Chapter 9 "A square betrayal"

(This one was kinda..inspired..by my recent past, don't ask. I wish not to discuss it. I put my real friend in the fiction, since he read the fiction, and liked it. He is the white timber wolf, and Matthew's past was inspired by mine. Chapter ten will be posted soon! So hopefully it will be good. ^_^; )

It was afternoon, the sun was going down on the horizon, the cold winter breeze blew across gently giving a slight coldness. There stood a lonely teenaged skinny dark wolf right near the wooden planks of the docks where pilots came and went landing on a airway not to far from the teenaged wolf, he wore a red cotton jacket, with black pants he glanced at the waters beneath him, the sun was dimming down on the horizon the water shined like a crystal of fire. The skies was orange, and stars were barely shining. He picked up a rock on the dirty cement ground, as he threw a rock into the ocean's depth. A jet flew over passed him he quickly looked at the jet he could see the gears were down and was about to land in Corneria's Air Force Base. It had a symbol at the yaw, saying, "GM 90" this was the most famous pilot in all of Corneria's Air Force, people respected the pilot for what he had did for the country. As the plane landed on the run way, the cockpit door opened as he took off her helmet visor he could clearly see this was a male fox, with red fur and a white stripe. He gave a "OK" sign to his co-pilots as the fox jerked his hand at his co-pilots giving them a confirmation to get out of the jet. The teenaged wolf, looked at the pilot with his yellow irises admiring the fox's attire, and respect. As he heard a faint laugh from the fox trying to tease other pilots, as they were laughing with him. The wolf glanced at the waters giving a brief reflection of his face he narrowed his eye's at his reflection, it troubled him the most. He gave a slight sigh as he shook his head in a negative way, his two arms limbs reaching over behind his head gripping the other hand, he walked down the dirty road into the crossway of the city. When it hit at night-time, the city lights appeared and night-life was active with music from the streets, and signs were lit-up bright. He thought, "One day, I'll be famous like Jack." As he closed his eye's intently he shook his head again, trying to get the thought out of his mind. He re-opened his eyes, giving the visual of the city lights. As he walked through-out the city he heard one music band playing, and then it faded out in a echo as another one started playing before hand.

Conversations of other people talked and went about their business, he saw a small wolf pup running towards his family as they greeted him as they patted him on the head giving a bright smile giving some comfort, the teenaged wolf avoided that scenario. He walked up a curved road heading out into darkness, dim street lights covered the area, the music he had listened to is now completely gone. He lowered his arms and put it into his jacket pockets looking down at the road, walking home to his father's house. Something troubled this dark wolf, that he didn't want to go back. As he walked up a steep hill, he glanced at the apartment complexes near the road, he stopped briefly. The wolf's stomach dropped, and he felt sick, he didn't want to go back to his father's apartment. It was either go to his friend's house, or back the apartment, and he didn't want to choose both of them, he didn't want to intrude his friend's house after the dilemma with his father. Even though nothing has happened between them, he walked by the gate as the gate opened automatically he went inside the complex, he walked near the bushes from the parking-lot then he went upstairs slowly, almost dreading his way up stairs. He looked at the golden numbers entitling, room "105" on the maple door. He slowly nudged his arm as he gripped his apartment key's he then moved his arm towards the door knob as he flinched from the knob, he thought twice, "If I opened this door, will he yell at me or hit me? Like he always does…" he put the key's into the key-hole and twisted the key as it made a slight click, he pushed the door open, the lights were off.

