Silent Ranks Read online

  Silent Ranks

  USMC Best Friend

  Published: 2011

  Tag(s): "semper fi" love usmc hurt

  Chapter 1

  Silent Ranks

  What’s tougher than a United States Marine…? A question with a really simple answer it’s the woman that have to handle them, and boy my family are well practiced in that I’m the fifth generation of Marine brat. My Dad is one hell of a Marine along with my favorite Uncle Flynn (don’t tell my other Uncle in Texas though). My Brother well… Ryder is Ryder over protective to the point I want to beat him with a baseball bat and yes I have done that once and crap I got in some huge trouble for it. My Cousin Jack is always the voice of reason between the two of us normally pinning one of us down to stop us from killing the other one. Ryder and I don’t have the same freaky connection my Mom and Uncle Flynn have thank god, that’s like some Side show trick they have sensing what’s going on with each other… Damn I hope Ryder can’t sense things because that guy that delivers the pizza on base is well…. Okay my minds wandering… there was the hand on my Uncles ranch out in Texas that was… Okay gone again….

  “Aly are you out to kill me” Ryder walked into my room

  “I can be why?” I smiled

  “I’ve gone the entire day smelling like your damn perfume and when you’re sat in a hot room with 50 guys it kinda gets noticed” He stood with his hands on his hips and glared at me “And why the hell is my underwear pink?”

  “Well that’s what happens when you try to get your laundry done without asking” I closed my laptop “Oh and my red bra sort of fell in to your white load” I batted my eye lashes at him.

  “Oh ass kicking time for little sisters” he yelled as I took off running down the stairs.

  “Hey Whoa stop charging round the house” Dad caught me stopping me dead damn it was like running into a brick wall. Ryder barreled into the room Dad put out his hand grabbing Ryder’s head and holding him at arm’s length “God Damn it it’s like you guys are still 5” He was trying not to laugh as he held on to both of us. “B will you control your kids?’ Mom walked out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a towel.

  “Oh no Marine till you get your orders they’re our kids so step up” she smiled at him

  “How the hell have you raised these damn wild cats?” Dad chuckled he Texan drawl coming out Mom shuddered a little as Ryder tried to grab me

  “I raised them Marine Brats the wild side is from you cowboy” She giggled Ryder and I stopped struggling we knew that is she used the words ‘Marine’ and “Cowboy” in the space of a couple of breaths if we didn’t want to be mentally scared for life then we should leave.

  “Er… we’re good we’ll stop fighting” I said quickly Ryder ducked from Dad’s hold and grabbed the keys for his motorcycle from the hook by the door.

  “Yeah Dad, Aly and I are going to go see Jack and Brit” Ryder grabbed my hand and pulled me away from Dad “We’ll grab dinner while we’re out” We didn’t wait to hear a reply we bolted out of the door.

  “Oh god that was close” I groaned as Ryder threw his leg over his motorcycle

  “Yeah one of these days they’ll stop humping like rabbits” He shuddered “I never even got changed” he looked down at his camo.

  “Jack can let you have something” I climbed on behind my brother and held on to him as he started the bike and pulled away from the house.

  We headed off base where Jack had got himself a place with his little sister because Uncle Flynn and Aunt Riley were on the East coast based at San Diego and Brittany hadn’t settled into school there with too many superficial kids and a bunch of as we called them Hollywood Marines so when Jack had graduated boot camp and got posted to Lejeune they’d agreed that Brittany would come back here and go to school here as long as Mom and Dad were around to help out. We pulled up outside the apartments that Mom and Dad first lived in when they got married they’d brought the apartment and now rented it out to Jack. Jack pulled his head from under the hood of his truck as we skidded to a halt inches from his front bumper.

  “Dude I thought you were changing and we were hitting board walk? Come on it’s beginning of the summer and hot girls are a plenty” Jack wiped the grease off his hands on the short he was wearing. I groaned and rolled my eyes at him as I got off the back of the bike “hey You” he dropped a kiss on my head not fair that the guys got the deal on the height in our family.

  “I was and the pain in the ass here and I were getting into a fight and Dad stopped us” Ryder gabbled I held up my hand and clamped his lips between my finger and thumb.

  “Mom and Dad were about to get busy so we left… fast” I smiled “Ow” I flinched as Ryder slapped my hand away

  “Ew that’s wrong” Jack shuddered “So I take it we’re going to have our style cramped by little sisters” he looked over me to Ryder

  “Don’t they always cramp our style” Ryder ducked as I swung my fist at him he pinned my arms to my sides quickly “But I say we ditch them and we head off”

  “Hey who say’s that Brit and I want to hang with you guys” I protested trying to stamp on Ryder’s foot forgetting I was in flip flops and he was in combat boots “Shit the hurt” I grumbled

  “All done” Brit walked over “Homework all done oh slave driver” she saluted jack sarcastically “Ryder let go of her” She poked him with her finger.

