here is chapter 3!

the song from chapter 2 was Actors by All Time Low. :) pretty awesome song. i must admit.

now. CHAPTER THREE! read and review, please? it would be muchly appreciated and openly accepted.

Listen to my heart
Listen to my heart beat
Then you'll finally know how much you mean to me
But you never show and you'll never know
Can't stop
Can't breathe heart drops

And you dont know what you do to me baby
And I'll never quite understand why
Understand why—I'm having a hard time
If this is it, really it, then prove it to me

*Ari*

Seth was pacing anxiously around the couch. "He said what?"

I sighed. "Relax, love. She should be back soon. He has a girl in mind. She's just missing."

"He doesn't have time to wait!" he exclaimed desperately, eyes watering a little as he turned back. "We don't have time! Neither does J—"

Like I figured, he cut himself off. He just couldn't face the harsh, bitter reality of life that we were coming upon faster than any of us could've wanted.

Oh man. You're lucky you were with Elizabeth and James when they found out. We weren't so fortunate.

Unlike everyone else, I was prepared for a time like this. It made sense for Elizabeth and James to never prepare for this kind of agony, but Seth. . .he knew it would happen one day. And I felt awful, but it made things easier to face—at least a little.

Sam sighed too. "Seth, I understand, but this is your son. Imagine telling him yourself. 'Hey. I know the love of your life isn't here, and you promised her to wait, but oh. You can't. You have to move on. Now.' Could you have left Ari?"

Seth looked defeated. "Okay, you win. I finally found my son, though. I can't lose him now too. And England needs him. The Moore family needs him."

"This still isn't fair," I insisted. "You didn't want the throne. What makes you think he will after living a wonderful life so far?"

"It's his duty," Seth moaned. "If we weren't supposedly dead and living the lifestyle we are, I would do it for him."

I glanced down at my fingertips, finding the smooth tips eerie, even still—after almost seventeen years now.

Dipping your fingertips in acid to get rid of the fingerprint is a painful process, because you have to eat away every layer of skin. And cauterizing wounds? No. I don't recommend that unless it's absolutely necessary.

"He's agreed to meet us tonight," I finally went on, after realizing he was right. "You're telling him, though. And making your suggestion that he moves on. We can't force him to do anything, though. He's our son, but why should he listen to us?"

He nodded. "We can only wait until then."

*Iggy Morrow*

"Merrill Matthews?" the substitute teach questioned through roll call, her frail greying eyes moving upwards to see each person as they raised their hand and answered.

Merrill looked as arrogant as usual as she replied, "I'm here and just as beautiful as ever."

I rolled my eyes as the substitute went on. "Elliot Moore?"

The name caught my attention instantly, only because it was my best friend. My boyfriend. The boy I felt so terrible for leaving. I hadn't seen him in forever, and up until, well, now. . .he didn't know I was back.

He was leaning back against his chair, his piercing bright electric blue eyes staring down at his desk as a rare smile continued creeping on the corners of his lips. A fresh new cut left his midnight black hair sharp and layered, no longer allowing him to hide behind his bangs—which I loved.

"Here."

As she went on, I continued staring at him, hoping he would look back to me. And he did, flashing me my favorite "Elliot" smile—that perfect, world-brightening, sexy, truly blissful, adorable one. It wasn't something he gave anyone else, and that's what I loved so much about it.

I only barely heard the substitute say, due to his distraction, "Ignacia Morrow?"

"Iggy," I corrected polietely, and everyone turned to stare after that.

Why?

Hello? Runaway who made it into the SEALS? A female runaway, to make things more surprising.

You better believe I was jittery still. . .and shaky. I needed action. Craved it. But I was being punished for leaving by being forced through school.

Stupid older brother.

As I looked back to Elliot, I realized that this really wasn't a punishment at all. It was getting me prepared for a more laid back, calm lifestyle, because I was settling down, falling in love. . .the normal teenage thing to do, right?

"You have got a lot of explaining to do," he mouthed, eyes firm. "And I mean everything."