He treaded in lightly, not making any breathing noises as he slowly closed the door behind him, the room was pitch black as he turn on the kitchen lights the room was bright, he set the keys onto the counter top. There was a note were he placed his keys at it said, "Won't be home till 1:00 Am in the morning, will be back soon Matthew." Matthew thought, "…Probably getting wasted like he always does, good thing it's only 10:00 PM. Why did he leave me a nice note? He never does that. " an eerie silence captured the kitchen walls. After a few hours, he laid in his bed his arm under his head staring at the ceiling wall hearing the faintest wind blows of leaves outside, he waited anxiously for his adopted father. His door was closed and nothing was visible to his eyes, it was pitch black. He closed his eye's, thinking, and then drifted off to a deep sleep. Interrupted by his sleep, he heard a key go through the living room's door knob, he opened his eye's just still laying there instead he switched position on his right side away from his bedroom door. The door slammed shut in the living room, as the father locked the door. "Son of a bitch", the father cried out. Matthew didn't like the sound of the tone of his father. He closed his eyes, trying to escape the real-world. However, the father sat down on the sofa, he glanced down on the floor, seemed like he was in distressed, his arms was on his legs, and his head was onto his fists, he yelled out in an angry tone, "I can't believe that guy betrayed me, that bastard! My best friend, that damn…!" he made a sharp sigh, and pounded on the coffee table making it vibrate, and a loud thump was made.

His father was infantry in the Cornerian Army, he slightly shifted his head towards a picture near him on another table, it was his best friend, his wife, and his adopted son in the image, the father was on the right of the picture his tall stature of a fox with a military uniform on, giving a straight face towards the picture, his wife a vixen standing nearby his chest giving a bright smile. While Matthew the wolf was standing in-front of the parents looking at the camera and giving a smile, while his best friend a brown wolf with blue eyes, standing near the vixen in a military uniform as well although his uniform was decorated as a war veteran a 1st lieutenant, although John, Matthews adopted father, was a Captain in the Cornerian Army. "Only if Sarah was here…" John sighed, Matthew in the other room heard his father, he made a slight tear, it shattered Matthews heart because it was his adopted mother. "Probably…My anger gets the best of me, and I blame Matthew a lot…Just..Why did you have to go…" John complained, as he got up from the sofa, then he gripped the picture. Glancing at the photo, he noticed how happy Matthew was with the family, now it seemed he hated John. He slammed the photo onto the table, and he grabbed his key's and walked out the door. Matthew in the room, slowly drifted away from his bed, and was sitting at the edge of the bed, it still seemed like a dream to him, in a daze he got up and opened the door, he noticed that the lights were still on, and the door to the living room was slightly opened he walked up to the door, as he shut it gently. He shifted his head, as he looked at the shattered glass pieces of a photo, he kneeled down not saying a word, as he cleaned up his father's mess, he sat down on the sofa and he picked up the photo, from the frame that held it, although the frame was ruined, the picture itself was still in contact he barely knew his adopted mother, only her name, but the wolf on the left discombobulated Matthew, he doesn't know who the wolf was. He then heard the door-knob open, Matthew gave a slight gasp and was worried he placed the photo in his pocket in his jacket, the door budged open with the wolf on the ground all bruised and beaten, and petrified.

