Toxic ◈ D. Dixon

Chapter 2

No mistakes to be made

"Avery, Master Sargent Stevens would like to speak with you" Private Braun said coming into the small break room. It was two days before graduation, Avery couldn't be any more nervous. "Thank you" Avery nodded and stood up.

She slowly made her way to his office. She stepped into his office and placed her hand above her right eye brow. "Permission to enter private" Master Sergeant said. "You needed to see me sir?" I asked. "Yes, so it's talked that you want become a dog handler" he said and motioned for her to take a seat. "Yes sir, it's something I've been thinking about" She stated and took a seat.

"We have an opening, it's at camp Lejeune. We went over your records and how well you have done through boot camp. You have done absolutely exceptional and I pulled some strings and was able to get you into the program." He explained.

Avery sat there wide eyed for a second, she couldn't believe it. "Sir, that is amazing! Thank you so much!" She said excitedly. "Now get back to whatever you were doing, I'll find you later" he said. "Thank you so much sir" Avery said.

Avery couldn't keep her smile from her face as she met her newly forming friends in the rec room. "Avery! What are you doing after this?" Jacob asked. Avery wasn't sure how to answer, she couldn't go home, she didn't have a home anymore.

"I'm probably gonna stay somewhere close, figure out what I'm doing from there" Avery stated, not wanting to go into to much detail. Rosita looked at her weirdly but wiped the look of her face as she snapped her head towards her.

Avery and Rosita were a lot like each other, they just didn't know it just yet.

- - - -

"Congratulations Platoon 4007" Master Sergeant Stevens said. They all stood in formation. They had made it through the 12 weeks of absolute hell. The sergeants had been extremely impressed by Avery, she was determined.

"Private's, fall out" Master Sergeant yelled. They all fell out of formation as every one of them ran for their family members. Apart from Rosita and Avery. Those two stood still for a while and walked the opposite way, back towards the bunk house.

"Private Blake" someone said from head her, she turned her head around to see her Master Sergeant standing there. He had a folder filled with papers. "These are for you" he said handing her the folder. "I'm really proud of you kid, you really impressed everyone" he said. Avery couldn't help but smile. She stood taller, knowing that she had officially graduated from boot camp and would start her new life as a marine.

Avery turned in her heels and made her way to the bunk house. When she got there, Rosita was laid on the bed. "What are you doing?" She asked eyeing Rosita skeptically. "Laying here, what else?" Rosita snapped giving her a dirty look. Avery rolled her eyes and sat down on her own bed.

She opened the folder to see the Marines logo on the front page. She stared at it skeptically, not sure how to approach opening the folder. Inside the folder held her life, literally.

Avery nervously gripped the paper and opened it, the second page had he name and information. 'Pvt. Blake, Avery. 18 years old, Senoia Georgia. Graduated #1 in her platoon.' Avery read intently.

She couldn't help but smile when she read 'graduated #1 in her platoon'. She would thank her father for it, but she wanted to call Daryl and thank him. But she couldn't. Daryl was in her mind night and day, was he okay? What was he doing? We're him and Merle doing good?

Those questions constantly rolled through her brain, causing her to feel dizzy from the thoughts. She couldn't help but think of the one time before her momma had gotten sick when Daryl and her were caught hanging out.