{Hayden's POV}
(Sunday, August 1, 2021-6:45 pm)
[Thor's Beach]
Alright, so my idea for the day did not initially involve putting a few newly trained Infantry Warriors in their place, but hey, shit happens right? Typically, I would have ignored something like that, but seeing Vincent and Ryan made me wonder why they were training such a small group when a standard platoon has between sixteen and thirty-two Marines. Well, the Infantry Platoons have that many. I wasn't sure on the others, and I suppose it didn't matter. As soon as Vincent told me that those twelve warriors were the ones I picked; I knew I couldn't stand down and allow the group to be disrespectful to a commanding officer. I had made my selections and asked if Vincent and Ryan would show them how I expected them to be in the Inferno Platoon. It only seemed right to step up and let those guys know who was in charge of them. I'm not someone who gets angry quickly, but the line of work we did was indeed no joke and when it came to training; it was not a game. I needed them to understand the severity of the situation. Inferno knew how to have a good time, but we were also aware when it was time to buckle down and get shit down; that's what I needed these twelve to see. I knew I know have scared it into them, but I decided on an alternate course of action; to inspire them by reminding the group that our job was to protect our home and everyone relied on us to keep the Archipelago safe from outside threats.
What lightened the mood a bit more was when Gabriel decided to start reciting something old that all Marines were taught; I jumped in, then Troy, Vincent, and Ryan. The last of it was the twelve Warriors with us. And then somehow, Troy convinced me to sing the song I made while we had been deployed. I heard it play a few times, but it kept saying Soldiers, so I went through and rewrote the song to represent what a Marine does. Evidently; it was a massive hit with the Inferno Platoon, so we adopted that version as our theme song. I figured if these new guys would be joining; they should get to hear it too. Yeah; it was interesting, but then the guys left leaving me with Troy, and the others to enjoy the rest of our day together. I just wish I didn't feel like crap right now. I swear that this only happens when I'm trying to have a good day; either I end up sick, someone ticks me off, or I get upset. I did eat half my grinder, and a few chips, but I started feeling worse, so I stopped before I gave myself a stomachache next. However, that idea only held for about an hour. After eating the food, then half an hour to let it rest, followed by swimming for another forty-five minutes; it was coming back to bother me. The hours ticked by, and now, it was turning into the night; the sun was sinking below the horizon, and the beach was pretty empty as most people started leaving at 3:30 pm. Overall; it had been a fantastic day.
{Normal POV}
Everyone was sitting together on their blankets; enjoying the sunset. There had been volleyball, swimming, sandcastles, ice cream, splash fights, and just sitting around talking. Everyone had an incredible time, and definitely in agreement about doing it again soon before the cold weather hit. At the moment, all the couples were sitting together, cuddled up. The single friends were just relaxing, and there was minimal talk happening. After night fell, the group would collect their blankets and leave as everything else was put away in vehicles to save a few back and forth trips. Hayden was laying between Troy's legs with Troy's arms around Hayden's waist and Hayden's back to Troy's chest; his head on the shoulder relaxing entirely wearing his swim trunks and a t-shirt, Troy was too.
"Have you two picked a wedding date yet?" Hailey wondered curiously, bringing the conversation to a subject regarding Troy and Hayden.
"We have," Hayden nodded.
Troy smiled. "Friday, October 7th, 2022,"
"Isn't that…The day you two met, just four years later?" Avery questioned.
"That would be correct. Saw no reason not to set it as a something that holds meaning to us," Troy informed.
"I think it's cute," Rosanna smiled.
"So you wanted a day that Hayden was going to kill himself if you hadn't happened to of overheard the conversation we had with him at the park entrance then decided to make sure he was okay?" Tyler asked. Shane socked Tyler in the arm and shook his head.
"We selected the date where our lives crossed paths. It doesn't matter how it happened, but it did and was where all this, us, began," Troy remarked, apparently not liking that Tyler had to go and bring that up. Troy had felt Hayden flinch, and slump a little at the reminder. "If you want a truth; I believe that Hayden and I would have met one another regardless. I don't honestly think he would have killed himself that day. Because Hayden didn't want to die; he just didn't want to feel the pain of being cast aside and wrongfully accused. As certain people didn't want to give him a chance to explain or listen when he tried," he added with a huff, deciding to be a little petty and shove that right back in their faces.
