I could not get that beautiful blonde out of my head, I mean she was just as beautiful as Kelsi, but ever since being rejected by her I think I found a new interest. We were back at the ONI base in the barracks relaxing, the rest of the guys went to go get food or went to the shooting range or whatever. Everyone was also a bit worried about Sara but what the doctors said was that she only suffered minor injuries.
" Kelly what are you thinking about?" A voice said I looked up to see Makoa looking at me weirdly. I swear why does he always pay attention when I don't want him to.
" Oh, nothing." I sheepishly said. He gave me an odd look.
" Uh huh, sure it's not about a certain blonde." He joked with me. I shot him an annoyed look.
" No, I was thinking about a certain scientist." I shot back quickly shutting him up.
He put up his hands accepting his L and walked away from me. Ashley then came over and sat down next to me.
" How you holding up Kells?" She asked me with concern.
" I have been better." I responded. It has been five days since the terrorist attack, I was a bit shaken up by it. Not like I had seen dead civilians before I just forgot how horrible human beings can be to each other, the one saving grace was Rachel, man that kiss I was still thinking about it, feeling her lips against mine got butterflies in my stomach I mean it only lasted a few seconds but it still felt great.
" Hello, Earth to Kelly, Kelly, Kelly." Ashley said snapping her fingers at me.
" Uh... what Ash??" I asked her.
" I was trying to get your attention until you started spacing out like Makoa." She responded. I scoffed when she compared me to Makoa, but in reality, the comparison was true.
" I am pretty sure she is thinking about the blonde from last night." Makoa joked again making Ashley frown. He didn't notice but I sure did.
" Makoa keep talking shit and see what happens." I warned him
" I am just joking." He chuckled.
"Mmm hmm" I responded.
Ashley sat down right next to me. " So uh." She awkwardly said.
" Yeah, Ash?" I asked her wondering where this was going.
" So uh are you into Kelsi or that girl that kissed you last night?" She asked me. I froze at her question.
" I uh uhm." I was able to mutter out.
" So you don't?" She questioned further.
" No, it is not that it is just I..." She raised her eyebrow at me.
" Listen Kelsi practically rejected me, so I don't think I have any chances with her." I said back.
" But" I let out a frustrated sigh.
" But what?" She responded. I closed my eyes and shook my head.
A part of me still liked her, but clearly she was putting her career before me and I was not going to spend all my time waiting for, even though Athena said I still had a chance, after that kiss, I don't know, UHH this was so confusing. ' Uhm Kelly?" Ashley said waving her hands in front of me.
" Oh sorry Ash" I apologized, I was so caught up in my thoughts I forgot I was talking to Ashley.
" I guess the best way to put it is I am exploring my options." I finally told her. I looked at her awaiting a response. She then smiled, odd
"That's good to hear." She responded before I could ask further Manny came rushing in making me and Ash get up.
" They just discharged Sara." He interrupted us.
" Is she okay?" Makoa asked him.
" A few scars but she will be fine." He answered.
" Welcome to the club." Makoa joked.
The doors opened and out came Sara with a few bandages on her face. Ash and I ran over to her and hugged her.
" Oh my god I am so glad you are ok." Ash told her, letting her go
" I just got a few cuts, nothing major" she said nonchalantly.
" I don't know when I took off your helmet you had me worried there." Makoa said.
" Psshh you worry too much Koa." She responded making us give her a weird look.
" What?" She asked confused.
" Oh, it is just that you never call him by his nickname." I answered her.
" Is it really that weird?" She asked again.
"Oh no, it is just that we never expected you to use his nickname. I quickly answer her trying to not make her feel bad.
" I will be honest only really Kells and Ash call me by my nickname." He responded.
Manny turned to him with a face of shock. " Uhm I am pretty sure I do." Manny said pretending to be offended.
" Ha, Manny no you don't man, the most you say is Makoa mate." He responded.
Manny was about to respond but stopped himself and for once admitted that he was right.
" Actually you may be right." He said, evident he did not want to admit Makoa was right.
" One of my Ws damn was not expecting this today." He already started gloating.
" Ok don't get ahead of yourself dickhead." He quickly insulted.
" I see the two morons are arguing as usual." Halsey came in surprising us.
She looked over at Sara. " I see you are doing better Sorvand." She said.
" Yes ma'am, ready for duty." She responded.
" That is good to hear because all of you are being sent out." She said. Making me almost fall off my bed.
" Sending out to where?" I asked
" A planet called Pandora" She responded.
I looked over to Manny and Makoa and they shrugged their shoulders not knowing what the planet is. I looked over to Ashley and she shook her head same as Sara.
