Hey, readers, I am terribly sorry for missing the last update with this story, but I was sick with COVID in bed, truthfully, I probably should have been in the hospital that is how bad I was. I am only beginning to feel slightly better, still not 100%, this virus is no joke, please stay home if you can. I hope you enjoy this chapter! Happy Reading!
I have two guest reviews to answer since I can't respond personally to them.
Guest reviewer #1: I'm glad you are enjoying this story, it was so much fun to write. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Guest reviewer #2: I'm not sure what the question is. You left a one-word response of why? I would be happy to explain something you don't understand in the story, but I'm not sure what you are asking with your one-word response. Thank you for the review, and if you do have a question I would be more than happy to answer it for you.
Chapter 10: This Is It
Tobias's humming breaks the quietness of the truck. He is in his own world, and I'm in mine: worrying about the future, my legs bounce in time with the drumming of his fingertips against the steering wheel. He drives with one hand while the other hand rests against my upper thigh, his fingers intertwine with mine, but his eyes are far away, every time he glances at me. I have seen this look before; I know it too well. I try to silence my mind, closing my eyes, taking a deep breath, opening my eyes, and counting the passing trees and houses. When the sign for the base entrance comes into view, I can no longer deal with the uncomfortable silence passing between us. "What time will you be home tonight?" I hint, wanting to know the time to have dinner ready for him or if I should wait up. His humming stops immediately, his eyes fall onto me, "I won't be home for the next three days." He finishes, his voice uneasy.
Panic fills my chest, "Why?" I nag, visions of evil Colonel Asshat torturing him cloud my mind instantly with his words. Tobias squeezes my fingertips, bringing me back to the present, "Don't worry about it, love," he reassures. My voice raises, I exclaim, "What do you mean! Don't worry about it?" The more you tell me don't worry about it, the more I'm going to worry, Tobias! Tobias groans, running his fingers through his hair, tugging at the ends while we wait in traffic, "I have training that is why I'm being recalled," he explains, his voice careful while he answers.
Anger surges through my body, I command, "You won't be home, why, Tobias? Are you deploying early or something, and not telling me? Why, would you keep something like that from me?" Tobias becomes quiet for a moment, he whispers, his eyes not meeting mine, "Tris, I can't tell you, I'm sorry, but I won't be home. It's for your protection, I can't tell you what my training will entail." Crossing my arms, I interrupt, narrowing my eyes, "Then, where will you be? Where will you be staying? How will I know you will be safe? Tobias, I'm going to go crazy if I don't know that you are safe!"
He sighs, glances at me from the corner of his eyes, "I can't tell you, and if I did, I would have to kill you," a small smile tugs at his lips. A memory fills my mind immediately as his words fill my ears, I am transported back to a time in my mind when Will once told me a similar thing when I questioned what he did in the Army. Biting my lip, I can't contain my smile at the memory floating through my mind, I reply, "That isn't funny, Captain Eaton, seriously, where will you be?"
He smirks, "I seriously can't tell you, maybe after training is over I can tell you, but right now, I can't. I can't risk you getting hurt, trying to find me to get to me, or getting me into trouble with my higher-ranking officers. I don't want to cause you more stress than you are already under. Trust me, Tris, I know trust is a difficult thing for you, but I will be safe, I will walk back through the door on day three." His smile doesn't help, instead, my mood sours the closer we drive to the gate. Too late Tobias, I'm already stressed!
"Can you tell me this much, will you be staying on base?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest, attempting to protect myself from his answer, glaring at him. He begs me with a smile, "Easy my love, you know, you are sort of scary when you get angry. Remind me to never get on your wrong side." I roll my eyes, not wanting to hear another excuse come from his mouth, motioning for him to continue, "If anyone asks you, don't tell them anything, I'm about to tell you. I will be on base, doing flight stimulations, but remember, I'm a fighter pilot, some of my training will involve flying to an undisclosed location and dropping fake bombs out in the desert while being timed." He winks at me, a grin stretches across my lips. He told me his training even though he wasn't supposed to, and could get into trouble. I love this man!
Reaching the base, the place is in a frenzy. The soldiers at the gate barely check our ID cards and us before throwing the cards back into Tobias's waiting hand, I wonder aloud, "What is going on?" Tobias shrugs his shoulders, not worried, answering, "Different units do different drills, don't worry about it. While I'm gone Mrs. Eaton, I have a job for you, you should get your spouse card. I have already added you to the system. Getting your card should keep you occupied and out of trouble for at least a day." Rubbing my hands together, staring out the window, I moan, "I hate going to the exchange, that place is worse than the DMV," Tobias laughs, "I know, it is a miserable place. Bring Chris with you, both of you can be miserable together, and can go shopping together afterward in the commissary." Laughing, "Geesh, thanks! I'm sure Chris will love to go shopping." He smiles turning onto our road. A huge, colorful sign sits in our front yard with balloons attached reading: Congratulations Tris and Tobias on your wedding!
