I went back to my quarters to unpack my backpack. It felt too hot, so I left my door open to air it out. A few minutes went by and I could feel the quietness eating at my brain from the inside out. I thumbed through my playlist on my iPod and finally decided on Taylor Swift's "Fearless" album. I started with Breathe, since that was about how I felt, and continued to unpack as I sang along. I almost had everything put away when someone just couldn't leave me alone.

"You know that's against the rules, right?" Alex said as he leaned on my door frame.

"So what? It's not like anyone's going to tattle on me," I said cooly.

"I wouldn't consider myself to be just 'anyone,' " Alex smirked.

"Only a thug as low as you would do such a thing," I said disgusted. Alex took a few steps closer and, as he did, I was taking giant steps backward until I was backed up against the wall. Alex slammed his fist right above my head.

"We can settle this the easy way or the hard way, take your pick," Alex said trying to gain up on me.

"I'm not afraid of you," I said strongly. As the chorus to "Change" started, I balled my hand into a fist and was getting ready to punch Alex when Commander Howlett yelled,

"WILLIAMS! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" Alex and I both jumped and immediately, Alex stood to attention. I slumped off the wall and put my hand on my heart, forcing myself to calm down.

"Nothing sir! We were just talking," Alex replied.

"Really? Because it looked to me like you were harassing the poor girl," Howlett stated sharply.

"No I wasn't! Commander, I swear, I was only-" Alex tried to defend himself.

"I don't want to hear your excuses! Now go." Alex stared at Commander Howlett, shocked that he would be let off the hook that easily. "What are you waiting for, a written invitation? Get out of my sight before I change my mind and turn you in!" Howlett fumed. Alex tripped as he ran off and Commander Howlett watched him go. He turned back to my relieved face and asked, "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, thanks," I said still trying to recover.

"Just doing my job," he answered. Commander Howlett was wearing his tank-top again. I know I really shouldn't, but I like it when he exposes his big muscular arms; It makes him look tougher and stronger. He noticed me staring and shifted uncomfortably. "Why does Alex pick on you?" Howlett asked.

"I don't know," I shrugged. Commander Howlett crossed his arms.

"Adams, why  does he pick on you?" he asked a little more earnestly.

"I'm telling you, I-don't-know," I said honestly.

"I think you do, think about it," Howlett suggested.

"Alex is a bully, he always has been and always will be," I thought. Then, light bulb!  "Alex is jealous that I actually have  trustworthy friends that have my back and he doesn't. I'm pretty strong and believe in myself, while he's a miserable, weak, coward. I also have a loving, supportive family and, I don't know about Alex's family situation, but it probably isn't at all what I've got," I explained. Commander Howlett gave me the smallest hint of a smile.

"It's like I said the day we met, you're a pretty smart kid," Howlett said as he patted me on the back and headed for the door, "And the next time you decide to break the rules, don't get caught, especially by hot-headed jerks, ok?"

"Ok," I agreed as I followed him to dinner. As I walked in, I saw the Commander come in through a different entrance. "Yeah, he isn't arrogant at all," I thought as I grabbed dinner and sat next to Vidia.

"Did I miss anything when I left earlier?" she asked.

"No...well, actually, Max and Katie ditched me so they could take a walk together," I answered.

"Oh, I guess that would explain why I haven't seen them all day," Vidia said.

"You mean, they spent the whole afternoon together?" I asked surprised.

"It certainly looks like that, doesn't it?" Vidia joked.

"Did you end up training all day or did you try to do something fun?" I teased.

"I trained for two, three hours. I needed to let off some steam," Vidia continued, "Then I got bored, so I made a list of prank ideas. In the process, Alex found out what I was doing and turned me in. Long story short, I got busted," Vidia explained.

"Well, that makes two of us," I said. Vidia and I hung out and joked around for a few hours. All of a sudden, it got really quiet. We looked around and realized there wasn't a whole lot of people around. "What time is it?" I asked.

"Don't know, but it's got to be past nine. I had no idea that we'd been here for so long!" Vidia said.

"Me neither," I agreed. Commander Howlett walked over as the few people that were left were herded off to their quarters by other Commanding Officers.

"Hey Cadets, it's getting late and it's past curfew," Commander Howlett informed us and then escorted us back to our quarters. Vidia turned off down a hallway before I had to, so it was only the Commander and I. We never said a word until we stopped at my door.

"Goodnight Cadet Adams."

"Goodnight Commander Howlett." A memory suddenly came back to me, back from the Hospital Wing.

"Wait! Commander, before you go," I said as I grabbed his wrist. Seeing his shocked face from my sudden touch made me embarrassed and I awkwardly let go.

"What is it?" he asked unsure of what was coming.

"You said that the first day you met me," I said.

"Said what?" Howlett asked.

"You said that you told me I was a pretty smart kid, but I didn't meet you until my first day of training," I explained.

"Yes, I suppose so," Commander Howlett answered thoughtfully.

"But the only person I met from before training was the man that checked up on me in the Hospital Wing. That man had a deep voice, a scruffy look, and come to think of it, was really tall."

"What are you trying to get at here?" Commander Howlett asked.

"What I'm saying is that his appearance matches yours perfectly. Are  you the same man?" I asked. Commander Howlett hesitated before answering.

"When I heard that one of the Cadets, one that I was responsible for, had been attacked and hurt prior to arriving here at the base, I was worried, worried that they wouldn't be able to become a trooper and that they might not get their chance to serve their country like the rest of us. I payed the Cadet a visit and when I realized how beat up you were when you first got to the Hospital Wing, I had my doubts. But when I saw how fast you were healing, I knew I had found a true fighter and someone that wouldn't give up easily. I guess...I guess I felt honored to be able to teach and train someone like that. I visited you everyday while you were in the Hospital Wing because I wanted to be the first person to meet you. I figured that you'd find out who I was on your own and I hoped that when you did, you'd realize that you could trust me and that I could be your friend."

"Commander, I had no idea..." I trailed off not knowing how to finish what I wanted to say.

"You don't need to say a word, but if you ever need something, anything, know that I'm here for you," Commander Howlett said. He held his hand out to shake hands and I gladly accepted. I watched him as he silently walked away. I stretched my fingers from the hand he shook and let the jittery feeling pass. With that, I fell asleep with a star-struck smile on my face.