He glanced at Matthew, he narrowed his eyes, he spoke in a soft tone, "Matthew…? My god…You were only a small child since I talked to you…I'm…glad..to see you safe…" The wolf coughed as he spat out blood on the carpet. The teenaged wolf was scared as he sat down on another chair frantic, "How…Did..You know my…name?" he said. The father was standing outside, and entered into the living room "Matthew! Get out of here right now!" he yelled as he pulled out a pistol out of his pocket pointing at the brown wolf, "Wait John! I can explain!" The wolf was scared, "Dad! Stop!" Matthew yelled, the fox gripped Matthew on the collar as he threw him across the room hitting the coffee table shattering it, he ran towards the brown wolf trying to aid him, the father again punched Matthew in the face giving Matthew a faint bruise on the face, crimson blood fell from his muzzle, then he used the gun to punch Matthew in the chest, he felt a slight tear across the chest, when he breathed it burned inside his chest. Matthew gripped his red jacket in a state of shock, feeling sharp pain. He tried to get up to save the wolf, but every time he moved he felt a sharp pain, he got up finally using most of his stamina, he sat where the brown wolf was gripping him by the arm, "Dad…! Wait…! He knows who I am..!" gasping for air, "Of course he does!!" The father yelled at Matthew, still aiming the gun at the brown wolf. His rage got the best of him, he was breathing hard, his arm started to shake giving him in a inaccurate shot. But he didn't care, he wanted to shot his best friend. "John we are friends! Remember? Matthew was still an orphan! I helped you!" still scared, "I don't care about Matthew anymore, he's worthless, and a waste of time!!" John yelled at him, Matthew looked at his father his eyes wide open, Matthew was heartbroken, a man he used to look up too as a war hero, an inspiration, shattered. "You did this! You ruined my life! You betrayed me, killing my own wife!" "You're still on that?! It wasn't me! I promise! Look! I was stationed in a red zone, the Cornerian Army needed me for a Special Operation! Someone blackmailed me an assassin did this! Not me! C'mon buddy! We're team-mates!" His body was so beaten he laid on his side giving a slight lift on his shoulder, "Not anymore…" John said, he pulled the trigger as a loud combustion came from the barrel of the gun, it jerked Johns hand, killing his friend a pool of crimson blood saturated the floor. He glanced at Matthew raising the gun towards him next, "I'm sorry Matthew." "Dad! No wait!" he shot Matthew on the left arm feeling the pressure of the bullet, into his arm. He gripped his arm, feeling weakened. John left the area dropping the gun, on the cement ground. Matthew crawled onto the ground with his right arm trying to use whats left of his strength.

He avoided the deceased wolf, and got up from the ground. He walked out of the door way trembling, still giving pressure on the wound of his left arm, he ran down stairs of the apartment complex, heading towards his friends house. He made tears while running down the road to his friends house, thinking, "Why me, a fourteen year old!?" still dusk, he made it to his friends house, as he knocked on the door hard with his fist, a tall white timber wolf answered the door, he noticed it was his friend, "Matthew? What happened to you..? It's 4:00 AM.." he looked at his friend severely wounded with a bullet stuck into his left arm, brutally beatened, he was still bleeding from his muzzle, he had a black eye as he was squinting, "I…Came…As..Fast….As I could…" "Who done this..?" the wolf replied, "My….Father did it…" "What?!" The wolf responded in shock, Matthew was weakened and couldn't move at all, he then fainted on the floor as the wolf picked Matthew up nearly hitting the ground, tipping the wolf over hitting the pantry on his back in the kitchen. "…What…In Gods name..Matthew..I'm sorry.." his body still on the wolf's lap, he glanced at the body, he checked the pulse of his friend on the neck, it was normal.

He picked up Matthew carrying him into his room down the hallway, placing him onto the bed. He could perform a medical treatment on Matthew, he knew one way to suppress the bleeding, he went out of the room and walked into the hall-way as he opened a door to a closet for storage, he gripped a small red medical kit, he walked back into his room, as Matthew was laying on his friends bed, he unzipped the medical kit, he pulled a white bandage, and small tweezers, his friend tried to assess the bullet wound Matthews jacket was moist in blood from his left shoulder, he lift up Matthew and took the jacket off, placed it near Matthews body, he found the bleeding point, he took the tweezers and found a small fragment of the conical, it wasn't too deep near the bone structure, he picked the bullet out of his arm, and blood seeped quickly, still unconscious he couldn't feel any pain, but the pain inside of him. The white timber wolf, gripped Matthews left arm, he used pressure points to slowly stop the rapid bleeding, and inserted the thick gauze unto his arm and unto the wound, he then rapped the white bandage around the arm, the bandage saturated a red blood spot. Hopefully stopping the bleeding process, his friend sat on a chair near a desk inside his room "I'll take him to the hospital tomorrow. I guess." he said to himself. Still observing Matthew, he couldn't help but think to himself, "Why would a father….Shoot his own son..? Or abuse him at that matter..? I want answers, and hopefully when he wakes up, I can ask him." Matthew coughed, while he turned shifting his whole body to the right side of the bed facing the wall. While he was breathing he made a faint gasp, every-time he breathed. "That's strange", the wolf thought to himself, "Why is he making that sound? He wasn't breathing like that before.." he got up from the chair and checked Matthews chest placing a hand on him, Matthew squinted because of the light pressure he received. He felt one bone slightly move from the chest, near the rib. "a rib fracture?" he thought. The white timber wolf decided to lay down on the floor, his back laid onto the white wall, near the bed. He folded his arms laying his head near the bed, as he fell asleep.