" Let's get going the rest of your team is already being briefed, don't want to keep Athena waiting" She told us. I got up from my bed joined by Ashley we made our way to the briefing room.
I won't lie I was a little bit eager to see Athena more than Kelsi. Uh Kelsi a part of me still likes her, but as much as I hate to say it I got to move on, she practically rejected me despite what Athena said. But if I am being honest with myself I have been growing to like Athena, I know that sounds crazy but I am drawn to her
Once we got there the rest of the squad was already here.
" Nice of you to join us Kells." Chips greeted me. I gave him a node as well too Rigo and Kat who was in her armor, were not surprised. Jesus and Carlos greeted me as well. I also noticed somebody missing, where is Kelsi I was kind of saddened that she wasn't here with us
The doors then opened interrupting my thoughts and in came in was Admiral Paragrosky and another woman who did not recognize her. Everyone stood at attention
" Who is she?" I asked Ashley.
" I haven't got a clue." She responded to me. The Admiral shot Halsey a disgusted look, but the scientist remained indifferent as usual.
" All right everybody let's get started." She said.
"As you already know all of you will be deploying to a jungle called Pandora." She said pressing some buttons on the console.
What appeared was a 3d map of the planet. It was about the same size of Reach with multiple climates of forest and tundra.
" Your mission is to make contact with the two resistance factions, The first being the Pandora Liberation Front led by Asad Badawi. Second is the Free Pandora Resistance led by Yuri Dragovich." She said.
" Also important to note the past year many Covenant races have settled the planet." Athena interrupted her appearing on the console. My heart fluttered when I saw her she turned around gave me a warm smile and waved at me, making my heart skip a beat, I do not know why an AI is making me feel this way. My mood was brightened thanks to her
" Thanks, Athena." Parangrosky said visibly annoyed by her.
" Now as I was saying you will be split into two teams, Osman fill them in." She said motioning to the woman on her left. The lady stepped forward data pad in hand. " We will be splitting you off into two teams, First off Corporal Chavez and his team will be meeting with FP forces helping them assist and eliminate insurrection leaders, Sergeant Kelly's squad will be meeting with the PLF, your mission is more crucial." She said.
I raised my hand to ask a question. " So uhm what exactly are we doing?" I asked. Before Osman can answer Athen interrupted. " You will be tracking down an informant who got captured, PLF forces located him call sign De lafayette." She finished.
" Lafayette, isn't that French?" Makoa asked.
" What do you think dumbass." Rigo insulted. Makoa put his hands up. " I am just asking." He said.
" Thanks, Athena, any questions." Parangosky ignored them.
" Yeah uhm anything on the innies of the planet?" This time Jesus asked.
"Insurrectionists took over Pandora just a month ago, local government tried to resist but could not stand the invasion force and is in exile." Athena continued.
" Due to the planet being Nearly half Russian a lot of the populace mainly in the big cities greeted them with open arms." She added.
" I am feeling like there is a but." Manny said.
" We do not know for sure but we believe that the insurrectionists have been committing ethnic cleansing against the rest of the populace." She said grimly.
" The classic war crime genocide, humanities classic." Makoa joked.
" Do you think before you speak." Rigo jabbed at him.
" From what I gathered this alienated a lot of the populace including many of the Russian population, which in response the Pandora resistance was created, made up ethnically by Russians and other Christian-Ethnic groups, intresting most notably English and French.
" Well, good thing we are bringing Dubbo along" Jesus joked.
" I am an Aussie you cunt." He quickly shot back.
" So let me guess the the PLF led by what his name, is predominately Muslim?" Makoa asked.
" Correct Sunni Islam to be more accurate and they speak Arabic, but also important to note many Christians have joined." Athena finished.
" Huh, you got to be very deplorable when you unite 2 religions that have been killing each other for a long time." Makoa said.
"Any more questions?" the Admiral asked visibly annoyed that Athena took over, not going to lie find that pretty funny.
" No, All right then you leave tomorrow." She dismissed us. We saluted the admiral except Halsey, and watched her leave the room with her secretary.
" Talk about short notice." Ashley said.
" You are telling me." Makoa responded. Everybody started leaving the room, and in the corner of my eye I saw Halsey Grabe Makoa on the shoulder, I wondered when the idiot is going to make his move.
" What are you doing still here Jane?" I looked down to see Athena looking right at me.
" I take it you have a lot on your mind?" She asked.
" That would be an understatement." I told her sighing to myself.
"What's wrong is it the mission?" She asked me making me chuckle. I really wish it was but it was more trivial.
