January 14th, 2011
01:46:01 pm
Location Classified
Near London, England
Valerie 'Blaze' Foster
I lazily opened the freezer, grabbing my tub of ice cream. Today was Saturday, my day off. I didn't plan anything today, but I did want to watch a movie, and shove ice cream into my mouth. I grabbed a spoon, and was about to go to the rec room when Ghost entered the room. He's wearing a pair of blue jeans, and a black shirt. I'd hadn't seen him in civilian attire until today. "Morning, Blaze. What do you have there?" He said to me, pointing his good arm at me. "Nothing, just some chocolate pecan ice cream. Wanna watch a movie with me? Everyone went on leave for some reason, so it's just you, me, Toad, Royce, and 'Tavish here." I offered, not wanting to be alone all of a sudden. He gave me a short nod, and I grabbed another spoon. We walked into the rec room, and I let him choose a movie. I couldn't read the title, so I asked, "What movie is that?" He didn't say anything, but he was looking in my direction. After a moment of silence, he said, "I forgot about your glasses. I'll take you out later to go get you a new pair. We're watching 'The Back Up Plan' with Jennifer Lopez." I didn't mind watching that movie. I'd seen it before with Victoria a few times in the past. He popped in the disk, and sat down next to me on the plush red couch. I opened the tub of ice cream, and took a bite. Ghost pulled up his mask far enough so that his mouth was exposed, and he took a large bite of the sweet.
We were halfway through the movie when my phone rang. It was Victoria.
"Hello?" I said. "Val! It's been forever! How's your new job?" She asked in her usual sweet voice. She being only a few months younger than me, (I was 24) she never acted her age. "It's fine. I like it a lot. I like my co-workers too." I replied, half looking at Ghost, and half looking at the TV. "So, meet any cute guys yet?" She had to ask at this moment. "No, can I just text you? Ghost and I are watching a movie, and its getting really good." I ask, trying not to blow her off. "Sure." And she hung up. Half a minute later, I got a text.
Victoria: so, whos this 'ghost'? is it a boy?
Blaze: yeah, he's my friend. We went on a mission yesterday and he got shot.
Victoria: omg is he ok?
Blaze: yeah, he got patched up. we're eating ice cream
Victoria: ooh, Valerie Joanne Foster is in lovvveeeee
Blaze: WE'RE JUST FRIENDS!
Victoria: surreeee you like him don't you?
Blaze: ughhh he's just my roommate and co worker we're friends
Victoria: is he cute?
Blaze: haven't seen his face. he wears a mask all the time. he's british
Victoria: sounds hot
Blaze: I hate you
Victoria: no you love me
Blaze: welp I wish you weren't so pushy
Victoria: watevs I wanted to invite you to come to my graduation for college
Blaze: when is it?
Victoria: next Friday
Blaze: yeah I have Fridays off ill see if I can take leave
Victoria: im getting my master's degree!
Blaze: if youre getting a masters you should know what the term 'friends' means
Victoria: maybe ghostie can come too
Blaze: ill ask later love ya
Victoria: buh bye
"Hey Ghost. I'm going to Victoria's graduation. She wanted to know if you wanted to go. Its next Friday." I tell him. He thinks about it for a moment, and says, "Yeah, I guess I could go with you. Not like I plan on doing anything." He says through a mouth full of ice cream. "By the way, who's Victoria? Your sister or something?" He askes. "No, she's been my friend since the second grade. I'll show you a picture" I reply before getting up, and going to our room. I unlock the door, and pull out a small chest no bigger than my hands put together. I walk back to the rec room, and sit on the couch. I pull a picture out of the chest. It's a picture of me without my glasses, wearing my army uniform, hugging another blonde with green eyes. She has a small, pretty face, and she has a childish look about her. "That's Vicky. We took this in 2005, when we were 19. She had just gotten into college, and I just got promoted to a Specialist." I say quietly. Remembering this picture brought back the memories of us in high school. "Crikey. You guys do everything together." Ghost says looking over my shoulder. I flip through pictures from past years, but stop at one. It brings tears to my eyes. "Who's she?" Ghost asks me. A tear sheds down my cheek. "That's my mum." I say quietly.
