School is done. YES! About time to. Only one more year. I gave you all a really long chapter!Thanks for reading and send in lots of reviews. Well I guess on with Where are You….. (Sucky title I know)
Where Are You?
A couple minutes Carrie came in and slammed the door shut, "What was that all about, Hitomi? Just leaving Van, like that? Uh?" She yelled at me.
"Sorry Carrie! But he blamed his past on me. I have a right to be mad at him." I screamed back.
"You are hurting him, Hitomi. He likes you a lot. I mean really, really likes you. I can tell, David can tell, everyone can tell, but you. Give him a chance. For your own sake." At that she left the room.
When I was watching TV I heard a knock on the door. I opened it and there was Van leaning on the door frame. Man, he was HOT! "What do you want?" I asked him.
"To talk to you."
"Come in."
We sat on the couch. "Why are you so mad at me Tomi? I really like you and can't stand it when you are mad at me." He told me looking me straight in the eyes.
"Because you are always blaming things on me." I looked away from his eyes and onto my toes.
He grabbed my chin and made me look at him, "Hitomi, I'm sorry. It is just that when I saw you that first time, you were so happy and innocent, and I was not going to give you up as a partner. And besides, I would never miss the opportunity to do this." He leaned over and kissed me. Van KISSED me! Wow! He pulled away. "The world didn't end, Tomi. And I wanted to do that for a really long time."
"You did?" I asked him.
"Yeah. When you stormed off and Carrie went after you, Waltsir and David told me that I was losing you. I was heart broken and decided to win you back."
"I guess I was hiding all of this from myself, because when you kissed me I realized that I really like you too."
He smiled and pulled me into his arms, "So I have won you after all." Then he kissed me again.
I woke up the next day way to late. Carrie was playing our beloved, Xbox, "Dang girl! How late was Van over here? You missed breakfast and he did too. But being the great friend that I am, I saved you something." She tossed me a bag with an apple, an orange, and a banana in it.
"Thanks Carrie." I was starving.
"So tell me about last night."
I sat on the couch next to her. "We got everything settled out and I have a new boyfriend."
"Van? How will JC take it? Will she like him?" JC stands for Jessie Christy, my daughter. You see two years ago I had this boyfriend; it was the summer right after I graduated, he was 20 and I was 18. Well to put a long story short, he raped me and now I have JC. My mother was so mad at first (not at me, at that loser, Dilandau,) then she was so excited to have a grandchild, she wouldn't let me put her up for adoption. Dilandau left the state, of course. My big bro, Jason could have killed him. I wish he did. Well, JC is a mini-me, I swear she looks exactly like me. Good thing too. I don't want a mini- Dilandau.
"I think she will love him and even try to take Van away from me. Well last night, we watched a movie, kissed, played Xbox, kissed some more, watched anther movie, and kissed even more. Great night that was."
"Gosh! You sure did kiss a lot."
"Well missy, were where you last night?"
"You know hanging with David."
"Oh? Really?" I said elbowing her arm.
"No! Not with David! Just take out the Xbox from your story and you have mine."
"You call your family yet?"
"No. I guess I should do that now."
When Carrie was on the phone, I got dressed. I was wearing my camouflage pants with my army green tang-top, the shirt was a little too tight, but not suffocating tight, just the tight that fitted perfectly. I left my hair down, that is shoulder length with no bangs, and put on my cool combat boots.
Just as I started to pack, again, there was a knock on the door. "Come in!" I shouted from my closet.
"Hey Carrie. Where is Hitomi?" She pointed to the closet that clothes were flying out of. Van smiled and started walking towards the closet.
I was throwing all of my shirts out of the walk-in closet, when Van walked in. I turned around just in time to see a shirt land on Van's head. I covered my mouth to stop myself from laughing. He took the shirt off of his head and reached out his arm to give it to me. When I almost had it he threw out of the closet and grabbed my hand, pulling me into his arms. "Are you overly excited to go home?" He asked smiling.
