Just Your Average Military Girl (Chapter 4) Part 1

Chapter 4. Part 1.
I turned the doorknob and slowly opened it.
"OH MY GOD! YOUR DATING WES!" Frankie screamed.
"Do you understand how hot he is? Every girl here swoons over him!" Lo yelled. I had to take a step back from all the yelling.
"I can’t believe you have been here one day and already kissed the hottest guy. I’ve been living here my whole life and I’ve had like one kiss." Frankie said.
"You have to tell me your secret? How did you get Wes?" Lo said.
"I don’t know why you want to know Lo, it’s not like he is your type."
"Just because I am a little emo doesn’t mean I have to stick to one type of guy. But seriously Aurora how did you do it?"
"I…um…ran…into him."
"We know that but how did you meet?"
"That is how met. I was running along the beach and I ran into him."
They were looking at me as though I was crazy and it did actually sound a bit crazy.
"Now, now girls would you leave the poor girl alone. Come on Aurora, I need some help making dinner." Genève said as she walked over to me. She grabbed my hand and led me past the two gawking girls. I went into the kitchen and found Marshall sitting on the counter with a very bland expression plastered on his face.
"What can I do to help?" I said, tearing my eyes away from Marshall’s.
"Can you start cutting up the vegetables for the salad?"
"Sure." I walked around the island until my back was to Marshall, but I could still feel his eyes boring into me. I began cutting up the tomatoes. I had an uneasy feeling and every few seconds my eyes would flick in the direction of Marshall, even though I couldn’t really see him.
"Ow." I said. I looked down and realised I cut myself. It was a little slice, nothing bad.
"Oh no! I’ll just go and get a bandaid." Genève said as she rushed out of the kitchen. I knew the drill to having cuts; I have to keep it clean and dry. I turned around and came face to face with Marshall.
"Let me see." He barely whispered. He grabbed my hand and lifted it up, to examine it. I unconsciously closed my three fingers down so that I was now holding Marshall’s hand. He looked up and stared at me, as I did the same.
"There is one in this bag somewhere." I heard Genève call. I instantly pulled my hand away and moved around him to the sink. I turned the tape on and cleaned it.
"Ah, here it is." Genève said. She walked around the island and gave me a tissue to dry it, then handed me a bandaid.
"Thank you." I said and she smiled a little.
"So tomorrow night…" She said nudging me a bit.
"What about it?" I asked. She rolled her eyes at me.
"Well since we are having a dinner I was wondering if you would like to invite Wes."
"Oh…um, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea."
"Well why not?" She had a little pouty expression.
"Um, I don’t really know him that well and I just met him today."
"I’m sure he would love to come."
"Mom I really don’t think we should invite Wes and obviously Aurora doesn’t want him to come." Marshall chimed. He was now sitting on the opposite bench.
"I never said I didn’t want him to come." I retorted.
"Well that’s how it sounded."
"Well that’s not what I meant." I said imitating him.
"Fine then it’s settled. Wes will be joining us." Genève said.
"Okay fine if you want to bring a date then I will to."
"Well, who would you like to bring?"
"Krista." Marshall said. I realised then that that was Marshall’s ex-girlfriend.
"I don’t think that is a good idea Marshall and besides I don’t have any room."
"Well I will make some." He said as he jumped of the bench and continued out the back door. Fine, if that’s how he wants to play it, then lets play.
"Genève?"
"Yes sweetie."
"What does Krista look like?"
"Oh, ah…do you remember that girl that Marshall was with when we showed you to your room?" I saw her blush a little.
"That was her?" I asked, in a little disbelief.
"Yep, that was Krista. She is actually a really nice girl, very sweet. How she dumped Wes I will never know. Especially with everything going on with Wes, at home."
"What do you mean?" I looked over at her and she was biting her lip.
"I really shouldn’t have said that. It’s not my place to tell. I’m sure when Wes is ready to tell you, he will." She went back to cooking dinner and so did I. I’m not one to medal in people lives or even gossip since my life isn’t exactly picture perfect. And besides she was right, if Wes wants to tell me he would. I guess it won’t be for a while though since I only met him today.

**********
I’m lying here. Not doing anything, just…lying. I know I should get up and go running like I have been doing for the past five years but I couldn’t move. Everything that happened last night just kept on replaying over and over again.

