Array
(
[text] =>
Just a little chapter from Elliot hope you guys enjoy :o)
………………………………………………………………………………..
Elliot’s POV
I stepped down from the plane at Sunport airport the heat was intense but I noticed instantly that it was a different kind of heat to that in Afghanistan. It was cleaner here, less heavy. The air in afghan was very dry and sometimes it can be hard to breathe, I preferred it here but I mustn’t get too attached as I can’t stay for long.
Before heading home I have to check in at my local army base, I had to sign in and turn in my weapon for the week. I would become a civilian for the next seven days and it was against the rules to take your personal weapon off base.
The base was busy, in the distance I could see new recruits being trained for combat and I wondered if they were as naïve as what I was back then. I wonder if things had changed and recruits were actually given real information about what they would face once they were shipped out. I doubt it!
I walked along heading to the main office, I had already been booked in to be signed out and I didn’t want to miss my appointment. So I sped up and when I arrived I knocked on the door and walked straight in, sitting in front of me behind a large mahogany desk was a severe looking old woman.
Her expression didn’t change as I approached her, introduced myself and gave my reason for interrupting her work. She stood up walked to a safe, opened it and pulled out a safety box, then she moved back towards the desk with the box and put it in front of me. She then pulled out some forms and a pen and placed those in front of me too, all the while she glared at me with hard grey eyes.
“Put your weapon in that box and sign the forms to say how long you are away from your duty and when you will be back.” She said sharply.
“Yes ma’am.” I smiled.
I did as she requested and she snatched the box away from me, locked it and took it back to the safe. Then she took the forms, tutted at something on them and then filed them away in a cabinet behind her, this woman was certainly something.
“Have I made a mistake ma’am?” I asked confused by her reaction.
“You are off duty for a week?” She ignored my question.
“Yes, this is the first time I have been home properly in over three years.” I smiled, she didn’t return it.
“Time off makes you all soft, I disagree with it. You should all keep your head in the game but who am I to question the processes here?” She snapped.
“With all due respect ma’am I won’t forget where my duties lie, but I haven’t seen my mother properly in years. I have worked hard and I think I deserve to see her and the rest of my family.” I snapped back.
She ignored me and turned her back to me, clearly dismissing me so I snorted my disgust at her and left the room. Maybe she should try going to fight then she can make such comments about us getting seven measly days off! I was angry now and I needed to blow off some steam, I couldn’t go home like this as I knew my family would have arranged for all of our friends to be there so I didn’t want to seem ungrateful. If I went home like this I would be in no state to meet anyone, so I decided to go for a run around the base before I left.
Just after ten past six I was approached by an officer who would be giving me a lift home, I lived about forty five minutes away from the base. When we arrived I walked up to the front door and pulled out my keys to open it, taking a deep breath I turned the handle and stepped through the door smiling. My mother ran to me smiling and I picked her up and squeezed her in a tight hug, I love her so much and I have missed them all. It is so hard to be away from them but the army was something I had to do for myself and I don’t regret a minute of it.
My dad tried to be all manly about it and shook my hand but then he smiled and pulled me into a hug, as I pulled away I spotted my not-so-little baby brother and Domingo standing to the side. I motioned with my head for him to come over for a hug then I told Dom I would be giving him the big brother speech tomorrow and I was deadly serious, it was my right as Charlie’s brother.
I looked around and the one face I expected to be here wasn’t and I felt a little hurt, his letters were filled with promises of love and yet he was nowhere to be seen. As I was smiling at my brother chatting away, I looked up and there he was coming down the stairs. He had grown too, he had become more muscular and his face was covered in hair, he was beautiful yet he was a mess. When he looked at me I could see the pain in his eyes, his face looked sunken slightly and tears were gathering.
He gasped in shock and stumbled and my heart leapt as visions of him falling and crashing down the stairs entered my mind. Without hesitation I ran and caught him, the usual electric sparks ran from where my fingertips came into contact with him all the way up my arms and to my heart, kick starting it into a frenzied beat. I quickly put him down and moved away from him without a word, I could not afford to get more attached to him as I was going back in seven days.
Lucas had been writing to me these past years and with every letter he filled the empty space in my heart even more. Even though I never gave him anything positive he never stopped trying and I knew that he loved me very much. In any other circumstance he would have been the perfect guy for me but the army was full of risks and I would not put him through the fear of losing his boyfriend.
I followed my family into the kitchen and tried to socialise as much as possible even though I was fully aware that he had not followed, that he had disappeared upstairs. The food was delicious as always, and the company was amazing I noticed how well Theo and Alfie were getting on, it was a little suspicious but whatever was happening at least it kept Theo smiling.
People were talking to me and I told them about my job, as much as I was willing to share anyway but after a little while my mind just wasn’t in it. I couldn’t help thinking about Lucas so as soon as it wouldn’t be deemed rude I left the party and went to find him.
I walked to my bedroom knowing that’s where he would be and when I opened the door the sight was heart breaking, he was crying so hard. He noticed me come in and he tried to stop, I sat down beside him and begged him to stop crying as I could already feel my resolve breaking. The usual argument followed but I refused to change my mind even though I really wanted to, it wouldn’t be fair on him.
Charlie came in at one point, he must have been listening outside of the door and I didn’t want him to find out this way, especially when there was no chance of Lucas and I being together. He argued on Lucas’ side and his case was very convincing but I wouldn’t change my mind no matter what they said. Lucas needed to move on and meet someone that was close by not someone who lived in another country, he deserved better than me.
When Charlie left I could see Lucas was about to crumble again so I moved forward quickly and hugged him as tight as I possibly could. I kissed him over and over and rubbed his back to comfort him, I was trying to ready him for the rejection that he had probably guessed was coming.
“Lucas.” I said. “I won’t change my mind, I am sorry.”
“But!…” He tried.
“Lucas! I won’t change my mind but I do love you and if you decide that you want to wait I promise that if I come back I will make you mine?” I interrupted.
“I will…I will wait, I love you too Elliot.” He said. “You will come back ok!”
“I will.” I smiled.
Going back would be difficult this time, it would be hard because I was leaving him behind again but it would be easier because I know he will wait and that he will be mine when I return. I had to stop being morbid like Charlie said and I had to keep fighting to get home alive, if I did and he didn’t meet anyone else he would be the best welcome home present ever. I let him stay with me that night, we didn’t do anything but I lay with him wrapped in my arms and it was nice.
I put my feelings of how wrong it was to lead him on aside and I just enjoyed the moment with the man I loved.
[text_hash] => 16fc8487
)