Normal

...1897...

"Hi, what's your name?" I looked up from the sandbox at the girl. It was my first day in elementary school and I've been keeping to myself. Me, mommy, and daddy just moved here from...michigin. That's right, michigin, to here in New Yorke.

She was small, had brown hair in a tail pony, and a white dress on. "M-my name's Jacob." I said, mommy told me to try and make some friends at school, maybe she knows someone who'll be my friend!

She smiled bigly, "I'm Elizabeth. Nice to meet you." she said, holding her hand up like a grown up would.

I smiled and shook it, "You to Elizabeth." I said shaking it.

"Can I play with you?" she asked. Ew! Cooties!

"Do you have a cootie shot?" I asked. She thought for a moment, sticking her lower lip out. She nodded, "Well what are you waiting for silly! Come on and play!" I says, making her smile big and play with me.

…(7 years later)...

"Jacob you are a idiot." Elizabeth scolded me as she tended to my wounds. She dabbed a cloth in a thing of iodine, she pressed it to the cut on my cheek, making me hiss.

"Well, they deserved it." I said defiantly. Me and Elizabeth where walking home from school when some guys from one of her classes, they made some lewd gestures and some...suggestions that made her embarrassed and me very, very mad.

So I slugged the first one in his jaw, so he and his friends retaliated. All four of them plus the guy I slugged made for some uneven odds. Though miraculously I managed to fend them off to both my and Elizabeth's surprise.

Not without some cuts and scratches though. "Gah! Stinging!" I exclaimed as she pressed the rag to another cut on my cheek. We made it back to my house to find my mom and dad not home yet, thank god.

"Serves you right Jacob...but I'm surprised you actually know his to fight." she said smirking, she picked up a box of band aids and took some out of their box.

"And again, you hurt my pride. Besides those assholes deserved it." I muttered, making her smack my shoulder, "Ow! I'm starting to think you should have taken a whack at them." I said rubbing my shoulder.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes but smirked, "I could have kicked their buts." she said as she applied the band aid to the cut on my head, Elizabeth wet a small cloth toy cheek and rubbed the dry blood off.

"Elizabeth-

...3 years later...

-your dad is gonna kill you." I said when I finally found her. She looked up from her book, startled to see me, "Guess who turned up at my house looking for you when he didn't find you at home and asked me if I knew where you where?" I asked as I sat across from her.

Elizabeth put her head on the table and let out a sigh, "Papa?" she asked. I knew that Elizabeth was worried for exams this year, high school is kinda stacked against females and everyone knew it. Elizabeth has been fighting against that accepted norm since they started passing out grades.

"Oh no, this was not 'papa ', this was Mr. Dewitt. And he was very mad. " I leaned close to her, "Now I said that I didn't know where you were. Now I just risked my hide by lying to your dad, god forbid he ever finds out, but I'm curious to why your not home now."

Elizabeth looked up at me depressingly, "Turns out, your gonna love this, that I have to take three of the exams tomorrow." she explained, making me do a double take.

"What the hell! Why?" I demanded, I was informed that five exams, we did one each day.

"Why do you think? It's because I don't have something between my legs that gets girls pregnant." she said deadpanning. I laughed at that, earning a smack from her book in response.

"Sorry, sorry, but I'm not used to hearing you say that." I apologized as she rubbed the space between her eyes. "Look when was the last time you took a break?" I asked, taking the book out of her hands.

She looked down at the desk, "Not since this morning." she said, making my eyes widened. That means she skipped out on lunch!

I walked over to her side of the table, "Come on. You got to get some rest, come on let's grab a bite to eat." I said pulling her towards the library exit. Even with her protest about having to study.

"Come on, eat your ice cream." I asked, we sat out under the evening sky. Elizabeth was giving me the whole hunger strike routine since I dragged her here. Even when I ordered her favorite, chocolate ice cream.

"Look, you can pout about this all you want. But just 'cause the teachers are being assholes to you since your a girl doesn't mean you can't enjoy a frozen treat." I said, holding my cone as a example.

She let out a sigh before digging in. That'll do Harper, that'll do.

Elizabeth was still put out as I escorted her home and she was vocal about it,"I just don't want to turn out like all the other girls in school. They're just a bunch of air-heads. I mean...no offense at all Jacob-"

"Oh I can tell this isn't gonna hurt my feelings." I interrupted.

