Breathe in.

Breathe out.

I gripped the cold dirt under my fingers.

"Ready?" Raymond's calming voice came through my ears.

"Oh, I'm there." I heard beside me.

"How 'bout you?" He directed at me.

"Fuckin ready."

I turned my head and looked to my left. Frank smirked at me confidently and winked. Behind him, stood Lindsey, looking nervously down at us.

"On your mark."

I closed my eyes.

"Get set."

Adjusted my stance.

"Go!"

Eyes open.

My feet were off the ground immediately as I pushed forward with my arms. The cold air whipped past my ears and gave me goosebumps. Adrenaline rushed through my body, giving me enough energy to keep moving.

My hair had grown in the five months I had been in Afghanistan. Lindsey repeatedly offered to cut it for me, but each time, I refused. As the wind whistled and blew it around, I didn't regret it.

It felt free.

I turned into the trees, trying to see the barely-there path. I could hear Franks feet pounding on the soil behind me, but didn't worry.

"Your small legs couldn't keep up with me," I teased earlier.

"Oh yeah? Wanna bet?" He shot back.

"Yeah," I half-joked. He was serious.

Now I was sprinting across the camp, with him following closely behind.

As I circled around, I saw Frank getting closer out of the corner of my eye. I pushed harder, but so did he. The finish line was getting closer, and we seemed to be tied. Everyone crowded around, wanting to see the outcome as we both hurtled past the finish line at full speed. Even after crossing, we didn't stop. Slowing down slightly and running side by side, we continued on almost half way through a second lap. Neither of us wanted to give up first. Raymond and Lindsey called us back, but we didn't listen.

Suddenly, Frank veered away from the path and into some trees. Suspicious, I ran in after him. Through the dense thicket, I lost sight of him, and slowed to a stop, leaning over to catch my breath.

Out of seemingly nowhere, Frank jumped out and onto me, nearly toppling me over. He laughed passionately as he hung onto my neck and wrapped his legs around my waist. After a moment of surprise, I joined him in his guffaws. I spun around, trying to regain some balance while simultaneously trying to throw him off. His chest laid flush against my back and I could feel the vibrations of his laughter radiating out of him. A part of me didn't want him to let go.

Once our ecstasy had mostly died down, Frank slid down my back and let go, giving me a chance to spin around and look at him properly. There ended up being less than an inch of space between us and I could feel his hot breaths on my chin and neck.

The corners of his lips twitched as he brought his hand up to his hair and brushed it out of his face. It had also grown out, like mine. He had to take a step back to not hit me with his elbow.

The morning sun shone through the leaves, leaving shadows in intricate patterns on both of us.

"I beat you," Frank said, sitting down in the grass and looking up at me.

I scoffed.

"Like hell you did," I grinned, sitting down in front of him.

He sat with his legs spread and balanced back on his hands. I crossed my legs and rested my elbows on my knees. We sat like that, smiling, for what seemed like hours.

"Gerard? Frank?" I heard Lindsey call out to us from the path. She couldn't see us from where we were, but I spotted her looking around, trying to find us.

Hidden and silent in the trees, we waited for her to move on from where she was.

I felt like a little kid again, hiding from my mom with Mikey.

It was nice to get away from reality for a bit.

Of course, that ended soon. A soldier's job is never over.

In the distance, we heard a whistle and people walking away. I sighed, disappointed. Frank seemed to share my feelings; his big smile had faded and he looked to the ground, picking at grass. I frowned, but he looked so cute doing that, all pouty like a little kid, that I couldn't hold back a small smile.

"What're you smiling about?" he looked up at me.

"Nothing," I sighed, shaking my head, "Looks like it's time to go."

"Yeah."

Neither of us moved, trying to take in the last fleeting moments of freedom.

~~~

"Ray!"

Frank walked beside Lindsey into the cafeteria.

"Raymond," he mumbled, correcting Frank. By now, everyone called him Ray, if not Toro. He, however, was still adjusting. I smiled, glad to see them, but didn't lift my head. Frank sat beside me, and Lindsey sat next to Ray, across from us. We sat like that everyday.

Lindsey reached across the table and tapped my arm, but I shook her away, focusing on the paper in front of me.

I had been sending Mikey more letters, whenever I could. After six months, I was starting to slowly get used to being without him. The nightmares still came every night, but I didn't need Lindsey anymore. Even though it was still nice to have her there. She was the only one who knew about the nightmares. I made her swear not to tell anyone.

"Hey," Frank whispered to me when Lindsey and Ray weren't paying attention, talk to each other, "wanna get away?"

The corner of my lips twitched up and I nodded eagerly. Frank nudged my side, making me look up to see him smiling. I returned it.

"I'm gotta go do some stuff," he stated as he stood up.

"Alright. We'll see you later," Lindsey replied, turning back to Ray.

"See ya," he bent down and whispered to me jokingly. I playfully shoved him away with a chuckle.

Finishing my letter, I packed it up and excused myself, going to put my things away and send it. I hurried to do that, and went directly into the forest right after.

"Frankie?" I called out.

"Hey," he greeted, stepping out of the thicket.

We laid down in the grass where the sun shone through perfectly.

And we talked until our time ran out. 

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Lmao I was listening to Trees and Forest (Twenty One Pilots) on repeat when I wrote this