We were all eating dinner, the family was talking loudly and it actually felt kind of nice, being surrounded and yet being able to go into my own thoughts from time to time as well as starting up conversation. Every so often though I would find myself looking at Marshall who was always staring at me. After about the fifth look, I didn’t flinch away or turn my head in the opposite direction. I just stared at him and everything just died away. The noise, the people…everything, until there was just him and I.

"Yep haven’t fallen for his charms at all." Rodger whispered snapping me back to reality.
"I have not." I hissed at him.
"Mm, hm."

I finished my meal and everyone either went to their rooms or went to watch television.
"I’m going to go for a walk." I said to Genève.
"Okay sweetie but don’t be too long."
"I won’t."
"I think I will go with her." Marshall said.
"It’s okay you don’t have to do that."
"I want to." He smiled at me and I couldn’t help but feel really guilty. Wes kept jumping into my mind.
"Fine." I said to him and walked out the back door, down the stairs and towards the beach. It was once again a perfect night. The beach cool, yet warm and the moon provided enough light to see where you’re walking. I closed my eyes and started to walk towards the ocean.
"Why do you like Wes?" He whispered in my ear. I flinched. I didn’t even hear him walk up to me.
"That’s none of your business and besides I don’t like him."
"You don’t like him?"
"No I meant I do like him, I just don’t-"
"Know him?" The corners of his lips tugged a little and I knew he was enjoying this. I hate him so much!
"What is it to you anyway? What blonde bimbos aren’t your thing anymore?"
His lips went into a hard line, something he always did when he was irritated.
"She isn’t a bimbo and so what if she is blonde?"
"I’ll tell you what I won’t judge you if you don’t judge me. Deal?" I walked faster, to get away from him.
"I never judged you on your choice I just simple asked a question, that’s all."
"Well, it’s still none of your business."
"Considering your practically family now I would say that yes it is my business."
"Oh why don’t you go find a girl to suck face with and leave me alone." He grabbed my arm and pulled me into him.
"Tell me why?" His eyes looked so serious and it scared me a little. Not because he was scary but because he was so…protective.
"Because he is the first person to make me feel normal. Happy?" I looked away from him and out towards the ocean.
"No." He murmured then turned and walked away. What did he mean by no? I turned back in the direction I was heading and continued my walk.
*********
Why was Marshall doing this to me? I don’t even know why I’m asking that question. So with out any answers to any of my questions I continued to stare and the ceiling. The plain, white ceiling, like me I guess, just simple…on the outside anyway. I turn my head to check the time. 5 o’clock. I know I should get up and go for a run but I just can’t. The only feeling coursing through me at this exact point is nerves. I never feel nervous, like ever but in this case, considering I am entering uncharted territory, I feel like I might puke. How am I going to ask Wes to dinner? When a) I only just met him and b) his ex girlfriend is going to be there. Now I don’t exactly know what situations are like with ex girlfriends because I have never seen nor been one but Charles did manage to sneak me to a movie that showed this exact position I am in and well…it didn’t turn out so great. I pulled my MP3 off the nightstand and plugged them securely in my ears. I played ‘Koop Island Blues’ by Koop. It was one of my favourites. I closed my eyes and found myself escaping into a dream, my favourite one. It’s the dream where I escape.
****
"Aurora?" I heard someone whisper, along with someone nudging me. "It’s time to get up."
My eyes opened and I saw Wes. He had a small smile on his face. I looked down and saw, to my horror that my blankets were sprawled onto the ground displaying my black boy-leg shorts (basically underwear) and my old, grey shirt that was too big and had holes in it, also pushed halfway up my body. My hair had somehow managed to escape from the hair tie and was everywhere. For the first time in a long time a big, bright blush spread across my face and I quickly grabbed the blankets and through them over myself. I brought my knees to my chest and buried my face there. Wes chuckled.

