old boy" she tells me and i nod
"Great" i say sarcastically
"Look I know I'm just loading this onto you but I'm glad your back" she tells me
I'm not.
I love my family but when it gets too chaotic it stresses me out and my family isn't the easiest to deal with.
"I still have my room right?" I ask her and she nods
I was going to get an apartment here but my mom insisted on me living with them.
"Of course... I'm not a monster" she says
"Wouldn't be too sure of that" I mumble
"I heard that and your starting school tomorrow" she tells me
"But it's tuesday" i say
"And?" She asks me
"It's the middle of the week" I say
"And?"
"Fine" i grit out and the front door bursts open to reveal my siblings.
"Eden!" Casey screams running up to me and hugging me and I hug her back
"Hey Casey" i say
"I'm so glad your back!" She beams and I smile back at her before standing up and I look at Zac.
He has a look of shock and horror but a slight tingle of happiness.
"Are you actually here?" He asks me and I laugh
"Like are you really here because I've dreamt about you coming home before but it's never been true, smack me? Am I dreaming?" He asks me
"Are you sure?" I ask him
"Smack me" he says
"I'm not going to-" I interrupt myself by slapping him
"I thought I'd add the element of surprise" I tell him
"Your back!" He cheers hugging me and I hug him back.
"You've grown" I say as he towers over my 5'6 body.
"6'2" he says and I glare at him
"So not fair" I say and he laughs
"So what's the deal? Does the step family people Well I've never met before know about me in the army? Or have you kept it a secret?" I ask my mom and she smiles sheepishly at me
"They know, but we don't talk about the army until it's brought up" my mom tells me
"And why is that?" I ask
"Because when they took you hostage I thought I was going to lose you. They never rung me back, I didn't know if you were alive or not. I just got you back and I don't like talking about how my daughter has almost died on numerous occasions" she tells me
"Right..." i say with my voice trailing off.
"So... how about I help you bring your stuff upstairs?" Zac asks me
"It's fine, I've got it" i say
"I know, but I want to" he says and i nod
"Good luck carrying it" i say before walking upstairs
"What the fuck had you got in here!" He wails from the bottom of the stairs
"Boots, uniforms for all weathers, civilian clothes, helmets, bullet proof vests... the list goes on" i say watching him grunt as he shoves the suitcase up, step by step.
When he reaches to the top I pick the suitcase up one handed and carry it into my room.
"Fuck! How are you doing that!" He wails and I laugh as he follows me
"So what's with the new family? They good?" I ask him
"Decent, they all seem nice. Not done anything to piss me off yet" he says and I laugh
"I better let you unpack, dinner is usually at six" he tells me and I nod
"Okay"
I sigh turning around and start to unpack my things.
YOU ARE READING
Last Duty
ActionEden Martinez. Much more than your ordinary eighteen year old girl. At the end of her sophomore year she dropped out of college to join the army, and it was the best decision of her life. Yes it meant that she had to mature quickly, yes that meant...