It's a picture of a woman who looks just like me, propped up in a hospital bed, with a baby bump. Her black glasses propped up high on her nose, and her hair in a ponytail held together with the blue ribbon I still wear today. She is smiling happily at the camera. "This was taken an hour after she went into labor with me. She died later that day. January 1rst, 1987. " Ghost just stares at the picture, as if it's me having the baby. I flip through more pictures, and I stop at another. Bubby's red hair in a bun, and she's holding me on her hip. "I was two or three when this was taken. Bubby was the closest thing I had to a mum. We never found my pop. He just wasn't involved." I say. We go through the pile of pictures, him asking who the people were, and me answering. The movie finally ends, and we just sit on the couch, speechless. "Why don't you go get dressed, and we'll go get you a new pair of glasses." Ghost suggests. I nod quietly, and take the chest back to the room.
When I finish dressing, I'm wearing a blue long sleeved shirt, a long brown coat, a blue scarf, a pair of light denim jeans, brown boots, and a blue and brown handmade beanie. I put my phone, and wallet in my pocket, and lock the door. Ghost is waiting for me outside by the truck, smoking a cigarette. He offers me one, but I say, "No, I don't smoke." He nods his understanding, and puts his out. Like a gentleman, he opens my door for me, and closes it. I link my iPhone to the truck, and play my favorite song.
Coffee, and Cigarettes
Are my only escape
I got my cup of joe
My pack of stoges
And I'm on my way, downtown
To set up shop.
And sing my cares away
So wont you sing with me
'cause it's cold outside, and I'm feeling kinda lonely
Friday nights
Are always the same in this town
I'm looking up, but I'm feeling kinda down
So I'll light this cigarette,
And smoke the night away
Hoping Saturday will be the day
That everything feels okay
Ba da da, ba da dad a, dad a da, ba da da da da da…
"You don't smoke, but your favorite song is all about smoking." Ghost jokes. I give a little laugh, for the rest of the song involves coffee, and cigarettes.
Nearly an hour later, were driving through the streets, barely dodging cars (Ghost still cant drive) that are beside us. I offer to drive, but Ghost just says, "Nah, I'm fine." A few more cars honk their horns at us. "Ghost, we're going to get arrested! Let me drive you crazy Brit!" I exclaim. He just shakes his head. Man, this guy is crazy.
Arriving in London is worse. There's 10 times the traffic, and people are honking their horns much more than on the highways. "Why don't we park here?" I point to an open spot on the curb. He decently parallel parks, without hitting any cars. I unplug my iPhone, and put it back in my back pocket. Ghost makes his way around the car, and opens the door for me. "Why are you such a gentleman?" I ask mischievously. He doesn't answer. "Well, while we're out, I need to pick out a dress for the graduation." I add. He quietly nods. He's not much of a talker.
"Why don't you take off your mask? Nobody we know is around." I suggest. He gives me a look that says 'ARE YOU ON CRACK?' We don't talk as we walk down the street. Then, "Okay, you win. Would you like to get some fish and chips?" he says in defeat. Removing his mask, he hands it to me. Surprised at his face, I nearly drop his mask.
He has a light shade of brown hair, almost blonde, and a pair of dark blue eyes. His handsome face holding some mean looking scars, especially one that goes from his left eye, and ends down at his right jaw. "What are fish, and chips?" I ask. We walk a few more steps before he answers. "I think you Americans call them 'burgers and fries'." I nod. We come across the glasses shop, and Ghost leads me in. A male British voice greets Ghost immediately. "Simon Riley! It's been awhile since you came in for your red glasses." Ghost gives him a little smile before replying. "Hey Robbie. Yeah, a long time. Do you still do eye exams?" Robbie nods gladly. "Yes! Is this your girlfriend?" My jaw drops. "No, just my co worker. She broke her glasses on a mission, and she needs a new pair." Ghost explains quickly. Robbie comes out from behind the counter to get a closer look at me. "Well, Miss…?" Robbie asks. "Miss Foster." I fill in for him. He smiles wider at me. Sometimes, British people can creep me out at level 10 of creepiness. "Well, Miss Foster. If you'll follow me over here, and take the exam, I can determine what type of lens you need." I follow him to a wall, where he hangs up the poster with the letters of different sizes. He has me stand on a green X, which is at least 7 feet away from the poster. "Tell me these letters." He points at a row of letters. "A, D, C, G, I, W, and Q." I read. I know I have bad vision, so he probably thinks I'm mentally retarded. Robbie points to another row. "J, K, G, P, W, E, S, Z, and R." I read more letters. Robbie comes back around, and brings me to a shelf of custom glasses. "With your vision, try on some of these. Pick any one of them." Robbie informs before going back behind the counter to help a woman who wanted a new pair of glasses.