  “Yeah let go” I nodded

  “Jack you still got some of my things here I can change into?” Ryder laughed

  “Yeah in the spare room” Jack nodded catching me as Ryder pushed me away from him.

  “I’m glad you’re here” Brit grinned at me ‘we need to talk” She linked my arm

  “Where are you going?” Jack put his hands on his hips

  “Oh for god sake there’s 18 months between us not 18 years” Britt rolled her eyes “I’m with Aly”

  “Yeah and we’re heading to see what or who we can find on the boardwalk” I laughed as we walked away.

  “Call us” Jack shouted after us. Both Brit and I waved at him.

  “So what’s got you all giggly?” I asked as we hit the board walk “It’s been a while since you smiled like that."

  Chapter 2

  A change is a good thing... right?

  “I went to see Uncle Logan last weekend with Aunt Beth being off on that trip with Grandma” Brit giggled

  “Yes I know that” I groaned Brit never was one for getting to the point

  “Well there was a Marine there”

  ‘Really now that’s amazing” I started to laugh

  “Alyssa you know what I mean” she swatted at me “He’s almost done with his training” she giggled

  “Well it’s Parris Island that’s what they do there” I poked my tongue out at her.

  “So help me if we weren’t related” she pushed me

  “I’m sorry you were saying about the not quite a Marine” I stopped walking and sat on the wall facing the ocean.

  “Are you going to be serious?” She narrowed her eyes at me

  “I swear on Ryder’s life” I put my hand on my heart and held up my other

  “Okay so that’s a no then” she smiled

  “Will you just spit it out” I hugged my knees to my chest

  “Well he was waiting outside of Uncle Logan’s office and I went to get something and we sort of got talking.

  “You know that’s against the rules” I wagged my finger at her she rolled her eyes “Sorry”

  “Well I gave him my address and he wrote to me” she pulled a letter from her pocket and handed it to me

  “Are you crazy?” I pulled a face at her “he could be some mental patient”

  “Aly he’s becoming a Marine” she groaned

&n
bsp; “See I rest my case” I smiled as I read the letter “Who the hell write like this?” I felt a lump in my throat at some of the sweet quotes that I recognized as Shakespeare “Holy hell girl”

  “His names Marek Parker he’s 18, hot as all hell and his Mom and Aunt have just opened a holistic herbal type of thing on base”

  “And the Corps have let them” I wrinkled my nose

  “Yep they’re teaching some of the medical stuff apparently” she nodded. She reached into her pocket again and brought out a picture of a guy “So what do you think?”

  “He’s cute” I nodded

  “Cute” She took the picture back “He’s way better than that pizza guy”

  “Joe’s cute” I smiled “in a dumb I quit school in kindergarten way” I shrugged

  “So that’s why he was hanging off you at the beach last week”

  “He wasn’t”

  “Bull shit I’ve never known you wear a turtle neck in May” she laughed “Hickey was it”

  “Will you shut up” I groaned jumping down from the wall onto the warm sand.

  “Hey at least I’m keeping it with the Corps” she called after me I turned round and looked at her.

  “Brit there’s more to life than a Marine” Her face looked like I’d slapped her with a wet fish she scrabbled to jump down and catch me up.

  “Okay earth to Aly” she waved her hand in front of my face “Are you hearing yourself”

  “Yep” I nodded “Don’t get me wrong my Marine pride is through the roof but we’ve lived with Marines we went to school on Marine Bases” I pushed my hands into my pockets “I want to know what it’s like not to have to fear deployments… I want to be able to pick up a cell and call a guy when I want not when the Marine Corps Allows” Brit was shaking her head. “I have to say good bye to my brother and yours next week and that hurts how the hell you can sleep with a guy and have kids with him and watch them leave not knowing if they’ll come back”

  “Because it’s what we do” Brit said quietly.

  “I know” I sat down on the sand “I just think that none military guys are as good… Right?” It was the first time I’d admitted that I wasn’t looking for a Marine or even wanting one because it was just something that was expected. “Why don’t you come to Texas with me I’m working on the ranch for a chunk of the summer while College is out”

  “I can’t I’m going to see Mom and Dad and then we’re going to Tennessee” She sighed

  “Hot sun riding from dawn till dusk and cowboys” I laughed

  “I’m also going to go to the Island when Marek graduates in three weeks” she smiled “why don’t you blow off the Cattle drive thing and come there he has some cute friends” I shook my head

  “I love doing the cowgirl thing you know that?” I leant back on my elbows “I’ll call you though you know that” she nodded “and please don’t go telling Jack or your parents what I just told you” I pleaded “because they’d have some sort of intervention set up for me”

  “I won’t but personally I don’t think there’s a guy tougher than a Marine that could handle you” She giggled “Well apart from those Navy seals we met last weekend at the pool hall”

  “Navy seals my ass they had Marine class rings on” I got up and dusted the sand off myself “And they weren’t fit enough” I pulled Brit up

  “That one that was talking to you had a cute ass” Brit grinned “And he fell for the sweet Texas Rose act you do so well”

  “Helps having a Daddy from Dallas” I fluttered my eyelashes and put on a perfect deep Texan drawl. “Hey look there’s dumb ass and even dumber ass” I pointed to where Ryder and Jack were talking to a group of girls “You want to have some fun?”