She rolled her eyes, "But your...your smart don't get me wrong but..."

"Not book smart? " I supplied, she nodded. "Elizabeth that doesn't bug me, but you? Your on par with my mother, maybe even smarter...do not tell her I said that." I quickly added, Elizabeth knew that my mom was terrifying at some times.

She smiled, "Sure thing Jacob."

The next day Elizabeth took all her exams and passed with flying colors. When they asked her to do it again under sterile conditions, I came with her for support and she actually did even better than the first time.

So she shoved it to society. Go Elizabeth.

...7 years later…

"Y-your serious..." Elizabeth said in pure shock. After graduation, Elizabeth sent out her school stats and whatnot to a few schools, they all wanted her but she picked the ivy league. And she's been doing so well that me, my family and hers are so proud of her.

Me on the other hand...I made the stupid decision to sign up fir the draft. And lucky lucky me. Well not really but I'm being optimistic about it, well as much as I possibly could be. My mom fainted and my dad threatened to kick the recruiter's ass, so yeah, 'bout as good as I expected.

I had to tell Elizabeth though, she's my best friend. And if she found out some other way, she would kill me before anyone got the chance to.

Elizabeth sat down on the bed, trying to get a grip on reality again, "Y-your actually...my god your actually joining the army.." she said. I had the papers back at home but I knew Elizabeth wouldn't think I'm making it all up. "W-when?" she asked shakily.

"Next week." I said, exhaling a breath. Elizabeth's eyes darted up and down me, like she was looking for a way to fix this, a way not to lose me. "Elizabeth you have to understand-"

"Don't...y-you don't need to go...if the allies win then-then you won't have to go.." she bargained, trying to find a way for me to get out of this. I felt bad, she was trying her best to try and find a way to keep me here.

"The World War ending by the end of this week?" I asked, "Ok sure, and maybe Uncle Sam himself will fly in and win the war while-"

Slap!

I'll admit I deserved that, "Don't! Just...just..." Elizabeth started shaking, badly. I felt horrible, this was clearly hell for her, but I was just joking like it's no big deal.

I wrapped my arms around her, "Shhh, it's okay Elizabeth...look, I just go to boot camp next week, and maybe the war will be over by then, I mean they're calling it a world war for a reason. We'll stop fighting eventually, and then I'll come back, who knows maybe I'll be discharged or something." I supplied as she begun whimpering.

"Don't...don't patronize me Jacob...I know that your going to fight." she said as she buried herself in my shirt. I felt bad for her, Elizabeth doesn't have many friends save for me, and I've known her since...forever. "Jacob..."

"Yes?" I asked.

"Just...just keep holding me like this...please..." she begged. All I could do was oblige.

"Oh. My. God." Elizabeth said in awe as she looked at me, "You look rediculous!" she said laughing at my crew cut. And it feels all the more worse when she points it out. We decided to meet at the pier to see me off, I had my helmet in one hand and my bag in the other .

I already had visited my mom and dad and their reactions where the same as hers. "Laugh it up bookworm. It'll grow back...I hope." I replied as she ran a hand through the short hair, "And stop that!" I said, pushing her hand away, she was still giggling at my hairstyle.

"It's just so fuzzy." she said in slight awe and jokingness, "So ...your really leaving." she looked me over in my uniform. "In...that."

I laughed dryly, "Hey, standard issue. Plus it's better than bright blue civil war uniforms. Less change to get shot." I said, Elizabeth looked down, "Uh...not that I will get shot." I added.

"Jacob-"

"Look, even if I do get shot, it doesn't mean I'm not gonna come back." I added.

"Ja-"

"Plus my CO is Slate of all people. I mean our dads had him, so he'll probably look after me. Even if he's a suicidal maniac, and that's for him only, he won't risk his men's lives. Least I'm pretty sure that he won't, I mean-"

She put her hands on the sides of my head, "Jacob. Shut up." she pressed her lips against mine, completely catching me off guard.

My helmet and bag dropped to the ground and my free hand went to the side of her face and pulled her closer to mine. Elizabeth knew I never had a girl, and now I'm grateful fir that. When she broke the kiss, she took a small step back, "That was for luck. So you have better come back." she said, her cheeks flushed red as mine.

"Yea." I said simply. The foghorn blared behind us.

