The Soldier's Roommate

Chapter 32: For the rest of my life.

Alice

I have a wonderful time with Jake and Finn the next day.

My brother shows me around campus, and when Finn has to get to work, Jake and I decide to visit the carnival by the pier. It's one of the things we did as often as we could when Jake was still rather young. We didn't really have the money, but it didn't cost to just stand there, watching the sparkling lights and getting ideas from the games they offer. One day we built a bow and arrow from some string and sticks, and I grabbed some empty soda bottles from the side of the road for him to shoot at.

He was so ecstatic back then, I still remember how he kept practicing with that bow and arrow that definitely were not made to shoot at anything. But he loved it. Jake was always so easily pleased, he never really complained about the fact that we didn't have enough money to let him go to class trips, to buy him the new phones or clothes everyone else was having... He just understood.

"This is not as cool as our version," Jake says, referring to the throwing-can booth at the carnival, and I can't help but laugh as I watch him hit anything but the cans.

"It isn't! It's much cooler to throw stones at a tree to get enough chestnuts for our weird Halloween costumes."

"Right?" He laughs, and after throwing - and missing - one more time we make our way back to the dorm, telling each other about all the things we missed over the past weeks.

"So, you live with him now? And you stay there?" Jake asks, hooking his arm around my own as we wander the streets.

"Yeah. I don't want to live anywhere else. Wouldn't really make sense to move out again..." I can't help but sigh, just talking about him makes me miss Elijah so much that it hurts. I really didn't think it'd be this bad.

"Damn, you're really in love, aren't you?"

"Yeah, yeah I am. It's a weird feeling." I chuckle, eliciting a laugh from Jake's throat as he just shakes his head. "Well, I mean, it's amazing, but still. It's so foreign."

"I know what you mean," he says with a nod of his head, and I feel that he really does. I have a feeling that this thing with Finn might be more than he lets on, or maybe even knows.

But it's all part of the ride, isn't it? Figuring this stuff out, learning how to be with someone... I talked to Finn earlier, and even though I gave him my big-sister-speech, he confidently assured me his intentions with my brother are pure. And I believed him, for some reason. He seems like a good guy.

"Thank you." Jake suddenly pulls me into his arms when we get back to his room, his familiar but now a bit stronger arms tightening around me. "I mean it, Liss. Thank you for everything... I don't know where I'd be without you."

"Oh, Jake..." We just hold our embrace for a way too long moment, and I have to swallow the lump in my throat from all the love I feel right now. "I couldn't have asked for a better little brother in crime," I quip as I pull back, ruffling his hair with a grin, trying to suppress this fresh wave of emotions.

"God, could you imagine? The two of us robbing a bank or something?" He laughs, mimicking a gun with his fingers. I can't help but laugh right with him, the image of my super sweet and kind baby brother trying to rob a bank just doesn't work. Like at all.

"Yeah, no. That sounds like an awful idea."

"That's probably because it is. Maybe Elijah could do the hard work, he looks like someone they'd give their money to voluntarily. He probably would only have to ask politely."

We both fall into a fit of laughter now, knowing that he's probably right in that aspect as well. To anyone who doesn't know him, Elijah looks like a very rude but charming asshole. Well, I mean, that's what I thought of him in the beginning, so...