  Chapter 3

  Stressful feelings

  We walked over to Ryder and Jack a girl was looking at Jack’s Dog tags.

  “You know there’s nothing as cute as a guy in uniform” she smiled up at him

  “Oh Darlin’ you have no idea” I put my arms round Jack “Hey Baby I wondered where you were” I was in Cowgirl mode the Texan drawl was in full flow.

  “Aly what you doing?” Jack hissed at me as my hand slid into the back pocket of his jeans and my other stroked his stomach. Brit was trying to keep a straight face.

  “Now come on baby you and your friend here weren’t complaining last night when I took you both on” Ryder’s mouth fell open” I looked at the three girls standing with the guys “They’re some of the best tippers at the club” I drawled “Gotta love a Marine when they’re fresh from deployment” I trailed my finger up the side of Jacks neck and bit my lip as Brit had to walk away “Always so horny”

  “Er… we have to go” the girl dropped her hold on Jacks dog tags

  “Yeah we have to…” another one of the girls said pulling her friends away all of them hurrying off

  “You have to be kidding me my cousin hit on me” Jack shuddered as I let go of him

  “Aly you’re sick” Ryder pulled a face.

  “Oh come on” I giggled “you had to admit their faces were classic”

  “Sometimes you have to be the most irritating pain in the ass ever” Ryder snapped “Why would you do that?”

  “Because they weren’t out for anything other than bragging rights for banging a Marine” I threw my arms out “Like most of the girls you two seem to constantly hit on”

  “We’re almost 20 we’re supposed to have fun” He grabbed my arms and shook me a little “Stay out of my business Aly”

  “Okay if you want to drop like a damn stone keep a hold on me” I growled threw my teeth “And fine go screw around get someone knocked up give you’re precious Marine ego a boost” I yanked my arms away from him “I was having fun I was trying to make the most of the last week with my brother and cousin” Tears threatened to brim over “I might as well just leave for Texas”

  “Yeah why don’t you do that Aly” Ryder got in my face “I couldn’t give a damn if you’re there or not next week”

  “Hey” Jack pulled Ryder back from me

  “Screw you Ryder” I walked away

  “Was that really necessary?” Brit pushed Ryder in the chest “You think we like to see you guys running round with airheads getting used because of what you do” She glared at both of them they easily stood a foot taller than she was. “You think it doesn’t affect us when you leave”

  “We know it does” Jack rubbed his little sisters arm.

  “You’d better go after her Ryder” Britt sighed “We wanted to mess with you guys that was all. Tease you the same way you do to us when you see us talking to guys, and like she said make the most out of this week”

  “She can sweat it for a while” Ryder shrugged

  “You two have such a damn stubborn streak it’s not even funny” Jack shook his head

  “I’m going to go back home” Brit pushed her hands in her pockets “Tonight’s a bust”

  I got out of the cab at the gate of Lejeune and walked up.

  “Hey you” one of the Marines from Dad’s platoon walked out “I’m sure you left here with Ryder” he took my I.D. and swiped it

  “I did but as usual I got into it with Ryder” I sighed

  “You two really keep us entertained when we’re away and your Mom writes” He chuckled “You want to wait five minutes and I’ll drop you off at home?”

  “No thanks, I don’t mind the walk” I walked past him and headed for the housing lost in my own thoughts. I opened the front door everything was quiet I turned on the lamp and picked up the note from the table

  Ryder, Aly…

  Taking your Mom away for a couple of nights as I’m not on duty till Monday.

  DO NOT KILL EACH OTHER OR BURN THE HOUSE DOWN

  We love you

  Dad and Mom. Xxx

  I put the note back on the table and pulled my phone from my pocket and dialed.

  Jordan * hey I was just thinking about y’all

  Me * great minds Huh? hey you t
hink I could come early?

  Jordan * okay what did Doofus say this time?

  Me * I’m done I need to get away

  Jordan * well hell you know Nana and Pops would love to have you here for longer and Momma and Daddy love it when you’re here. And with three little brothers I really miss having you around.

  Me * They aren’t that bad the love you to death

  I smiled at the thought of my Cousin Jordan and the 15 year old triplets that came after her the bane of her life. The snakes and frogs we’d found in our sleeping bags when we’ve camped with them only part of what she had to handle on a daily basis, but if anyone steps a foot out of line against Jordan they will be the first ones there.