Chapter 12

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N: Week 4 at Boot Camp

Sunday

I woke at 4am just like I have been for the past two weeks. I was kind of excited to start the day in the kitchen with the people who've become like a family to me. I was about to get up when all of a sudden it hit me that I wasn't allowed to go to the kitchen anymore. I had to be in the mess tent for my meals now. It hurt like a knife in the heart. That was the only thing I liked about this place.

Then the rush of memories from the past year came. I remembered Sam in all her gothic ultra-recyclo vegetarian beauty. I remembered Danny as Danny Fenton getting shoved into a locker next to me by Dash Baxter and as Danny Phantom and all his ghostly heroism. I remembered Jazz and all her adult knowledge and wisdom in her teenage body before she left for college. I saw "Team Phantom" with me included all excited to hunt ghosts. Then it jumped to when it was just me and Sam after Danny started dating Valerie and how much fun I'd have with her. Sometimes she had this look on her face that meant that she'd rather be with Danny than with me. Every time she had that look, and she did it quite often near the end, it was like a punch in the gut. Then seeing her eyes light up and her brilliant smile when she shared the news that Danny and Valerie broke up. That's when I remembered being ignored and given weird looks and finally when I ended the friendship and how neither one cared.

That's when I remembered being in trouble all of the time, then being sent to boot camp. I remembered the last three weeks of pure torture and every detail of it. I remembered the first week when I was looked down on because I was the very last one done with the obstacle course and fell down a lot. Not to mention that it takes me longer to work out all of the physical stuff like the correct way to do pushups and everything than everyone else. I remembered the second week when everything was still hard for me, but that I loved being in the kitchen. Then last week when I was being punished like crazy and worked until near death, or so it felt like. I remembered being yelled at in the head drill sergeant's office and having to clean the laundry room over and over again along with all the insane things he had me do. Then I remembered the smile he gave me when he finally dismissed me for bed last night which I found kind of creepy.

That's when the pain started, both physical and emotional. I curled up in a ball to try to keep the pain inside, but that didn't give me any relief. I got up and doubled over in pain. I straightened myself up and nearly cried out in anguish, luckily it was just a hiss and no one woke up. I tried stretching a little to see if that would give me any comfort and I nearly fell down because the pain was so unbearable. I got my stuff and headed to the showers. Once I got there I looked around and since no one was there I tried to let out at least some of my anger and frustration by yelling as loud as I could for as long as I could in just one breath. It didn't help much. So I took a long shower to see if that would make my muscles loosen up at all. It helped some, but not nearly as much as I wanted it to.

I still had so much pain inside me. I wanted to hit something, but there was nothing around besides things that would hurt me if I punched them. I wondered whether or not I should do my exercises that I've done pretty much since the second week since nobody else was around. I figured I should do them anyway because for one thing today's my all day training session and I'm guessing they're not about to let me skip it just because I'm in pain and the other thing is I like to do my exercises when nobody's watching. Otherwise I'd just feel weird.

I did my exercises and then went to the mess tent for breakfast. I ate by myself because I hadn't made any friends at all except for the kitchen staff. Then we went to chapel. After chapel we had lunch and then I got called into the head drill sergeant's office. I'm thinking What's he want me to do now? Thankfully it stayed in my head where it belonged instead of coming out of my mouth. I entered the room just as he was screaming at his laptop. I'd never seen it before because it was never out while I was there.

"Anything I can help you with, Sir?" I asked.

"Not unless you know anything about fixing computers."

"As it happens I'm a techno-geek," he just stared at me blankly, "in high school I'm known as a loser because I know almost everything there is to know about pretty much every piece of technology within the last hundred years. It sounds like I'm bragging but I've actually tested this theory. So may I give it a try, Sir?" We always had to call our superiors Sir.

"Alright you can have a look at it, but if you make it worse... there will be serious consequences."

"Sir, yes, Sir!" I turned it around and almost laughed out loud, luckily I stopped myself. His computer was on, but it was a black screen. I knew what was going on immediately. He had accidentally set his brightness display to 0. It took me all of two seconds to fix. I turned it around but not before I caught a glimpse at what was on the screen. He had my file up. I didn't even know there were files on us, but I suppose it makes sense that they would.

"Thanks." He said gruffly.

"Your welcome, Sir," I said, "You called me in here, Sir?"

"Yes. Come here and sit down," I did as I was told, "I was going through your files and following up on your progress. In here is all the things that you've done since you've been here including punishment. You've come a long way. I'd like to know whether or not you'd like some extra responsibility. You have until Wednesday to think it over. Dismissed." I turned around and left. He didn't even give me a chance to say anything.

I went then and did my all day training session just like I've done every Sunday except for my first Sunday here. Afterward I went straight to bed, not that I really had any choice in the matter. Not that I would have stayed up anyway because I was so exhausted and too tired even to complain in my head.