"You mean all the shirts everywhere, that's just how I pack." I explained. He smiled and kissed me. As usual, I went limp in his arms. What a big girl I am.
"What was that for?" I asked.
"Your morning kiss, Tomi." He told me letting me go.
"Hitomi, the phone is all yours. I need to talk to Walt. See ya." The door opened and closed.
I took Van's hands. "I need to call my family. Let them know what is happening. Okay?"
"All right I will just sit and wait."
I let go of one of his hands and held on to the other, and led him out of the closet. He sat on the couch and started playing Xbox. I looked at my desk, one of my shirts was on my desk and it knocked over JC's picture. How dare that shirt! I was livid! I threw the shirt back into the closet and put JC's picture back up. Boy did I miss that girl.
"Everything fine, Tomi? You seem mad." Van turned around.
"Everything is spankin." I smiled
"Alright, whatever you say."
I dialed my home phone number. "Hey Jason!"
"Tomi! How are you?" My older brother answered the phone.
"Shinning like a star. How are you?"
"Splendid."
"How's mom and JC?"
"JC is begging me to let her talk to you."
"Well don't tease her give her the dang phone, if she wants it."
"Talk to ya later Tomi."
"Mommy?" That was my adorable baby.
Remembering that Van was here I didn't call her baby just yet. I don't want to break the ice already.
"Hey JC. Are you being good?"
"Like an angle."
"So how was daycare?" I could hear her crying. "Oh, it's alright JC. Don't cry on me now. I might cry."
That got a little laugh out of her. "Mommy never cries. Not ever or never."
"When you were born I did."
"Really?"
"Not a lie. I was so happy and proud. I still remember that day."
"Tell me Mommy, PLEASE?"
I glance over to Van. "When I come home I will. I promise."
"When are you coming back?" She sounded excited.
"Next week, rascal."
She dropped the phone and I heard footsteps. "Granny! Granny! Mommy coming home next week."
"Really? Well hurry up JC. I want to talk to her." My mom replied.
"Kays, Granny." JC told her.
I felt a hand on my waste, which made me jump a mile. "I got bored, playing Xbox. Who is this? She looks exactly like you." He held JC's picture.
"I'll tell you as soon as I get off the phone. Look at this. You will enjoy it." I handed him my book with all my pictures in it, my very evil past.
"You were cute when you were a baby." He told me.
"And I'm not now?" I asked.
"Ten times more cute." He kissed me on the cheek. So much kisses!
"Mommy, Granny told me I have to give her the tele." JC was back on the phone.
"Well first tell me why you don't like daycare." I demanded.
"They don't like me. I'm not wanted in that evil place." She explained.
"Why don't they like you? And who does not like you?"
"The girls. They called me a name."
"What?"
"Army brat!" She started crying again.
"Oh. It is Ok. That is an honor to be called that."
"Really?"
"Yep. How about it, when I get back I will go to your daycare and tell those girls to leave you alone?"
"Ok. I love you mommy."
"Love lots, JC."
"Bye."
"Bye."
"See you later, momm-"
"Now give up the phone JC."
"Oh-alright." That was the hardest thing to hear, my little girl sad because I was not there.
"Hitomi! You are coming home?" My mom asked me.
"Yep, next week." I told her.
"We can have a big party. I am so happy my little girl is coming home."
"Only for one year, mom."
"It is better than only hearing your voice." She started to cry.
"No mom. Don't start crying. First JC and now you."
"I was just thinking how hard it has been on all of us, but extremely hard on JC. Five months without a momma. How dreadful. Jason is even moping, upset because he can't scare your boyfriends. Do you have one now?"
"Yep, but I'll tell you more when I get home. OK?"
"OK. Just wait till I tell Jason."
"No mom. Don't tell Jason."
"Well Jason wants to tell you something."
"Hey little sis." Jason came on the phone.
"Hey big bro." Van looked at me with a 'no not a big brother' expression. I pointed to Jason's picture.
"So you are coming home next week?" Jason asked.
"Yep, if next week even comes." I answered back.