Matthew still sleeping on the bed, woke up in a daze his body stood up half way sitting on the bed, as he grunted and whimpered from the pain inside his chest, and his arm. He noticed that he was at his friends house, "How did…I..?" He paused, and looked at the bandage on his left arm, viewing a pint of blood seeping into the bandage. Feeling the slight sharp pain like a tinge inside his arm, he gripped it, as he squinted his eyes, and made a grunting noise. He looked at his friend sleeping near him on the ground, "James..?" he said to himself silently, Matthew was confused how he got into his house, apparently he doesn't remember a thing what had happened, only his father being abusive towards Matthew, but the rest was vague. Matthew grabbed his red cotton jacket and slipped it onto him as he got up from the bed, sneaking passed his friend, as he opened the door and shut the door quietly not disturbing his friend. He walked out of the hallway, and walked outside from the back sliding window, it was morning, everything was silent to him. He went down the porch and sat down on a wooden bench viewing the grass as his arm stretched near the cement, his head facing down in his lap gripping his arm his ears was lowered; he was in pain. It was chilly outside, feeling a cold breeze against his fur as it swayed gently across, still trying to remember what had happened. He was in a deep thought as he remembered bits of pieces, the memory was very abrupt in a haze, he squinted, interrupted by his friend as James walked behind Matthew, "Hey…You okay..?" James slowly laid his arm onto the wall giving support, as his arms folded. Matthews ears perked up, "huh?" he said to his friend, then came to his senses, "Yeah..I'm fine.." Matthew replied sighing, "You want to tell me what happened?" Matthew paused, as he grunted inaudibly, as he looked away from his friend.

"I told you last night…" Matthew said hesitated "When you fainted?" James replied, "Uh…Yeah…My father did it, and you know I was adopted when I was young. I even have that photo, I showed you along time ago.." Matthew stated in remorse. "You mean the one with your father in the military uniform? Yeah I remember that." James said, trying to brighten up Matthew's spirit.

