Darkness was their best friend. They weren't abundant enough in numbers to make a move in the light of day. They had to wait for darkness to cover their attacks. Screaming out to a God, they shoot blindly into the night. Just like that I'm hit. Once. Twice. Three times. One pierces my protective gear and lodges into my chest. I fall to the floor and bleed. I can do nothing else. With the familiar sound of fire I hope that my friends aren't getting hit as well. They say I laid on the floor bleeding for an hour before the fight was over. This other guy who transferred from another unit wasn't as lucky. I am still alive.
The alarm clock rung and woke me from my dream. Turning over and groaning, I was going over the bad dream in my head. They were very common in my life. I lazily got up from bed and walked in the direction of the shower. My hand slid back and forth over my cheek while I wondered if I should shave. I didn't really have the time and she liked me unshaven anyways. I had a date with Jasmine tonight. Getting through the day was going to be hard. I jumped in the shower and then made breakfast. My phone rang and Jasmine's name came up across the caller ID. I grinned, her name sent a single shiver down my spine.
We had been dating for over a year now. She asked me out at first. From the beginning, we knew it was something more than the casual relationship. She was my rock and I was hers too. Her voice sounded out through the speaker on the phone, the soft tone putting me at ease while making my cock twitch. "Just pick me up at work. I feel better with you walking me through that parking lot. It could be dangerous without you." I could tell she was smiling on the other end. She had an amazing smile. I'd go to any length to see it.
"I have it all worked out. All you have to do is show up.. and since I'm picking you up, you don't even have to worry about that. I love you, and incase I can't find the words to tell you tonight, you're beautiful."
Jasmine chuckled in near disbelief and told me she loved me. I knew since we met that Jasmine didn't think she was beautiful. She recognized that she had ample breasts and ass that could attract men but she didn't find herself beautiful. It was my mission in life to convince her otherwise. My face grew more serious when I remembered that I'd be late for a meeting with my co-worker if I didn't hurry. I ran out the door of my apartment building and jumped into my shiny Red Corvette, wishing it worked as good as it looked. The engine started without a problem. It must just be my day. My co-worker was a very odd guy. I knew I'd have to get through a day of working with him if I'd have any chance of spending the night with Jasmine.
Mark had worked there a few more years than I had. We had to go over some files at his apartment. He had a reputation for being a little weird and I understood why the second I walked into his apartment. His apartment door opened on the second knock. Mark waved me into his apartment. I couldn't help but take note the ten old computers stacked in the corner, the boxes filling up the space under his tables, and the loud music every time I walk in here. My daily dose of Five For Fighting. "We finally got those old documents through the city. This is priceless! I've been sitting on a goldmine here waiting to tell you." He shouted out from the kitchen.
I sat back in the awkwardly placed lounge chair, "One for the good guys. Let's see them."
Mark sat down across from me with a packet of papers, "What's the perfect song to look at them with?"
"I don't know, Mark. Just bring the papers over here."
"Something by Coldplay maybe?" He shot back at me. Before I answered, he got up and ran over the computer, typed something in and a Coldplay tune filled the room. I flipped open my phone and checked for any messages from Jasmine, briefly going over the pictures I had of her stored in my phone. As soon as the Coldplay song ended we were able to get some work done. The hours passed and it was already 4 pm when we took a break. After being at it for so long, we decided to leave things there for the day. I jumped in my car and it started up without problem again. Thanking my lucky stars I drove off in the direction of Eric's apartment. I didn't get much time to hang with the guys anymore. I would trade the time I had to be with Jasmine instead just the same. They were just the friends you pick up in kindergarten and they never leave.
I walked in unannounced to Eric and Kevin throwing the couch on it's side. "What's up with the couch?" I asked though given a minute I could probably have figured out what was going on, knowing them.
Half of Eric's body was hidden inside a hole in the couch, I knew they must be looking for something. Kevin took a moment and looked over at me, "Remember that nickel Eric found fourth grade? The one from 1944. We wanna find it." He went back to searching around the room.
