There's not much to say about the ride home; I either slept or listened to music. We must've gotten back late because I remember falling asleep on the couch in the motorhome, but woke up in my quarters at the base. I saw that it was almost eleven o'clock in the morning and quickly changed. As I walked down the hall, I realized it was too quiet to be a weekday. I didn't hear any religious songs, so then it's gotta be Saturday.

When I walked into the cafeteria, I was greeted by Katie first and then the others. "Oh my goodness! Sarah, your back! I missed you so  much. I thought I was going to die  when Jake asked me like every ten minutes where you were and when you'd be back. I guess he still has a crush on you, sorry. I really tried to convince him otherwise!" Katie said in a rush.

"It's ok, I can't blame you for at least trying," I reassured her.

"Hey! You certainly slept in late," Vidia teased as she handed me my "brunch."

"Yeah, I'm surprised I got as much sleep as I did," I admitted.

"Well, your bedhead definitely proves it," Vidia noted with a small smile.

"Who brought me to my quarters last night because I didn't fall asleep in there," I asked.

"Oh! It was-" Katie started, but Vidia gave her a look. "Come on! Why can't we tell her? It's not gonna hurt her is it?" Katie persuaded.

"Fine," Vidia sighed, "but don't let anyone else hear you. I don't want any rumors started ok?" Katie giggled with delight as she leaned in a little closer and lowered her voice.

"It was the Commander," Katie whispered.

"WHAT!?" I shouted in alarm.

"I said to keep it down!" Vidia whispered as she anxiously looked around.

"Oh it was so sweet!" Katie said dreamily.

"What was so sweet?" Max asked as he sat down next to Katie.

"How our Commander got Sarah and like, all her stuff to her quarters without even waking her up," Katie answered matter-of-factly.

"Now this I've got to hear!" Max said excitedly as he bit into his salad.

"Last night after curfew," Katie started.

"Back it up! You're telling me that you, out off all of us, actually did something rebellious?" Max asked sarcastically. Vidia elbowed him in the stomach and said,

"Shut up! Let her finish the story."

"Anyway, so there I was hiding behind an SUV when I heard the hangar doors open," Katie continued, "and the motor home pulled in precisely when I expected it to. I stayed well hidden because like, who knows what kind of punishment Howlett would've given me if he caught me? So I was peeking through the SUV windows and I like, saw him pull the back door open and grab a pretty heavily packed backpack over his shoulder and then I saw Sarah was like totally asleep on the couch. The Commander quietly opened the front door, grabbed a string to tie to the other door in order to keep it open, and then he very carefully pulled the blankets off of you. Commander Howlett picked you up, strategically got you out the door, and carried you all the way to your quarters. There, he tucked you in and dropped your stuff off. On his way out, he looked back at you to make sure you were still asleep, quietly closed the door, and left," Katie finished.

"Some story," Vidia said thoughtfully.

"It's amazing that you slept through the whole thing!" Max exclaimed.

"Yeah, well that was cool of him I guess," I said as I took a huge bite of cheap-tasting breaded chicken.

"Enough about that! How was your trip?" Katie asked.

"It was really good! I played some video games with Dad, caught up with my best friend, went to the race track to blow off some steam, and I got my brother back," I said.

"Your best friend's name is Alice, right?" Katie asked.

"Yeah, she's coming on Monday with the a group of transfers," I answered.

"Oh goody! I can't wait to meet her!" Katie exclaimed.

"I didn't know you were a race car driver!" Max said shocked.

"Oh, I'm not a race car driver," I laughed, "I have a friend that works there, so he gives me a good discount. If I'm really stressed or super angry, I race a few laps. I don't know what it is about the feel and sound of my Mustang going one hundred fifty miles an hour, but somehow, it calms me down," I explained.

"A Mustang? Wow!" Max said as he drooled over the idea of racing a Mustang that fast.

"What about you Vidia? Where did you go and how was it?" I asked.

"I can't stand the beach! Not after-" Vidia stopped and started to tear up. "You know what? That doesn't matter, I chose to go home since that was the only other option I had. You would've thought that my family was proud of me for deciding to protect our 'beloved' country, but no! They criticized me! But I've realized from everyone's expressions that I said too much, so I'm not going to talk about it anymore. Max, you got a nice tan and anyone can smell the ocean radiating from your skin, even if you were standing ten feet away. So tell us, how was your experience on the beach?" Vidia asked out of breath. We stared at her in silence for a moment before Max finally answered her.

"I um, I went surfing, watched the sunset, ate some seafood, went to a party that had a bonfire, flirted with some cute girls, tanned in the sun, and yes, I still build sandcastles," Max said.

"You know how to surf?!" Katie asked surprised.

"Yep. In the winter, I escape the cold by surfing in Hawaii. I stay about a month, month and a half, and then I come back to what's left of the cold," Max explained.

"If, by chance, we survive this whole thing, do you think you could like, possibly teach me how to surf?" Katie asked excitedly.

"Sure, why not?" Max answered. All of a sudden, someone started sneezing uncontrollably. We looked over to find Alex running to a garbage can to throw up.

"I guess somebody  spent too much time in the cold," Vidia joked.

"He can just deal with it cuz nobody cares about hot-headed jerks like him," Katie replied as we cleaned up our lunch.

"I'm going to the Training Room, see you guys later," Vidia said curtly as she hurried off.

"What was all that about?" I asked.

"Couldn't tell ya, but we're probably better off not knowing," Katie answered.

"What did you do while we were gone?" Max asked Katie as we roamed the halls.

"Oh, nothing really, just girl stuff," Katie said.

"Like what?" Max asked curiously.

"You mean, you don't know what girls like to do?" Katie asked like it was a no-brainer.

"I don't have a sister, all my cousins live in Paris, and I typically don't hang around girls, no offence," Max explained.

"It's ok. Bella and I did each other's hair, painted our nails with sharpies, since that's the closest thing we have to nail polish," Katie went on and on and within half an hour, Max knew just about everything girls like to do when they hang out. Occasionally, Max would ask me questions to make sure Katie wasn't going crazy, and somehow, we got to talking about Alex. Only, it sounded more like complaining.

"I hate his cocky attitude and how he thinks that he can pick on anyone he wants!" Max said annoyed.

"It is so  annoying! I mean, we're like, all in the military now, not high school," Katie agreed.

"I wish someone would be brave enough to stand up to Alex," I said as we turned the corner, but as we did, I bumped into someone hard. The others held their breath as I said rudely, "Watch it next time, will ya?" I immediately wished I could take it back when I pulled my bangs out of the way and realized it was Commander Howlett. "Oh my gosh! Commander, I am so sorry. I didn't see or hear you, I-" he held up his hand up to silence me.

"I don't have time for apologies! I have new information that can't be delayed!" Commander Howlett said urgently as he rushed past us.

"I wonder what that  was all about," Katie thought aloud.

"Who cares! Commanders always have stuff to do, so let's not worry about it. Anyway, how about you come with me on a walk Katie?" Max asked.

"Oh! Uh, sure! Where to?" Katie asked blushing. I guess my friends kind of left me to do my own thing.