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"Blake! Listen I don't want to come in there, it's six o'clock!" I heard the yelling from the door, and surprising enough, the voice wasn't lying. Fuck. 

My arms were sleeping I couldn't feel them, but the harassing knock had Daryl growl and stuff deeper into my hold. Feeling his chuckle spike forward as he made room for his voice to carry through. "Almost done! Ya can come back in an hour!"

Scoffing did I trying to move my arms once more, thankful it did some damage in waking up Mickey. Who was so very brutal to the fact that Daryl was here with him. 

"Dare!" He yelled, and although my laugh hid his swear word, it allowed me to move away for the given moment and get ready. All while Pookie tamed the little child, and furthermore was it cute to think he's mastered that art.

"I need to get Mickey ready, can I come in?" Both Daryl and I yelled two different answers, but he listened to me as he entered. Took his brother from my bed and left without another word, it wasn't like I was nude or anything of the sort. Well, in the middle of getting dressed now, which surely woke up Dixon even more.

"Why don't ya stay home, can watch the kid and work on the project?"
"Because I have other classes Dixon, come on. We're going to be late." Throwing him his jeans and shirt as I managed to get to the bathroom before he could even think to get out of my bed.

Today was going to be a shitty day, not only did I get the decent four hours of sleep. It was constantly woke up, even then was it not constant. I couldn't even manage to tame my hair so I ended up keeping it with the natural waves before starting my make up, and although Daryl felt at home. He's taking a piss beside me as I tried to straighten my winged line just had me laugh.

"When did we start feeling like an old married couple?" 
His smile was hidden by his hair, but it was sort of ironic in this picture as of right now. Still managing to figure out what I needed to put in my bag, boy was this screwed. 

Shockingly, he flushed, or he did it to prove a point. But like most of the guys in the foster home, or even in this house. He left the damn seat up, making me do it for him.
"Right now." He chuckled through the hallway, making his way downstairs to hopefully eat something. While I hurried along and tried to follow him through, we didn't have time for eggs or anything. But Daryl was munching on some cereal when I found him sitting at the counter. 

"Jarod left to bring Mickey, ya got twenty minutes calm down." Letting out a breath of relief was I allowed to go to the coffee maker and brew myself and Daryl a cup. Sighing at what a night was had.
"Ya sure ya don't wanna stay home? Ya need to sleep sometime." I shook my head as I poured him a cup, passing him the jug of milk and whatever else there was to offer to add to the bitter taste.

Almost could say he was getting used to this rich shit, but it did wonders for my mind as I was finally awake. Ready enough to take a few snacks to eat at school if I get hungry.
"Why'd ya pops leave in the middle of the night?" I scoffed, trying to dig my keys out of my bag as we tried to hurry it along to the bike.
"That's classified."
"Hell, ya tryin' to tell me that ya haven't snooped in his office?" Giving him the one glance up offered the answer her wasn't looking for. What does he expect me to do, national security and all that shit, besides I doubt Michael leaves anything here to begin with.

"Like you almost did?" The time was touchy and I'll give him the fact that he hesitated for a second before catching up with me as I continued to walk to the barn, but he covered it up alright. And I only say that because I couldn't find my damn key. "I needed to give ya the letter. If ya window wasn't locked I would've—"
"Pookie it's okay," 
Finally finding my key stuffed between my textbook did I hand it off to him as I secured my bag and helmet. "I saw it in ya draw."
"Looking through my panties are we?" I teased, but he just hummed my bike to the edge before speeding off. 

The letter was in my nightstand, not my draw. I just liked teasing him, especially since he needed to calm down from his little remembrance of that night. God, I am so happy we're past that, past everything in that.

To think how far we've come had me just hug tighter as he rode us both to school. The breeze wasn't the best part, it was the fact that Daryl was enjoying himself while doing it. However his family might have managed to get Merle that bike, it's sad to say I don't think he'll be able to save enough money for one. Always having to fix something, or bail his brother out.

*

"Ya really think we can get this done in a week?" He asked considering we have until tomorrow next week, I just shrugged. What an asshole this guy is, just suggesting that we can do this entire project. All the mini-essays, the analysis of presidential politics, home life shit. It might as well be one essay for each person.

Maybe he wanted to save himself the read, considering his Junior class has an essay as well. This was getting ridiculous and I couldn't stand the fact that I was so tired trying to read the damn sentence over and over again. "How 'bout Friday ya take it easy?"
"Taking it easy won't get this thing done." I know he was trying to reason with me, but the only thing on my mind was this and about a thousand and one other things.

Give or fucking take.

"Blake...?" Hearing my name from across the room do I look up, seeing the teacher on the phone as I make my way towards him, confused as ever. "Mrs.Coulson wants to see you..." It was the beginning of the class and I can't understand why she would call me when this wasn't scheduled at all. "Did she say what it's about?" He shook his head, why the hell did he look worried?

