Naomi Peterson

I switched the TV on in the living room of me and my mom's new apartment. The apartment was only one story below Andromeda's, so I was rarely alone. Unless, of course, Andromeda was practicing her butt off, Ryan was working on Natalie's biographical movie, and my mom was at work.

Forget that "hardly ever alone" thing.

"Breaking News!" the female anchor was saying. "Russian Federation and allies have surrendered! The United States has withdrawn all troops from Europe. Mali, Nigeria, and Mauritania's troops are still assisting reconstruction. There have been many casualties from the New York Area. You will learn who these heroes are after a short break."

I jumped out of my chair. I ran to the phone.

"Andromeda! Turn on channel eight!" I yelled. "The war's over! We've won!" Andromeda gasped.

"A brave new world," she sang. "The war is won!" I cracked up and Andromeda hung up.

But, as I listened to the names, my heart sank further down into my stomach. So many people dead.

Luckily, I didn't hear "Percy Jackson" or... or...

The phone fell out of my hand.

"James Peterson." A picture of my dad in military uniform popped up on screen.

Andromeda Jackson (Yes, two POVs in one chapter. What'cha gonna do 'bout it?)

"That isn't-" began Ryan as we heard James Peterson's name on the TV.

"Yup," I whispered. I started to run downstairs, but then I remembered I was grounded. Would Mom make an exception for this?

Nope. My mom makes no exceptions.

But...

"Andromeda, stop muttering to yourself. It's creeping me out." I realized I had been muttering a small debate with myself. I sighed and called Naomi.

After ten rings, there was no answer.

I sighed again. If I knew Naomi right (and I did), she'd probably be sitting on her bed, staring at the floor. Naomi never cried. She just went into this prolonged silence that you couldn't help but feel was sad.

Then, lyrics popped into my head. No, not a song that had already been written. A song that was straight out of my head and spur of the moment.

And it was a duet.

I seriously loved duets. I thought they were awesome and beautiful, but I'd never been ever to actually write one.

Now I could. I grabbed my note book and my pen and began scribbling lyrics down-remembering something that had happened three years ago.

Flashback...

My dad had already gone on the plane, but Naomi's dad was still saying his goodbyes. He had a whole lot more people to say goodbye to than my dad did. Aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, and grandparents. My dad only had my grandma and grandpa, me, Ryan, my mom, and Natalie.

Naomi was holding her dad's hand while holding mine as well. Mr. Peterson knelt down and kissed Naomi on the forehead. He squeezed Naomi's hand and followed my dad onto the plane.

Natalie burst into tears and hugged my mom. I let a few of my tears fall, but then I saw Jordan Masterson on my left, sneering. I wiped away my tears and gave him my special Jordan-you're-an-idiot-look. My mom took my hand and I let go of Naomi's. We left the airport as the plane lifted off the ground, carrying both of our fathers to who-knows-where.

I chewed on the end of my pen, trying to think of the next chorus and verse and whatnot. Then, the lyrics part of my head when on overdrive. In only twenty minutes, I was finished.

Naomi: One day I was holding your hand

Dressed in camo green waiting for your plane to land

You followed my best friends dad, going who-the-heck-knows-where

But when he comes home, you're not going to be there

You told me that you'd come back to the land of the free

But you won't be here, why'd you do this to me?

I look older and stronger than I was back then

But inside I'm shattered and broken

I don't even know what I'm going to do now

All I know is you said you'd come home safe and sound

Andromeda: One day I was practicing in my room

I heard my mom cry, "He'll be home soon!"

They're reading off a list of names, your's isn't there

Wars do have casualties; you're not one of them

You told me you'd come back to the land of the free

No one believed you, nobody but me

I'm older and stronger than I used to be

My heart's just learning to heal inside of me

I don't know when exactly you'll truly be home

I just know that I'm gonna ask, "Where did you go?"

Both: I know that I'm gonna see you again someday

Naomi: Whether on the streets of gold

Andromeda: Or when you get off the plane

Both: You fought for my freedom, my home, and my life

Naomi: But all I can think is, "Why?"

Andromeda: I'm older

Naomi: I'm stronger

Both: Than I used to be

Andromeda: I know when you fought

Naomi: You did it for me

Andromeda: Even though I am bigger

Naomi: And faster

Both: And taller

Naomi: I haven't changed

Andromeda: I haven't changed

Both: No, I'll never change

Andromeda: Because I owe it to you

Naomi: And when I die too

Both: I'll tell you the story

Andromeda: I thought you'd never know

Naomi: The story that started

Both: Three long years ago

Yeah, I know, not my best work. But I was just so happy that my dad was coming home, and so sad that Naomi's wasn't (Don't blame me, her dad rocked.) that I couldn't think straight.

Then, I had an ingenious idea.

Gee, maybe I should call my mother.

I ran for the phone and began to call my mom.

"Already done," Ryan said from the couch. He was eating popcorn and Natalie was leaning on his shoulder, watching Gnomeo and Juliet. They were at the part where Gnomeo was sitting on William Shakespeare's shoulder, and Natalie was cracking up. I didn't know why. That part wasn't that funny.

But maybe the only thing that was funny was that, when everyone thought that Gnomeo had gotten run over, Naomi gasped at the same time as the movie.

We'd gotten so many weird looks that day.

Somebody knocked on the door, and I opened it. It was Naomi, and her eyes were red. I held up the song.