Monday

I woke up at 4am again and although I could have an extra hour of sleep my body doesn't seem to think that's an option. I did my exercises and then went and took a shower. I like taking my showers before everyone else gets there and doing my exercises before everyone else gets up. I do some of the less torturous exercises, the ones that don't make me sweat as much behind the showers while they're in the showers and then I follow them there so it's kind of like I was there the whole time.

I went to breakfast once again eating by myself. I knew this would probably be a trend for the rest of my time here, but I was used to eating with the kitchen staff for three weeks so it was different for me.

I don't know really that I've come that far. I mean I know I have in the kitchen especially considering that before I didn't even know how to wash dishes without help and ending up being the head cook of the vegetarian meals, but as far as the other stuff goes probably not. The only thing that I am good at now is target practice and pushups and those are hardly things to brag about... Target practice maybe, but most people can do pushups fairly well.

I can finally jump rope for twenty minutes without missing, but who's gonna find that cool. I know I'll never be cool because of my being a techno-geek and my voice is still cracking. I'm not anything special to look at, not that I've seen a mirror recently, but I'm sure I probably still look the same. (They don't have mirrors here because they want us to focus on training and not being vain. Also they say that there's really no point since we still have so little hair.)

Maybe it'll just be like this today or I'll get used to it, but today was so boring. I had so much time to think that I could hardly stand it. You wouldn't think so, but I've been spoiled having to do all these extra things because it didn't give me time to think of anything, but now even though I'm with everybody the whole time I feel I have time to think of everything. Not to mention that I'm used to being have to do a lot more physical stuff than them. I mean once they're all tired out and everything, I'm still ready to go another round or two.

I've actually found myself looking forward to my three extra hours of training. The head drill sergeant hasn't told them to back off even though my punishment is over and it sounds weird, but I can't tell you how glad I am for that. I went to bed at 9 like I was supposed to, but I wasn't tired at all because I wasn't worked as hard as usual.

I snuck out and got a jump rope. I jumped rope for probably twenty minutes but I got bored just going forward so I tried different things. I didn't make it the first few times, but once I got it around myself once I tried it again and again until I got it around two or three times and decided to add this to my daily routine. I did jumping on one foot, switching feet, backwards, sideways (that one was the toughest) and twisting it (jump forward once cross your arms and jump then forward again.) I was sweating so bad by the time I finally went to bed but I felt good. It was about midnight and I went right to sleep.

Tuesday

You know it's weird that I don't mind still getting up at 4 even though I'm not in the kitchen. I don't really mind getting only four hours of sleep because in some ways I think it's better to get four really good hours of sleep than eight okay hours of sleep. Plus I like that I have an hour to myself to do whatever I want. That whatever happens to be exercising and showering, but I could do other things I suppose, I just don't want to.

The worst part of this whole thing is my voice cracking because no matter what I say everyone always laughs. I know they can't help it and I can't help my voice anymore than they could help their laughter, but it's so annoying. I could be completely serious and be saying something important or answering a question correctly or incorrectly doesn't matter because they always end up laughing. They get yelled at and they quiet down until the next time I have to talk. Some people start snickering as soon as I'm asked a question or told to do something and I have to say 'Yes Sir.'

I am however pretty good at everything else. Yeah I'm bragging, but considering where I started from wouldn't you be too? I'm not the best or even the second best at most things, but I do come in first at target practice and I'm starting to be about the third one when we have to run. My reflex time is getting better and I can restrain most of the other boot campers rather easily. Notice I did say most and that's in my section, not all. I am good at marching in unison.

I'm still not the best swimmer in the World, but I'm no longer the worst. I'm the worst one in the camp still I bet, but not in the World no. Last night they started making one hour of my extra training practicing swimming. They're seeing how long it takes me to do fifty laps and if my hour is up before then, I get out anyway to do other stuff. So far I've only gotten twenty done in an hour. How sad is that? I've got to do it again tonight so maybe I'll be lucky and I'll get twenty-one laps done in an hour. One can only hope.

I tried to go to sleep at 9 again and once again it didn't work so I got up and did the new jump rope things again because for one thing it's more interesting than jumping rope the same way all the time and for another it's the most exhausting out of all the exercises that I do. I went right to sleep once I finally went back to bed.

Wednesday

After breakfast I got called in to see the head drill sergeant once again. He had his laptop out and I'm guessing he was looking at my file. "You asked to see me, Sir?" I asked pretty much figuring he was gonna ask me about the extra responsibility.

"Have you given any thought to having extra responsibility given to you?" See just what I thought.

"Yes I have, Sir," I said, "I have come to the decision that yes I would like to have some extra responsibility."

"Good, good," he said, "Now I have a couple of tests for you to see whether your fit for the responsibility that I'd like to give you, but first would you please fix my computer again."

"Yes, Sir." He turned the computer around again, but the problem wasn't so easily found this time. It took me about three minutes instead of the two seconds last time.

