The day after our supposed night out, was slow. Everyone walked with their heads down and eyes squinted.
Hangovers were a bitch on a normal day, imagine having to work out and be yelled at in the bright sun for 18 hours with one.
I smiled, my head clear and body ready for today's torture. I had gone home and gotten over 11 hours of sleep. I felt refreshed.
I began to do my warm up stretches, my body screaming in pain.
"Fuck." I hissed and held my side.
Perish walked over and stared me down,"Is there a problem, Earningst?" He stood straight, his hands locked behind his back.
His feet shoulder width apart and his head in perfect alignment. He stood like this normally, off duty. That pose was embedded into his body now.
"I'm fine,Sir." I smiled and continued stretching, my sore body hating me.
I felt a coppery taste in my mouth.
Did i fucking bite my tongue? Or lip? Or something?
I slightly shook my head and Perish walked away, I'm guessing to go boss around more soldiers.
His favorite thing.
•••
Our training in bootcamp went relatively fast. We had managed to go through everything we needed to learn from appearances and cleanliness to how to respectfully follow orders.
Soon enough, it was time to pick a post. A place where we'd start our new lives as soldiers.
I wanted to stay in Oregon. I loved it here.
Since I was no longer tied down to my house and overbearing family, I had time to admire the beauty in our state.
We had beautiful yellow flowers called Black-eyed Susans. I hadn't realized they existed before. But now that I know they do, they're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
Would somewhere in Canada have them?
Hawaii? California? Texas? Who could guarantee that they were there?
Oregon could. Because I'm here. I see them. And for once, I felt at home.
"Private Earningst," A familiar deep voice called my name and I turned to see Perish.
"Sergeant Perish," I greeted with a salute. I felt embarrassed saluting him for some reason.
"Have you given any though into where you might want to go?" He asked and joined me on the grass.
I had made it a habit to come here once a day and relax. It's the only thing that's gotten me through basic training.
"No sir." I shook my head and gave him a slight smile.
He nodded and looked outwards towards the lake. It was sunset already. My favorite time of the day. The beauty of the sun reflected off of the blue grey water.
"Well, i recommend here. You're a brilliant soldier and I wouldn't mind having you on my squad." Perish kept his eyes forward while mine snapped to him.
He wanted me on his squad?
I felt my face heat up and my heartbeat speed up.
"I think I might just have to do that then, Sir." I faded forward once more but could feel his emerald eyes staring a hole in the side of my head.
"It's not an invitation to marriage,Earningst. Just a job opportunity." He winked and stood up, leaving me as red as a tomato in my special spot.
Which he just ruined.
I groaned and dropped my head into my hands. Why did I get so red? So excited? And now so embarrassed?
•••
"Private Earningst, Have you decided on where you'd like to go?" Sergeant Davis greeted me as I approached the assignment table.
An hour ago, Perish had invited me to join his squad. Be apart of his team. Follow under his leadership.
For some reason, that last one was my favorite.
I had been skimming my brain for a reason to say no. For a reason to go somewhere on the opposite side of the country. Get away from this beautiful yet awful state.
But my mind came up blank.
"Earningst?" Davis prompted and held a black balled pen out to me.
I hesitantly wrapped my fingers around the base of it and lifted it from his hand.
This pen would decide the rest of my life. Without giving myself room to rethink the decision, I signed my name under 'Oregon'.
"Staying home, huh?" Wilson, Douchebag from the bus station, came up from behind me, stealing the pen.
He signed his name right under mine.
God dammit. He was one of the ones I was hoping would choose Alaska or Pennsylvania.
Either are far from here.
"Yep. And apparently so are you. Fun!" I squealed and rolled my eyes.
"Florida was originally my first pick, but I'd get too distracted with all of the beach babes." Wilson, Derek, winked at me and I felt the urge to gag.
How did guys like him find this act attractive?
"I'm sure you could manage. Why don't you go there and give it a shot?" I smiled happily and followed the gravel path to my bunk house.
Private douche bag followed me the whole way, ranting about half naked girls and how it's unfair we can't join them.
"Are you going to follow me the whole way?" I asked, stopping and turning towards him.
I crossed my arms and waited for an answer but his eyes were trained on the outline of my breasts.
Without thinking, I raised my hand and a second late felt a stinging across my palm.
I looked from my hand to the red handprint on the left hand side of his face.
Did I just hit him?