So this chapter is pretty much all flashback with the occasional move back to present time.
Tree Hill, North Carolina May 7th 1942
Eugene was a toned, blond haired, quiet seventeen year old who loved spending as much time in the library as the local basketball court. His brother Nathaniel was the opposite with dark black hair and the king of the school who preferred to be playing sports rather than doing schooling. They were accompanied by their two friends, Jacob Jagelski and Michael McFadden, as they had just left their last day of high school and were walking through downtown Tree Hill. The teens were on their way to the local recruiting station to join the cause and go fight Hitler over in Europe.
"So do you think they will allow us to join the same units together or do you think they will split us up?" Michael, a shorter brown haired kid with glasses and a penchant for radio announcers, asked as they continued down the street, looking at all the young kids trying to help with the war effort.
"Could not tell you mike, but I heard old coach Durham got the job as the local recruiter for the Tree Hill area. Maybe we could somehow convince him to get us in the same group of guys." Nathaniel answered as his thoughts began to drift toward what he would be doing in this new conflict.
Eugene on the other hand was thinking about what horrid actions may befall him and his friends. "Guys I think we should just try to find the best job that will allow us to survive the war, the news says that the Germans are a ferocious and well trained bunch." Eugene answered looking over at his friends as they all nodded their heads in agreement.
As they continued on their way down the road they saw a couple girls that they recognized, actually were really good friends with, walking down the road. One was a brunette with dark brown eyes and a shy smile, the other was also a brunette with brown eyes but her smile had the devil himself in it. These two lovely ladies were named Haley and Bonnie, the former being Nathaniel's girlfriend and the latter Eugene's.
The girls stopped at the window of an electronics store looking down at the two televisions showing the news. Nathaniel was the first to call out to them and began running across the street yelling, "Hales, Bonnie fancy seeing y'all downtown and not by the river."
Upon hearing their names being called both girls turned to see Nathaniel running in front, while the other three were bringing up the rear. "Nathaniel school just got out we got all summer to go down there." Haley answered him and shaking her head at him.
As the men all caught up to Nathaniel they caught what Haley had said and they all began to shake their heads. "We don't know how much longer we will be here Hales, didn't Eugene tell you we all agreed to enlist?" Nathaniel asked looking over his shoulder at his brother then back to his girl.
Haley on the other hand went from shocked to angry, looking past her boyfriend and at her best friend. "No he didn't seem to mention that on our last trip to the library. When did this great thought come to y'all's heads?" She asked giving all four a look that scared all the men.
"Well we're seventeen now and young and vital so it just seemed like something we should do...ya know for America." Eugene answered for the men knowing he was about to get the brunt of the backlash, both from Haley and from his girlfriend who was oddly quiet at the moment.
That quiet was shattered about five second after he answered Haley. The first thing was a loud crack filled the air as Eugene's head whipped to the side. "You didn't even tell me you were actually going to join up, all you said was you were thinking about it." Bonnie yelled with tears starting to form in her eyes.
"I know that we didn't fully discuss this, but I was going to tell you as soon as we met up later tonight. Besides this is something we all have to do." Eugene answered calmly, afraid to make her more angry.
She stared at him for several second before walking fast away from the group and down a side street. Eugene looked back at the group shook his head and took off after her. "Bonnie wait up I know you're upset, but can't we just talk about this." He yelled after her
She stopped and turned looking at him, with tears coming down her face. "Talk about this, you're seventeen you guys shouldn't be fighting you should be home safe...with me." She yelled then ended quietly as the anger left her and fear replaced it.
He pulled her into a hug and held her before saying, "We might as well join now or else we'll probably get drafted. Then we won't be able to stay together as a group."
"I just don't want y'all to die. I'd be heartbroken if anything happened to any of y'all, especially you Eugene." She mumbled into his chest.
Eugene pulls her away and looks her in the eyes before telling her, "I know baby, but either way I'm probably going to fight and I promise you that I'll make it back to you, all of us, I promise." She then threw herself back into his chest and nodded her head understanding his reason and his promise.
"Alright lets go back, they're probably worried about us." Bonnie said wiping away the last of the few stray tears that were left.
As they got to the end of the street they could hear their friends talking about something in excited voices. News on the radio was reporting on the naval battle in the Pacific. "Those marine and navy guys are crazy. I want my feet on the ground not in the water." Jacob responded to the news report.
"Well it's a good thing we are joining the army then isn't it." Nathaniel answered with a laugh.
"Well we should probably hurry to the recruiter then Eugene said as he rounded the corner, it's going to close soon" he added looking at his watch.
"Ok so you girls going to come with us or you going window shopping still" Nathaniel asked looking at Haley.
"Eh you boys go do your thing...just make sure to tell me everything when y'all get home got it." Haley answered with a smile.
With a few goodbyes the guys and girls parted ways. The men continued down the street until they saw the sign for the recruitment center.
"well boys this is it...are we ready?" Eugene asked looking over all three of their faces. The nod from each one was his signal to turn around and open the door to the unknown ahead.
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Lucas was starting to get lost in the words that the diary possessed. He couldn't put it down, and now he realized where he got the writing from. He was just about to read the next page when he heard a noise from below.
"Lucas I'm home, are you still up there? I'm sorry but I couldn't find a book for you at the store." Karen yelled from the kitchen.
At hearing her voice Lucas began to descend the ladder back to the ground floor. "Don't worry mom, I found a book upstairs that is really good." He answered and began to walk back towards her.
As he entered the kitchen he saw her prong away the groceries. "Well that's good, I didn't know there was a book up there that could interest you." She answered turning around to her son.
Lucas laughed at her comment before answering, "It's not really a book per say
but rather a diary. Your grandfathers diary actually. Have you read it?" As he asked her the question he could see some confusion in her eyes.
She shook her head and turned back to putting the groceries away, "No I can't say I have read it. In fact I'm pretty sure I just tossed all his stuff up there right before you were born. You didn't really leave me with a lot of time to read that kind of stuff."
He reached for a bottle of water, and then looked over at his mom, "So it's ok for me to keep on reading this then?"
Karen just gave him a nod before beginning to start making dinner. "Luke it's fine, in fact you and your great grandfather have a lot in common if I remember correctly. It might be a good way to get to know him or at least have an idea of who he was."
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Ok so a review or whatever you want to do I don't care. Also we should pick up a little through the next few chapter, and I'll probably only post like every week or so.