"Test one has been completed," I looked at him blankly, "I'd like you to fix our computers when we have problems. Every drill sergeant has one. He makes his observations and notes on paper and then transfers them over to the computer afterward, then they're all forwarded to me to look over. If there's anything that I think needs changing in one of the files I'll change it and then send it back to the drill sergeant so that he can make the change accordingly unless I do it myself as I did with your punishment. Now will you take on this responsibility?"

"Sir, yes, Sir." I said trying to keep the excitement out of my voice. My beloved technology would come back to me, at least when someone needed theirs fixed.

"Is this enough extra responsibility or would you like more?"

"Actually Sir, if it's okay with you, I'd like more. After having all of that extra responsibility for the last few weeks, not having them has made the days seem incomplete somehow." I left out how boring it made the day. I'm not sure he would have appreciated that too much.

"I see. You've made enough progress to make it to test number two. Follow me." I did as he said. He led me to a clearing that had a group of people standing there. They weren't in my group, but I'd seen them in the mess tent. "I want you to get this group to do the things on this list. Can you do that?" He gave me a piece of paper with a bunch of stuff on it.

"I'll try." I said a little doubtfully. "Okay, let's do it. My name is Tucker Foley. What are your names starting with you and going that way?" I asked pointing towards the right. They all told me. My voice was still cracking, but after they got a little bit of laughter out of the way they seemed fine.

"I have a list of things that we need to get done today. Are you willing to do them with me?" They said yes amazingly enough. My group would have been like 'no way.'

"The first thing we need to do is two hundred pushups. What is the most you can do at one time without getting tired?" Everybody had a different answer. I looked at the list and counted how many things were on it. Nobody had said that they could do two hundred or even one hundred at one time. The most was fifty and the least was twenty. "Here's what we're gonna do. We're going to split it up then. Right now we'll do twenty pushups. I know we all go at different speeds, but we're gonna try to do it at the same pace. Follow me." I got down on the ground and they all followed me. I did two handed pushups for the first time in like two weeks. I went as slowly as I could so that everybody could get it.

Once we were done with the twenty, it was time to march in unison. Our group didn't ever say anything, we just went and followed and our drill sergeant never said anything either. I decided to do a little different approach. I had them all line up in a horizontal line first so that I could see how well they were in step with each other. Not very well. So I said, "Everybody step with their left foot first. Try to keep in step with the people next to you. Start." That worked out a little better, but not quite in sync with each other yet, "I'll help you out." I got at the end of their line. "Everyone follow me: Left, right, left, right." Then I watched them as I just said it. It worked.

Then we did another set of twenty pushups together. Then I lined them up in a vertical line and told the people behind to follow the people in front of them and the first person to listen to me. That worked out pretty well. We did another set of twenty pushups and then I did in a group and marching. I told them to follow the people in front of them and beside them to make sure everyone was in step with each other. They did pretty well. Then another set of twenty pushups.

Next they had to run a mile. I ran with them, but first I made us all stretch. Then I had us all stretch again when we came back and do another set of twenty pushups. Every time we did something else on the list we broke them down by doing twenty pushups in between. We ended up doing ten sets of twenty pushups to get the grand total of two hundred. Once we'd done everything on the list the head drill sergeant came over and said that it was pretty good.

He told them how I was when I first came and how far I'd come. He said with perseverance and determination that they could also get far. He told them of how he had made me do one thousand one handed pushups and then had me demonstrate. We had gone right through lunch so the head drill sergeant said that they could go and eat leftovers at the mess tent, he'd already told the kitchen that they'd be late. He had me go back to his office with him.

I was seriously confused on what that was all about, but I wisely kept that to myself and waited for him to speak. Neither of us said a word for like ten minutes. We just sat there staring at each other. Finally there was a knock on the door. I looked up and saw another drill sergeant. He just looked at the head drill sergeant and nodded. The head drill sergeant nodded back and the other drill sergeant left.

"Test number two has been completed," once again I looked at him confused out of my mind, "I'd like you to become the drill sergeant of the group that you just trained with. Their old drill sergeant had an emergency and won't be able to return. We asked the group if they'd be willing to have you as a drill sergeant and they all said yes. Are you up for the challenge?"

"You want me to be their drill sergeant? Are you sure I'm the right person for the job?" I asked unsure.

"I think you'll do." he said. Well, that was encouraging. Note my major sarcasm.

"What about the regular group that I'm with?" I asked curiously.

"They'll do fine without you. I've noticed this week that when they look tired and are breathing hard, you are breathing normally and look like you're bored not being able to do anything else. I was rather impressed by the way you handled the group. You achieved what the former drill sergeant could not. I think you'll be good for each other. You'll still do your extra training and your all day training on Sundays, but everything else will have to do with them. Are you up for the task ahead?" he asked. I, to say the least was excited. The group that he'd tested me with, which was to become my group if I were to take on that responsibility, had laughed at my cracking voice, but then had listened and respected me. I've never had that happen before. I was ready with my answer.