The saddest part was that I did vaguely remember the nickel. Looking over the room, I didn't see any change. "When was the last time you had this thing?" I took a seat on the overturned couch.
"Tenth grade. But I know it was in this box I brought here.. but it's not there." Eric answered, his voice coming out muffled with his head in the couch.
"Finding a nickel in this mess sounds a little hopeless. If you're serious about finding it, hire a cleaning service and offer a $10 tip if they find it." I stated matter-of-factly.
Both Eric and Kevin stopped what they were doing and looked at me, Eric spoke first, "How can you say that? This is our nickel. It's our responsibility. With your help, we'll find this nickel!"
"It won't take long to find it with three people. You won't miss anything tonight." They both lit up knowing about my date tonight. Pretty soon we were throwing chairs around the apartment and tipping his desk over. We had torn apart his apartment by the time I checked my watch. It was 6. There was an hour to go home and get cleaned up then pick Jasmine up. We hadn't found the nickel yet but that was the furthest thing from my mind at this point. I excused myself from the mess and left. The car actually started without a problem! Tonight must be meant to be. I drove off in the direction of home to get ready.
Washing my face and changing shirts didn't take as long as I expected. I might actually be early. The Corvette started up easily and there I was on my way to pick up my girlfriend. That was before the engine started sputtering. The fear hit me. I didn't want to be late to pick her up! I hurriedly got out of the car and checked the troublesome spark plugs. I fiddled around with the wires and tried the engine again. I checked my watch and ten minutes had passed already. It was 6:30 pm now and a half hour drive to pick Jasmine up for our 7 pm date. Shit. I should call a tow truck and take a cab. The time ticked away as I continued attempting to start the car. The engine finally started up without fail and I sighed with relief. Checking my watch, it was already 7! I was late no matter what.
Speeding towards Jasmine's work, I checked myself in the mirror, convincing myself that rugged was handsome. I was a half hour late but I knew she would understand. There she was. Sitting at her desk looking around the room expectantly. I started my long walk of shame for being the boyfriend who can't get there on time. She smiled broadly, "It's a little late, isn't it?"
"It was the car and I should have taken a cab. I'm sorry I'm late. We missed the reservations I made for tonight." I offered her my sad eyes.
"Well now I don't know if I want to go anywhere with you." She stuck her tongue out at me.
She got up from her desk and I smiled, wrapping my arms around her. We embraced for a long moment. I never could get used to her scent. It was perfectly feminine. Subtle enough to not be abrasive but strong enough to envelop me. She started kissing my neck right there in her office. "You had it all worked out. Now what are we going to do?" She asked me inbetween multiple kisses.
"Let me take you back to my apartment. I'll cook dinner. It'll be even better than going out."
She nodded approvingly and grabbed her bag. We walked out arm in arm. The Corvette started up without much trouble and we were on our way back to my apartment. I stole glances at her in the seat next to me. She looked out the window and then back at me, a hint of lipstick coloring her kissable lips. She was wearing a nice black blouse and matching black skirt. "Do you know how much I love you?" I broke the silence.
She looked over at me for a moment, "How much?"
I struggled to think of some comparison that would do the love I felt for her justice. "I don't really know how to translate it into words. All I know is, my eyes blink and my heart beats, even if I can't explain it. Your love is as essential to me as my heart beating." She smiled sweetly at the comment.
"What'd you do today?" She asked.
Memories of the day flooded through my head, From working with Mark to searching for nickels with Eric and Kevin. Those are the kind of things girls just don't understand! "Got some work done and saw some friends. Not much." I muttered. The conversation quickly turned to world events. I had to remember to keep my eyes on the road, it was easy to get lost in watching her lips as she talked. We made it to my apartment and sat down on the couch, still talking. I put the television on and told her I'd make a quick dinner. Walking into the kitchen, I had no idea what to make. I pulled apart the freezer looking for something suitable for tonight. Jasmine popped her head in the kitchen and looked in on what I was making. I settled on soup and something from the freezer. It was all cooking fast now, I didn't want to waste the whole night making food.