I nodded. Anyone else? Not a chance they would get the whole truth. Elliot? You better believe it. The words best friend mean a lot to me. And he's the only one I use it for.

The class began murmuring, and the sub looked angry that we were talking. I knew it would happen, so I just made a face of discontent and turned towards the front of the room.

Of course, Elliot laughed at me.

"Be quiet," she barked, eyes on me. "Why do they suddenly get loud at the mention of your name? You some sort of trouble maker I should keep an eye on?"

"Ma'am, no, ma'am," I answered in the most respectful way possible, and I almost jumped up to salute. But I held it back and tightened my fingers around the desk—the last thing I had holding me down here.

The talking only got louder, and I sighed as she began turning red in the face. Anything I did would start stuff, it seemed.

Stupid older brother!

I kept saying that, but I really didn't blame him. Actually, I was kind of grateful. It gave me an experience in life no other female can ever say she's had. It gave me discipline, hope, and it made me realize who's really important.

"Would someone please explain to me why she sparks so much conversation?" she growled. "Since you all seem to be just so chatty today!"

Elliot laughed a little. "Show some respect, ma'am. You're looking at the first, and maybe only, female Navy SEAL."

"Yeah!" people began cheering, and I just let my eyes fall to my desk.

They had trained the slouching in my seat out of me. Now, I was sitting in attention, except for my eyes being lowered.

"Women can't be SEALs," she frowned. "They're not even allowed in combat. Be serious, or I'll send you all to the office for lying!"

"We're not lying," Sierra, another one of my really good friends, insisted. "You can type her name in on Google and find out for yourself. I'm sure just the name 'Iggy' alone might help." She frowned. "Or it might bring up the avian-hybrid. I don't know. But try it! She'll be there somewhere. Maybe even a top story."

I groaned a little, and she just shook head. "You're too young to join the military. Or at least you were when you left."

"I'm barely seventeen, ma'am," I answered. "I won't go into details, but I will say that it was a complicated process, getting in. But I did it." I held up my left hand to show her the Navy SEAL signet I had tattooed on that skin between my thumb and pointer finger—top side, not palm side. It was small, but I wanted it there. It was just one of many. "Me and the boys got these in different places before we shipped to—a classified location, sorry. At any rate, I really was a SEAL. I'm not lying to you, ma'am."

"I'm getting an administrator down here to punish all of you." And she left.

I rolled my eyes and turned back towards Elliot. "No one ever believes me."

"It's not exactly common," he pointed out.

"Touché."

"Why did you do it?" Lizzie asked curiously.

"Yeah," Merrill sneered. "You claim it wasn't to prove women were capable, but really? We're not stupid. Just admit it."

"I didn't do it to prove anything," I said simply. "I can't tell you why I did it, though. That's confidential info—no. I lied. It's not confidential. It's just none of your business."

She scoffed. "Whatever, liar."

My eyes tightened a little, and when she saw that, she instinctively cringed back away from me. I wasn't naturally an aggressive intimidating person, but what would you do if the only female Navy SEAL was giving you a death glare?

Yeah. I was a little surprised when she started crying, because I wasn't really giving her that harsh of a look. But still.

When the door opened again, Principal Anders walked in and saluted me. Instinctively at this point, I saluted back, and he turned to the substitute. "You are really looking at the only female SEAL ever, at only fourteen. These students aren't lying to you."

And then, class carried on, but the substitute didn't like me.

At break, people began swarming around me, almost as if they were trying to jump and ki—No, Iggy! You're not still in combat. No one is trying to kill you.

Elliot saw my tension and rigid posture, so he graciously got me far away from there. We actually hurried off to hide in our usual janitor's closet.

He began kissing my neck affectionately as our backpacks slid to the floor and he locked the door behind us. "Why didn't you tell me?"

It was a little hard to focus, but I managed using some skills I picked up in combat. So, I sighed and let my fingers knot themselves in his hair. "I'm sorry, El. I wasn't given much time, and you would've stopped me."