"Sir, yes, sir!" I said trying and probably failing miserably to hide the excitement from my voice. He spent the rest of the time explaining what my duties would be until I was dismissed for my extra training.

I went to bed happy for the first time in a long time. I hoped that the rest of my time here would go as good. To think that yesterday, this whole week for that matter, looked so dismal, so bleak, and now I was able to fix technology and lead a group. I went to sleep with a smile on my face.

Thursday

I woke up at 4 am as usual. It turns out that all of the drill sergeants eat breakfast together at 5:30 am, then after breakfast they stay there and the head drill sergeant hands out a sheet of paper to each drill sergeant. The sheets are all different and have different tasks to be performed for that day depending on the skill level for that group. For example, the kids who come to prepare for military boot camp have a lot more stuff on their list than do some of the others. The drill sergeant in charge was to make a check mark next to the items that got completed on the list. The back of that page was used for notes. One of the other drill sergeants said that I could borrow his laptop in order to send my reports to the head drill sergeant.

We have to go to our designated field areas at least half an hour before our groups get there in order to set up for the day and prepare what order we wanted to do things in. You could do the list in whatever order you wanted to do it as long as you got the most important things on the list done. I was told that the group that I have now had never gotten through the entire list before. Their old drill sergeant had gone straight down the list and since they couldn't do very many pushups at one time had to rest often, limiting their time and what they could do.

I got to the field and set up a course for them to do. They all came and I did roll call. Afterward I looked at my list. It said that they needed to do 200 pushups, so I again started us out with twenty. I showed them how I wanted the course to be done explaining along the way. Next I had them try it and after about two tries everyone got it right.

"I know it's almost unheard of for a drill sergeant to compliment his group, but I want to tell you all that you've done a great job. I truly mean that. We've got just a few more things to do on the list before lunchtime. After lunch I'd like you all to meet me at the shooting range. It's our turn to use it. Any questions? No? Okay, let's continue." We continued making our way down our list while we waited for the lunch signal to dismiss them.

Finally the lunch signal rang. They were a great group, but I could tell they were more than ready for a break. I hurried to where the drill sergeants eat for lunch because for one thing I was really hungry and for another, I wanted to make sure that I got back before my group did.

I ate quickly and then went to talk to the head drill sergeant. "Sir, I have a few questions. Do I have permission to speak freely?"

"Permission granted." The head drill sergeant told me with his mouth full. I thought it was kind of gross because I could see chewed up food in his mouth, but I kept that thought to myself. I tried to look a lot less disgusted than I was. It must of worked because he didn't seem to notice.

"Am I still having the extra training sessions every day and if I am then what will my group be doing in the mean time? I mean is another drill sergeant going to take my place or is that going to be their free time?" I looked at him expectantly.

He sat there saying nothing for about two minutes, which was making me kind of antsy. "Tell you what..." he said finally, "If you can get them to get through the whole list before you leave, then they can have an extra hour to themselves, but if you don't then I get them for the last hour before dinner." I looked at him with a decidedly blank face. I didn't want him to know how horrified I was that they might have to deal with him for an hour before dinner. It was one thing for me because I've deserved everything I've gotten, but the others are really working hard. I decided right then that I would do everything in my power to let them have that extra hour.

"Sir, yes, sir!" I said dutifully and headed for the shooting range.

I watched them shoot a clip into the target and noticed that they were all a whole lot better than I was when I started which made me feel absolutely pathetic, but before I got too depressed I reminded myself that this is our fourth week here and they've had a lot of practicing time. Also the fact that I'm probably one of the only ones who haven't used a gun before I came here.

They gathered around afterward and asked if I would shoot a clip. They looked a little nervous asking and I totally understand because no one ever asks a drill sergeant to do anything. Good thing for them that I'm only a temporary one plus even if I wasn't I wouldn't get mad. I've been itching for something to do besides just watching them anyway. "Not a problem." I grabbed a gun from one of them and set up my shot. I thought about imagining Sam being captured by a ghost for merely five seconds before I decided to imagine it being my mom instead. I didn't really want to think of either one in danger, but I haven't really figured out how to hit the bulls-eye any other way yet. I thought the longer that I went without thinking about Sam the less it'd hurt, but I feel a pang in my heart. Who would have thought that I'd become such a sappy romantic that Sam and I used to make fun of. I have to stop thinking of her.

I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard my group wonder aloud whether or not they should try to get my attention or whether I'd unintentionally shoot them. I looked over at them and said, "That's an example of what not to do while holding a gun. Never let yourself get distracted while holding a weapon or you might hurt somebody unnecessarily." They looked at me doubtfully wondering if that had really been my plan. They didn't dare question it because they weren't sure what kind of punishment I would give them. I took a deep breath and pictured my mom captured by a ghost, not surprisingly it had the desired affect. I entered a clip into the bulls-eye on the target, not once missing.