"You...better get going then." Elizabeth said.

"Yea." I said.

Elizabeth raised a eyebrow, "Are you just saying 'yea' over and over again?" she asked.

"Yea." Elizabeth sighed at my shocked state.

She picked up my helmet from the ground and put it on my head and shoved my pack into me, knocking me put of my daze, "Go. And don't get yourself shot doing something stupid." she added.

"How the hell would get shot doing something stupid?" I asked as I walked towards the ship.

Elizabeth flashed me a smile, "I'm sure you'll find a way!"

All I could think about is how Elizabeth, my best friend for the longest time, kissed me.

…June 30th 1919…

Pure hell.

That is the best way to describe the past few years of my life. I mean I knew that we where in for a long war, but eight fucking years since I left and it wasn't a walk I the fucking park.

All the time me and Elizabeth kept in contact with one another, for obvious reasons I didn't mention the kiss at all. That doesn't mean I didn't stop thinking about it at all. No matter how many times I was shot at, turns out Elizabeth kinda jinxed me.

I've been shot a total of six times, two of them grazes, the other four where embedded and removed after their respective battles took place.

"My god, look at my little boy!" My mom exclaimed as she embraced me, my dad gave me a wide smile as he mirrored her actions.

Since I was wounded and that durning the war, I got a Purple Heart, a silver star, and went from private to captain in the years I was away, "Jeez, they must be handing out medals now a days." dad said as I showed them to him.

"So how's it feel to get shot like your father?" Mom asked jokingly, wait, dad was shot when he served.

I looked at him curiously, he rubbed the back of his head, "It was a stray bullet that hit my...lower back."

Mom leaned on my shoulder, "And by that, he means his ass." she said, making us burst out in laughter at my dad's flustered face.

After catching up with the two I decided that I should sleep, mom and dad offered to put up with me for the night but my check made it able to rent a room for the night at a local motel.

The next day I decided to surprise Elizabeth, I had kept my homecoming a secret, so that when I see her I give her a huge surprise. The last letter I sent her said that is be here a week from now, as I made my way towards the Dewitt residence, I felt my breath quicken.

All I could think about was the kiss she gave me, I mean...does she like me? As in like me like me? I shook those thoughts from my head as I approached the door to the home, I knocked and waited for the door to open.

Booker answered the door and gave me a strange look, "Hello...can I help you?" he asked. Oh come on, I can't look that different! Well maybe a little taller, and my hair grew back.

"Mr. Dewitt it's me, Jacob." I said, making the man's eyes widen at me as he looked me up and down.

"Holy shit kid! Look at you! I mean...damn." he said in aww of my changes. I was almost as tall as he was after all, "Seriously what happened to the little pipsqueak that Elizabeth played in the sandbox with?" he asked.

I smirked, "He grew up and got shipped off. Speaking of Elizabeth, is she around?" I asked, peeking over his shoulder to see if she was behind him.

He smiled, "She said she was going to Times Square for the end of the war. If not there than your guess is as good as mine." he said. I thanked him and made my way towards Times Square.

One of the things that shocked me when I was on the boat back is seeing how damn big New York had become in the past few years. Times Square had these new things called LED lights in billboards, and the place was pretty crowded here as well.

I shifted through the crowd for a good hour before I took a break. Worst case is that I go to her home tomorrow and see her, provided her dad doesn't spill that I was here.

I stopped thinking of that when I hit someone, "Crap, sorry I was-" I stopped when I saw bright blue eyes, red lipstick, brown hair that was in a ponytail, and a blue skirt with a white top. "Elizabeth?" I asked.

Her jaw was hanging open slightly at her seeing me, "Jacob..." before I could react she had her arms wrapped around my neck in a vice grip, "I-I-It's you! Oh my god! Y-your all right!" she exclaimed as her grip tightened.

"Elizabeth-can't-breath!" I gasped out, making her ease her grip off on me.

"Sorry! Sorry!" she said, not letting go of the embrace. I returned to with enthusiasm. It was so damn good to see my best friend again.

"How many times?!" Elizabeth asked loudly in the restaurant. We decided to catch up with one another over some good old American food. I realized quickly that rations sucked.

"Six, I was shot six times." I said, amused by her reaction. My mom was a bit shocked along with my dad, but Elizabeth seemed to be a bit awed by the fact.