"Don’t worry I didn’t see anything." He flashed me a smile that made my heart pick up pace a little.
"You saw everything." I said in a small voice.
"Okay I saw everything but its not like you snore or drool in your sleep so honestly nothing to be embarrassed about."
"What are you doing here?"
"Well you do have to start work at nine sharp and it is eight fifteen. So if I were you I would attempt to get ready in five minutes because when it comes to Emily her nine sharp is really eight thirty."
I looked at the clock astounded. How could I have slept in till eight fifteen? I have only been here three days and already this place is screwing with me. I looked at Wes, who looked like he was studying me.
"Um, Wes?"
"Yeah?"
"Could you…" I gestured my hand towards the door.
"Oh right. Sorry. I’ll be in the house."
I gave him a small smile. He got up and walked out briskly, once he shut the door I quickly through the blanket back and ran to the dresser. I grabbed a pair of jeans and my dark grey, short-sleeved shirt. I got into the shower and quickly washed then got dressed. I looked at the clock and it said twenty past. I grabbed my white chucks and quickly put them on and I was ready for the day. Oh I almost forgot. Before I can be truly ready, I needed my necklace. It was lying next to the nightstand; I gently took it and put it on. There now I was ready.

"Hey you ready to go?" I asked Wes as I walked through the door.
"Wow, you only took five minutes."
"Well you said that I had to be five minutes."
"Yeah but you’re the first girl I have actually met that did it."
I rolled my eyes.
"Come on lets go." I said as I pushed him toward the door.
"Oh Aurora, I’m glad I caught you…Where are you going?" Genève said. She was just coming down the stairs. No one was up yet.
"Oh did I forget to tell you? I have a job." I swear I saw her eyes bulge out of her head.
"Your kidding right?"
"No she does have a job, with Emily at the jewellery store." Wes said.
"Wait your working for Emily, as in constantly nervous, Emily."
"Yep. I thought I was really going to have to battle her to give Aurora the job but apparently not." He turned his head slightly and winked at me. "Yeah, so, we better be going." He continued.
"But wait have you had breakfast yet?"
"Not yet but I will have something when I’m there. Promise."
"Well make sure you do. You know what they say breakfast is the most important meal of the day."
"I know, I know. See you later."

I grabbed Wes’s hand and pulled him towards the door. It was twenty-five past. I cannot be late for this. Wes and I got into the car and we rode in silence, a comfortable silence but it was still silence. We got to the car park and there was only one car in sight. Emily’s. I knew that because she was stacking boxes on top of each other and giving them to Marc. Who was happy to take them.
"Ah Wes?"
"Yep."
"What time does the mall open?"
"Well technically it opens at nine-forty five but Emily likes to organise , and then re-organise everything."
"Nine forty-five?"
"Yeah, sorry."
"Lets just go okay."
We both hopped out of the car and walked towards the two.

"You know Em if you keep on circling me I will actually drop the boxes."
"I’m just trying to be cautious."
"I know sweetie but you don’t need to worry about me. I’m strong." Even as he said it I could see his arms shaking a little. Considering he had about seven large plastic boxes.
"I’m not worried about you, I’m worried about my jewellery."
The smile that was on Marc’s faced dropped.
"Kidding." She said. I smiled a little. They were a very cute couple.
"Hey guys." Wes called out.
"Oh good. Your right on time." Huh, Wes was right.
"Alright well I better go." Wes said.
"What? You’re leaving now?" I felt a little sting in my heart. I met this guy yesterday and somehow I feel for him. This place is screwing up my mind.
"Yeah I have work. But I will pick you up when you finish, I promise."
"You don’t have to do that. I’m capable of walking home."
"I know but this way I get to see you." He gave me a warming smile that made my heart flutter then left. I watched his car drive off and it made me feel a little sad.
"Aurora can you help with the boxes please?" Emily asked.
"Sure." I walked up to the eight boxes she was pointing to and staked them one on top of the other.
"Aurora you don’t have to take them all." I could hear the quiver in her voice. She really does get nervous easily.
"It’s fine. I’ve lifted more then these before." A lot more. I picked up the eight boxes and continued to walk across the parking lot.
"Really Aurora you don’t have to take all of them. At least let me take one or two."
"Emily I have them. Look my arms aren’t shaking and I’m not holding my breath. Just…trust me. Okay?" I saw a little sadness cross through her eyes. She nodded her head and took a step back, her head hanging down. Then I realised what I had just said. Someone like this doesn’t trust often, I really hope I didn’t offend her.