I looked back at the group and noticed their shocked faces. "What?" I asked confused. I was confused even further when almost all of their heads snapped down focusing their eyes on the ground. My face must of shown my confusion because one of the braver souls looked straight me and asked, "Permission to speak freely, Sir?" I nodded wondering what on Earth was going on, "When you were shooting, your face showed a lot of rage. Some of us were wondering if it was because of us."

My mouth literally fell open in surprise,which I'm sure was quite a sight to see. I looked at my group and noticed that they were waiting anxiously for my answer. "No, it wasn't your fault at all," I said quietly trying not to scare them further, "I think of something that makes me really angry and imagine that the only way to fix it is to hit the bulls-eye on the target. It helps me focus in a weird way. I guess I never realized that I was showing what my face was showing, and no, what makes me angry isn't you guys. In fact I'm rather impressed.

Focusing on your negativity is wrong unless you turn it into something positive such as shooting a target or something physical like pushups or jumping rope. It releases the tension from your body and helps you relax. Think about something that makes you angry. While doing something negative might help at first, but it comes back full blast later. Trust me. I've tried both ways.

Alright, let's do two more clips and then we'll do our next activity." I said making more of a speech than I'd meant to.

I handed the gun back to the one who I'd borrowed it from and watched as they tried to process my words. I didn't think they'd try to copy what I'd done with the whole focus your anger thing, but I watched as each and every one of them closed their eyes and when their eyes opened they narrowed as they glared at the target. I could almost imagine the targets going up in flames from their heated glares.

Anger was felt in the very air around me and I wondered if this would really work or if it was something that would only work for me. All of a sudden shots were fired and I felt myself jump, which would have been very embarrassing if they would have been paying attention to me instead of their targets.

I tried to keep my face blank as I watched in silent amazement as each person got quite a bit closer to the bulls-eye than they had before. After both clips were emptied, they saw the difference of before and after. I could see the excitement on their faces. They eventually turned to their usual stoic expression but I could still see their happiness dancing in their eyes.

I took a look at my sheet and put a check mark next to Shooting Range. I had us do twenty more pushups and decided that tomorrow we'd try for twenty-five pushups per time.

Then we headed to archery. I personally thought it was a little stupid to do archery and the shooting range on the same day, let alone one right after the other. Maybe it's for the best, at least today, I thought after a moment.

I saw the gleam of determination in every one of them. They had remained confident after the shooting range. I was just hoping that would be enough. I watched as they picked up their bows and arrows, then took up their stances. I saw them do the same thing that they did at the shooting range and soon saw a number of rage-filled faces.

I knew they'd be disappointed faces if I didn't step in soon because their stances were awful. "Halt!" I shouted and I must say that it sounded rather drill sergeant like minus the minor cracking of my voice of course, "About face!" They all turned around with questioning eyes facing me, "You've got the right idea with your rage; however, it won't do any good when you all have terrible stances. I've noticed that all of your different stances and none of them will get you even close to the target. Robins, hand me your bow and arrow. I'll show you different stances that will work." I took the bow and arrow and then showed them five different stances, taking aim, and then shooting, hitting the target each time.

"This is what would happen if you were to use the stances that some of you were using." I took their stance, set my thought, and took a shot. The first missed by about five feet. The second stance, then shot, went too far to the right and ended up getting stuck in a tree. The third one fell short by about two feet. I reviewed the five stances that I knew would work and had them try all of them so they could choose which one they liked the best. I had Robins gather up the arrows that I had shot, except for the one in the tree, and then gave him back his bow and arrow so that he could do the exercise as well. Once they figured out which one they liked the best I made them take ten shots, one right after another. They all got very close to the bulls-eye and a few of them even got two or three in the bulls-eye.

We got through the rest of the list, breaking it up by doing twenty pushups between each set. I admit that I was pushing to get things done because I didn't want them to have to deal with the head drill sergeant. "You've all done an excellent work today. We got through the list so that'll be it for today. I still have extra training to do for an hour before dinner, which starts in about ten minutes. You can either have an extra hour of free time before dinner or you can watch me train for that hour. So what will it be?" I watched as they thought about it, "Everyone who wants an extra hour of free time raise your hands." I saw about half of them raise their hands, "Okay, put your hands down. Everyone who wants to watch me train raise your hands. Alright those who want an extra of free time go on and head to the barracks. Those of you who want to watch me train, come with me. Let's move out."

I was kind of surprised that so many of my group wanted to watch my extra training, make that really surprised. I asked the drill sergeants if we could move my hour of swimming to after dinner because it would be so boring for them to just watch me swim for an hour, although I would think watching me train at anything would be boring. They agreed thankfully.