Matthew pulled the photo out from his jacket pocket and handed it to his friend, James took it, and looked at it for awhile, as he said, "Did you know your adopted mom?" As he handed it back to Matthew. He looked at the photo, "No…I only knew her name, she was in the Cornerian Air-Force though…That's what my father said…" He gave a faint smile, as he put the photo back into the pocket of his jacket. A brief silence occurred in the back-yard, "Your family is in the Air-Force?" He stated, Matthew replied quickly and intently, "No, my adopted father was in the Cornerian Army. As infantry, it roughed him up bad…After the war, he started to change rapidly, and started to blame stuff on me. That's when the abuse started.." He whimpered in fear, and made a tear trying to suck the emotions in. Gripping his jacket tightly, although his father left him, he was relieved that he wasn't abused anymore, "So…What happened..Between you two last night?" James was concerned for Matthew, "I don't wish to discuss it.." Matthew said, James stated "You sure?" Matthew nodded, "Yeah, right now I don't feel good at all…I feel betrayed, and…I don't know what." He paused, another brief silent occurred between the two for a couple of minutes, "I can't believe your father left you, it's stupid." James said, Matthew just ignored the statement he was somewhat happy that his father left him, but his stomach sunk, and didn't feel good at all. He got up, and went back inside leaving James behind, as he tilted his head, as he said to himself, "Was it something I said?"James went back inside his house, and saw Matthew sitting down on a chair by the table, lowering his head onto his arms just thinking by himself, suddenly the door knocked, he raised his head glancing at the door, both of them thinking the same thing, Matthew got up intimidated he was frozen, James insisted to open the door first, "You don't think it could be?" Matthew said to James as he was scared, "I don't know, it could be, if it gets bad, go in my room. Alright? I'll talk to him if it is."Both of them thought of a strategy, he walked and opened the door slightly, "Hello?" It was Matthew's adopted father, "Is Matthew here?" He said in a low tone, giving a small tear, James tensed up as he made a quick glance towards Matthew, as he tilted his head for him to leave the room, as Matthew made a swift entry into James room he could hear the faint conversation between the two, John sat down on the chair where Matthew previously sat in facing James, "What happened to your hand?" he questioned John, he quickly nudged his hand as it was cut, bruised, and raw he put it into his pocket, "Nothing, long story. I was hoping Matthew to be here, since you two are practically brothers. Did he stop by at all?" He was being sympathetic, but to James he thought he was faking the whole routine. He responded back, "No, he didn't stop by at all. Why? What happened?" trying to be discreet, "Nothing, still long story." John still being stubborn about himself, and the incident occurred last night. He sighed, and felt completely like an idiot, "I…" he paused and he continued, "I..Feel so stupid right now, I didn't mean to shoot Matthew with that pistol last night, rage just got so in control. I couldn't bare it." He finally admitted it, James wanted to punch the guy who sat before him, but he resisted and folded his arms, "You're his adopted father, are you?" James stated, "Yes, but..The wolf I killed last night was his…Actual father." Matthew was in complete shock as he heard the echoed conversation in the kitchen, he fell, hitting his back unto a wall and hitting back of his head giving a loud thump, "What was that?" John said, James thought to himself, "Matthew…" John ignored the thump behind the wall, "I see." James said to John, still trying to resist how much rage he had into himself, but he controlled it. "Well, if Matthew stops by, or…Something, give him this." He handed out a small envelope submitted by his actual father, "I..Wanted him to have it when he was older, or joined in the Military just liked his father before him." James took the envelope from the table as he put it on the small counter behind him. "I'll give it to him when he arrives, or when he shows up. Don't worry." John sighed, "Thank you. Tell him I said, I've failed, and I'm completely sorry for what I have done." John got up from the chair and walked outside as he was followed by James, when John looked at him, he gave a nod, as James closed the door as John walked out of the drive-way. James rushed into his room opening the door, Matthew giving out tears, as he was laying his head onto a small desk covering his head with his arms "Why me?" he said in a low tone, James still perplexed on the condition Matthew was in. "Matthew, tell me everything what happened, so I can help you, you can't just keep your life in secrecy." "I told you everything okay!!" Matthew shouted still trying to ignore the incident, James was shocked that he yelled at him, he never yells. "He wanted me to give you this, hold up." James paused as he went back into the kitchen and grabbed the letter from the counter and brought back to Matthew he laid it near his arm, "Who's it from?"Matthew questioned, "From your father. Your real father." James stated, "Should I open it?" he was nervous, "Sure you can read aloud if you want." Matthew grabbed the letter and opened it slightly, he stomach sunk, and his emotions got the better of him. Then he read aloud.

Matthew,

If you have opened this letter, I'm here to say that I am sorry that I have abandoned you, it was a my own mistake, I should have kept you, I didn't have plans to have a child of my own, since my closest friend John, his wife couldn't bare a child, so I decided to give you to him, they thought you were a blessing, after since your mother died giving birth, I was still enlisted into the Army, I was to afraid, I was a coward, a fool. I couldn't keep you in harms way if the Government decided to need me again for active duty purposes, I sincerely hope you understand, Matthew. John didn't have any plans to join any branch of Cornerias armed forces, and I hope he doesn't, if he does I will be angry at him for my wrong mistake, I wanted you two to become father and son, and share special times with each other, I will be non-existent to you, so that's why I decided to hand you to him, so John, and his wife can take care of you. Behind this note is a picture of your mother, and me, reason why I am handing you this photo, is if I die serving this planet, I want you to keep this photo as a reminder that we love you, and wanted to take care of you. Again, I'm sorry. Please, what-ever you do, don't follow my path, don't accomplish what I have started, don't enlist into the army or any branch. I don't want to see you hurt.