Tobias leaves at four o'clock in his camouflage uniform with his duffle bag in hand. Walking out the door, my mind drifts back to another time, a time when he left in his flight uniform, only for two airmen to show up at the door claiming he was missing in action. Tobias takes a step towards me, he grabs my chin with his fingertips, whispering confidently, "I love you, Tris, with all my heart," his lips press against mine. Pulling away from the kiss, I hug him tightly against my chest, I whisper, "Come home to me safely, Captain Eaton, that is an order," a sly smile tugs at his lips, he murmurs, "Always." He waves at me from the porch steps, then jumps into the truck, driving away. Watching his tail lights leave, my heart pounds in my chest, wondering if this will be the last time I see him.
The next three days without Tobias are hell, I can barely imagine what six months will feel like if this is how I feel after three days. I may need to find a new hobby, maybe start running more, or find a place to volunteer around the base to take up my time while he is gone. Chris and I spend the first day Tobias is gone in what is fondly called military DMV getting my spouse card. When the man hands me the card, and I see my new last name staring back at me, I can't stop the smile that spreads across my lips. Chris groans the entire time we are waiting in the large room. Exiting the building, Chris tugs me by the hand, grinning, "Now, you are official, we should go celebrate!" Eyeing her, I ask, "How do you want to celebrate?" What does Chris have up her sleeve? She grins, running her fingers through her hair, "How about we go out like old times?"
"Sure, what do you have in mind?" I ask. Chris shrugs her shoulders, "How about a movie?" I smirk, "Sounds great!" Chris and I meet at my house for the movie, and before I realize it, we are asleep with the credits rolling down the screen. I giggle, "We are getting old," poking Chris in the side, waking her, "We fell asleep before Theo James took off his shirt." She yawns, "I blame Will, he keeps making me get up early to go running with him, he says he likes my company. I think it is because he likes to tell me how slow I am." Her eyes stay fixated on the floor, "Actually, do you want to go for a run with me tomorrow?" A smile lights up her face, as I answer, rolling my eyes, "Sure, it isn't like I have anything planned."
On day two, Christina and I go running early in the morning. The air is chilly even though it is summer. My phone vibrates, I stop running immediately, hoping it is a message from Tobias. A chill creeps up my spine at the message on my screen, reading: Isn't it a little chilly for those thin clothes. My eyes scan my surroundings looking for anyone else on the road besides Christina and me. I spin around, searching for anyone, but come up short; my phone vibrates again, Stop searching, you aren't going to find me. Christina runs up behind me, out of breath, panting, startling me, "Why did you stop? We had a good pace going!" I shrug my shoulders, not wanting to tell her the truth, and freak her out, "I don't feel good, I'm going to go home."She waves, rolling her eyes toward the sky, "Fine go home, but you owe me a pizza." I laugh, "Deal, I'll have a pizza waiting for you on the counter tonight with your pick of a movie." She grins, "Deal," shaking my hand, turning on her heel, she takes off running in the opposite direction of me.
On day three, at nine o'clock at night, Tobias still isn't home. I'm jumping out of my skin, waiting for him to return. I miss him more than I ever thought I possibly could. My phone vibrates against the counter, alerting me to a new message, quickly, I run to retrieve my phone to find one new message from Tobias.
My love, I'm sorry, I'm not home yet, but my training has been extended by two days. I have to go before I am caught with my phone. I didn't want you to worry. I can't wait to eat a decent meal and sleep. I love you, and I can't wait to come home to you.
I throw my phone onto the table with frustration, I want to throw it against the wall, I want to break it. This is a joke, right? This is some sort of sick joke he is playing on me! Holding my breath, I wait for him to walk through the door, I stare at it from the chair, but another three hours pass by and Tobias still isn't home. He was telling the truth. Anger surges through my chest at the situation, at the Air Force, at the military. Come August 30th, the military has him for the next six months, and they are stealing him from me almost the entire first week of our married life. Why isn't he fighting them on this? How can he let them do this, and not say anything? My brain won't stop thinking, it is in overdrive when I attempt to lay down. He isn't home because he is hurt somewhere. Will might have answers!
