Jake had texted her the address where Pete's burial was happening, and when she arrived, Clare didn't have any trouble finding them. The uniformed men and women surrounded by people in black standing before a casket draped in the flag of the United States dominated the cementery. Dressed in black as well, Clare stood off to the side, watching the funeral procession from a few feet away. It was sunny out, the sky a vibrant blue as big, fluffy clouds glided along peacefully with a gentle breeze.

It felt so weird to be standing there, mourning the loss of a good man and marine while it was such a nice day. Clare imagined it was the big man upstairs welcoming Pete into the afterlife.

She didn't spot Jake, but it was kind of hard to see anyone's face from where she stood, especially since they were all wearing their uniforms. But when the funeral finally came to an end and everyone started going their own ways, she found him. Her breath hitched in her chest.

This was her first time seeing Jake in uniform, and he looked absolutely dashing. The dark aviator sunglasses that he wore added to the look, but she didn't like them. She wanted to see his eyes. As he came closer and closer, she began fiddling with the thin strap of her small shoulder purse.

"You came..."

Clare sent him a weak smile. "Even if I was still pissed at you...I still would've come."

He tucked his hands into his pant's pockets and she saw one brow raise at her answer. "So...you're not...upset?"

"I was." She shrugged. "But...I've given it a lot of thought and...you just lost your best friend...I'm pretty sure if it had been me, I woul've acted way more irrationally. And would've wanted time alone."

"That still doesn't excuse how I treated you..." Jake's head dropped in shame, before he shook it. "I was irrational...but that didn't give me a free pass to act like I did towards you."

She didn't say anything. Instead, she gently lifted her hands and pulled the glasses off his face. His red-rimmed eyes followed the movement, and when she folded them, he finally brought his gaze up to meet her misty ones. She gave him another smile, this one full of pain at the sight of his defeated face. In an instant she was in his arms, her own trapped between their bodies, and she nestled her face into his chest.

"I didn't want you to see me broken, Clare." The crack in his voice made her heart squeaze painfully. "I was a wreck. I saw him die. I saw the way his body jerked when the bullets hit him. They had to physically hold me back from running towards Pete and drag my crying ass into the helo." His arms tightened their hold in her. "I thought for sure that if you stuck around to see what that did to me, you'll leave. So I pushed you away. I hurt you. Little did I knew I actually needed you. One of the guys made me see that. He apparently heard from the kitchen staff what happened. He gave me a piece of his mind and a good shaking. I wanted to go to you as soon as his words got through my thick skull, but he said I probably would make things worse if I did. So I waited to contact you. Only...you didn't answer..."

He pulled back then, holding her at arms length as he stared into her eyes. Clare waited for him to continue. "I thought I lost you."

"Well," Clare sniffed, not bothering to wipe her tears anymore. "You're stuck with me, marine. No returns."

Jake finally smiled, and she can't help but do the same.

"I need you, Clare." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Now, and for as long as you'll let me have you."

She grinned up at him then. "Good. Because otherwise all the transfer papers I've been signing for the past week would be for nothing."

His brows furrowed together in confusion and a tinge of fear. "Transfer papers? Are you...moving somewhere?"

"Yeah, to the college not far from the Marine Base around here," Clare answered nonchalantly, trying her best to stop the giddy smile from overtaking her whole face when she saw his eyes widened in realization. "Think you have time to help me look at some apartments? Dad gave me a list of recommendations when we found out the college doesn't have dorms."

"B-But...What about the uni you're already going to now?! Isn't it a bit too late to move?"

"I'll finish the rest of the semester." She rolled her eyes before patting his cheek. "Use your head, marine."

The grin he had was so bright Clare was tempted to use his sunglasses. But she figured hers was the exact same. Jake slung an arm around her shoulder and she slid one of her own around his waist as they began walking. He pressed a kiss to her temple this time as he took his aviators from her and slid them back on. "So what apartment is first on the list?"

She checked her phone. "Uh...Sunny Hill."

"Okie dokie."

* * *

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