" No it's not that is other issues." I told her. She cocked her head to the side and gave me a worried look.
" Is it your parents then?" She asked again partially but not really.
" No not them." I told her.
" Then what is bothering you." She asked me softly. In my head, I was debating on telling her but a part of me was scared of doing so.
" Come on Jane you can tell me anything." She reassured me. That warmed my heart.
" I am having some... Girl issues." I finally blurted out.
I looked down and she was still giving me a blank face, but what happened next is not what I expected she started laughing.
" That's it, I thought someone died or something." She continued laughing.
" But seriously what's wrong?" She asked shifting her tone.
" I may have feelings for three people, and I am very confused about what to do." I told her. She pondered for a minute before she asked me a follow-up question. Do any of them know of your feelings towards them?" She asked.
" Only one." I answered her.
" Ah of course Kelsi hos can I be so stupid, what about the other two?" She asked again.
" Well I feel embarrassed to say but I kind of head over heels over one person I just met twice." I answered her.
"What's her name?" She asked again.
" Rachel, I saved her at New York University." I answered again.
" I see." Athena said taking in the information.
" And what about the last crush." She asked me. Shit, I don't know how to answer that one.
" Well, she isn't like most people." I said trying to be as vague as possible.
" How isn't she like most people?" She asked.
" Well, she is different." I answered vaguely again.
" Like what? Is she a Elite?" She questioned.
" What... no!!" I stammered.
" She isn't just like most people." I said again.
" I already know that, can you be more specific Jane." She said again, fuck this is starting to get uncomfortable.
" Well listen Athena she is uh..." I trailed off.
The Ai cocked her eyebrow at me giving me an odd look. But before she could ask the door opened again and Makoa poked his head. " Hey Kells you should get your gear we are leaving tomorrow remember." He said. Thank god he showed up.
I looked back down at Athena. " Go you have a big day tomorrow." She dismissed me I nodded and headed straight to the exit leaving with Makoa as much as I wanted to tell her how I felt I was not ready, heck I like two other people at the same time, but I was slowly losing interest in Kelsi and was thinking more about Athena and Rachel.
Rachel man I can't get that kiss out of my mind.
Rachels POV:
I put the last box in the living room. Everything was nearly all packed up, I couldn't wait to move out despite my eldest daughter's complaints but I can't take this shit anymore what happened a few days ago was the last straw. I heard little footsteps I turned around to see my young daughter Rebecca looking at me with saddened eyes.
" Do we have to go." She said.
" Oh, honey." I said sadly leaning down.
" It is not safe for us here anymore plus mommy needs to find a new job." I said sadly. As much as I loved working at New York University, after what happened I could not bring myself to go back there, so I handed in my resignation. They tried to persuade me to stay of course I was not having it. Plus this apartment brings too many painful memories, especially my late husband.
" But why do we need to go, can't you find a job here." Rebecca naively asked me.
" Oh sweetie it's not that simple." I said pulling her in a hug. She started tearing up in my shirt, and it broke my heart. " I miss dad." She told me making me tear up.
" I know sweetie, come on let's get you to bed." I said picking her up with ease despite only having just finished 5th grade she has yet to reach her growth spurt and still is light. Same as her twin sister.
She yawned tiredly as I brought her into her room. Her sister was already fast asleep. I tucked her in and kissed her on the forehead and did the same for Katie. I whispered a goodnight to both of them. As I quietly exited the room and closed the door. I leaned my back against the wall and started tearing up.
It has been almost a year since Robert died. I tried to put on a strong face for my kids but deep down I am still in mourning, I miss him greatly, the breaking point was the attack. I always thought about moving beforehand but that solidified it. I almost died. The one saving grace was Kelly. I don't know what it was but the thought of her brought a smile to my face. When growing up I was not necessarily interested in women, I found a lot attractive, sure but I never wanted to date them, or did I? I tried to brush the feeling off. But I couldn't because she was so beautiful and the armor catches her curves just right not to mention her pink lips and hair. But oh my god her face, she was so beautiful especially the different colored eyes making her even more unique.I can't get her out of my head. The feeling of warmth and safety when she comforted me made me warm.
Suddenly I heard the door open breaking me out of my thoughts. I looked at the clock, 10:30 she was thirty minutes late. The happy thoughts of the ODST were replaced with anger and I walked into the living room and I see my daughter Claire doing a terrible job trying to sneak into her room.
" Stop" I said making her freeze she slowly turned around and avoided my gaze.
" Do you have any idea what time it is?" I asked her.
