Page 87 of Brighter Shades of Light
“Don’t be. I was kinda thinking of Blake. Probably why I need a damn beer.”
“I’m glad things have worked out for you, man.” We walked to a high table near the bar and sat down. “Blake’s a good guy.”
“He is.” Tristen ran his hand over the top of his freshly-cut blond hair.
We had matching haircuts now; high and tight for the win.
“I hope I can keep him,” Tristen added. “He was pretty upset that I had to leave.”
“He knew what he was getting himself into, being with a Marine,” I said, trying to give him some hope. “It’s tough on everyone. I could barely look at Sebastian as I left.”
“How does Sebastian feel about all this?”
“Sad that I left, but he’s proud of me.” I thumbed over my ring, taking comfort from it. “He knows how much this means to me. Shit, man, I think he’s even considering uprooting his life and moving to wherever I get stationed after this.”
Our future wasn’t as worrisome as I used to think it was. We didn’thaveto have a long distance relationship, not if Sebastian was open to the idea of moving.
“I’m happy for you. Not sure Blake will stick around,” Tristen said. “He’s a sweet guy, but he’s kind of needy. Like, he kept saying how the distance will be so hard forhimand howhedoesn’t know how he’s going to cope with it. How the fuck does he thinkIfeel? I’m the one away from home, working my ass off. I’d love to lay around in bed with him and see him every day, but it’s not reality. Not yet.”
After a few drinks, we returned to Camp Barrett and went to Heywood Hall to check in. We were assigned housing in the barracks and headed that way. Tristen and I were placed in Graves Hall, which I had heard was one of the better barracks. Better than O’Bannon Hall, according to a guy I had talked to earlier today.
In O’Bannon Hall, each room typically housed four guys, but Graves was two men to a room; the lesser of two evils.
The rooms were small, and space was limited. Good thing I didn’t have much. Apart from the bunk bed, there were two small desks, a sink attached to the wall with a mirror above it, a shower, and a closet.
Tristen tossed his bag on the top of the metal bunk bed.
“Who said you could have top bunk, you asshole?” I shoved his arm.
He shot me a grin. “Because we all know you’re a bottom, Cody.”
“You fucker.” I slid into the bottom bunk and draped an arm over my face, hiding my smile.
There were eight training companies at TBS, and we had both been placed in Delta Company. Most officer students started out in Mike Company before joining another one, but we lucked out by being in the Naval ROTC program, which sent us straight to Delta. From what I heard, Mike Company was the place you didnotwant to be sent.
“Don’t get too comfortable,” a guy named Barry had told us earlier. “You’ll probably change rooms a few times in the beginning as they move people around.”
“I hope if we have to move rooms later, we can still stay together,” I said to Tristen, remembering what Barry had said.
“Aw, you gonna cry without me?”
I rolled off the bottom bunk and jumped up, jabbing my hand right beneath his chin where he was most ticklish.
“Stop! Fucking stop, Cody,” Tristen said, both laughing and on the verge of tears as I tickled him.
In-processing started the following morning. It included general orientation and check-in where we had to provide our ID, social security card, financial and bank details for direct deposit, and vehicle information. We also went through medical examinations and were issued our gear. Such a fucking long and tedious process.
Barry approached us. His red hair stood out among the sea of dark and blond. “Word of advice?”
“Uh, sure,” Tristen said with a suspicious stare.
“I’ve been here for over a month ,” Barry said, standing to his full height, which put him two inches taller than me, “and before this, I was enlisted in the Corps for seven years. I know how shit works, ya feel me? You wanna do well? Shut your fucking mouth, listen, and learn. A cocky attitude will be the nail in your coffin, boys.”
“Understood,” I said, trying to figure him out.
“Good.” Barry eyed us. “You new lieutenants come in here thinking you’re the shit, but your ass can be dropped from TBS just like that. They call it The Big Suck for a reason. Because it fucking sucks, and it’ll suck the energy and drive right outta you, too.”
First impressions at TBS couldn’t be trusted.
