The barrack was empty when I got there. Everyone was still at the dance having a good time, though some more than others. My eyes were still full of tears and I wanted nothing more than to just get away from the school. All of the other cadets would be leaving for their homes right after the dance, but there was no way that I was waiting that long. I grabbed my bag had headed for the door.

"Holy shit," I said as I jumped. I opened the door, not expecting to see Jennifer standing behind it.

"Kelly…"

"I have to go now," I didn't make eye contact with her. I tried to leave, but she blocked the exit, so I couldn't.

"We have to talk," she said.

"Let me go!"

"Not until we talk."

I tried to fight back the new tears as I pushed her. "Please, let me go!"

"I won't. Not yet, Kelly. Not without a fight!"

I was struggling to leave and she was doing the same to keep me there. My face was red from all of the rough pushes and shoves. I was at the peak of my anger when I realized that she was holding back. This girl could have crushed me by now if she really wanted to, but she looked as if she wasn't even trying. She wasn't trying to hurt me. I felt weak and there was nothing I could do. I pounded on her like she was a door as I slowly fell to my knees and cried. Jennifer soon joined me on the floor, holding me close.

"I'm sorry, Kelly. You have to believe me. I didn't kiss him. He kissed me," she explained.

"I…believe…you." It was hard for me to talk. I was crying so much that I was hyperventilating.

"Here, let me help you." Jennifer stood to her feet and held her hand out for me. "Why don't we go to my room?"

Once we were inside and I had calmed down, I took a seat on her bed. "It's too bad we're missing the dance," I said.

"Well, we don't have to."

"What do you mean? The dance committee says that once you leave, you can't get back in."

"Yeah, but who needs the dance?" Once again, Jennifer held her hand out for me, but for a different reason this time. She put her hands on my waist and I put mine on her shoulders as she hummed us a tune. I was definitely getting to see a very different Jennifer tonight.

"I can't believe we're doing this," I said with a smile.

"Well, we deserve to have one dance here that isn't a total disaster," she interrupted the humming to tell me.

(Knock, knock)

"Captain Stone, are you in there?" a very deep voice was heard from the other side of the door.

"No, it's my father," she whispered with a frightened look on her face. "Sir, yes Sir!"

She let me go before he opened up the door.

"Why aren't you at the dance, Captain Stone? I went to look for you and Major Rigby told be that you just ran off and left him." He said, walking closer.

This man was nearly seven feet tall. His deep green dress uniform was covered in various medals and badges. He must have been in the military for most of his life. His cold attitude definitely showed it.

"What," Jennifer asked, trying to sound surprised.

"What is wrong with you, Soldier? Did I stutter? And for the love of God, stand to attention when I talk to you!

"Daddy, I…"

"Now how many times do I have to tell you not to call me that here?"

"I'm sorry, Lieutenant Stone," Jennifer said. She was looking down now, obviously hurt by her fathers lack of heart.

"Don't say sorry! Sorry makes you look weak in the eyes of the enemy."

"You're not supposed to be my enemy," I heard her whisper.

"Anyways, I came here to tell you that our Christmas plans have changed. You're mother is leaving in about an hour on a peacekeeping mission. They just called her. I have some work to do in Washington, so I won't be able to be home either. It looks like you have the whole house to yourself the year."

"Again? You promised that we would all be together this year!" Jennifer was close to tears.

"Pull yourself together. You're a Stone! Do Stones Cry?"

"No, sir," she said softly.

"I can't hear you."

"SIR, NO SIR!"

"Good. I'll see you in the new year, then." He was about to leave, but he turned around with one last message for his daughter as he opened the door. "And Stone," he looked over at me and then back to Jennifer, "don't fraternize with the cadets. Only maggots do that!"

Jennifer was upset. After seeing what her father was like, I couldn't blame her. I also saw where her bad attitude came from, and could no longer blame her for that either.

"Are you ok?" I asked, though I knew the answer.

"No, I'm not. I hate him so much. Both of them. Why did they even bother to have a child in the first place?"

"I don't know. But I do know that there's no way you're spending Christmas by yourself. My family would love to have you"

"Really?"

"Of course. It'll be great. You, me, my mom, my dads and my baby brother. It'll be fun. What do you say?"

She looked as if she had to think about it for a second. "Hmm…I say lets go!"