“I’ll never find love like you and Olivia” Colin proclaimed.
Colin and his roommate, Tyree, were taking a brief moment of calmness in between training sessions in their dorm. The academy never really left many idle hours to waste. Tyree had been boasting about how he and his girlfriend, Olivia, were celebrating their 10-month anniversary. While Colin was happy for his friend, he couldn’t help but become a tad jealous.
Despite their close friendship, the duo couldn’t have come from two different backgrounds. Tyree came from a stable nuclear family. His father was a well-respected Army general and he was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps. Meanwhile, Colin was basically forced to enroll at the military academy. The social worker said it was for ‘a moment for maturity and growth’ when, in reality, it was due to poor choices that finally caught up with him. Everyone around him believed he was only getting in trouble to mourn the loss of his father, but Colin always had a way of finding trouble.
“Don’t say that, man!” Tyree was always trying to remain positive.
Colin’s body was stiff from the morning’s drill. He grunts with each movement as he lays down on his bed. Tyree couldn’t help but chuckle.
“You alright, old man?” he joked.
Colin smirked briefly before pulling out a graphic novel he was in the middle of reading. He could hear the light taps of Tyree texting his girlfriend. Occasionally, a small chuckle comes from Tyree as he clearly reads texts from his girlfriend that he approves of.
Eventually, Colin was able to concentrate on his graphic novel. Before he knew it, he had drifted slowly asleep. Most of his dreams involved memories of his father. In the months after his death, Colin had manufactured loving memories of him and his father. However, in actuality, the two were quite distant. Sometimes his dreams were memories he wished had happened but the cold reality of death had robbed him of that possibility.
Chapter 1.2
Colin woke up from his unplanned nap. The time read 11:34 a.m. He had slept a bit longer than he would’ve hoped for but nothing he could do about that now. Tyree was gone, most likely with Olivia. That was one of the positive things about Tyree’s relationship with her; the room was often empty. Remembering the large sum of homework he had, Colin prepared to crank out a significant amount of it when an unexpected knock on the door stopped those plans. Colin opened the door to see the know-it-all Corporal Jenkins front and center.
“Private Hitchcock?” Jenkins’ fake baritone voice masked that the kid was a huge coward.
“What?”
“You’ll address me as Corporal, Private,” said Jenkins.
Colin refuses to conform to Jenkins’ request. Sensing a battle he won’t win, Jenkins presses on with his orders.
“Commander Arredondo has requested your presence for an urgent meeting”
Colin didn’t budge one inch.“That means…right now”
Colin rolls his eyes but walks with Jenkins down the corridor. He purposely avoids any small talk with Jenkins until they reach the Commander’s office. Jenkins’ posture becomes even more straight as he enters.
“Commander Arredondo, I have Private Hitchcock here!” Jenkins yelled out.
Commander Arredondo motioned for Colin to come in, and turned to Jenkins.
Thank you, Private,” says the Commander.
Jenkins’ proud demeanor sulks as the Commander incorrectly says his rank. Once Jenkins leaves, Commander Arredondo looks at Colin.
“He needs to get taken down a few pegs.”
Despite Colin’s resentment towards authority, he’d always respected Arredondo. The Commander always had the unique ability to command authority while also having a soft, understanding demeanor. Every interaction between the two had been pleasant, even if Colin had to be reprimanded.
“Where is Tyree?”
“He’s probably off with Olivia,” responded Colin.
The Commander chuckles.
“He must’ve gotten his romantic side from his mother. His father was never like that”
The two sit in silence for a few moments.
“I have good news and bad news for you,” said Arredondo, “which would you prefer to hear first?”
“Bad, I suppose,” shrugs Colin.
“I’m giving you an assignment. The basement storage room is in absolute shambles. You’re to go through everything in that room and organize it. Your girl-obsessed roommate can help assist you.”
Colin had never been given an assignment before. He didn’t quite know how to respond. The job wasn’t fancy but it was a chance to impress the Commander.
“What’s the good news?” asked Colin.
The Commander smiled.
“You do well with this and you’ll get to move up in rank.”
This was shocking news to Colin. All he had ever been was a screw-up to everyone and now he had a chance to prove himself.
“Sounds good. Anything else, sir?”
“Yeah,” smiled the Commander, “hope you’re not afraid of mice”.
Chapter 1.3
Colin couldn’t help but have a sense of pride as he returned to his dorm. It wasn’t a glamorous assignment, but just the fact someone trusted him gave Colin self-confidence that had been missing in his life. Also, he couldn’t wait to see Tyree’s face when he would inform him of what their plans were that evening. He was quite relieved to see that Tyree had returned and was in their dorm.
“Hey, buddy,” smiled Colin “I got news for you.”
His joyous demeanor quickly deflated when he saw the sad facial expression on his roommate’s face.
“Tye, you ok?”
It was clear that Tyree had been crying. His eyes were puffy with a red glaze.
“Olivia…she…she…we broke up,” Tyree fought back what remaining tears he had.
While Colin was secretly glad on the inside, he knew that his roommate needed a supportive friend. Colin sat down next to him. A few moments pass before Colin breaks the silence.
“What happened?” he asked.
Tyree shrugs.
“She didn’t even give a reason. Just said ‘We’re done’” responded the brokenhearted Tyree.
Not familiar with the act of showing emotion, Colin hesitated but ultimately patted his friend on the shoulder. They both understood that Colin nonverbally expressed his sympathy. Tyree pivoted the conversation to try and get his mind off his broken heart.
“What’s this ‘news’?” he asked.
“Well, Commander Arredondo gave me an assignment,” Colin said.
Even Tyree realized how big of a moment this was for Colin. He even managed to show a smile despite his rotten day.
“Congrats! What’s the gig?” he asked.
Colin chuckles.
“We’re cleaning the storage room downstairs tonight,” Colin replied.
Tyree raised an eyebrow.
“What do you mean ‘we’re cleaning the storage room?’” asked Tyree.
“Commander told me that you’re my second in command,” Colin said in a joking manner.
Tyree groaned and flopped onto his bed. Colin jumped into his own bed.
“Rest up. We head out at 0100!” Colin winked at his friend before shutting off the lights.
