Another Love Another time

River

One week ago...

"Honey, can you give it another week? It's only been a week since...well I feel like you are making a rash decision", my dad pleads. "I have thought about this, and this is what I want to do, you know I can graduate early. I had all my credits back in December. I was only staying so I could walk and go to prom, now I don't care about either. And I have changed my mind about school. I have to get away dad, please understand" I defend.

"Is this about Auggie, did he do something?" "No this has nothing to do with Auggie, I just feel like this is what I need to do for me." I respond. "River this is a big commitment, if you don't like it, you can't just come home." Looking at me with a stern look. I sigh, "look I know what the commitment is, and I'm hurt that you would even question my commitment, I'm not a quitter."

"It's just this is the first I'm hearing of it, and I just thought you would go to college. What changed? I mean you have a full ride going to the best college in the state." with concern in his tone. "I don't know how to explain it, I just feel like this is what I need to do for me right now, if it's not the right choice I know I'm going to have to live with it, but it's not going to stop me" I say. "Have you talked to Auggie about it?" I shake my head, "No" I almost whisper. "What happened River? You and Auggie are best friends. I know something happened, why won't you tell us?" I don't respond to him. Auggie didn't do anything and that is the problem. He was the one that was always supposed to protect me and when I needed him the most, he was sucking face with my cousin. He knows how I feel about her, he has seen the crap she has done over the years, how could he do that to me? He was supposed to be waiting on me outside of the bathroom. If he would have been there, I would have never been attacked. I can't be there and go to the same college while he is with her. That must have been what he wanted to tell me. I just can't, I always thought that once we were at the same location, we could finally be together. I thought that's what he wanted to, but it turns out Auggie changed his mind. I know in reality that I can't blame Auggie. He's not the one who attacked me. Auggie just shattered my heart into a million fucking pieces, but that's on me. I just don't know how to forgive him. I thought he loved me, but he chose Melissa. The one person he knew if he messed with, I could never forgive him, but that doesn't mean I want my parents treating him any differently.

"Dad, Auggie has nothing to do with this, it's just with everything that happened I feel like I need to do this next thing by myself. I can't see or talk to Auggie, or he might talk me out of it. I don't want to be around him at all. If you say something to him, I'll leave sooner, and I won't talk to you before I leave. I also don't want him at my graduation. I mean it, I see him, and I turn around and none of you will see me. Got it?" I give him a stern look back. He sighs and rubs his hands down his face. "I feel like you are running away, I hate what happened to you, but in the same breath I'm so damn proud of you. You fought the son of a bitch. He didn't get the best of you, remember that. You are a fighter. Just promise me two things baby girl?" "What dad?", I look him in the eyes.

"One you are walking for your high school graduation. Do not deny that of me and your mother. Second, you go to school while you are in the Army. Take full advantage of the free schooling they provide, then when you get out of the army you will be debt free."

"Okay"

"You promise?"

"I promise"

"Then I'll support whatever decision you make. You're eighteen now you get to make those decisions. You know I'll be there at your graduation. Show them those snipers' skills your dad taught you." He winks at me. "So, you leave on Sunday?" I nod my head to reflect yes. So, we only have a few more days with you. Let's make the most out of it."

We've been standing in the dark for over an hour in the same formation that the drill sergeant put us in. It's currently eleven at night. They said someone would be by to pick us up shortly, I'm pretty sure that was two hours ago. My legs are getting tired. I have a feeling this is part of the mind games my dad talked about. Before he dropped me off at the airport, he told me to act indifferent on everything. Don't let them see you when you're getting tired. Don't let them see when something bothers you. Standing here, I have a feeling that's going to be easier said than done. Some of the other soldiers are dropping like flies. I didn't get much sleep last night, nervous about what today would bring. I still have bruises around my eye. A few people have asked about it, I just tell them I got into a fight. Which is the truth. No one needs to know that I was almost raped. I close my eyes and take a deep breath and take in the night air. It smells like dirt and freshly cut grass my mind drifts to Auggie. To one of the last times, we hung out. We were laying on his trampoline while his dad was cutting grass. We had all decided that we were going to Mizzou. We just sat there and talked all afternoon about everything we were going to do when we got to college. We laid there not touching except for our pinkies intertwined. Sometimes we would run out of things to say, and we would just lay on our backs and look up at the sky. I wish I had told him that day that I was ready. Maybe all of this could have been avoided instead, I feel this huge void in my chest. I can't believe he chose Melissa over me.

I'm brought out of my daydream when I hear feet approaching. Some of the people that had sat down hopped up quickly and then I start to hear yelling from the drill sergeants. I guess we're on the move now.

~~

We are in the second week of basic training, and I've gotten the hang of the routine. I'm getting along with my assigned battle buddy. I tried to stay under the radar with the drill sergeants, but when you come in with bruising around your eyes, well they zero in on that. I'm sure all of us have a story, I just wore mine on my face. The drill sergeants would joke around, and tease be about it assuming I was a fighter. I think they expected me to be a troublemaker. We were sitting down eating lunch and one of the drill sergeants came over and sat down. My battle buddy was sitting next to me. No one had really came out and asked me yet about it and so when the drill sergeant straight up asked me about it that day I didn't see any reason to lie to him. He picked up his sandwich and before he put it in his mouth he asked, "So Graham what really happened to your face." I finished chewing and swallowed my food and I turned to him, "A guy was trying to rape me, and I made him work like hell for it. He failed and these", I point to my two yellowish circles left remaining, "are my rewards for winning." He finishes his sandwich off without blinking at me. He stands up, but before he turns to walk away, he looks me straight in the eyes and says, "Good for you Graham, good for you." I smile pleased with myself. My battle nudges me, "remind me not to fuck with you." We both start laughing and held her hand out for my trash. "Thanks battle."

I still missed Auggie, but in my bones I could feel I needed this. I needed this independence especially after the attack. I needed to be able to stand on my own. I relied too much on Auggie. There was still an ache in my chest from his absence. I hoped he was okay. I should have at least sent him a note, but we needed a clean break. I had to do what was right for me. And this was it. He had lied to me and that wasn't the Auggie I knew. I didn't know what was going on with him, but because he was hiding things from me, he put me in danger. I shook myself out of my thoughts when someone sits next to me. "Graham right" I look over to greet him. "Yes and you?" I had seen him around, but never paid attention to his name and it was currently shielded from being seen. "Ouch that hurts, you didn't even know my name?"

"Was I supposed to?" He arches brow and gives me a smirk that would probably melt the panties off most girls.

"So?"

"So what?" He laughs at me knowing what I'm asking.

"Are you going to tell me your name?"

"I guess if you really want to know." I roll my eyes just as he straightens his chest and frames his name on his chest with his hands the same time he speaks, "Baxter." We both laughed and I could tell Baxter was going to be an important person in my life.

I know this chapter is a short one. It may take me a few days to post the next couple chapters. I'm hoping to have those posted by Sunday. 

Thanks again for reading my story. Hope you are enjoying it.