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Chapter 14 - Two Bright Lights

Joe:

I woke up to the noise of all the men in my room talking. I pulled myself up, and leaned back against the wall. My head was swarming with thoughts, about that girl Courtney last night. I felt so guilty as I imagined her brown hair and her blue eyes. Taylor has blue eyes. I let out a frustrated groan. A few men glanced in my direction. Why can I not stop thinking of Taylor?

“Hey Joe.” Russell said, he sat a few bunks over next to the group of guys who were huddled talking passionately about something. “Did you hear the news?”

“No, what news?”

“Apparently yesterday evening a girl was transferred over with that new squad. It is all these air heads having been talking about.” Russell seemed rather unenthused about the new girl. Then I remembered the picture he showed me a few days ago of his Fiancé Marlene. 

“Do they know her name?” I asked. I do not know why I cared, I already meet her last night. Her name was Courtney Watts. 

“I believe that is what they are trying to decide right now. Jared said it stared with a C, but Paul said it started with an S.” He paused and looked at the group of guys, then back at me. “Your single right? I heard you broke up with your girlfriend. That must have been hard.”

“I am doing okay.” I lied.

“Well if I were you I’d head to breakfast and look for her. You will probably find her before these guys finish their little ‘gossip session’” He said with air quotes. 

“Thanks Russell.” I got out of bed, and slipped on a shirt, and put my boots on. I was out the door before my heart realized what I was doing. How could I possibly flirt with a girl, when everything about her reminds me of Taylor? 

“Hey Joe watch out!” A man yelled from behind me.

I turned to look and saw a soccer ball coming right for me head, I quickly moved to the right, and before I could look back up at where I was walking, I ran right into someone. I stumbled to the side.

It took me a few seconds to regain my balance. “I am so sorry, are you alright?” I turned to look at who I ran into, and her blue eyes looked back up at me. It was Courtney.

“Yeah I am fine.” She said dusting the sand off her pants. Her hair was down, she must have just woken up. She began to walk away, then stopped and looked back at me. “Are you coming?”

“Uhm yeah.” I said catching up to her. I tried to look right ahead as we walked, instead of at her. I did not need to think of Taylor. 

“So Joseph right?” she asked as we walked into the cafeteria. 

The cafeteria was pretty full, and Courtney was definitely the center of everyone’s attention. “Yes, but most people just call me Joe.”

“Well then Joe, Would you like to eat breakfast with me?” She asked, grabbing a tray. 

“Sure.” I wanted to turn around and run away. I am barely able to have a conversation with her, and now she is asking me to sit down and eat with her. I felt like I was in high school again. Why was I so nervous? Taylor. I dismissed the thought. This girl was not Taylor. We broke up. I am allowed to move on. Right? Yes I am. I just wish it was easier.

“So my name is Courtney, incase you forgot.” she said smiling at me. She grabbed a plate of eggs, and an apple. 

“I remembered.” I grabbed a plate of eggs. I need to come up with a reason for why I am so quiet. “sorry I am not really a morning person,” I said lying.