"Well put, son," Dustin nodded.
Troy felt Hayden snuggle into him a bit more, the smile returning to his lips after that Troy said in Hayden's defense. Troy turned Hayden's face to his, then tilted it upwards so they could share a kiss. Afterward, Troy looked at his father. "I only speak the truth, Dad. I believe that whatever the reason was for it; Hayden and I were meant to meet, become friends and lovers. Sometimes all it takes is following your instinct to lead you to where you belong in life. Every life has a reason, and everyone has a purpose. All you have to do is keep living, and eventually; you'll find who you're meant to be and end up where you belong,"
It was quiet for everyone now, staring off into the water where the sun continued to sink below the line where the sky meets the sea. Hayden's phone was playing on the speaker, softer music and then it picked up. There were no lyrics, which was kind of odd. Hayden had his eyes closed, tapping his fingers to the beat on his knee, and he was humming as if he knew the words.
"You are not forgotten. You are not alone. You think you're worthless, but you're worth it. And he calls you his own. Made in his image. You were made for more. You think there is no plan; that it's all by chance. But don't believe that anymore!" Hayden just started singing quietly. Troy shifted a little to look down at his fiancée, who still had his eyes closed and a smile on his lips.
"Every time that you wake up breathing. Every night when you close your eyes. Every day that your heart keeps beating. There's purpose for your life. So don't give up. Don't lay down. Just hold on. Don't quit now. Every breath that you take has meaning. You are here for a reason. You're…You're here for a reason!" Hayden sang.
"How can he know the lyrics if there aren't any? I've never heard this song before?" Cole asked, blinking. "And I'm a huge music buff," he added. Troy glanced over at the phone and tapped the home button to check the artist. And he was shocked to find what was written on the screen. Troy smiled a little, understanding fully as he picked up the phone carefully and showed them what it said.
Here For A Reason
Inspiration: Troy Raseri, 10/7/2018
Lyrics & Music by Hayden Haddock
The group could now see that Hayden made this song based on something Troy said to him almost three years ago now. Three in two months and six days actually. Troy inspired Hayden to write it, so he'd always remember. Hayden must have kept the music portion on his phone, but only he knows the lyrics or did until he starting singing them. Likely hasn't quite realized that he is either. Troy didn't care; he wanted to hear this, so he put the device down and put a finger to his lips as Hayden was about to start again.
"If you've spent your days, just getting by. When you feel useless; he can use you, and show you what it means to be alive!" Hayden continued, taking a breath. "Every time that you wake up breathing. Every night when you close your eyes. Every day that your heart keeps beating. There's purpose for your life! So don't give up. Don't lay down. Just hold on. Don't quit now. Every breath that you take has meaning. You are here for a reason!"
The music continued playing."Every day is a gift from above. Don't throw it away. When it feels like there's too much; he'll be there,"
Now, it softened."Every time that you wake up breathing. Every night you close your eyes. Every day that your heart keeps beating." It picked up once more. "There's purpose for your life! So don't give up. Don't lay down. Just hold on. Don't quit now. Every breath that you take has meaning. You are here for a reason!" the music continued a little bit, then faded off. (Song was Here For A Reason by Ashes Remain; references to God, and thought it fit well for what Troy told Hayden about not giving up because he was there for a reason. Give it a listen; I love it! -NS)
"So, I inspired that?" Troy asked.
Hayden's eyes opened quickly. "What? Oh, wait…Shit. I…sang that out loud, didn't I?" Hayden asked. Troy nodded.
"It's okay; you were just comfortable enough and forgot everyone was here, right?" Troy chuckled as Hayden blushed a bit.
"I guess I did. Yeah, you inspired it with what you told me that day," Hayden replied. "That everyone has a purpose, but how will I find mine if I give up my life,"
"When did you write that? And learn to sing? And make the music for it?" Troy inquired, still astounded and curious.
Hayden laughed a little, looking out to the line where the sky met the water. "Would believe me if I said I used an app on my phone while we were deployed?"