The drill sergeants worked me to death in that hour, for which I was glad. They pushed me hard and I pushed myself even harder. I loved every moment of it. It's weird to think that so much has changed in such a short time. Just a few weeks ago the thought of doing anything physical at all freaked me out and now I'm going out of my way to do it.

While I was training I forgot about everything else and just focused on the task at hand. I forgot that there were people from my group watching me; I pretty much forgot everything except for what I was doing at that moment.

I went to the people in my group who had come to watch me train. They were staring at me wide-eyed, which I thought was a little unusual, but decided to ignore it. "This is what I do for three hours Monday through Saturday and all day on Sundays while you guys are being lectured. This is one of the reasons that if we get our list done everyday that you will have an extra hour of free time. If we don't get the list finished, then the head drill sergeant will take over until the rest of the list is complete even if it means cutting into your dinner hour. I suggest we try and get the list completely done each day before I leave for my extra training. Dismissed!" They ran off to dinner.

After dinner I went to my extra training once again. I did my swimming for the last hour before bed time. I made it around thirty times in an hour. I still have a long way to go if I don't still want to be completely last on the obstacle course just because of my swimming.

Afterward I went ahead and did my nightly exercising and as I lay in bed trying to fall asleep I thought about how weird it all was. When I first learned that I was going to go to boot camp for six weeks I was absolutely devastated. The fact that my sixteenth birthday is next week, week five at boot camp, was like a twist of the knife that I felt my parents put there. I'm still not happy having to spend my sweet sixteen at boot camp, but I'm not nearly depressed as I was to begin with.

I know it wouldn't be much better if I were to spend my birthday at home because for one thing I don't have any friends so it's not like it'd be any fun that way, and for another thing my parents would probably still be so mad at me that it wouldn't be much of a celebration. Having my birthday here is probably for the best in a weird sort of way.

I think it's kind of interesting being a drill sergeant. The age range in my group is from fourteen to seventeen. I mean I'm fifteen and I'm in charge. Nobody's asked me my age, probably afraid of what I'd do to them, but it'd probably be pretty embarrassing to know that someone younger than you was in charge. I mean I don't even shave yet.

I've noticed that a lot of the guys, not just in my group, are starting to look like they're growing forests on their faces. I know it's not like they can help it, but still it just seems weird. Since we don't have mirrors, it's not like we can shave without one; therefore, the beards. There's only two of us who don't have beards and I'm one of them. I went to sleep after that last thought.

Friday

I woke up and did what's become my daily routine now. Although now even the one-handed pushups have become boring. They're pushups so of course they're boring, but it's become too easy. I decided to try doing them on my fingertips, but still one-handed, then eventually individual fingers also still one-handed.

At breakfast I was given a walkie talkie which made me super excited. I tried not to show it, but I'm not sure I did to good at that. Yeah, I'm lame, but I get a piece of technology for the rest of my time here even if it is caveman technology. Other than fixing the head drill sergeant's computer a couple of times, I haven't even seen a piece of technology for almost five weeks. Do you know how long that is in techno-geek? It's practically five hundred years.

I could practically hear the wires inside of it begging me to take it apart and improve it in whatever way possible. I'd just need a screwdriver, a wire cutter, and pliers. The rest would be a result of my technology savvy skills. I doubted very much that they'd appreciate my enthusiasm though, so I silently resigned myself to just being happy that I now got a piece of technology to keep with me 24/7.

I was brought out of my daydreams by the head drill sergeant slamming his hand against the table. I jumped in surprise, luckily for me I didn't make any noise. Like I need to look any more pathetic than I already do. Apparently he was emphasizing a point. What that point was though, I had no clue. He handed out our lists and we made our way out to our designated fields.

Once I got to the field I looked down at the list. It had on it, of course, the mandatory two hundred pushups; this time it had work on rope on top.

They were supposed to climb to the top and then back down as fast as they could. Why they wanted them to do that I didn't know. On the obstacle course you have to swing over a mud puddle, but nothing to do with climbing it.

I looked up and saw most of my group coming my way. I quickly calculated their numbers in my head and realized that five people from my group were missing. They stopped in front of me and I asked where the others were. They looked at each other confused, and shrugged their shoulders. They didn't know and they didn't care. This bugged me, but I knew that my old group would have had the same reaction probably with some comments about not being their mother and/or babysitter added in.

I decided we should probably get started, "Today we're going to do thirty pushups between each set. We're gradually going to work our way up to two hundred. If all goes according to plan, then we should be there in time for our final day. Thirty pushups now." I got down on the ground and we did them together as we have for the past two days.

I saw two of the five missing people hurrying to get here. I asked if they knew where the other three were. They pretty much had the same reaction as the rest of my group. When I asked them why they were late, they couldn't give me a clear answer. I had the others practice marching while I did another thirty pushups with them, then had them join in the marching.