" 10:30." She said in a whisper her head still down.
" And what time were you supposed to get back?" I asked again. She finally looked up at me.
"9:00" She sighed.
I put my hands on my hips and shook my head .
" Claire you don't know I like you staying out so late." I scolded her.
" But mom I am 18 now." She shot back, oh here we go again.
" Want to tell that to the innies that attacked my workplace 2 days ago?" I said making her shut up.
" Last time a I checked a gunshot wound, doesn't discriminate, including stupid 18-year-olds." I responded back. She groaned in annoyance.
" We already talked about this, it is too dangerous for you to stay out late." I continued.
" And you think that us moving to California would make it any better?" She asked me.
" Claire." I said sadly.
" This is ridiculous I don't want to move, I am starting senior year and I am going to miss all of my friends, can we at least move after I finish high school." She ranted at me.
" Mom not that I don't understand what happened at the university, but moving seems a bit too extreme, I mean Rachel, Bill, and Katie at least are young and will make friends along the way, but what about me I am just about to finish high school and I am not going to be able to graduate with my friends." She cried. Tears started tearing down her face and my anger then turned to concern.
" Why do we have to move, we lived here for the majority of our lives, and now you are selling the apartment, what would Dad think?" she croaked out.
" Oh, sweetie." I said moving towards her. I grabbed her into a tight hug and she started to let it all out.
" I miss him." She said into my chest. It has only been a year since he died. He didn't need to go but he claimed that he wanted to help and that he could put his medical skills to good use by being on the frontline. It was devastating when they sent us the letter about his death. Claire took it the hardest.
" I know sweetie." I said caressing her head.
" Why did he have to go?" She kept crying. I keep on asking myself that same question.
" He died for what he believed in." I said.
" But what about us." She whimpered.
" I know baby it hurts me as much as you." I said trying my best to console her. We stayed like this for a couple more minutes until she finally let me go.
" I am sorry for lashing like that, tonight was not a good night for me and us moving and everything just accumulated." She said.
"What's wrong?" I asked her leaning against the counter.
" I may have broken up with Jack" she said.
" Oh, I see." I responded. " May I ask why?" I followed up with a question.
" Well it just wasn't working out, I did not have any feelings for him." She told me.
" Since the beginning of the school year, I thought he may have been the one but it felt odd, I didn't love him, and we didn't have any chemistry, he was a great guy, but I didn't feel and romance with him." She finished.
" How did he take it?" I asked
" As best as he could he was sad but understood my decision, but if he did tell me if I ever need him, he will be there for me." She finished.
She then looked sadly up at me. " Uhm mom can I tell you something?" She asked me.
" Of course sweetie, I am your mother." I stated. She then averted her gaze away from me. She took a deep breath in.
" Mom I think I might b—" Before she could finish we heard a knock at the door interrupting us. " Who could that be?
I then heard some notifications popping up from my phone.
" Hey Rachel, it's us can you please open the door so we can talk." the text read.
I sighed knowing what this would lead to.
" Sorry Claire looks like we need to talk about this later, you should head to be it is late." I told her.
" Yeah your right mom, love you." She told me heading to her room.
" Wait come here." I told her. When she walked up to me
I kissed her on the head and gave her a big hug. " I love you too Sweetie." I said letting her go.
" I love you mom." She told me leaving to her room. She closed the door and I looked at the barrage of texts I was getting from my mom and dad.
I went to the door and opened it. " Finally!!" My dad barged in brushing past me. The nerve of him.
My mom followed behind not before hugging me. I closed the door and followed them into the kitchen. My dad turned to me with an annoyed look. " What took so long we were waiting there for a long time." He said.
" Well it is nice to see you too, and also I was dealing with something." I responded sarcastically.
" We are of course happy to see you too Rachel, your father is just worried that you are rushing into things." My mom said trying to save my dad as usual.
" That is an understatement, Rachel why are you moving to California and taking a job as a high school teacher?" My dad blatantly said and of course he is against my decisions as usual, but even more odd is that he knew I was going to be working at a high school.
" Dad first of all keep it down, my kids are sleeping, and second of all this is my decision to make and we are going through a teacher shortage right now so that is why I accepted the offer." I told him.
He shook his head at me. " Rachel you are making a mistake, I can get you better job offers somewh– Ok stop right there." I interrupted him
" Listen Dad I appreciate your concern but I know what I am doing, also I just want to get out of here." I said the attack was the final nail in the coffin.
" I get not wanting to work in New York University anymore, but working at a high school? How are you going to pay the bills, especially that you are alone now." He said now angering me.
