Taking Chances

life doesn’t always go as planned, does it? It caused me to grow up, too soon probably, but I’m fine with that because it was the result of my actions. I just hate that those actions forced the people closest to me to grow up too.

“Well technically I’m not, all my stuff is still at home …” She gestured to the still bare other half of the room, “but my brother and his buddies are throwing a huge party tonight and I figured I’d see if you wanted to go

“Do you have a death wish? Don’t do that!” She’d better be happy I had still thought I was dreaming, growing up with my dad meant always being on the defensive when waking up

Jason Carter was twenty and had been in Sir’s unit for about a year, he and I had become close quickly. He was my best friend

J. Carter - ‘DON’T LEAVE ME! I’m going to go insane without you here to keep me

company.’
Me - ‘I’m sure you’ll be fine Carter. Prokowski and Sanders seem to be taking it a little harder than most too … you can comfort each other ;) Or you can always take up one of the base skank’s offers. They’re sure to keep you better company than me.’
J. Carter - ‘I think I got herpes just thinking about them.’
Me - ‘Ha! Ew. I gotta go, Sir’s done loading up my bags in the car.’
J. Carter - ‘I’ll miss you something fierce Harper. Have fun, don’t forget about me.’
Me - ‘Never

Now that I was older and closer in age with most of them, the guys no longer tried to raise me; they saw me as their sister or friend and taught me everything I needed to know when it came to other guys like them

My phone chimed and I smiled again, my “brothers” weren’t thrilled I was leaving for California. I’d been getting calls, texts and messages on Facebook since last night begging me not to go

, I was finally going to let loose, have the college experience – whatever that was – and hopefully find out who I am in the process. I could have easily gone to a college here, but to say that my dad was strict would be the biggest understatement of my life, and I wanted to experience things I knew I wouldn’t be able to if I stayed here.
“Are you sure you want to do this Harper? There are plenty of excellent schools in North Carolina.”
I kept my eyes trained on his. “I’m one hundred percent certain Sir, this is what I need to do.” Did I mention I’m only allowed to call him ‘Sir

. I’d grown up with only my dad, and I loved him, but he didn’t know how to be a parent. The only part he seemed to get was the word “no”. I promise I’m not just being a whiny teenager, that really was about the extent of our conversations. He is always around me, rarely talking to me and always silently expecting me to be perfect. Not that I could blame the way he is, he has been in the Marine Corps since he graduated High School, and apparently he’s really good at what he does. The guys that came through his units respected him, and he always exuded pride for them. He’d kept me home schooled which resulted in me going to work with him every day and doing my work in his office