~Author's Note: This is my first story. I do NOT own any of these characters besides Sarah, an OC I made especially for this story. Please R&R. Constructive criticism is appreciated! Thanks! ~Octo

I could feel the sun shining through the blinds, lighting up my face with sweet sunshine. I woke to a semi-peaceful sight; Jude and Lucy sprawled on top of the couch, Max was asleep on the floor, surrounded by empty beer bottles and cigarette butts. A female I didn't know was sitting next to him, stroking his hair out of his face. Her brown curls covered her eyes and her clothes were loose and simple. She was very pretty, I could tell. She looked up at me and stood up quickly. I wiped my dark black hair out of my face and sighed heavily. I looked at the girl and watched her closely as she opened the door and left in a rush. I had no idea what happened last night, and I had a major headache. Hangover? Most likely.

We stay in an apartment given to us by our friend, Sadie, who is on tour with her band. It was a decent size for a flat, but small, nonetheless. It had an out-of-date kitchen and a tiny dining room. A twin sized bed was in the far corner. The living room we were in didn't have much to it, a small two-seater couch and a small box t.v. Not much, but for a new place to stay, it was good enough for a bunch of hippie drinkers like us.

I slipped on a pair of pants and a shirt and went to the small full bathroom to comb my matted hair. My face was pale from the long night. I heard chatter coming from the living area. I walked back to see Jude and Lucy awake, talking on the couch.

"What are you going to do if they don't listen to your protest?"

"We'll keep at it until they listen. They need to realize that by forcing people to join the war, they are basically making people become uninterested and even more scared to join! Especially if they have to force people to go into it." Lucy responded, a tired yet concerned look came across her face. She looked up to see my watching intently. She smiled.

"I wondered where you went, Prudence. I was hoping you hadn't wandered off last night."

I smiled at her and sat down by them on the floor. I looked at her beautiful golden-blond locks. I was very jealous of her, I mean, how could a person not be? She was stunning. She was thin and beautiful with long wavy hair. She had a wonderful, and handsome boyfriend, Jude, and she was a successful activist. Jude was a dashing, very well built man. He had dark brown hair and the deepest of green eyes I had ever seen. He was a singer and could draw fairly well. I, on the other hand, had black, pin-straight hair and brown eyes. I was shy and quiet, yet outspoken. I didn't really have much to offer the world like what Lucy or Jude did. But I loved them like family anyways.

From out of the corner of my eye, I saw a figure sit up. Max, course. I have always had a fondness for him, but there was something not right about it.

"Hm, Sarah left? Oh well." He shrugged. He sat there and covered himself with a thin, old blanket. I never really understood him. His shaggy dirty blonde hair was covering his deep blue eyes. He had this quirkiness about him I liked. But the one major downside was this, he's a womanizer. I hated that about him.

I hadn't noticed that he was watching me as a drowned in my swarm of thoughts. I snapped out of it and our eyes met. I blushed and smiled. He smirked and left to get some cereal. Lucy finally broke the silence.

"Something came in the mail for you today, bro." She called out to Max.

"What is it this time?" He responded, his mouth full of sugary goodness.

"Um.." She started as she opened the letter. Her eyes scanned the printed black words, and they widened as she read. "They are calling you for the army."

I sat there in shock, Max placed his bowl on the counter, hard. He sighed. Jude took the letter from his upset Lucy. He read it and closed his eyes in grief.

"It says you need to leave by the 20th. So you have a month to come up with

something."

"Maybe I could say I'm homosexual or something? They wouldn't take me then."

"Or you could look like a drug addict. They definitely wouldn't take you." I joked. We all smiled at the joke and sat for a moment. Max stood up suddenly.

"Well, since Uncle Sam wants me, then hell, I should make the most of this month. Who wants a drink?" Max chuckled.