" Listen I think you should consider remarrying, it has been a year already it is time to move on." He said, all right now I was pissed off.
" Jacob!!" My mom said shocked at what he just said.
" Dad I am not going to remarry, hell I am still in mourning, not to we got thousands of credits in compensation for Roberts's service" I said doing my best to keep my cool I did not want to wake up my kids.
" Rachel Robert is dead, you need to move on moving to California will not change that!!" He shouted.
" Dad keep your voice down the kids are asleep." I told him.
" Rachel you are making a big mistake how are you going to provide for your 3 kids now that you are a single mother and working at a high school!!" He yelled slamming his fists on the table.
I was about to respond when I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around to see both my daughters standing in the hallway.
I turned around angrily " Out now." I demanded.
" Rachel please." My mom said
" Get... out." I said pointing to the door.
My dad scowled at me " This isn't over." He muttered. The two of them walked out of the kitchen, I followed behind them as they made their way to the door.
My mom looked at me and whispered "I am sorry." I shut the door on them and went back to my two daughters.
I grabbed them both up with ease, took them back to their room, and tucked them in, they automatically went back to sleep.
I went back into my room looking at the pictures of Robert and I put the photo down. Not now.
I pulled the covers and went into my bed, but I couldn't hold it in anymore, I started crying into my pillow, The attack, my parents, and Robert it was all too much to bear. My dad I can't believe he is trying to pressure me into getting married again when it has only been a year. This was all becoming too much. I stayed like this for a while and kept crying into my pillow.
I then heard my door open, I looked up to see Claire in the doorway looking at me worryingly.
"Mom" she said.
" Yes sweetie" I said looking up at her.
" You ok?" She asked me.
" I should be asking you that question, I am guessing you heard the argument." I said sadly.
" Yeah didn't help that you guys were practically screaming" She said.
I sighed " Shouldn't you be sleeping sweetie it is late" I told her.
" I wanted to check on you and I heard you crying so I was worried." She said.
" Plus I couldn't sleep." She finished. I was saddened that she felt the need to check up on me which is supposed to be my job, not hers.
" I am fine sweetie, I am just really going through it right now." I told her.
" Can I stay with you? I am having a hard time sleeping." She asked me with puppy eyes. I was taken aback wasn't expecting this tonight. " Yeah of course sweetheart." I told her. She came into my room and went under the covers, and laid down right next to me.
" Something the matter sweetie?" I asked worriedly.
" Not really." She said.
" Still thinking about Jack?" I asked her.
" Not really, I just well..." She trailed off.
" Well what." I asked her.
" Claire what's wrong you can tell me." I said gently rubbing her shoulder.
She then looked up at me with tears streaming down her face " I thought I almost lost you." She cried out.
" Oh sweetie come here." I said pulling her into me doing my best to console her.
" When I saw the attack on the news I thought the worse." She kept crying into me.
" I thought we lost you and we were going to grow up without any parents." She croaked out.
" Oh honey I am so sorry." I said. She shook her head.
" It is not your fault, in reality, I am kind of glad we are moving I was just upset that I am leaving my friends behind and almost losing you, losing dad was already tough enough, but if something were to happen to you I wouldn't know what I will do." She finished. I let her keep on crying into me, rubbing her back doing my best to console her.
" I am not going die, sweetie." I said with confidence, I needed to put on a brave face for her and my family.
" What makes you so sure?" She asked, looking up at me.
I kissed her on the forehead." Nobody can't get rid of me that easily." I said.
" Bu– Claire nothing will happen to me that you don't have to worry about but." I said.
" But what?" She asked me.
I smiled at her. " But who we should be worried about is you since you simply can't come back home on time." I joked chuckling. She rolled her eyes at me.
" Last time I checked Mom I was not the one who was taken hostage." She said.
" Touche, but my point still stands." I told her.
" Ok fine I will do better Mom." She finally told me.
"That's my girl." I said kissing her.
" On an off note ever thought about dating?" She asked me catching me off guard.
" What?" I said surprised she rolled her eyes at me.
" Dating mom, it might do you some good might find that special someone." She said arching her eyebrows at me. Once she said that my thoughts drifted back to Jane I was doing a good job not thinking about that brunette but my daughter just accidentally reminded me of her.
" I would think about it." I told her.
" Might do you some good, of course if you want to." Clair finished.
" We'll see, goodnight Claire." I said wanting to drop the subject.
She yawned " Goodnight Mom." She said turning away from me. I tried to close my eyes but couldn't as I was thinking about a certain Brunnete uhhh I really can't get her out of my mind.
