< : > : Chapter Eighteen : < : >
Harlow |Phoenix |Other people

"Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes. Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear. Five hundred -"

"Are you okay Phoenix?"

"No Harlow I'm not okay. I am ready to see land. You know I never thought I'd miss grass as much as I do today. I'm tired of the water. It's depressing."

"Are you feeling homesick?"

"I think my case is worse than something as simple as being homesick. I'm sick of these people. I'm sick of this food. I'm sick of that tiny bed. I'm sick of watching Shooter and Taken. I'm sick of all of it. I try to keep sane by going to the gym but lifting weights and doing cardio can only occupy one for so long."

"Maybe you should get into yoga."

"Yoga?"

"Yeah. Men do yoga. It helps with breath, strengthening, toning, flexibility."

"Do you do yoga Harlow?"

"I do along with meditation."

"Would you teach me yoga? Be my instructor."

"Of course I would!"

"Couples yoga."

"I think it's cute."

"Cute cheesy couple stuff. I like it."

"Me too but I wish that I could do something to help you feel less homesick."

"You do. You answer your phone every morning. By the way my shift is finally FINALLY getting changed. I'll be back amongst the living."

"So you'll be working around the same time as I do? Are you even in the States?"

"As much as I would like to give that information to my girlfriend, I can not."

"Classified?"

"It is."

" . . . . "

" . . . . "

"Well what time is it at least?"

"It is . . . ten fifty-seven a.m., almost eleven . . . We should have been off the phone awhile ago. I recall being told we could only talk for an hour and forty-five minutes."

"Yeah well, I like talking to my boyfriend."

"Mm, mmm, mmm. If I could talk to you all day I would but you need rest. You have to work in the morning don't you?"

"I do but before we get off the phone I wanted to tell you about this plan Timara and I have been trying to figure out."

"Oh yeah?"

"It has to do with Corey."

"Oh, I'm sure it does. I'm all ears."

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It was hard keep a secret from Harlow especially since we had just started dating but I wanted it to be a surprise that our deployment was no longer extended.

The ship we were on was falling apart and couldn't make it the extra three months that we were supposed to be staying. We were supposed to arrive on land soon, unfortunately not back in the States. From Africa we would turn back around and the two other ships would go with us back to base. One in front and one behind with our old and tired ship in the middle in case we were attacked or our ship malfunctioned.

Hanging up the phone I smiled to myself letting thoughts of Harlow's shocked face replay in my mind with different scenarios of how I could surprise her. I even thought about getting in contact with Timara for some help.

We would be back in the States within a few weeks and on our way back to base soon after giving me a little less than two months to get everything in order. This weekend I would call my Aunt hoping that she would be able to help me sort through my thoughts and come up with a memorable surprise.

Did I really want to wear my Blues in public brining the most attention to us? Even wearing my cammies would draw attention. Wearing my  Dress Blues meant that I would need them dry cleaned and a new pair of pants since I lost weight during deployment, but wasn't Harlow worth it?

Of course she was.

Unbuttoning my blouse I tossed in on my bunk pulling my green shirt from my pants and over my head. Unlacing my boots I thought about how dinner with Aunt Justine, Dylan, and Harlow would go. Would she pick at her food refusing to make eye contact with anyone because she was nervous? Or would she be the opposite and engage with everyone making my little cousin blush. Would she let me hold her hand under the table or rest my arm over the back of her chair?

Kicking off my boots I laid back fingers laced at the back of my head against the wall. Feeling a neck cramp already forming from the space they call a bed I closed my eyes for a few seconds of silence before getting ready for the gym. I just needed a few minutes to think of the possibilities for Harlow and I:

Walking into the airport civilians stopped and thanked Humphries, Luka, and I for our service. Replying with my pleasure, no problem, it's an honor we paused a few times to talk and be respectful of the veterans that were going on their on destination thanking them for their service before us.

Still in our cammies Luka, Humphries, and left as soon as our boots hit land. There was no family at base to welcome us back and with the go ahead from First Sergeant we hustled back to our barracks to pack and Prichett drove us to three hours to the airport for our four hour flight back to Chicago.

Luka had a three hour drive to Kokomo, Humphries had a an hour drive back to La Porte, and I had an hour drive as well. Not wanting to get a rental in uniform already breaking regulation I opted for a Lyft that was willing to travel far.

Antsy the entire ride home knowing that Harlow was already at my Aunt's house I made small talk with the driver until we turned on my home street. There was an extra car in the driveway that had to be Harlow's.

My Aunt and I had been texting throughout the day me letting her know how far away I was from home and her telling me how beautiful Harlow was and what car she drove and how Dylan wore a nice shade of pink on his cheeks since she arrived.

