His voice was tight and his words carefully chosenāhe knew that the phones were most likely being monitored on the eve of the new rush of deployments. His hands were damp and he clutched the phone in his hand, his eyes shut tight as his mind raced. Regret, nervousness, anticipation, fearāemotions similar to these raced through his troubled mind, and finally, he spoke again. "I need to see you." He admitted, his heart pounding in his chest as he awaited her answer.
For a moment, there was silence, and he could hear her breathing. Michael waited, knowing that what he asked for was a lot, in light of her circumstances. Her father was very strict, and disapproved of their relationship, discreet as he and Laine had always tried to be.
"Come for me." She answered, finally, her voice taking on a determined edge. "I won't let you leave without saying goodbye in person."
In moments, he was in his battered Charger, racing towards her parents' house. The warning sirens were going off, and the whole base was lit up as soldiers packed and prepared. He would leave before six the next morningācould he say all the things he needed to say to her?
Michael grimaced as he approached her well lit house, and briefly considered pulling rank on her father if he made a scene. He smiled gratefully, but apprehensively when Laine dashed from outside and threw herself into the car with a terse "Drive!"
He obeyed, glancing over at her as he did so, admiring her in silence. She was dressed in jeans and a college sweatshirt, her long dark hair loose around her shoulders and her face untouched by makeup, not that she ever really needed it. Michael saw that she seemed very pale, but she was still remarkable beautiful despite it. Perhaps it was youth, Michael didn't knowāwhatever it was, Laine always affected him.
The miles from the base to his apartment seemed endless, and for the majority of it, they were silent. Michael felt the churning within him as he sought to know her thoughts, although parts of him wished he would never know. The grieving look on her face said it all, and he ached for her.
"Why is this happening?" She asked him, suddenly, reaching out to enclose his fingers with hers. "Michael, I'm so afraid for youā¦" she whispered, "And so sad for me!"
"I don't know, honey, I just don't understand either." Michael answered, squeezing her fingers. How he would miss her while he was gone, her sweet smile, her teasing ways, her intensely shocking behavior!
"I want you to make love to me."
Michael felt the words rip through him and he glanced at her again, heat rushing to his face. What a fool he was, he thought, aching for her, what a waste of a man to deny her what he so desperately wanted to give!
Michael grimaced and tried to avoid her luminous dark eyes, but he couldn't escape them. They drew him, and he smiled weakly as they focused on him penetratingly. "Michael, do you hear me? I want you to make love to me tonight." She pressed, sounding far older than her nineteen years. "I don't want you to leave me without giving me something."
"You have everything else." Michael choked. "I can't think, breathe, or exist without thoughts of you." Despair deepened his voice and he turned his bright blue eyes at her. "You know I can'tā¦"
Her expression hardened and her eyes seemed to grow more dark. "Fuck her, Michael, she can't have youā¦if you love me as you say, you are useless to her. Give to me what is mine."
"Laine, pleaseā¦"