So I returned back to my desk to grab my phone and tell him I'll be right back, this is probably her set reminder about the summer courses. Because I need that on my plate right now.
"Ya gonna make it back?"
"I think you can handle reading that." He nodded and waved off before I managed to go through the halls, walking down the hall to be brought to the open window office. 

"You got called down too?" I heard a voice speak, and turning around was I concerned about what this meant, the both of us getting called down for— 

"Shit..." I spoke, now looking back at the office in fear and terror. "It...It can't be..." I mumbled, looking at his my tearing eyes as he came over to give me a hug. Letting my arms cross over behind his neck as we consulted one another for the minute of confinement.

We were already in tears, and it wasn't a good sign to either of us what this meant. So we continued through, and already was the atmosphere drastically different from last week, they knew...They knew before us and it was the agonizing torture of being brought to the one room I loved visiting, only to be brought with this news.

Mrs.Coulson motioned for us to take our seats before her, and yet she didn't stay in her seat planted behind the desk. She came before us both, sitting down onto the table as she was beginning to address this obvious situation of something happening.

"I..I got a call from your mother who's a fort bennining right now, and I'm so very very sorry that Jeremy Sherwood was killed in action early this morning..."

My breath hitched back as I looked at the women before me, tears already beaming down losing my vision of the once clear blond counselor. My hand slowly went towards my mouth, but even then I could feel nothing, I couldn't think of anything to say, to hear, to speak.

All I could think about is the last letter I sent to Jermey, the last letter he sent me. The last time he managed to call me just to ask me a dumb question so he could tell his buddies later in the day.

I just lost my friend, the one army friend I had managed to make. And now my heart was just tearing at the seams before as I tried to compose myself. But it wasn't happening. 

She left the room claiming to give us privacy, and the second the door closed I went forward and held my brother closely. He lost a lifelong friend, they've known each other since they were babies. And I cannot even begin to feel the same level of loss he was going through, but I can start to feel the drastic change of mood when he stopped and pulled away.

"I...I thought it was going to be dad...I didn't...I didn't think it'd be—" He cut himself short as he left the words to be mumbled within his hands, just trying to make sense of it all. 
Jermey was barely twenty. Not old enough to experience anything in life, a year more than myself and yet he died. He died fighting for this country and I cannot express the gratitude towards the case he committed himself to, but I don't think I can see myself doing it anymore. Not to Jarod, or mom, or even Michael.

I don't know how long it's been since Mrs.Coulson left the room, but we couldn't just stand around and do nothing. We could help Mr. and Mrs.Sherwood, they must be in morning as well, and Michael? Mom?

"Your mother said it was alright for the two of you to head on home, she's going to pick up Mickey. I sent for someone to pick up your stuff in class...If you need anything, come walk right on in. Anything. But tomorrow I want you two to stay out of school, spend time with the family..." Her voice continued to trail off as I couldn't make sense of her muted speech, her lips were moving, and her eyes held the emotion to deliver whatever other horrible information she was spewing out. But I couldn't condone myself to listen, not until she led us out of the office.

Seeing Maddie with Jarod's backpack already meant how bad of a turn out this would be, because the second he left my life to hug her. I was alone, alone onto the questionable smile on Daryl's face turned into a panicked frown at a moments notice. 

"Rory? Hun, what's wrong?" He questioned, and just like I had done to Jarod, I pulled him in close for a hug, locking onto his neck. My sobbing came at an unnatural speed, and in the moment of that, did Jarod speak up and say what happened. Allowing me the chance to remain quiet. "Good friend of ours died in combat..."
"Jermey he—" Maddie started, and assuming that she's met him before she too issues out a few tears. But Daryl, he stood there in comfort of me and ready to drive me home. 

"Ya got Jarod?" He asked Maddie, and she nodded as we were escorted out of the building. Good thing I left my fucking helmet on the bike, wouldn't have had the chance to go and get it now. I can't stand being in this school, and I don't think I can ever go back to the army base knowing that he's not going to be there. 

I didn't say anything, nothing could be given to a thought of what to say in this situation. I didn't even get to see him go, I was so focused on the situation to Daryl that I couldn't have gone and visited him. Never the less, did Daryl park my bike up by the front of the house. 
"Hey hun...Why don't ya take a shower, wash up...Want me to stay tonight?"

 I barely gave him a first glance when I got off the bike, so I nodded trying to say the single word of 'please' but it didn't budge, instead he was quick to get on off my bike and hold onto my shoulders. Squeezing them as he tried to calm me down. 


"Gonna put the bike in the barn, take ya time." He said, ending it with a kiss on the head. And even more so was I just left with this gaping hole in my heart to the date I went to the military all with, the pictures hanging in the house of Jermey were being highlighted at each step I managed to get through. Until I found myself stripping down and getting into the cold shower.

