final round - lrh

two.

"Yeah Declan and I were in the same unit, so we spent a lot of time together. It was always super nice having a piece of home constantly with me. Especially my best friend," Ashton goes on as we all sit at the dining room table listening to their stories of war.

They've left out a lot of gruesome details and I'm sure they skipped a ton of stories we're better off not knowing. The ones they told were awesome heroic ones you'd only hear of in movies, and it was nothing short of fascinating.

I had kept quiet most of the dinner, just listening to what they had to share. After all, everyone is eager to hear everything they have to say after being away for so long. It's so incredible having them both finally home, even if it is for a short period of time.

In a week, Ashton and my brother will be sent back into combat in order to train for the final round. I know that the end of the week is going to come sooner than I want it to and that's what's making me savor every moment with them. Especially knowing that this war is going to bring upon so much stress and broken hearts to each family.

Ever since our last election, Reese Hampton took over and declared an end to war. This fall, the nation will fight its' last battle and a winner will be determined. It's going to be a chaotic time for everyone and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't terrified.

Considering my father was diagnosed with ALS two years ago, he has to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Due to this, in no way could he ever fight for us which is why Declan has taken the spot. I wasn't even given the opportunity to think over enlisting for a second because Declan would never in a million years let me ponder the idea. He's always been overprotective of me in every aspect of life. He'd enter battle any day before letting me be shipped off.

"Lila, could you pass the salad?" Declan asks me as my focus is back on the conversation being held.

"Oh yeah, sorry," I say shaking myself out of my thoughts and grabbing the dish.

Leaning over, I go to hand it towards him and he's quick to attempt to grab it. However, it hits me just as quickly as I take in the situation. Obviously, he can't hold this big thing with just one hand. I can't just hand it off to him and expect him to be able to grab it.

Instantly, I push out my seat and get up in order to walk it towards him.

"Lila, you don't need to get up," Declan says, as I place the bowl in front of him.

I ignore him as I know there's no way he'd be able to regardless of how he insists otherwise. Declan is very stubborn so I know he's going to hate any help I'm going to try to provide him, but I can't imagine how he would've been able to take this large bowl.

God, I couldn't imagine moving forward in life with one arm. How does one even get by with simple tasks?

"How are your siblings, Ashton?" My mom asks of Harry and Lauren.

Ashton is closer than ever with his two siblings and I always found it adorable how he acted around the two. It was evident that the day he left for the army, there was not a dry eye in the Irwin household.

Just like Declan, he didn't have much of a decision because of the ages of his siblings. However, he didn't mind because he genuinely wanted to go protect the country. He's passionate about what he fights for and as a result, it wasn't a bother to him when he got the slip in the mail.

Ashton's dad left him when he was young and because of this, he's never had a father figure. He picked up the role in his own house in order to help out his mom and siblings. Because of this, I know he really cherishes his relationship with Declan. He always viewed Declan as a brother and that's why they're so insanely close.