< : > : Chapter Sixteen : < : >

Harlow | Phoenix | Other people

"How many exes am I going to have to look out for Harlow? You can round the number up but I just need an estimate on how many bodies I need to explain to my higher ups once I come back to base from my visit."

"You won't have to worry about any, that's why they're called exes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes I'm sure. What about you Mr. Panty Dropper? How many swooning girls will I have to knock down?"

"It's hard to say. The number grows every time I step outside but you have nothing to worry about. My attention is solely focused on you. You know, I told my Aunt about planning to have you over."

"Oh yeah? What did she say?"

"She would be delighted."

"And what did Dylan say?"

"Dylan may or may not have somewhere else to be."

"And how do you know that so far in advance?"

"I will find somewhere for him to be."

"Why would you do that?"

"I know my little cousin, who is more like a brother, but I know him and I know he'll be bating those youthful hazel eyes at you and making you smile. All the while I'm trying to get your attention."

"You already have my attention Phoenix."

"And I plan to keep it . . . You ever -"

"I want to cook for you."

" . . . . "

" . . . . "

"You want to cook for me?"

"O-Or we can make something together like cookies or brownies or . . . something. It doesn't even have to be like a date thing or a couple thing. I can invite my friend Timara over and you can invite Corey -"

"You said Timara?"

"Yeah."

"I know a Timara - well not know her know her but Prichett - wait, what's her last name?"

"Briggs."

" . . . . "

"Phoenix?"

"Yes Harlow?"

"How do you feel about long distance relationships?"

" . . . . "

" . . . . "

"For me personally, I didn't think they could work. Why would you date someone who is miles and miles away from you? To trust them enough to be faithful to you. To only have phone calls and Skype dates. Emails and pictures can only go so far. I miss you can only be said so much and distance would eventually weed into loneliness and loneliness would drive one into the arms of another."

"Wow."

"But that was the past. Those were my old thoughts and I never understood how my friends back on base would be in these long ass relationships with girls from home when they could only see them maybe once a month, once every fews months depending on their life situations. I used to think that there were plenty of girls in town to be in a relationship with but there are some sick people out there searching for Marines to marry."

"Are you serious?"

"I wish I wasn't. A buddy of mine was blinded by what he thought was love. Damn near everybody could see they were falling too fast and before we knew it they were married six months later. He said when you know, you know."

"Are they still married?"

"They are for now at least. You have to be seperated for a year before divorcing and they're down eight months."

"That's so sad."

"It is but back to your question, I would be open to a long distance relationship if she's worth it."

" . . . . "

" . . . . "

"Am I worth it? I mean if we weren't just f-friends."

"If we weren't just friends I would probably surprise you with a ticket so you can meet me back at base when I get out of this hole with open arms. I'd probably swing you in my arms like in those homecoming videos that make women cry. Then we'd have some nice PDA going on because you wouldn't be able to keep your hands or mouth to yourself and I'm just that desirable."

"Right."

"And after inhaling each other's faces for twenty minutes I would of course have to pull away because there would be young children watching us but just before unraveling you from around my waist, I would remind you that you, my girlfriend Harlow, are worth it. After that we would fly back to Indiana holding hands and looking extra cheesy cuddled in our seats on the plane. Real cheesy couple stuff."

" . . . . "

" . . . . "

"Phoenix?"

"Yes Harlow?"

"Would you like to be my long distance boyfriend?"

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Closing my eyes I drifted off into a deep sleep that became a perfect dream:

I was so nervous.

Standing in a gymnasium full of other military families I shifted from one foot to the other wrapping and unwrapping the lanyard to my keys around my fingers. This was the first time Phoenix and I were going to meet in person.

Wanting to have a few hours of just staring at each other he bought me a plane ticket, booked my hotel room, and rented me a car to be here when he got back. We would fly out tomorrow morning  back to Indiana so he could surprise his family. Today was just about us and I was standing here making myself nauseous thinking about what his reaction to me would be.

We had been talking on the phone for a little over seven months. We had only Skyped a handful of times but this . . . this was the real thing.

I couldn't hang up or turn off my camera. I couldn't mute him or cover the speaker. I would actually be standing in front of him. To see every speck in his hazel eyes. To see all of him in cammies.

Spouses that knew each other talked amongst themselves. Children and other young people by themselves held signs that welcomed home their Marine or Sailor . . .

Maybe I should've made Phoenix a sign. I didn't think to make anything not that I had time to do so. Once I got off the plane and drove to base I had to sit in this tiny building with five chairs and a hundred civilians needing to get a military pass for the homecoming today. I was in there for hours before getting a temporary military identification card and driving to the hotel to check in and crash for the night.

Hearing a voice on the speakers stacked in the corner I looked over to the woman wearing a dark blue blouse, white pants, patriotic shoes, and a blue headpiece that said Welcome Home to make everyone smile.

"The planes have just landed and your Marine or Sailor will be unloading and making their way to you shortly. We ask that you all stay in the gymnasium. There are over three hundred people coming home today. Give it a little time to find your Marine or Sailor.  Feel free to move around and search for them. If more than fifteen minutes have passed then make your way to a person wearing a red vest to assist you. Happy finding!"

She turned off her mic placing it on the table next to her when a few people started to scream. Looking up it was like a swarm of dark green camouflage came towards us. I could feel the wind of people running past me to their Marine or Sailor. Children were running into their parent's arms. Girlfriends, boyfriends, husbands, wives, aunts, uncles, grandparents, everyone was smiling. Some were hugging, some were sobbing hard. Some were meeting their children for the first time and others were swinging around their little ones. It was beautiful to see the everyone welcomed back by their loved ones.  

"Harlow."

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A/N: Remember the second half of this chapter is a dream