One by one the other three came, all at different times. Each time I did their first thirty with them. The thing that took the longest that morning was climbing the rope, which I figured it would be. We finally got to lunch and I told them that I needed them back here on time.

After lunch I came back to the field and sat down waiting for my group to get finished with their lunch. I knew they still had a while to go because I had eaten quickly. I was still angry about this morning, not breakfast, but afterward. I did some of my exercising, including the harder to do pushups. It helped me to relax a little, but not much. I got onto the rope and tried climbing up it failing miserably. I always had a hard time doing what was somewhat easy to other people, especially if it involved physical activity. Very few people have the determination that I do though. I've got something to prove, not to other people necessarily, but to myself. I need to prove to myself that I can be just as good as other people in things other than technology and intellect.

I pulled myself up on the rope again after falling/slipping off of it at least twelve times. My hands had rope burns on them, but that just made me try harder. I finally did it. I came back down proud of myself. I felt kind of stupid that it was that hard for me just to climb up a dumb rope.

I wiped my hands on my pants. The pain was anguishing, but I didn't focus on it, besides it served as a reminder that I succeeded.

I did some more pushups while I was waiting for my group to come again. I had decided to stop at five hundred whether they were back or not. I looked up and noticed my group staring at me. I stood up quickly, brushing myself off as I did so. I felt painful stinging on my hands and looked down at them. There were rope burns along the middle of each finger and deep gashes along the palms of my hands. I could see blood mixed with dirt and grass. All this took probably five seconds. I had a job to do. My hands could wait until dinner, besides I had a bone to pick with my group.

I counted in my head to make sure they were all there, then I told them all to sit down. When they were all situated, I started pacing along the line that they made making sure to look into each and every one of their eyes. "As you've probably noticed I'm very different from other drill sergeants here. With them independence and being the best are the main focuses. While I do feel that independence is important, it is not my main focus. I expect you to try your very best and do your very best every time. I'm also concerned with team work. When your in my group we're family, a very strange family, but a family none the less. Family looks out for one another, they help each other, and they stick together.

It's important that you listen to me and listen carefully because this is what I'll expect from now on. There will be no being late, like a few of you were today. You will all come together at the same time. If you notice that someone is missing, then you will go and get them. Also if someone falls down, trips, or does something so awful that it looks pathetic, there will be no laughing, no taunting, and you will pick that person up whether in body or in spirit.

Though we're not in war, whether we like it or not, we are in boot camp, which is basically training us for war. Like in war, no man gets left behind and that's going to be our motto. Do you agree with the terms and conditions that I have set before you?" They looked at me with mixed expressions on their faces, but nobody said a word, "I'll take that as a yes. Let's get started."

As we began to go through the rest of the list, I noticed them all periodically giving me weird stares. I would have given me a weird stare too, but I truly believe what I said. Whether I believed it or not though, that was rather long winded and I was angry so I said it rather angrily.

We finished the list and I dismissed them. It was early enough that I had time to take care of my hands before my extra training. I washed my hands in the sink very carefully. I had snuck into the first aid tent without being seen, thankfully and was able to get some bandages. Even after all this time I still hate nurses, doctors, hospitals, and everything that even resembles the three.

I would probably keep the bandages on overnight and then go without them for the rest of the time. The only reason why I got the bandages in the first place instead of just cleaning it and leaving it at that is because they started bleeding again.

I went to my extra training and when they saw my hands decided to let me not swim just this once. I still worked myself just as hard, if not more so because of my bandaged hands. I would occasionally wince, but that just made me more determined. I told them to go ahead and work me through dinner since I didn't feel like eating. They let me work by myself while whey ate.

By the time we were finished I was exhausted, which was fine with me. Maybe I'd finally be able to get more than four hours of sleep. My hands were burning and I could tell that they had bled through my bandages. I didn't dare look at them or show that I was in pain. I mean it was just my hands. I can be such a baby sometimes. I mean seriously. I wrote a quick letter to my parents since it was Friday after all.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I understand why you sent me here

. I've been disrespectful and resentful. I just wanted you both to know that I'm sorry. I've offered to take on some extra duties during my free time. I hope that when I get home that I'll be a son that you can be proud of.

Love,

Tucker

I lie on my bed. I took out the walkie talkie and lightly ran my fingertips over it carefully not to get any blood on it. I loved that I could hear the hum of static, the slight cackle of electricity. I placed this piece of technology reverently next to where I kept my glasses and went to sleep right away.

Saturday

I woke up in an oddly calm state. I was wide awake, probably because I got a decent amount of sleep for once. There was a dull ache in my hands, but otherwise I wasn't in pain. I slipped silently out of the barracks and went into the bathroom. I took off the bandages on my hands carefully and studied my hands. The bandages were red and crusty with dried blood, but my actual hands looked a lot better than they had yesterday.

After using the bathroom, I went outside and got down on the ground. I experimentally put my hands on the ground testing the amount of weight I could put on them and after making sure that I wouldn't fall over because of the pain, I did my exercises.