Asking the driver to drop me off a few houses down I texted my Aunt letting her know that I was outside and to send Dylan out to check the mailbox since he didn't know I was coming home either.

Dropping my bags behind Mr. Wilson's pickup I hid behind the tree that Dylan fell off of when he was seven breaking his right arm.

Hearing the back door open and shut I stood up straight aligning myself with the tree hoping to blend in like the government thought our cammies did. Counting to five I peeked from behind the tree pausing for just a second smiling at how tall and how long his hair had gotten from the last time I seen him.

Seeing him shut the mailbox door he began making his way back to the house when I whistled a quick tune that his dad would do to us wanting out attention. Once he passed Dylan and I continued to do it to each other knowing the tune was ours and no one else's.

Halting at the familiar tune Dylan raised his head from shuffling through the mail looking around when I stepped out from behind the tree revealing myself to my little cousin.

The mail fell from his hands as he took off running towards me with full speed. Firming my stance to the boy that was like a brother to me.

"Oomph." My cover fell off my head somewhere behind me.

Taking only two steps back I caught Dylan holding him as if . . . holding him tight enough to let him know that everyday I was gone he still crossed my mind.

Feeling the back of my shirt tighten the preteen in my arms began to shake. Cries of happiness shook his body as he held on to me.

This was what I wanted. No one around with cameras. No one around clapping. Just me and Dylan unafraid to cry.

Loosening his hold from my blouse he stepped back roughly wiping away his tears before looking up to me with red rimmed and water eyes. "You're here."

"I'm here." I smiled pulling him back into my arms kissing the top of his dark hair. "I've missed you dude."

"I mish you oo." He words muffled against my chest. Stepping back for the second time he smiled at me very similar to his father's smile making my chest ache in the slightest from his absence. "Does mom know you're here?"

I nodded. "She helped me plan this out. How's Harlow?"

Dylan pushed his hair back and chuckled. "Give me a few more hours and she'll be my girlfriend."

"Watch it kid." I pulled him down into a headlock. "You're still too young for her."

"Yeah yeah yeah." He laughed as I let him go. "Everytime mom brings you up she starts smiling."

"How could she not? I'm amazing."

Dylan rolled his eyes and laughed. "Right." He pulled on my sleeve. "Come on. They're both waiting." He said walking over to pick up the discarded mail.

"Hold on, let me grab my bag and cover."

Picking up my military bag from behind the truck I walked a few steps behind Dylan smiling at his new height. He had grew a few inches while I was away. At this rate he would be either the same height or taller than me by the time he turns sixteen.

"I'll go in first and you wait just inside the door for a few seconds." I nodded my head as my heart began to beat a little faster.

This was it. Harlow and I were finally going to meet in person.

Putting my bag on the wooden bench at the back of the house, Dylan held the back door open for me resting his index finger against his lips before turning around. Removing my cover I stayed put waiting to hear her voice.

"Mom, it was just a bunch of junk mail." I counted to fifteen Mississippi before taking my first step forward.

"Oh." My Aunt played the role of being disappointed. "I was hoping there was a letter from Nicky. Have you heard anything from him Harlow?"

I carefully walked up the back steps and through the new mudroom pausing behind the wall that was shared with the kitchen.

"Um, no." She sounded just as disappointed as my Aunt was. "We haven't walked since Friday. He said they would be going through some dangerous territory and need to be silent but hopefully he'll be able to call soon."

"I'm sure the second he's able to call he will."

Moving from behind the wall I leaned against the door frame crossing my ankles letting myself smile at the beauty before me.

She was more beautiful than any Instagram picture, any Skype call, any DM picture.

She was . . . mine.

Watching Harlow stir the light orange straw in her lemonade her hair in a long dreaded style with small intricate pieces on several dreads. It was a style similar to the braids I've seen her wear in a few of our video calls. Not to say that I didn't like it because I did. I liked at the styles she wore. My favorite was when she wore braids to the crown of her head where her puff sat. Curly and beautiful just like the rest of her.

"Hey mom, can you come help me with my computer really quick?" I heard Dylan ask.

Breaking away from the back of Harlow's head I looked to my Aunt Justine's watery eyes as she silently blew me a kiss that I of course caught and held to my chest until I could hug her myself.

"Sure honey." She followed behind him. "Go ahead and get yourself some more lemonade honey. I'll be right back."

"Thank you." Harlow replied politely.  

Waiting for them to exit the kitchen I stayed where I was comfortable against the frame watching Harlow check her phone and sigh.

"Looking for someone?"

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A/N: Yes the second half is also a dream. Thought it would only be fair to see a dream from Phoenix ;)