I look at a pair of blue glasses that have a nice feel. I try them on, and they fit perfectly. "I like these." I tell Ghost who was standing behind me. "They look like a nice fit." He says, looking hard at them. I walk over to the front counter, ready to pay for them. "Well, looks like that will be $52.87." Robbie informs me. I was about to pull out my wallet, but Ghost reaches for his, and says, "No, let me pay." I wanted to pay for it, but Ghost wouldn't have it. He gave his credit card to Robbie, and Robbie swiped it on the cash register. "You didn't have to pay for them." I whisper in his ear. His tall form leans down, and says, "But I wanted to. I don't spend a lot of money." Robbie hands Ghost his credit card, and my glasses to me. I put them on, and Ghost laughs. "What? Do I look funny?" I ask. He is still laughing when he replies. "No, you look just like your mum with those on." Looking in the nearest mirror, I see that he's right.
I looked a lot like her, except today my hair was down.
Walking out of Robbie's shop, we went down the road to Christie's Fish and Chips. Ghost must come around here often, because a lot of people said 'hi' to him. We come across a two-person table, and we sit down. A waiter comes to our table with two menus. I take mine, and say 'Thank you' to the man. I was glad I had my glasses, because the menu's font was at least size 14.
"Ready to order?" The waiter said when he returned. "Yes." Ghost and I say at the same time. "I'll have the fried catfish, and French fries." I say. "I'll have the double cheese burger, and a large side of fries with a Coke please." Ghost says through his British accent. The waiter somehow writes this all down in a matter of 5 seconds, and leaves to the kitchen. I receive a text message from Victoria nearly a minute later.
Victoria: what r u doing?
Blaze: eating fish n chips with ghost
Victoria: oooh did he ask u to dinner?
Blaze: first of all its 3 in the afternoon. second, i was getting another pair of glasses when I got hungry, so he offered to take me here
Victoria: wow, i think he likes you
Blaze: you think so? he's a lieutenant and im a corporal
Victoria: and? I bet he's hot
Blaze: well, hes handsome. i got him to take off his mask earlier
Victoria: wow u like him!
Blaze: maybe, just a little bit
My reply sent her into a frenzy.
Victoria: OMG MY LITTLE VAL IS GROWING UP UR GONNA HAVE CUTE BABIES!
Blaze: omg calm down i don't plan on having kids yet.
Victoria: im going to laugh when you get knocked up
Blaze: whatevs foods here ttyl
Victoria: byeeee!
I couldn't believe that I sent something like that to Victoria. It was true. He was sweet, and kind, and more manly than anyone I'd ever met.
The waiter came carrying a tray with our food on wide ceramic plates. My fish was nicely cooked, and my French fries were a crispy golden color. "Thank you so much." I say to the waiter. He nods, and walks off to another table. Picking up by fork, I take a bite out of the fried fish. It tasted fine, like any other catfish I'd eaten. When I look up, Ghost is taking a bite out of his double cheese burger. "You're going to get so effing fat." I said jokingly. Ghost puts his burger down, and takes a sip out of his Coke. "Blaze, I'm 26 years old, and 189 pounds. I think I'll just work it off when we go train tomorrow." He says, holding back a laugh. "What about you? You're about to eat a 1.5 pound catfish, and 12 ounces of fries. You might gain a few pounds." He adds. I snicker a little bit, trying not to spit out my catfish. "Ghost, I'm 24 years old, and 134 pounds. I think I'll work it off when we train tomorrow." I mimic. "Touche." Ghost says before taking another bite of his burger.
We finally finish eating at about 4:30, but I don't finish my catfish. A chilly breeze picks up, I begin to shiver as we walk down the street to the formal dress shop. "So, do I choose a tuxedo, or just a pair of jeans?" Ghost asks as we approach the store. I snort as I laugh. "Smarticle, you're supposed to wear something fancy. I'll choose something for you." I say. "Fine. As long as it isn't pink, I'll be okay." Ghost said, following me inside.
30 minutes later…
I walk out of the store with an unhappy Ghost trailing behind me. He didn't like the fact that he couldn't wear his mask at the graduation. Or that he had to wear a tux. "Look on the bright side! You don't have to stay at the base 24/7. I bet that you didn't even go out like this before I came, did you?" I say, trying to cheer the Brit up. He gives me a half hearted chuckle. "Yeah, I never went out much, because nobody would go with me. Besides, going with the guys makes me look like a fag." Ghost says. We walk down the street with him carrying our bags of formal attire.
"Why don't I drive?" I offer. "Sure. I don't want another ticket." He replies. I open the door to the driver's side of the truck, and stick the key in the key hole. I barely twist the key and the car comes to life. Ghost closes his door, and I drive off into the traffic of the city.