Nope, still don't own them....but I am having fun! Hope you are too! Please remember to leave a review.

Chapter 8

Exchange Of Letters

The final bell rang for the week. Stopping by her locker, Alex began disposing of her books, she paused looking at the line of texts. Grabbing her geography and history books, she placed them in her backpack. Slamming the door closed, she headed towards the door. Finding her bus in the long line, she climbed on. Glancing down the long row of seats, she sighed. The only one open was the one that Scott occupied. It figures.

Dropping on the seat next to him, she placed her backpack on her lap. Out of her peripheral vision, she saw Scott begin to fidget. Her right brow shot up. He's nervous? She slightly turned her head in his direction. "Hi Scott."

He nodded, his face a little blushed. "Alex." He quickly looked out the window, watching the scenery as it panned by.

Alex bit her tongue, wondering if she should continue the conversation. Lightly clearing her throat she tried again. "Those were neat gifts your serviceman sent you."

His blush deepened. He smiled turning more towards her. "Yeah."

Cocking her head, she returned his smile. "Are you going to thank him?"

Scott's smile faded. "Ah, why?"

She looked at him in disbelief. "Well, for one thing, he took the time to write you back. The second reason, he probably had to go off base to get at least the stamps. The third and most important reason, he'd probably appreciate more letters."

He pursed his lips. She could see a thought cross his face. His smile was deviant. "So, Alex, have you heard from your Serviceman yet? I hear his mother works in our library, and that she's a real wack'o. You think he is?"

Her lips became thin as she felt her anger on the rise. "She's not a wack'o. Mrs. Goren has a, a condition."

Before he could respond, the bus jolted to a stop. Alex jumped up, carefully slinging her backpack over her shoulder. Scott looked up at her. "Hey, it's not your stop!"

Alex turned, glaring at him, her words seethed through her teeth. "It is today."

With that, she moved to the front of the bus. The driver opened the door. The cool Fall air hit her lungs as she stepped off the bus. Only a few blocks away, Alex slowly made her way home. Her thoughts drifted to Bobby, and his mother. Is she wack'o? Is he the same way? Remembering Mrs. Goren's response in the library, Alex bit her bottom lip. Then she thought about Bobby's letter. She vigorously shook her head. His letter was just too...No! No, I'm not going to believe it.

Entering her home, she went up the steps to the kitchen. A smile crossed her face, she quickly forgot the conversation with Scott. Snapping up the envelope, she raced up the stairs to her room. Hearing her door shut, Mrs. Eames sat paused in her crocheting. She shook her head, and smiled. If he ever decides to stop writing, I hope he has the decency to let her know a head of time.

___________________________________________________

Bobby leaned his chair back against the wall as he pulled the letter from the envelope. He lifted his head, glancing around the room again. Satisfied that he will be uninterrupted, he unfolded the letter. His eyes danced across the colorful page. The paper was the same, but the soft design was different than the stationery he used.

'Dear Bobby,

Thank you for the stationery, it is beautiful. It is almost a shame to write on it, but it does making writing fun.'

Bobby smiled, silently congratulating himself on his choice of a gift. And to receive it.

'My mom says I now have a pen pal. Is that what we are becoming?'

He cocked his head in thought. I guess we are.

'There is a boy in our class. His name is Scott. He received a letter from a Corporal Higgins. Do you know him?'

Bobby smiled. All too well.

'How tall are you? I know you are older than I am, how old?'

He chuckled. Don't hold back, Alex, ask your questions. His mind drifted to Higgins' statement. He sighed. Am I going to write to you until you hit legal age? I bet your folks would love that!

'I hope you don't mind my asking. I've never written to anyone in the service before. I feel, if we are going to write back and forth, I'd like to get a picture in my mind of what you look like. Myself, I am short, slight built, honey blond hair, and I have been told that I am pretty obstinate. Do you think that is a bad thing?'

He sighed. It depends on how you use it. He looked thoughtfully at his cup of coffee. Reaching for it, he took a sip. I think. I think that if we're going to write back and forth, you'll need more than an idea in your head of what I look like. He smiled into the cup as he took another sip.

'I'll keep working on my studies. I believe I am improving in geography and history. You're to blame for that!'

Bobby grinned. "Glad I can make a difference in your grades."

'Well, in keeping with the idea behind your first letter. I am near the bottom of the page. Hope this finds you well.

Sincerely,

Alex

He laughed lightly. A fast learner. Slowly folding the letter, he placed it back in his inside breast pocket. Quickly finishing his now cool coffee, he stood and headed back towards his quarters, wondering if Higgins was passed his hang-over.

__________________________________

Alex curled up on her bed. She eyed the door. Her brothers were out in the backyard, making a big pile of leaves. Her sister was in the kitchen, helping her mother prepare dinner. Though, from the sounds coming up the stairs through the door, she was getting more under foot than helping. Alex smiled as she heard a plate hit the floor. So much for being an understudy for mom.

Carefully opening the letter, she scrunched down on the bed.

'Dear Alex,

Has anyone ever dared call you Lex?'

Alex snorted. "No one that is living."

'It sounds like you have a houseful. I bet it gets pretty noisy around your home! I wish I had some of that when I was growing up.'

Her eyes teared a little. "I'm sorry your mom wasn't like my mom. If she was, maybe your dad would have stayed."

'My position on the basketball team was the power forward. I don't play any more. I envy that you and your dad can find joy in the game.'

She smiled. "Sweet, I bet you are tall! But why did you stop playing?"She was slightly disappointed when he didn't explain why he dropped out of basketball. I might have to ask him in my next letter.

'What kind of cookies does your mom make? My mom would sometimes make chocolate chip cookies with walnuts. Learning to cook isn't hard, or a bad thing. In a few years, you'll be wishing you had taken the time. Cooking with others is also a way of being close to others. Not only learning a skill, but learning about the person you're cooking with. Think of your family dinners together, I am sure there is a lot of laughter and sharing going on. The same way with cooking.'

Alex nodded. "I know. It's just that there are other things I would rather do."

'I know you'd rather do fun stuff, but if you learn the basics, you can learn to be creative with the ingredients.'

She sighed. "Okay, I'll give it a try. It's just that I don't want them to think I don't want to work outside of the home." She blew a stray hair out of her face. "Like that will ever happen."

'It doesn't mean you have to give up your dreams of being a detective. It will just expand your knowledge, your skills.'

Alex smiled. "Okay, okay, stop pushing already!"

'No, no wife or girlfriend. With all my moving around, it wouldn't be fair to expect anyone to put up with it. Maybe when I get back State side.'

Alex sat up straight, re-reading the last lines. "So, you don't have a girlfriend or wife!" Her smile slowly turned to a frown. "Does that mean, you are wack'o like your mother?" She sat on the bed, staring at the letter. She bit her lip. Do I dare ask him?

A/N: Okay, so now you have a letter from each of them. :)