Your beloved Father,

SGT. Dave Reinhart

Matthew felt a sharp pain in his stomach, like he was being stabbed by a dagger it was almost the exact same photo he had in his pocket, except he had his real mother standing right beside SGT. Dave, "Isn't that the same guy in the photo with your adopted father?" James said, Matthew was in so much shock he couldn't hear his friend, he heard a buzzing noise in his left ear, he was in a trance, and couldn't snap out. "That's…The guy…Who killed..My real father?" He whimpered, and felt liked crying. James thought to himself, "Jeez, and I thought I had it bad with my family." James looked at Matthew, trying to figure out his mental status. Matthew said, "So that's…Why…he said my name…And noticed me right away…I..don't know what to say…" James felt really bad. "Hey..I'll leave you alone for now, you need time to think.." Matthew nodded, as James got up from his bed, Matthew sighed and said, "Hey..James..Thanks..For being a good friend, and a brother, I never had anyone this close before, and I hope we don't betray each other in the future…" James gave a smile, "Anytime. I know your going through a tough time, and I'm glad to help. You should rest, and get some sleep. I have to get going soon." Matthew looked out the window, still morning, he protested as he said, "I'm fine." He felt a buzzing pain on his arm, and it felt numb. He gripped his arm, and grunted as he lowered his head giving a sway motion. James just smiled, and shook his head in a negative way, "You're stubborn sometimes." Matthew gave a faint laugh, his fatigue lowered and his eyes started to drift away, he was light-headed, he then yawned. "See, you are tired. C'mon get some rest, and heal up. I'll make an excuse, and bring you some homework from school so you want be to far behind, alright?" James recommended. Matthew nodded, and his ears perked down and laid down onto the bed, and tried to go to sleep, he tossed over to his side away from his wound, however it was still throbbing. A few weeks later his arm started to heal up, and finally he could go back to school with his friend, "You feeling better?" James said to Matthew sitting on a bench in the cafeteria in school staying silent, his head was lowered and he placed his head on his arm, he stretched his arm out and started fidgeting with his fingers onto the table his ears perked down, and just gave a slight nod, slowly ruffling his jackets sleeve, a female vixen decided to tag along with them, "Hey guys." Saying in a bright cheerful manner, she stared at Matthew with her brown eyes, while he was looking down, "What's a matter with Matthew, James?" James freeze and didn't want to tell what happened, "Uh.." He looked at Matthew, "Nothing I'm fine..Samantha.." Matthew just sighed. Matthew got up from the bench, as he walked away trying to be discreet from them, as he disappeared from the crowed. "Jeez, fine don't say bye." The vixen said irrationally, and displeased. "He..uh…Didn't have a good week" James said to the vixen, "Oh, why what happened?" she was concerned for Matthew, "I can't..Give you all the details but..Lets just say he got..hurt." She felt sorry for Matthew, "oh..I see.." James finally admitted, "Sammy, please don't tell him, alright that I told you? He …Was abused by his adopted father..And found out his real father died." She stood frozen, and confused, "..I can't believe my little brother got hurt by that bastard!" She was now furious, "Well, I know we all knew Matthew for a long time now, and he's my brother too, but he felt safe telling me, I didn't want to tell you in class the other day ago." James said trying to calm her nerves. Samantha got up from the cafeteria's bench, and scouted for Matthew, "Oh no." James said to himself, as he tried to follow her lead, she pushed the door open, as she went outside still trying to find him, "How hard is it to spot a person in a red jacket?" She said to herself irritated, "Uhm, Sam, you're taking this a bit too far..He needs time to think, you know, by himself." Samantha just rolled her eyes, "Men." She grumbled. Matthew was sitting on a brick bench that was curved viewing the green grass it was almost like a sanctuary to him the whole area didn't have any people, or any noise it was silent, "There he is." She paused and noticed how lonely he actually was she didn't want to fully confront him, she had to think on what she was about to say to him, "You going to talk to him?" James said, "I might…Maybe going to have a heart-to-heart conversation…He needs it right now. Can you help me out?" She looked at