"Wait, really?" Troy blinked. "Where in the name of Odin did you find the time?"
"Well, we weren't always together during missions, guards, and patrols. I used some of that, or nights I could sleep outside the barrack with my headphones in. I made all the music on my phone, then wrote out the lyrics. I think it was during leave when I want to see Poppy that I mixed everything and recorded it. I only put the music part on my phone; the full version is on my flash drive. And I learned to sing from Poppy too," Hayden admitted.
"You, Love, are a man of many talents and I love you," Troy kissed Hayden's cheek.
"I love you too, and thanks, I think?" Hayden replied afterward, not thinking what he did was anything special nor did he have a lot of talents. Sure, Hayden could draw, sing, make music, but did that make it many? Hayden didn't think so. Also, Hayden was beginning to feel worse with a variety of symptoms. A headache, nausea, stomachache, achy body, exhaustion, possible fever too. Hayden closed his eyes, hoping for things to pass but only minutes passed as Hayden drifted to sleep. By 7:10 pm, the sun was down, but there was still a bit of light in the sky as everyone decided it was time to leave for the night. However, Rosanna was the one to notice that Hayden was out like a light.
"Troy, is Hayden asleep?" Rosanna inquired as Cole and Dustin were helping the pregnant teen to her feet.
"I…Don't believe so?" Troy answered as he tried to move a bit, but Hayden didn't budge. "Babe?" he asked. No reply. "Babe, I know you're comfortable, but it's late, and we should be getting home," Troy tried. Still nothing. "Hayden?" Troy shifted to get a better look. Hayden's head fell so that his face was in the crook of Troy's neck, which made Troy realized that Hayden felt a bit warm. Troy felt his fiancee's forehead and frowned a little. "He's warm,"
"We've been in the sun for hours," Vivian reminded gently.
"Yeah, but it's cooled off now, and Hayden didn't get a sunburn or nothing," Troy said as Rachel moved over and checked Hayden's forehead carefully, trying not to disturb his slumber.
"That's definitely a fever. Perhaps he's getting sick; I did notice that he didn't eat all of his sandwich earlier, and he said no to ice cream and snacks while only wanting to drink water," Rachel confirmed gently.
"I wonder if it just came on or he's been feeling ill all day," Gabriel questioned. "Lad did seem a bit out of it at different times, and looks like he didn't sleep much,"
"Well, that might be my fault. Hayden had trouble falling asleep, then we kind'a made love at 4:30 this morning, and stayed awake after that," Troy admitted with a shrug. "I don't really want to wake him," he sighed while carefully adjusting so he could pick Hayden up in his arms bridal style. Dustin and Spencer worked together to fold up the blanket, then everyone began working their way off the beach and to the parking lot. Once there, Cole got car door for Troy, who tried to get Hayden inside without jostling him too much, but it failed. Hayden woke up and looked around quickly. "Hey, it's alright, babe. You fell asleep, and I was carrying you,"
Hayden's stomach churned, and he felt himself about to throw up. Hayden moved out of the car, past Troy and the others with a hand over his mouth, then dashed for the trash bin by the metal fence that separated beach parking lot. As soon as Hayden was in front of it; he puked. Troy got beside his fiancée and put a hand on his back as Dustin put his hand out to stop the rest from moving forward.
"Let's not crowd him; I'm sure he's already not liking that he's vomiting in public," Dustin informed. The group nodded softly, understanding that it had to suck. After Hayden threw up two more times, Cole tossed Troy a water bottle, which Hayden took a small sip from to wash out his mouth, then spit with a groan.
"Are you okay?" Troy asked with concern. Hayden forced a nod. "You feel like you're gonna throw up again?" Hayden shook his head this time. Troy pulled Hayden over to lean on him as the two walked back to the car and Troy helped Hayden into the passenger seat. Troy gave him the water bottle and felt his forehead again, not liking that Hayden was warmer now. "Let's get home, so you can rest," he said gently while getting two plastic bags from the glovebox, and putting one inside the other. "Just in case you feel like your gonna puke again," Hayden nodded as Troy closed the door with a sigh. "See ya there," he told his parents, brother, and Rosanna then gave a wave to the others before getting in the car and heading off to return to the Raseri Home.