"Um, yeah," he said bluntly, pulling away so he could look at me in the eyes. "Why did you do it to begin with?"

"For Ember," I admitted, for the first time out-loud. "Him and Sarah broke off their engagement, remember? And I told you he was doing stupid things. Well, he decided to join the Navy—specifically to be a SEAL. Well, they got back together a week before he shipped off, and they found out she was pregnant. So, they got engaged and married in Vegas, and I went in his place. It was for his, Sarah's, and Isabella's own good."

"But why you?" he shook his head. "Why not his twin—okay, never mind."

I nodded. "And she doesn't look just like him, like me. The only difference is I have a feminine look to me. Do you realize how hard it is to fake being a man like I had to? Beard and all?"

"None," he murmured. "I don't have to fake it. You know, Ig, a lot has gone on since you left. I began my search for my parents, and I found them. Actually, my mom found me."

My eyebrows rose in question. "And I was right?"

"As usual," he nodded. "We'll have to talk more later, but she told me a lot I didn't know. . .some stuff that terrifies me."

I kissed his lips softly, and he smiled in response. "Well, I'm always gonna be here, no matter what."

"I know," he said happily, and since we were alone, he didn't mind showing it in his eyes. "We'll talk later. Let's go somewhere after school."

"You'll have to come to my place," I grimaced, knowing this could spark an argument. "I'm not allowed to go anywhere."

"But I can come over?" He didn't really seem surprised or confused, mostly just clarifying.

I smiled brightly right back at him. "Of course. Mom actually said, when grounding me, no one but you. And if she decides to let me go anywhere, it can only be with you. What did you do while I was gone? She used to hate you."

He shrugged. "Just kept her updated, really. I also gave her a way to keep in touch, and I was honest with her. Told her I knew as much as she did."

I could tell by the look in his eyes that wasn't everything, but I would just have to remember to ask more details later.

"So your mom," I said casually, changing the subject as it began drifting into silence. "Is she pretty?"

"Beautiful," he answered instantly, not having to think about it at all. "Insanely so. But I've still met someone even more beautiful. And you know me, Ig. I don't just say things. My mom falls just under you."

"Where was your dad?" I smiled. I had seen pictures of his mom, and I personally didn't believe that one bit. But I knew he really did. "And I thought they died. . .?"

He shook his head. "Long story." The bell to go to second period rang, and we quickly snuck back out, so no one would see us getting out. "Later. I'll see you in third."

My eyebrows furrowed. "How do you know my schedule?"

He grinned. "I was there when they made it. Guidance aid. I might've made a few suggestions here and there. . . .Have fun as the new office aid. They're excited."

I grabbed his arm quickly, before he could walk away. "Well, let's walk together."

"I was hoping you'd say that," he murmured, and then, he held his arm out towards me, for me to hook mine into. "Come on, buddy."

This was messed up. Bad. Best friends with extra feelings for each other, so we went on a date three days before I shipped off. It was actually the night I found out I would have to, but before. It worked, and we decided to be more than friends. Then, I disappeared, but we kept writing—dating.

That was the first time we had ever kissed like that. I mean, we kissed once the night of the date, and I think once the day I left, even though he had no idea why I kissed him so desperately. But, he must've figured it out by now.

The strange thing about the closet. . .it felt so normal, so right. Normal isn't really the right word. Maybe just like it was supposed to happen that way. I don't know. Either way, it was amazing, and I had some pretty interesting feelings going on inside of me.

I just don't talk about them much. Sorry.

I hesitated a little as I looked at him, those beautiful blue orbs full of so much love, wonder, and mystery—gazing affectionately at me, so curious and bright. "You waited. . .never knowing how much longer you would have to wait. You knew nothing, especially these past three months, but continued waiting. Why?"

He was surprised, but he didn't take much time to think about his answer. With Elliot, that meant it was coming straight from the heart.

Or he was just saying something like, "Later."

Ugh. Later needed to hurry and get here.