I walked to the shop quickly and placed them in the storage room as told by Marc. Emily was on my heels the whole way. I could hear her taking deep breathes and it made me worry a little. Not about her but whether I would drop these boxes. Her nervousness seems to be contagious.
She then continued to give me a speech, which she wrote out on palm cards, about the shop. What time it opens and closes, what happens in the event of a tsunami, or a earthquake, hell she even had a plan in case of a volcano eruption even though there are no volcano’s on or near a thousand mile radius of the island. But I didn’t judge. This was her own shop, I guess her own flesh and blood. I just wish someone cared for me the way she cared for this shop.

"So what do we do now?" I asked.
"Well I’m going to unpack the jewellery and you can…ah…dust. Yeah dust. The cases are looking pretty dirty."
"Okay." I pulled the duster out from behind the counter and dusted the spotless cases but none the less I did it anyway. Marc put on the music and I slowly drifted off into another world.
"OH MY GOD!" Emily screamed.
"What happened Em? What’s the matter?" Marc said.
"I left the necklaces at home. I spent all night on them and now I forgot them! How could I do this."
"Em sweetie, calm down. I’ll just go home and get them. It’s a fifteen minute drive and we have forty five minutes."
"No I’ll go, I know where they are."
"Ah…I don’t think that is such a good idea. You know how you get when you drive-"
"Marc if you don’t give me those keys I swear to god I’ll-"
"Okay here." He said quickly and handed her the keys. She walked out of the door then quickly stopped and turned to face us, well more me actually.
"I don’t think that leaving would be-"
"Emily just go, I have it." Marc said, then sighed. Emily reluctantly turned and walked towards the door, stopping to look back every now and then, until she was finally gone.

"Sorry about that, she doesn’t trust people easily. I wouldn’t take it personally." Marc sighed.
"I don’t, actually I know what it’s like to be so reluctant to trust."
"Right." He looked at me oddly, as if studying me then looked away. It was quiet, an oddly comfortable silence, but I decided to break it.
"Are you really a military kid?" I asked.
"Yep, born and raised." He gave me a goofy, proud smile.
"Huh."
"What?"
"Nothing, I just…well you don’t seem like the type."
"What was your family like then?"
"Complicated."
"I’m pretty smart you know."
"Yeah I heard. Sorry about not recognising you. I’m not really into computers or instant chat."
"That’s cool. It was kind of nice actually. I’m so used to people calling me the IM guy."
"Oh right." I shook my head a little and went back to work.
"So are you going to tell me?" He said after a while. I really thought he would have forgotten that. Damn. I sighed.
"I grew up in a four am start, no communication, do something wrong run an extra mile house."
"Oh. I had a few friends like that. I’m sorry."
"It wasn’t your fault. What was your house like?"
"My dad was a complete family man. He was the fun loving dad that always played with you when he could and answered questions to things that he sometimes didn’t know about. I guess you would have to be like that if you had a family of twelve."
"Tw-twelve? Seriously?" He laughed at that.
"Yeah, I’m the eighth."
"Wow. That’s a big number."
"Yeah well my parents did kind of grow up in the old era."
I laughed at that.
"That’s quiet disturbing."
"Well at least you didn’t have to hear the stories of how we were conceived."
I laughed. "Gross."
"Highly. I was supposedly conceived on the back of an old green Chevy truck."
"Hm." Was all I said. This conversation was turning into a weird one.
"Oh none taken. I told Emily that once, and I might add that she owned a red Chevy, and well she basically burned it."
"I see the way you look at her. You really love her don’t you?"
He smiled, more for himself.
"More than my own life. It’s quite an odd feeling, to want to be with someone constantly, and feeling like they’re your only source of breath. I didn’t take a second look at her the first time I saw her, she was sitting at a stool on the bar, head down drawing something with a mug of coffee in her hand. I remember going up to the bar to get drinks for my friends, we were celebrating about the site, and I saw this girl who looked so…fragile and yet so strong. It was odd. I asked her why she was drinking coffee at a bar and she said that alcohol makes her feel out of control. ‘But why are you at a bar?’ I asked her again. She said, ‘A bar offers more things then just alcohol and besides I am looking for inspiration so if you don’t mind shutting up I could maybe find some’. Then she went back to her sketchbook. I found it so peculiar and so intriguing. I sat down next to her and we talked. You have no idea how long it took me to gain her trust but I did it."
"Sounds like a fairytale." I said just wanting to say something.
"Believe me it was far from it. Emily is hard work but I don’t mind it."
*******
The rest of the day went pretty slow. Emily would give me task like re-arranging the necklaces, or bracelets in the cases, which I did to exact specifications but she would always go and change them back to how they were. I sold jewellery as well to some younger girls, which was a bonus but I do have to admit I only edged them to buy it because Emily kept nudging me in the back. The majority of the day though I just dusted.

