100 Challenges

Prompt 053: Keep a secret

Title: Why?


Kathleen looked over as Sheila sat down beside her. The other female trainee had a wide grin on her face. "Can you keep a secret?" Sheila asked.

Kathleen hesitated for a moment. She could keep a secret, but she didn't like to. "Yeah, I can." It technically wasn't a lie, and if they argued Kathleen was sure she could win.

"Will saw John and Kelly in the woods the other day…making out." Sheila seemed so excited by the gossip, as though this little event was more exciting than any training exercise.

Kathleen was not as excited. "So, I thought that it was obvious that was going to happen. You're acting like he caught them having sex or something." Kathleen was not a big fan of blowing such small things out of proportion.

"I haven't gotten to the part that's the secret." Sheila sighed and then continued. "The secret part of it is that both Fred and Linda were upset about it when they found out."

Kathleen frowned at the information. Linda, she couldn't see a reason why she would care, unless Linda liked John. There was a more important question, though. "Why does Fred care?" She managed to hide the majority of her curiosity from the words, covering it with moderate disinterest. The only reason she could think of Fred being upset couldn't be true, if he valued his life.

"Well the only reason I can see is that he likes Kelly and is mad she's with John." Sheila relaxed a bit in her seat, some of the excitement easing away. "He didn't say anything about it though, so I had no idea." Kathleen stood up and Sheila raised an eyebrow. "Where are you going?"

"To gather information." Kathleen moved off, leaving a confused Sheila behind.

Fred's back hit the wall, hard. Before he could react her forearm was at his neck, pressing against his windpipe. It was hard to breathe but he managed words. "What do you want? I didn't do anything."

Kathleen glared at the almost 14-year-old trainee. "You are going to answer me honestly and fully." The look in her eyes told him he shouldn't dare to test her. "Why are you upset about John and Kelly?"

Fred stared at her for a moment, stunned. "That's what this is about?" He suddenly became angry and started to struggle. "Let me go."

"Not until you answer the question." Kathleen applied a bit more pressure to his neck. Fred's hands grabbed her arm to try to pull it away. "Answer me."

Fred tried to pull her arm away, finding it hard to manage a solid breath. "Because of you."

Kathleen scowled at his answer. "How is it my fault?" She moved away, letting him go and finally allowing him to breathe. "I didn't have any part in it."

"You just don't get it." Fred rubbed at his throat as he took deep breathes, trying to fill his burning lungs. "John is squad leader. He always follows the rules, no matter what."

"So what? You're upset because he broke the rules? You do that all the time, and that has nothing to do with me. I didn't make him do it." Kathleen didn't understand what he meant. His answer didn't seem to have any logic to it.

"That's not it." Fred let out an aggravated groan. "I'm jealous of him because he's out sucking face with Kelly and you won't even hold my hand. He's willing to break the rules to be with the person he likes, and you won't even admit that you like me."

Kathleen furrowed her brow. "That's what you're upset about?" She shoved Fred hard enough he hit the wall. "I should have known it was something stupid like that. Man up, Fredric." She turned and walked away from him.

Kathleen looked up at the agitated Sheila. She put her knife away, turning her attention to the other trainee. "What?"

"You said you could keep a secret." Sheila crossed her arms, waiting for an excuse.

"I can, but it doesn't mean I always will," Kathleen countered. In seconds the two trainees were on the ground, fighting.