Hello everyone! It is SO nice to be back! Between my busy life and needing to regain inspiration, it is SO wonderful to be back and writing Jock content. This chapter begins the evening after Jo completely humiliated Brick's military rival/bully, Wade. But, before we begin, I just wanted to give you guys a heads up on what I plan on doing with this fanfic and wanted to get all of your opinions. So, to get right to it, I for a long time have REALLY wanted to show my interpretation of what Jo and Brick's respective families are like and how their familial upbringings influenced the types of people they both eventually grew into now. So, if you are or are not up for me getting into some more slice of life content in regards to Brick and Jo's families, please let me know! Anyway, that all aside, I hope you all enjoy the chapter! :)

(Brick's POV)

I was walking to the latrine with my toiletry bag to brush my teeth before bed and also clean up my sideburns a little bit, considering my hair is getting a little too long.

I mean, not that my hair is too long to still be an acceptable military 'crewcut', but I always like to make sure I always look sharp.

Like my dad always used to tell me, 'If you want to be a good soldier, you have to both look and act like one'.

And part of being a soldier is keeping both yourself and your uniform 'up to the mark', which I always get praise for from my superiors for my preparedness and organization.

Even this morning, I was actually going to take my haircut voucher from the academy to get a haircut from the local barber.

They used to have a resident barber here at the academy back when my parents and even both my grandfathers attended, but they decided they could use that barbershop for more lodging space and now they just give us vouchers to see this barber in the town down the road (who they pay in advance every year) to give us our haircuts.

Which I don't really mind actually!

I usually go to him when I go on my weekend runs whenever I need a trim and he's a really nice man. But, considering what happened with Jo earlier… yeah, that original plan was kinda scrapped for the day and the barber is closed tomorrow, but I can always go and get a trim next Saturday morning.

It's not a problem.

Especially after 'what happened' today… I couldn't keep myself from smiling to myself.

I mean, don't get me wrong and even though a lot of what happened earlier was very awkward and tense but, that was the most Jo has ever opened up to me… about ANYTHING! EVER!

And as much as I know she'd still hate to admit it and I wouldn't even bring it up to her now, but it was kinda nice seeing her 'softer side', or at least 'soft side' as far as Jo is concerned since she's still herself and can still be pretty harsh.

But, I don't know?

Especially now that she said she was sorry to me, admitted how she felt about me (just like how I feel about her), and said [at least her own 'Jo' way] that she wanted to go out with me… again, I don't know?

It just seemed like we were finally walking on the same ground for once and after her spending most the morning and early afternoon with me here in town and at the academy… I'm looking forward to see where this goes.

I got to the men's side of the latrine as I heard a familiar agitated and put out tone say over what sounded like bristles scrubbing, "Ugh… bunch-ah… bullshit."

Wade.

Then it was confirmed as I heard Sergeant Milner direct, "Watch your tone, Branson. Unless you'd also like to join in on dish duty with the kitchen staff at your next three meals? Do I make myself clear, private?"

I looked around the corner and saw Wade scrubbing around the bottoms of the toilets with a toothbrush.

After Sergeant Milner walked in on Wade pretty much 'throwing a tantrum' in the recreation room after Jo beat his record at pull ups, he told all of us to 'move along' and has been making Wade 'pay for his misconduct', especially after he noticed Jo was a guest and Wade was 'acting out of line' in front of visiting civilian.

Acting out in front of guests is heavily frowned upon here at the academy since our actions not only reflect badly on us, but also on our units, commanding officers, and just the entire academy as a whole.

So, for the whole day, Sergeant Milner has been giving Wade a list of chores and tasks around the academy.

Again, not that I think of myself as this kind of person, but even now I couldn't help but let a small and somewhat satisfied smirk slip at seeing what Wade was being 'made to do' right now after all the years he's picked on and tormented me.

As much as I don't like to admit I'm 'enjoying this' since I always try to be the bigger and more honorable person, I kind of am enjoying this.

I felt even more satisfaction as I heard Wade let out a defeated and frustrated groan before saying, looking like he just wanted this last 'chore' to be over with, "Sir, yes, sir."

I walked past to the other side of the bathroom that had already been cleaned and started brushing my teeth and getting my razor ready to trim my sideburns a bit before getting some 'shuteye'.

15 minutes later

I got back to my bunk and despite feeling ready to get some sleep, it was like there was a part of my brain that couldn't shut off right now.

I looked at my side table and saw my pen and notebook next to my bunk that I put there this morning to remind me to write a letter to my mom before the week started.

I smirked and shrugged, deciding to just write a quick letter right now to clear my mind before going to bed.

I didn't want to wake anyone else up so I kept it dark and just held a flashlight in the crook between my neck and shoulder with my head.

Even though I'm still not completely unafraid of the dark, after being trapped in that dark mine and almost dying on TV a couple different times, it's gotten a little better!

