Chapter 3

"What?" I stare up into his sea-green eyes. "Why wouldn't I like you, if I didn't, I would be treating you like Tris." I point behind me even though she's not there.

I walk through the doors of the training arena. He follows closely behind and shuts the door loudly behind him. I jump, startled by the loud noise.

"You know what I mean, Zeria." He whines at me.

For a guy older than me, he sure sounds more childish. I walk over to the weapons that are used for training. There is a lot of choices for a day like this, maybe I should go for a simple handgun or a sniper rifle. The handgun could help me fix my stance to train to get used to the back drawl. But the sniper teaches me for better range and accuracy at a farther distance.

I can smell his scent lingering behind me. It's a mix of mint, sweat, and something I can't put my finger on quite yet. He wants an answer that I can't completely give the right answer to. It's not that simple. I focus on the weapons in front of me. I grab the handgun.

When I turn around, he's on his knees. At his height when he's like this is about the same height as me. He grabs the gun from his hand and tucks it into his holster. He gently holds my thin arms. His touch sparks fire on my skin, lighting me up with happiness.

"Look. I'll tell you this one last time. Me and you... will never happen. Your ten and I'm sixteen, this will never happen. It's weird that you like me ok, you're basically a baby and I'm a man." His eyes stare into my soul.

I gently touch his face. "I know. But someday this," I gesture to the both of us. "will be so undeniable that you will be begging me to love you. Time may be at a disadvantage for us but you'll see. We're meant to be together."

He sighs in defeat. "No matter what I say, it will never change your mind, now would it?"

"Nope. You're stuck with me." I smile at him.

He gets up and my eyes follow him all the way up. He's so tall. I back up to get a better look at him. He's so perfect that it melts my heart.

I know in my heart it's just a matter of time. I really have to stop doubting myself. Tris is nothing compared to me. She can try all she wants but with the gleam in his eyes, he knows that in the future he won't be able to deny me. For now, we remain untethered.

He's right though. It would be weird if he liked me like this. I mean my body is so tiny. He's tall, built like a rock and handsome as hell. I may be cute, but not good enough. I have to at least grow some curves in the front. It would be disappointing if I didn't.

"Ok, since you chose the handgun, we're working on your stance to prevent you from falling backward at the recoil."

He hands me the gun back. "Take your stance."

I roll my eyes at him. Feet apart, arms up, both eyes open. How hard can this be? He circles me. He kicks my right foot back, changes the position of my hands and raises my arms a bit higher. Ok, a few adjustments but this should be easy now. I shouldn't fall back.

My target's about twenty feet away, and there are no distractions for me to miss. It isn't moving nor coming towards me. I should be fine.

"Anyday now." He says slightly annoyed.

Except him. I pulled the trigger and the sound plus the recoil causes me to fall backward. I land pretty hard on my butt. Easy my ass, who was I trying to fool.

"Maybe it's still too early for you. We should hold off the gun training for a while until your strong enough to not fall backward."

I stand, agitated by the accusation. Not strong enough? That had nothing to do with it. I just have to face my fear and let the bullet be my guide.

Focus. I just have to focus. Control my breathing. You know the force of the recoil, the loudness of the fire. Just imagine your bullet, destroying those Humanoids I hate so much.

I open my eyes and fire. The recoil barely got to me this time. And my target dead with my accuracy. I look at Braydon cockily.

"Who's not strong enough now?"

He breathes in a heavy breath. "Not you, that's for sure."

I smile and look back at my target. I hear clapping in the background. Father stands at the entrance once again today.

I lit up like a light bulb. "Father did you see me, I finally did it!"

I leap into his arms. He catches me and swings me around in the air. His laughter fills the room and my heart. He congratulates me with a kiss on the cheek.

"Now, the only thing left to teach you is to be polite."

I roll my eyes. "Did Tris tattle on me? She's the one that needs to grow a pair."

Father dropped me on the floor. He gave me a disappointed look. Nothing has ever looked so menacing. I smirk up at him to try to lighten the mood. His stare forces me to look away.

Under my breath, I say, "It's true, she does." I get up off the floor and dust off imaginary dirt. "So what brings you here a second-time father?"

He sighs in fatigue. "The stocks need replenishing so I'm going out to get more supplies."

I interrupt him. "Can I come along?"

He looks down at me with pride and worry. "No it's too dangerous, you're not trained enough to come along."

I stand up taller. "Trained enough my ass, how hard is it to follow and shoot? Humanoids won't be around since their too busy sticking a stick up their -"

He cuts me off before I could finish my insult. "That's enough, Zeria. It's more dangerous than what we lead them on to be. You haven't experienced the outside world yet. The pain that comes along with protecting those you love."

"Simple, I won't love anyone." I retorted more in humour than in reality.

He frowns at me. "Your humour is just as bad as your mothers."

I smile at the thought of connecting with my mother even though I hardly remember her. They used to say she had the sharpest eye. Apparently, I look just like her, but in the photographs, I'm nothing compared to her.