"I asked Maggie to marry me yesterday." Maggie is Jason's beautiful blond hair, blue eyed, 5' 4" girlfriend. Just perfect for my brown hair, hazel eyed, 6' brother.
"Really, what did she say?"
"Yes. She was so happy she screamed out 'I love Jason'. Then I screamed 'I love Maggie.'"
"So I'm finally going to have a sister?"
"Yeah, seems so. Hitomi I have to go now."
"OK. Is there anyone else to talk to?"
"No, you talked to everyone."
"OK, see you in a week Jason."
"Bye, sis, I love you."
"Bye, bro, I love you."
The line went dead. I looked at Van. Time to break the ice. "We need to talk." I grabbed his hand and led him to the couch "Sit."
"What is this all about? You breaking up with me?" Van asked worried. I leaned over and kissed him. "I guess we are still together."
"Van this is about my past. You see that picture of that little girl? She is my daughter. Her name is JC for Jessie Christy."
"You have a kid. How-why-no."
"When I was 18 I had this boyfriend. It was the summer after I graduated. He was 20 and he asked me to marry him." This was really hard; I was on the brink of tears. "I said no, I wanted to have a future. He seemed really mad. The he said that he would make sure I have no future. He raped me! Van, I got raped!" I started to cry.
He held me tight, rocking back and forth, saying "It's not your fault. That guy was messed up. It's ok." He stopped rocking me, when I stopped crying, but still held me tight.
"Jason, my older brother, went after him, when I got home and told him. I told Jason before I told my mom. You see, my dad left me, my mom, and Jason when I was two. Just to let you know Jason's your age. Well I wanted to put JC up for adoption, but we all decided otherwise. Now you know who JC is."
"How come you joined the Army after you had her?"
"Well I decided to lose weight, get back in shape and preparing my self for the Army was a great way. I also skipped collage and needed to make a living some how. But most of all I wanted to make JC proud of me. The girls at her daycare call her 'Army Brat'. She was hysterical. Can you believe it people actually calling my little girl 'Army Brat?'" I smiled up at him.
"You know you are in the Army right now, being my partner and my girl."
"Well I should pack about now."
"I'll help." He started to pick up my shirts.
"If you want to help, follow me." I lead Van into the closet. "This is my half," I pointed to the left side, "And this is Carrie's side." Pointing to the right.
"So what do I have to do?" Van asked.
"You can put all my shirts in this suitcase, the dresses or nice clothes go in this dress holder, and my uniforms go in the shirt suitcase. Is that enough to do?"
"Yea, I should be fine. Wait aren't your shirts everywhere around your room?"
"Glad you noticed. Now we need to get to work."
I went to my dresser and started to get all my underwear out when Van came up to me holding a blue dress. "Why don't you ever wear this? It sure would look beautiful on you."
I blushed and looked at the evil dress. "I don't like dresses." I flatly said.
"Then how come you have it?"
"My mom said that if there are dances she wants me to look my best."
"But two months ago you and Carrie had on belly shirts, and minie skirts on, with boots that went up to your knees. That's not your best."
"Now, don't you go telling my mom that! Anyways, it was just for fun, and we got double patrol for that."
"I remember having 2 weeks of patrol."
"That was also your obsession with smoking, too."
"I was bored to death. Anyways I quit a week after patrol."
"It was still nasty. I don't know how you could still run the next day."
"I'm in more than in shape, that's how." He went back to packing the closet clothes. We got done just in time for lunch.
As we were walking down the hall Walt came up. "Van I need to talk to you. This is big."
"I'll save a seat for you." I told him as I left them to talk.
I got my food and sat next to Carrie, remembering to save a seat I told David, who sat across from us, "Van is going to sit there."
"Fine, I'll just tell everyone not to sit there."
He started to get up, "David! I don't want to have patrol on our last week!" Carrie said in a hoarse whisper.
He sat back down and we all started to talk about how the food they gave us was nasty. We all had roast beef, jello, and fried beans. It all came from a can. Every lunch that was spent in the base, this is what we had. The only good thing was the Gatorade, beer, or water. We all choose Gatorade.