Actually, I've been slowly conquering my fear of the dark a bit more after that and don't even mind going on night drills anymore.

I got situated and was about to start writing to my mom… until I just stopped.

Even though I don't know why completely, I couldn't help myself as I wrote out:

Dear Jo,

3 days later

(Jo's POV)

"TIME!" I heard the official call out as I crossed the finish line after the 200 meter dash.

I won, but… that's not what I cared about. I immediately found my coach as he showed me my time. I glanced at the timer and immediately grinned and did a fist pump to myself.

YES! FINALLY!

New Personal Best! HA!

I didn't have a lot of time to keep celebrating it since I had to go over to the throwing area to start warming up for throwing.

But, this was my first track meet since I went up north over the weekend and… ugh, was it really this stupidly easy the whole damn time?!

Like, I was sucking it up and being a total choke artist over this whole stupid thing Brick and NOW I'm fine just because I talked to him about my 'feelings'?

Ugh, you know what? Whatever? Like I even care right now?

Because look at me now! I just made all those other chicks eat dust back there because I finally felt like 'me' again.

But, I can't get distracted now. I still have my shot put and discus events to get through before I can fully confirm I'm back to my 'old self'.

Alright, time to keep bringin' the pain!

Later that day

I walked through the door at home, feeling satisfied.

And maybe I would have felt more satisfied if I would've shattered ALL of my personal bests today after sucking eggs for the past month, but hey, guess beggars can't be choosers, right?

At least I got good throwing distances and got first place at everything today at the meet.

Jo Lynch is BACK and she is ready to kick butt again!

I smirked to myself and was about to go upstairs until I heard, "How'd it go?"

Dad.

His heavy steps got closer until he leaned in the doorway, his smudged clothes made it clear he probably just got home too from work. He ran a hand through his thinning dark blonde hair and gave me an expectant look.

But, unlike last time when I felt like a pathetic failure after how much of a 'suck fest' I felt like at my last meet, I grinned and straightened up before admitting, "Guess who won all her events AND just got her new P.B. in the 200 meter?"

Immediately my dad grinned and pulled me into a hug, clapping me on the back a few times, before saying with pride, "That ah girl, champ! Don't know what the hell was goin' on with ya before, but I knew you could do it!"

I couldn't help myself from grinning when dad pulled back from the hug and put his hands on my shoulders, feeling my own pride building up in my chest.

Today was actually rare.

My dad is usually at all my competitions, but it's only when he has a deadline on a project for work that he can't make it like today. My dad may be 'my dad', but like I said my dad was my first coach and still is my coach. Because when you're born as the kid of two former Olympians like me, it's kinda hard to avoid having this sort of 'competitive energy'.

Especially since it's just my dad now… it's even more of a 'driving force' for me to succeed and be the best and most successful athlete I can be.

He clapped me on my shoulders before backing away a little and crossing his arms as he asked, "Hungry? I was just gonna heat something up."

I waved it off and said, "Eh, I'm good. I packed some extra food to eat at the meet so I'm still good. Think I'm just going to wash off the mud and finish my homework."

Dad just shrugged before saying, "Suit yourself… Oh, hey, before ya go up. You got somethin' in the mail."

Mail?

Then I got even more confused when I saw it was something other than 'junk mail'.

Wait… is this actually mail? Like a letter?

Sure enough it WAS a letter and it was addressed to me since 'Jo Lynch' was written clear on the front.

My brain continued to contort in confusion.

But, who the hell even sends letters anymore other than old people and… I immediately stopped when I looked in the top left hand corner at the 'sender' and saw it:

B. McArthur.

Hmph… why am I not surprised he writes letters?

I think I was standing there looking at it too long since even my dad was giving me a weirded out look.

But, since I didn't want to be questioned about it for MANY different reasons as far as both me and my dad are concerned at this point, I forced myself to even out and smirked at my dad before saying, "Thanks."

After that I headed up to my room before 'anything else happened' to give me away.

Right as I got to my room, I closed the door and sat at my desk before just looking at the envelope again… mostly still not knowing how to feel as I kept looking at it.

Wait… why the hell am I blushing?!

I shook my head before just rolling my eyes a little and opening the envelope, taking out what was inside. It wasn't until I opened up the piece of folded notebook paper and read it that I just… froze.

The only thing I could do was read it as I kept looking at the words on the page.

Dear Jo,

I know we have each other's numbers now, but I just thought I'd write you a letter. Honestly, I really like to write letters and it's kind of nice to have someone else to write to that isn't my mom or grandpa. Before I had my own phone and went to Junior Cadet Boot Camps during the summers as a kid, I'd write letters back home to keep in touch with everyone. I don't know if you like writing, reading, or even just letters but I hope you at least liked getting it in the mail. How is your training going? What sort of events are you going to be competing in at the Olympics next year? Maybe you can tell me about it on our next date if you'd like to do something? I have another free weekend so if you're not too busy, maybe I can drive down to see you or meet you halfway somewhere? Hope to hear from you soon!