"Sir, may I join the expedition?" Braydon pipes up from the background.

We both look at him forgetting he was even in the room. Braydon took a soldier's stance and pumped his chest out to come off as more serious. I look at my father who looks as though he's confronting some demons within himself.

He can't help but compare Braydon to his parents. A few years back, Father and Braydon's parents were out on a mission together. Their assignment was to gather intel on the enemy and the operation turned sour. They were ambushed by humanoids and father was the only one that made it out alive.

"You should let him." I stare into my father's pale green eyes. "He's ready, I know it."

His expression softens. He takes a knee to get down to my level. "Really? I thought you would be against this."

I tilt my head to the side. "Why wouldn't I want Braydon to move forward and help the cause?"

A smile creeps onto his face. "Because when he's gone, you'll have to train with Tris."

My mouth drops. I recover and stand up much taller. "If it's for the greater good, then I'll sacrifice my precious time to the... lovely Tris." I fake smile.

My father laughs at me before returning his focus back onto Braydon, who is patiently waiting for an answer. He sighs, "If you wish to come, whom am I to stop you?"

Braydon smiles and I can see the glimmer of excitement in his eyes. I'm proud of him. He truly is a good soldier.

"That means I'll have to cut this lesson short, Zeria."

I beam with happiness, "Of course. Does that mean we get to go to your office?"

Every time Father leaves for a mission, it has become our tradition to go down into his office to stare at an old family album. All my precious memories are there. Me in my diapers, mother's sweet smiles, and father's body parts since he hates taking photos of himself.

He nods his head. I grab his hand and start to lead him to his office room. "Later Braydon."

When we reach his office he pulls out the familiar rust-like key, I've grown attached to. No one goes into this office except us. It's our spot. I grab the key from his hands and open the door to my past.

The room's a bit dusty, I guess it's been a while since the last mission he went on. The room smelled of my mother's scent and was littered with her old things. The paint on the wall has peeled a lot more and the room temperature dropped about twenty degrees from the hallway.

Oh, how I missed this room.

I flip the switch and the white luminescent light shines on everything, bringing the room back to life. I find myself behind his work desk and sitting down on the old chair. I pull the bottom drawer out, revealing my precious book.

The pages are filled with old memories, some I remember, others I only remember through the photo. I run my small fingers over each of my favourite photos as I flip through each page. I miss her so much, I wish I could make these photos come alive so I could touch her, feel her warmth and hug her.

Arms wrap around me and lift me up. I'm seated on his lap so he could join my festive activity. I lean my head on his chest and flip through more pages of my past. My smile refuses to leave my face when I find a picture of Braydon and I. Our lives are bound together, I mean we were together forever already, what's a forevermore?

"I got something for you." He says into my hair.

I sit up to look at him. He opens another drawer from the desk. He takes out a box and places it into my hands. I stroke the top, "What's in it?"

"Open it and find out."

I hold my breath and open the small box. Inside lies a delicate gold chain with a small turquoise gem. My mother's birthstone. She used to wear it all the time. I hold it close to my heart.

I whisper, "Thank you."

When we finish reminiscing, I close the door and lock up my cherished memories. I hold out my hand to give the key back to my father but he curls my hand and pushes it back to me. I give him a skeptical look.

"But-"

"This room is yours just as much as it is mine. You're old enough to be trusted to go in here by yourself. Plus, I think you will enjoy your time here while I'm gone."

I look away, "You sound like you never coming back."

He sighs sounding exhausted once again. "It's tough out there, Zeria. Humanoids are becoming more frequent and I'm starting to think our 'peace' won't last very long."

I purse my lips at the thought of it being hard outside. "Then why do you have to go?"

"Because our people need supplies to keep living like this. Zeria, I worry about the men I risk going out there. If I don't go, then no one will want to go there and havoc will break loose here. Just, sometimes I worry whether or not I'll come back to see your adorable face." His face looks so tired and worn.

I feel guilty because this whole time I've been ignoring all the signs. His face has grown wrinkles with the new stresses this life gives. I wish I could wipe all his worries away.

"Father, it's ok. Nothing is going to happen to you, Braydon'll protect you. He's the best soldier I know." I smile, truly believing my words.

He smiles sadly, which breaks my heart even further.

I hold his hand and walk him to the entrance of the base. There waits, Braydon and a few other survivors. They're all in their gear ready for any Humanoids to come along to be demolished.

Braydon wears his favourite black jeans, leather jacket and converse shoes. If this were a different time, I'd say he was ready for a date. I smile at the thought of him at some movie theatre waiting for a girl to show up.

I release my father's hand to run to Braydon's side. I pull him out of the crowd to the empty nearby tunnel that leads to the living quarters. His face fills with immediate worry like I did something wrong.

"Promise me?"

He takes one knee and raises his pinkie finger, "Anything."

I loop my smallest finger around his big finger. "Promise me you'll come back to me in one piece."

He smiles. "Death is not an option."