I didn't deserve the heat, I didn't deserve the comfort of warm or anything in the sort. 

Feeling my hair getting raggedy, did I have the water stop. The thought of just sitting on the toilet with the towels securing my body seemed so heavily right now that I stopped myself, just by looking the mirror as blank as ever.

How perfect that there be a clear hickey on my breast, my first reaction was to crack a smile. Maybe even laugh and taught him about it, but there was no grin being told. Nothing functioned, only this plastered look with puffy eyes being heavily featured. 

This week was called for in being shitty. And here was the last straw of it. 

*

I was in the bathroom just staring at myself in the mirror, the red mark taunting me of how amazing the past few days were. And now here I am, in this drought of happiness because my good friend died.

Sort of ironic, considering I met him right after Daryl. Right after the party, I think, being hung over and brought to the army base.

It's hard to judge time when it's not being limited to being with someone you love. I loved Jeremy as I friend, and thinking about all the damn letters just stacked on my desk, his handwriting, his thoughts and everything else.

Every action I did, or tried to do was just numb. Pulling my sleeves through the robe as I tied it at my waist, but as I left the bathroom, did I see Jarod just at the end of the hallway. Sitting down, and as groggy and weak as my voice was. If he didn't shake his head towards me I doubt I would have gotten the message of being quiet. 
"What's the plan gonna be?"

"Annett is with Jermey's mom right now, Mr.Sherwood is flying back w-w...With his son. I don't know when the funeral would be..." Her voice trailed off, even with the loud ring that sounded off. 
Finally understood what he was doing, he was listening in. Guess Maddie called mom, how else was she getting information. We obviously didn't know.
"Ya think tea is gonna help 'em?" The sad fumbling of my smile lit up as I heard the remark Daryl made, tea wouldn't do much. Maybe for some people, but it's too bitter for my enjoyment. 

I'll give it a try, but I wont like it.

As Jarod motioned, we returned to our rooms. But given the few moments, I found the bundle of letters just scattered on my desk. In the instant did I try and put them all into a pile, ranging from colored envelopes, long and short. One with stickers, without. 

The patch that he so cleverly gave me was sticking out of one, making me take it in my hands as I scratched at the seams. Don't think he was supposed to give me this, but somehow it managed to get in my hands right at this very moment. 


Not wanting to get in bed, did I perch myself at the windowsill, cuddling my legs close as I took in every word Jermey had written to me, this was one of the older ones. It was how messy and scribble his handwriting was due to the fact she was nervous and afraid.

Over time he overcame it, and I think it did goodbye him and his friends. And by the fifth letter did he send me one of them already, them posing on a tank, just being obvious brothers to one another. And I loved seeing that, I hope they're doing well...

With the knock on the door making me jump, was I about to move from the clutter. But Daryl already peeked his head through, trying so delicately not to spill the mug of tea in his hand.

"Maddie said tea would be good for ya, don't know if ya believe that. But..." He shrugged off the sentence before handing it to me, sliding down to the couch right beside me. It wasn't as hot as I took it to be, and the pit of my stomach seemed to be drowning in this flavored water. 


"Whatcha doin' here any—" Before he could continue, did he see the multiple pictures and letters that I scattered about. Taking one of them in hand as he flashed eyes towards me.

"Rory don't do that to yaself...Want me to put 'em on the desk?" I nodded, returning my gaze to try the bottom of the cup, gulping down the rest as I had no reason to keep it full. 
When he returned, my mug no longer in hand. Did he open his arms for me to lay in, and instead of relying on my clear conscious, did I go straight into his hold. He rocked me back and forth, kissing my head every now and that as he calmed me down.

"...Not good with goodbyes..." I said, not daring to speak above a whisper. Feeling his head nod, did I believe he understood me a hundred percent. His mother was taken away from him at such a young age, and in that moment did I realize it happened to us both.

It took this long for me to compare our situations, but neither one of us would deem the other one lucky. 

"Ya know...When my ma died, I stayed at Shawn's house for...Pff, I dunno know...Three months, somethin' like that. And I didn't talk a single damn word. They couldn't get nothin' outta  me." His voice was so calm and smooth that made snuggling easier into him much more relaxing and efficient to the story. "I'm sorry..."
"Hun, he's ya friend...Christ don't say sorry." About to say it again did I shut myself up by going deeper into his hold, not bothering to look up or anything in the sort. 

"I shouldn't be upset though, Jarod knew him—"

"It don't matter if ya known 'im for a month. Ya allowed to miss him." Responding with a nod was the only other way I could speak without allowing my voice to crack, Maddie out of nowhere with the tea actually did help. 

But I think it was to dwell both Jarod and me to sleep because I was out like a light.

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Date Posted: 04-14-18 // Time: 11:44
Word-Count: 3377
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