Blurred Dreams

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

          The call from school was only mentioned briefly at the dinner table by her mother who was only really about if Leena was getting enough sleep. Which Leena assured her she was getting plenty of. She was expecting to at least be grounded but nothing which was very surprising. Leena was not going to complain about not being punished though.

         “Hey mom, Keean is coming over in a little bit to watch a movie okay?” she said to her mom after dinner while putting the dishes away. “Yeah that's fine.” Her mother answered. Movie nights with Keean always helped her to relax.

         Once Leena was done with the dishes she went upstairs to change before Keean came over. She changed into her favourite black track pants and an old gym t-shirt. 15 minutes later she was changed and ready so she  texted him telling him he could come now. When a reply came in from Keean she was expecting it say he was on his way but instead it said “I have to tell you something tonight…” Leena was a little surprised by it but it could be nothing she though so just responded with a simple “okay”.

         Five minutes later there was a knock at the door and Leena bolted down the stairs to beat Max from getting there first, but she was too late. Max had already opened the door and was guiding Keean inside. He was wearing his faded jeans and a black t-shirt that she loved because it showed his perfectly sculpted chest. Then Leena noticed Max was saying something about her to Keean. “MAX!! Shut up!” Leena screamed as she heard what Max was talking about and it was not something she ever wished to share with Keean. “Leena he is your ‘best friend’ doesn’t he deserve to know that you….” Leena cut her off with a scream though before she could reveal whatever secret it was to Keean. Leena and Max’s dad walked into the room at the sound of the scream. “Dad, Max is saying stuff she swore secrecy over!!” Leena and Maxine’s father was used to their constant fighting. It never seemed to stop and his easy way to fix it was to just separate them, which usually worked.  “Max if you promised you wouldn’t say anything you can’t just go round telling people.” Max opened her mouth but was silenced before she could get a word out by her dad pointing to her room. Which was an unspoken command to go there. Max went up to her room as she was told but stuck her tongue out at Leena as she walked up the stairs and Leena childishly returned the gesture

         Leena was so preoccupied by Max she almost forgot Keean was there. “The two of you are crazy.” Keean said to Leena with a huge grin on his face. He seemed to think their fighting was comical but was always there to break it up if they actually started to fight. “Yeah you always say that when we fight, are you not used to it by now?” Keean nodded as to say he was and had started to laugh now. “Let’s just go watch a movie you dork.” Leena said with an overly dramatic eye roll. “Sure thing, nerd.” Keean said and followed her down to the basement where they always watched their movies.

         They sat down on the old beat up couch that had been down there as longs as both of them could remember.  Keean picked the movie this time meaning it was horrible. It was so bad Leena did not even bother to remember the name.  Leena sat through it anyway because he seemed to be enjoying it.

         The movie was almost over when Keean paused the movie and turned to look at Leena. “Why did you stop it?” She asked slightly confused. Keean was looking at her with such seriousness it almost scared her. “I have to tell you something Leena, but you have to promise me you won’t tell anybody especially not Sam. You promise?” She was a little caught off guard by the sudden sternness that was in his tone. She nodded. “I promise Keean, what is it?” He paused for a long moment like whatever he was about to say was very hard to tell her. This made her nervous.

         He started to speak again “Umm Leena when we graduate in two months I am …” Then he just stopped. She could now tell it really was hard for him to say what he needed to. To help him she moved right beside him on the couch and put her arms around his neck to try and comfort him. He turned his head and looked right in her eyes and held her gaze for a few long moments and sighed. He started to relax against her and then he said it. Just like that he told her something she was not ready and never would have been ready to hear but he said it. She was sure she heard correctly. He had said “When we graduate Leena I am joining the army.” That was it nothing else. “I am joining the army” were five words that scared her half to death.