My fingers fly over the keypad to a number I have had memorized for years, "Christina!" I cry before she can say anything, "Where is Will?" She laughs, "Not here, he is doing drills. Apparently, we came here for him to do more drills this week." Her voice turns urgent, she asks, "What's wrong, Tris? Did Four do something wrong? Do I need to come over to kick his ass?" Sadly, I reply, "No, it is his commander, he increased the length of his training," the tears threatened to fall. I rub my eyes, she offers, "Oh honey, I'm sorry, I know how you feel, but there is a bit of advice I have learned from all my time with Will I would like to bestow onto you." I whisper, staring at the wall, "I'm listening," not wanting to listen to whatever advice she is going to give. She continues, "Tris, from all my time with Will, I have learned two things. First, the military is great with the hurry up and wait game. The second, the only way any relationship survives, at least in the Army, is to always accept you have a third invisible entity, and that is the military. He wants to put you first, you want to be put first, but he can't put you first entirely because of his job, his career. Bringing it up will only cause a fight, and hurt feelings will happen. Communication is the key, if you need something from him, tell him, don't expect him to figure it out. Distance is hard, but communication makes everything slightly better, easier."
I ask, "How do you know all of this, Christina?" Wanting to know how she knows all this information at my age. Chris takes a breath, and what she says next, makes her seems wise beyond her years, she adds, "I just do, let's just say a younger version of myself tried to make Will choose between the Army and me, and guess who got hurt in the end. It was me. We are better off together than we were apart." The breath leaves my lungs, I ask, "I didn't know you broke up with Will?"
She quietly says, "It was soon after Will joined the Army, after boot camp, and all his initial schooling. It was for less than two weeks, and I didn't talk to anyone. It happened during summer break, in college, the year I went to visit my aunt in Italy and came back with rainbow-colored hair. I was afraid I wasn't military girlfriend material, I wanted to be a fashion designer. At the end of the second week, I missed Will, I missed our conversations, our friendship, and I was willing to give up everything to be with him, even my dreams of being a fashion designer. Will was willing to leave the Army after his initial contract was over. We had lengthy discussions, he wouldn't let me give up my dreams for him, and I wouldn't let him give up his dreams for me, we made it work. A lot of our relationship has been long-distance. I was ecstatic when Will announced he got stationed on the East Coast, and we could be together. In Brooklyn, I would commute to the city for work, but before New York, I would live in the city, and I would fly to wherever he was stationed to visit at least once a month; we made it work." I whisper, not knowing what to say, "I'm sorry, I wish you had told me about your break up. I would have tried to help you, been your shoulder to cry on, or been your ear to complain to." She laughs, "Don't be sorry! Will and I are together now, and happy! Will, is the only reason, I am dealing with being in a hotel room by myself right now. I love him more than being a fashion designer, I would do anything for him." I laugh, "I know you do. You guys have been through hell and back."
She ignores my comment, continuing, "I am going through the same thing with Will as you are with Four, his commander increased their time from one week of drilling to two, at least Four's commander only increased his training by two days. If I could, I would give him a piece of my mind. I have a high profile appointment I am blowing off by being here longer, but I know Will will get into trouble if I flip out on someone. He can't control what his commander does just like Four can't." Christina sighs, an idea sparks in my mind while she continues to talk, wishing she could just once go find Will or tell off his commander. I say with a sly smile on my lips, "Christina, that sounds like a great idea! I know where Asshat's office is! I went once with Tobias! Surely, I can be convincing enough he will help me find him! If he won't, then I will search every corner of this base for him! He assured me he would be staying on the base!" I clap my hands together at my fantastic idea.
Chris screams, "No Tris!" over the phone, "That is a horrible idea! It will have repercussions on not only Four, but on maybe his whole unit! You could get hurt depending on the part of base his training is in. Would Four be happy if you got hurt looking for him or trying to find him?" My mind recalls my promise to Tobias, of not trying to find him while he is gone. Now he is gone for extra time, shouldn't that negate those promises? Tears burn my eyes, "I miss him," I whisper. Christina answers sadly, "I know, Tris. I miss Will too. Come over to my hotel room, and we can keep each other company for the night. I have a bottle of wine I was saving for Will for our anniversary he is missing with our names on it, begging to be opened. We can have another girl's night." I request, "Come over here, Chris, I don't have any way to get to your hotel room," thinking of how Tobias took off with his truck, leaving me with no transportation. We will have to talk about transportation once we get to the base in Virginia. "I'll be there shortly!" She sings through the phone, hanging up immediately.
Soon the bottle of wine is empty along with another one while Christina and I watch reality tv. She turns to me, giggling, "Let's go find our men!" I ask, "But, I thought, we would get them into trouble?" She makes her way into a closet, asking, "Where are Four's uniforms? We need some camouflage!" Panic spreads in my chest, "Uh! let's not use those!" This is a bad idea! "We won't get caught!" She squeals, clapping her hands together, smirking like a mischievous child. Famous last words.
Thoughts? Opinions? Please leave a review, and let me know what you thought of this chapter. What sort of trouble do you think Christina and Tris are going to get into? Also, if you were Tris would you have been creeped out by the text message you received? Next update as long as I don't relapse and my lungs continue to heal as they should, will be on the weekend of May 23.