After I was done I took a shower and went into where the drill sergeants ate breakfast. It was still early, so I was the first one there. I put my head down on the table using my arms as a pillow. I wasn't tired, but I wasn't quite sure what else I could do.

I usually kept myself busy until it was time for breakfast, but my head seemed to want a break. I wasn't thinking of anything, I was just here, in existence.

My brain seemed to come back to me when I moved my head a little on my arms and felt something scratchy on my arm. I lifted my head absentmindedly and scratched my arm, then put my head back down, just to have the same thing happen again. This happened two or three times before I got frustrated. I sat up and sighed. I reached up and rubbed my face only to find something that felt weird there.

There was these weird prickly things around my mouth and under my chin. I realized two things, first being that this was the scratchy thing that I felt on my arm and the second that I was growing whiskers. I wondered if that was what all the weird looks were for yesterday, but that was probably from the family speech that I gave yesterday.

I haven't really felt my face since I've been here. Sure I've rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, but every time I was anywhere near my mouth I always used my sleeve, my napkin, or a towel. How long has this been going on without me knowing about it? It feels really weird. I know I'm going to have to make a conscious effort not to touch my face because now that I know it's there I keep wanting to touch it again.

I wondered if I looked as weird as I feel. When I left home my face was smooth and my voice was the same pitch. Now that I'm here my voice is cracking and now I'm growing whiskers. Puberty sucks. All I can hope is that my voice will finally stop cracking before school starts again. Like I needed to give Dash another reason to beat me up.

With that final disturbing thought I glanced up and saw the other drill sergeants coming in. I ate my breakfast distractedly. I was trying to pay attention, really I was, but all I could think about was trying not to touch my face.

The head drill sergeant handed out the lists and gave me a questioning look. At first I thought it was because my face looked funny, what can I say it was on my brain, until I realized that he was staring at my outstretched hand. I assured him silently that I was fine. I don't think that he really cared, but was just curious. Heck, I would be too.

I headed to the field and set up some of the stuff we had to do today. I got finished early so I sat against a tree to wait for my group. I noticed it was quite peaceful out here. Usually I'm too busy thinking, or rather trying not to think to take notice of the beauty in nature. I let myself relax and got lost in the moment. I felt calmer than I have for the last year and a half. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply letting my serenity wash over me.

My group came over rather loudly, but stopped dead when they saw me. I gave myself ten more seconds before I faced my duties once again. I opened my eyes and saw them looking at me with confused and wary expressions. I supposed seeing me so upset yesterday and so calm and at peace right now would be unsettling. I stood up and quickly counted. They were all here. "I'm glad to see you all here at the same time." I couldn't help but smirk a little in triumph. I mean I have six years of being shoved into my locker and I can make a group of boys older than me scared.

I quickly shook it off. Although I couldn't help feeling a little smug, I knew that I was in no position to lord my power over them. I didn't want them to think I was like every other drill sergeant here.

I had us start with forty pushups. Then we went through the list doing the obstacle course, marching, and other things while doing forty pushups between each. I was excited for after lunch though. That was when we were to work on restraining. When I dismissed them for lunch they once again gave me weird stares, but I think I'm starting to get used to it.

After lunch we came back and we did the whole restraining thing. It was possible that I was having more fun watching them then they were doing it. I liked it because I felt that it gave me power, but it was also entertaining to watch my group do it to. I really wanted to get in on the action, but I wasn't going to. Too bad the drill sergeants don't do this exercise with each other. It'd be fun, although I'd probably be murdered.

We kept going through the list and I was surprised that they actually seemed to listen to what I'd said about the whole family thing. One of them fell down while we were running and a couple people noticed and went back and picked him up. I was proud.

We finished the list and I dismissed them. First I reminded them that I wouldn't see them again until Monday and to enjoy their day off from me. I went to my extra training. I found that I still had that calm tranquil feeling that I'd gotten earlier. I still pushed myself hard, but I felt good about it. I made it around thirty-five laps in an hour. Dinner was eaten and my next two hours were again filled with training.

I wasn't tired when I went to bed, so I got up and did some more exercising. I did the harder pushups and the more difficult jump roping. I still did the sit-ups and the other things I usually did. I wasn't in any hurry so it was kind of a slow process, but when I finally went to bed I was happy. Do you know how long it's been since I've truly been happy? I don't either, but I have a feeling it's been a very long time. I went to sleep dreaming happy dreams of technology.

A/N: You have no idea how hard it was to write this chapter. I got Sunday through Wednesday right away, but the second half of the chapter was murder. I need to know how this chapter was. Was it okay? Some of it seemed like Tucker was seriously OOC, too much so?

A/N 2: Also does anyone know how long the whole voice cracking thing lasts? If nobody knows, I'll make it up, but just thought I'd ask.