Regards,

Pvt. Brick C. McArthur

After reading through it a couple times, I couldn't help myself from smirking and shaking my head before scoffing and saying to myself over this stupid letter, "Of course Sergeant Sap likes writing letters. Why am I not surprised?"

But... I was confused?

If I think it's stupid then… why do I feel like this? My stomach had this weird 'squirming feeling' in it, but… I didn't hate it? And why am I 'smiling' like this right now?

Ugh… dammit.

I decided to throw it in a drawer before going to wash up. Even throughout my entire stupid shower, I still couldn't stop thinking about that stupid letter he wrote to me. I just kept thinking about that dumb and sickeningly sweet letter Brick wrote.

And it stayed as I got dressed, finished up whatever was left of my homework, and even laid in bed.

I tried to go to sleep, but eventually I couldn't stop as I turned my lamp on and opened the drawer on my bedside table and pulled out that letter and read it again.

Ugh… what is happening to me?

The moment I give into letting myself get lame over some dumb guy and I start acting all 'sentimental' and 'sappy'?

It's just a stupid letter from Brick! WHY DO I CARE?! And why am I acting like a stupid boy crazy idiot like those plastic preeners at my school?!

Oh… right?

Because... I like him.

Sure he's a totally hopeless, chivalrous sap, but… I actually 'like' him, considering me exploding at him about it and kissing him multiple times in an alley meant anything about how much I've gone out of my damn gourd at this point.

It was like just thinking about us kissing back there over the weekend made my face feel like it was burning as I thought about it. What it felt like, what he felt like, and weirdly what he 'smelled like'.

Brick always has this smell of menthol shaving cream in the morning that is strong and hard to miss.

I remembered seeing him shave in the bathroom once when the communal washroom door was propped open and he was shaving his face with old school menthol shaving cream and a straight razor from his 'military kit' he brought with him.

But, I don't know? I always thought that smell was kinda… nice?

I shook my head and felt close to almost smacking myself to get a grip.

Look, I still feel like I have no damn clue what's actually happening between us or even just 'me' right now, and as much I still think I'm crazy… I like Brick and… I kinda and weirdly want to see him again.

Can't believe any of that is even going through my head?!

But it is…

Besides, after I totally smoked his military booted butt back to my dad's truck and won 'bragging rights and privileges' to pick the next date, I don't know?

I looked over at my phone and smirked before putting the letter down and picking it up.

I scrolled until I found his contact, making me smirk a little, as started a new text:

You: "Hey 'Mr. Darcy', I got your letter. Want to meet up at a forest preserve halfway Saturday afternoon so I can kick your butt at another run? Loser has to buy lunch."

I set my phone back down on my nightstand and turned off my lamp. About a minute after I closed my eyes and tried to 'settle in' to go to sleep, my phone went off. I reached for my phone and opened my phone as I saw:

Brick: "Name the place, ma'am. I'll be there at Eleven Hundred Hours sharp. We'll see about lunch though. I'll come prepared to give you a challenge."

At that moment, I couldn't help myself from smirking as I started typing back.

Hmph, it's always kinda cute when he thinks he can beat me.

But, hey, give me your best shot G.I. Joke. We'll see who actually wins on Saturday.

Alright! This chapter felt SO satisfying to write now that I had some time and inspiration come back to me and I hope you fellow Jock shippers felt the same! Really wanted I wanted to try to pin here was Jo. Because again, Jo is not a 'normal teenage girl'. As we all know, Jo is a tough, over competitive, and in-denial kinda gal when it comes to her approaching her deeper feelings. So, I really wanted to show her progression from being in-denial about her crush on Brick to now just starting to acknowledge it… you know, at least to herself. She's not going to start blindly letting herself swoon and 'day dream' over how she feels when it comes to Brick at this point since that to me just isn't 'who Jo is'. I want to show a natural and realistic progression of her newly found acceptance of her romantic feelings/attraction toward Brick. And as you can see, she still can't let go of treating things with him like a competition… even things as mundane as what's supposed to be a teen 'day date' as seen in this chapter. But, it doesn't appear that Brick seems to mind Jo's challenging behavior either in this next coming date between them. Classic 'Jock' chemistry for you! Lol. ;) Anyway, I also hope you enjoyed this little look into Jo's relationship with her dad and her everyday life. Again, you all let me know how you feel about what I'm planning to do to expand on my interpretation of both home live's for Jo and Brick respectively to give more insight on where they both came from and how they became the people they are now. Anyway, and speaking of feedback, thank you all so much for taking the time to read as always and any constructive feedback is appreciated.

Stay classy and wonderful all!

Dexter1995