"Did...did it hurt?" she asked timidly, bit sure how to approach the subject.

I laughed at the question, "No, it was so good the first time I had to do it again." I said sarcastically, "Yea, it hurt. Well it was more stinging and burning really." I said as I recalled the pain.

Elizabeth winced, "Sorry...so...did you..." she started .

Elizabeth was curious, that I found out pretty soon after we had met, "Yes, I killed before. Not gonna lie, I threw up right after." I said honestly. Making her shake her head and smile.

"It wouldn't be you if you didn't." Well there goes my pride.

"Isn't the guy's job to walk the girl home?" I asked as Elizabeth walked with me towards my temporary home. I knew that Elizabeth was against the norms that women fallowed but still.

She shrugged, "Well is it is bad that I want to spend time with my best friend?" she asked. Yeah no arguments here.

"Good point." I said. We both walked in silence for a while, Elizabeth wasn't the little girl that I knew her as, she was a grown woman now. And it was both strange and exciting to see her as one, "I missed you." I said abruptly.

Elizabeth smiled, "You too...I tried to fallow the allies advance but...when I saw the death counts..." she shook her head, "I'm just happy your safe and sound." she finished. I smiled, I was too.

As the small motel came into view I took a breath, "Remember right before I left? You where making fun of that stupid haircut of mine?" I asked, making her giggle.

"Thank god you grew it back." she said as she reached up and patted my head, I was taller than her now, a few inches more but still.

"Yeah...but...remember afterwords?" I asked.

"About the uniform? Yeah I still wish they changed it, I'm not taking it back." I slapped my forehead, even with Elizabeth as my best friend for all these years I'll never understand the mystery that is the female.

"Wait, you mean the kiss?" she asked, making me stop and blush. Elizabeth laughed, "I was...scared that you weren't going to come back. And I though to hell with it...I'm actually surprised your being so shy about it." she said, noticing my demeanor.

We where at my door now, "Jacob...did you like it?" she asked, her turn to be shy.

I hesitated for a moment, my eyes burning a hole in the door, "I kept thinking about it for a long time...and I still do." I confessed. My cheeks are so damn red I think I'm glowing.

I glanced over at Elizabeth, her face was the same as mine, "Yeah. I did like it Elizabeth." I said with little confidence.

Elizabeth and I where just...starring at each other when she said it, "Well what are you waiting for? Kiss me."

I leaned in and met my lips with hers, my arms wrapped around her waist and her arms where around my shoulders. I knew for a fact that Elizabeth never kissed a guy before me, and neither have I with girls. But this felt like it was meant to be, my hand trailed up her side and cupped her cheek and deepened the kiss, making her let out a small moan.

When we drew away, our faces where bright red and we had smiles. "About time. I was afraid I'd have to drop another hint." Elizabeth said as we continued to hold one another.

"Yeah yeah, I'm a idiot. But I'm your idiot, now come here." I replied as I brought our lips together again.

The next morning, Mr. Dewitt called me asking if I've seen Elizabeth. I told him that she and I spent the night catching up with one another and she was sleeping in my bed while I crashed on the floor. Elizabeth slid her hand up my chest and took the phone from my hand, "I'll be back later papa. Right. Love you to." she said, hanging up the phone and resting her head on my chest again.

Our bare legs entangled one another's, Elizabeth's and my clothes where scattered across the floor of the small room and I wasn't going to leave the bed to pick them up anytime soon. "He can never find out or he'll kill me." I said as I wrapped my arms around her.

Elizabeth giggled, "Agreed. Best part is, I didn't say when I was going to come home." she said with a smirk.

Out of the two of us, Elizabeth clearly has the brains.

We didn't leave the room until lunch. And Elizabeth came up with a story to why she was walking a little funny.

We managed to keep our relationship a secret between our families, neither if us where embarrassed or anything like it. We really did it to make sure Elizabeth's dad didn't kill me.

That was until one fateful day three years later when my mom visited me while me and Elizabeth where getting undressed.

Me and Elizabeth are still together though, and happier than ever. Just now we need to lock doors.

Next week we're heading to Paris, and the ring in my pocket says that we're both going to be happy together for a long while.

AN: This one is what gave me the idea for this story.

Schools out! So that means I can work on my stories a bit more than usual.

And I did the math with this so the dates and that are accurate.