him, "Uh..Im not really good at those.."She shoved him, "C'mon! He's our brother for Christ sakes" She said as it echoed through Matthew's ear, he glanced at the two, as they were hiding behind a pillar, "I can see you, you know." Matthew shouted, "Smooth." Sam said to herself, she walked towards Matthew as she sat down near beside him, James just eavesdropping in the conversation hiding away, it was hard to hear, but he could make it out. "Hey." She sighed staring down at the green grass with him, Matthew just nodded and stood silent, it was very awkward for the two, she wanted to confront him vigorously, but didn't have time to think, "I know what happened between you and your father.." He jumped up and looked at her as his eyes was widen, "How..Did you know?" She glanced, as she tilted her head directly at James hiding behind a pillar stalking the two, he narrowed his eyes at him, James felt insecure and didn't look at the two as he shifted his head away from the conversation, but he could still hear them, Matthew shrugged, "Look…The reason why I didn't want to tell you was…Was.." Matthew just looked down, "Because you felt secure with James, I understand." Matthew just sighed again and sat back down, deep down he was going to say something that may infect his entire friendship with his two best friends, and he finally said it, "I'm joining the military.." Samantha stood up and was shocked she gripped him by the collar of his shirt and said, "You are NOT joining the military!! Okay?!" She screamed at him trying to persuade him, James tilted his head, "Military? Didn't his father tell him not to accomplish what he started?" He said to himself, he walked towards them and said, "I think he should do it. What branch? Because I was thinking the same thing" trying to boast Matthews idea, Samantha just glared at him, "No, he is NOT joining, and YOU'RE not going either, end of conversation. Next?" Matthew tapped her arm trying to release the small pressure he received from the pulling, "What got you wild up?" Matthew questioned her, as she sat down both staring at her, "My..Older brother died in the military..He was close to me, and no one else. I don't want to see you hurt!" She got up and hugged him tightly, his eyes widen, and looked at James, both stood silent, he heard her faintly weeping as he hugged her back, she didn't want to let go, he raised his hand and shrugging his left arm towards James, Matthew raising an eyebrow, he patted her on the back as he looked at her, "Hey…It's just that I have no one now..I don't have a family..' He said, the statement both discouraged James and Samantha, James countered, "Well, if he's willing to join, I'm joining with him, no other way." Matthew looked at James in despair, "What? No you can't, you have a family." Trying not to put James into risk, "Yeah, but I don't want to see you hurt, nor do I want you to die. So I can be there with you." Sam looked at them, and just sighed, Matthew was aggravated, "I know you're concerned about my life, but I can't…" he paused and just went silent, he just looked down and swayed his head in a fluid motion and punched the bench, "What a older brother can't look out for a younger brother?!" James protested, as he gripped him on the collar, he shoved James and looked away from them, "No..Its not that..You two..Have a life to look forward to, I don't want my inspiration to effect personal goals in your life, if you two failed to succeed, then I have failed as a friend to support your goal.." It was a strong statement, and true. He felt wise, he wanted to lead the group as a family, not enemies. They stood silent, and assessed the situation trying to encounter him, "What if we all go?" Samantha said, as she looked at Matthew as he looked up at her giving a faint smile, "I heard the Cornerian Air-Force is a good way to go..My family history was in the military" Samantha stated and she tried to find another way to support the topic, "I'll ask my mother and father to approve confirmation" She said, even though she was timid to ask, "Sounds like a plan." James folded his arms, "I'll ask too." Matthew looked down, "Guys…Thanks for supporting me." Samantha walked up to Matthew and gave him a light kiss on the right side of his muzzle, his eyes widened yet again, as he felt the touch, "You're a strong person, Matthew, just to let you realize that." Samantha walked away from the two and headed back into class, "Wow." James exclaimed, "Didn't see that coming." He gestured towards Matthew, "It's not like that." He blushed. "Uh-huh, sure." James was kidding around.