"Okay Aurora, you can go now. You did…well." Emily said not really looking at me. Marc put his hand around her waist and kissed her forehead.
"Thanks Emily. I’ll see you tomorrow then?"
"No. You don’t have to come in tomorrow." I frowned, I thought I did well. "But the day after that though. Nine o’clock?" She said, she must have noticed my frown.
"Sounds perfect."
She gave me a small smile then went back to her books that were on the counter.
"See you later Marc." I gave him a small smile.
"See you, Aurora." He waved.

I walked towards the entrance and the automatic doors whooshed open, letting the hot, sea smell, slam into me. I smiled a little, the warm is so much better then the cold. It seems…safer. I walked through the car park and headed down the road. Then I suddenly hear a BEEP! BEEP! I whoosh around and see a black SUV heading towards me. It stopped to the side of me, and the window rolled down.

"What are you doing? I told you I would pick you up." Wes said. I smile at little at his concerned face.
"Right, sorry I forgot."
"Quickly get in." I hoped into the monster car. It went suddenly quiet.
"Hey, um…tonight the family is having this stupid dinner for Julie’s boyfriend and Genève asked me to ask you, if you wanted to come that is." I said it all in a rush; I guess I was just ripping the band-aid off.
"Oh. Tonight?"
"Yeah, ah you don’t have to come if you don’t want to. I’m sure it will be boring anyway. Just forgot I asked." I looked out the side window to hide my humiliation.
"No, tonight sounds fine." I looked over at him and he was smiling at me. I smiled back. He pulled into the drive way and I had a sudden sense of déjà vu. But this time he wasn’t going to be the one to lean in. I turned to him and leaned in slightly. I felt his lips brush mine so I pressed against them. I broke the kiss with a smile spreading across my face.
"Thank you." He said chuckling.
I laughed. "Your welcome. See you later then?"
"Absolutely." I pecked his lips then got out of the car. I heard his car pull away and I smiled even bigger.

I walked into the house. I can hear banging and things smashing as well as people cursing. I walked into the kitchen and everyone running around. Well more or less Genève. She was trying to cook and pull the bowl that looked wielded onto Spud’s head. Julie was there attempting to cut the vegetables up for the salad and the others were trying to help with the other small things, like setting up the dinner table.

"Need some help?" I asked as I walked into the kitchen.
"Without a doubt." Genève said. I walked over to Spud.
"Don’t worry, I’ve got this."
"Thank you." She went back to cooking.
"How are you doing little fella?" I asked while pulling Spud out of the kitchen and sat him on one of the dinning room chairs.
"Never better." It came out muffled because of the bowl. I laughed a little.
"Well lets get this thing off you shall we."
I slowly and as gently as I could, tugged on the bowl. PLOP! And the bowl was finally off his head. He ran back into the kitchen and I followed.
"Now, now Spud what have I told you about manners?"
"Oh right." He turned to face me, "thank you Aurora."
"Your welcome Spud."
"Oh I don’t know what I’m doing! Mom how do you cut capsicum?" Julie whined.
"Don’t worry Julie, I’ve got it."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You go get ready."
"Oh thanks Aurora, I owe you big time!" She kissed me on the cheek and ran up the stairs.
I began where she left off, by cutting the capsicum for the salad. There were many different vegetables here that I didn’t actually now would go good together but I am not one to judge Genève’s cooking. From my experience it is the best, especially her desserts.
"I still think your wrong. Your a lot like her, some people would say that you both were almost the same."
For once I didn’t want to say otherwise. For once I wanted to just accept it.
"Thank you." She smiled at me.
"Your welcome my dear." We went back to cooking.
********

DING! DONG! The bell chimed.