Then about fifteen minutes into lunch Van came over with a pale face. "Van what's wrong?" I asked worried.
"Nothing you should worry about Tomi. David, Walt needs to talk to you, too. We should go now."
David got up and picked up his tray. "Van you can't go now. You will starve yourself. Please eat. You will eat. Now were is Walt? We need to talk about letting you boys eat." I started to get up.
"Glad to know you worry about me so much Tomi. But this is an order, we have to go." Van told me very sternly.
"Well I will just tell Walt that if he won't let you eat you will get sick." I started to walk away when Van grabbed my arm.
"Hitomi, then if you are so worried grab me some food when you leave. If you go to talk to Walt, I will start smoking again." He had a smirk on his face.
I was stuck there; I didn't want to kiss a guy who smokes. Then I saw all eyes on us and decided to give up. He let go of my arm and I walked back to my seat.
"Van smoked?" Carrie asked, surprised.
"Yea, you remember the time we got double patrol. Well that is when he started and he quit when I said I wouldn't hang around him anymore because he smelt so bad." I answered.
"So he uses it against you? How sad."
"Now he has a weapon, if he smokes then I won't want to kiss him."
"Can't you just say if he starts to smoke again, then you will break up with him?"
"I was about to say that, then I saw everyone looking at us. I gave up. He must be pretty happy that he won two battles in a row."
I finished eating, cleaned my mess and put some fruit, Gatorade, and a chocolate cookie, Van's favorite, in a brown paper bag. Then I went on a walk through little garden we planted a month ago outside. I sat on a bench, waiting, knowing that Van will know I was here.
Finally fifteen minutes later he showed up, I was playing with little pebbles and throwing them at ants. I was pretending the ants were the French.
"So, did you grab me some food?" Van asked standing across from me. I threw the bag at him. "Thanks. I'm starving." He sat down next to me. I saw two ants try to run out of their little prison and poked them with a stick. Killing bugs is what we try to do on patrol that is if we can see them.
"What did you talk about?" I asked him when he finished eating.
"Oh, that." He groaned.
"Are you going to tell me or not."
"Hitomi, you know I'm not suppose to-"
"Van! If it was so important for you to not eat lunch and use a start smoking threat, then don't you think I should know?" I practically yelled at him.
He put his arm around my shoulders. "I had no idea you were worried. I'm sorry I worried you so."
"Would you PLEASE, get to the point!"
"There have been reports for six girls missing and their boy partner's ether killed or injured. Walt wanted to warn me and David to look out for you two. You and Carrie are the last two girls left in this division, which have scouting jobs, in the front line. Walt said that the French are taking the girls as they are doing scouting jobs and ether killing the boys or injuring them pretty bad. I told him about what happened yesterday. He was livid that we did not report it. We are heading back tomorrow, instead of next week, because you and Carrie are in danger here. We also get an extra year back in DC. When we go back we get three months of free time, then training the new kids, and then coming back here with them. All four of us will be the new kids' captains. But we still have to do scouting."
"All of those girls missing? I could have been one of them, but you saved me, both of us. And it was my entire fault. If I did not freeze you we would have gotten back with out them finding us. I'm so sorry Van."
He gripped my shoulder tighter, "Don't be sorry, Tomi. For one thing it is all my fault. If I called you on the radio then you wouldn't have frozen me. You just did what you where supposed to do. The other thing is we would have not gotten into that fight and became a couple."
I smiled up at him, "Very true." And leaned on his shoulder and he rested his head in my hair.
A couple moments later, I lifted my head. "Van, we need to call our families."
"Don't you worry about that, I already made the call. JC answered the phone; I told her mommy is coming home tomorrow."
"It has been a long five months here." I got up. "I should clean the desk. Are you done packing?"
He got up too. "Yes I packed this morning before I went to help you pack."
He walked me to my room, said good night and left to go to his room. I walked in my room, thinking of the very complicated day I just had.
jennierbts