Her Soldier

Chapter 6

All the ladies around the table looked at me with interested probing eyes as I silently ate my bread, dipping it in the soup and then drinking the water in the mug besides my metal plate and then looked at them. This time they didn't try to look away from my eyes and instead stared head on. 

I decided to finally take up Lala's offer, not because I actually wanted to but because Lala dragged me to her table and sat me down with all of them. I didn't mind sitting around women, as a guy, it excites me. What doesn't excite me though is how they're all staring at me as though I'm the last meal, and honestly, I'm scared to even say anything about their stares. 

I'm a confident man, but being stared at the way I was being stared at really made me feel uncomfortable. 

"Can I touch your arm?" One of the ladies asked and I turned my head to look at her, she was sitting beside me, "my name's Cynthia." 

Cynthia looked tiny, as though she wasn't taller than 5'1. She had tanned skin, brunette and wore thin framed glasses which suited her face. 

"Hello, Cynthia," I greeted. I looked at her hand which was halfway at my arm, "sure, you can touch my arm." 

She smiled and then touched my arm, wrapping her hand around it as she squeezed and I flexed my arm. She let out a breath when I did and I tried to hold back my chuckle but I couldn't help it as I shook my head at her behaviour. 

"You're huge..." Another lady said, she was the one sitting opposite me and she looked me over with hungry eyes and I raised an eyebrow. 

She looked much stronger than most of the ladies around the table. She looked like she could take me in an arm wrestle, and I was tempted to ask her if we could have a go. If I do think about it, she just might be my type. But I wasn't here to date, but f*****g, yeah, I guess that could happen. 

It's not that I don't appreciate the attention from Lala's friends, hell, I love attention from women, but these women were worrying me. They weren't paying attention to their meals and that's not a good thing, "thank you," I said genuinely, "please eat," I said to them, "it's important that you're well fed." 

"And you care," Cynthia said from besides me. 

"Ok, Zack, I'm sorry about my hungry ass friends," Lala apologised and rolled her eyes. "They just haven't had s*x in a while and in their words "you're a s*x god on legs" so, forgive them, they can't help themselves. The one on your arm is Cynthia, believe it or not, she's the smartest person in this tent. The one across from you, who called you huge, wasn't necessarily only talking about your build and I'm sure you already knew that, her name is Bianca. The one besides me is my girlfriend, Indie." 

I watched as Cynthia and Bianca both glared at Lala's introduction and I smiled, extending my hand to all the ladies. 

"You're so sensitive, big man..." Cynthia said as she sighed dreamily. "We've heard about the letters to your lover..." 

"Letters?" I looked at Cynthia and then at Lala who gave me an apologetic regretful look. 

"Tell us about your girlfriend," Bianca said, "do you miss her? Do you love her? Because I mean, I'm available." 

"Excuse me," I stood from my chair, leaving my tray of food as I walked out of the tent. 

"Zack, wait," I heard Lala running after me as she touched my arm and I stopped as I glared down at her, "please let me explain." 

"The letters are private, Lala," I snapped at her, "it's not for you to go around and tell every person there is." 

"I understand Zack, but it slipped accidently to my friends. I swear I never meant for it to come out-" 

"Yeah, but it did!" 

"I know and I'm sorry, Zack. But my friends won't say anything to anyone about it. Trust me, they'll never do that." 

"I don't want those letters anymore. You can keep them and give them to someone else if you're going to go and blabber to everyone about them. Oh and I'm sure you've already opened them and read what was inside-" 

"No, I didn't-" 

"Yes you did. Who knows what else you've done!" 

"Ok, stop, please!" She begged as she stopped me form walking away by jumping in front of me. "Don't punish the girl please, she needs you, if you stop getting the letters then you'll stop replying and the next thing you know she's in a dark hole again." 

"Get out of my way," I said to her as I walked past her and she began to run alongside me. 

"I'm really sorry, Zack, I swear I would never ever read those letters. I know they're private, and I know there's a lot of things I'd rather stay private for me as well. Like Indie," she said quickly, "no one knows about us. But I told you, because I trust you." 

I picked up my pace, "they were asking why I was always sneaking off to speak to you, and Indie got upset because she thought I was cheating. I had to tell her but I only told them that it was letters from your girlfriend who lives with my aunt and she sends letters at the same time as my aunt so that's how you get them!" 

I stopped as I stood at the door of my container and then looked at her. I could see she was being genuine so I just shrugged. 

"So you're not upset?" I shook my head no and she let out a sigh and then smiled "can I ask you something?" She asked and I nodded. 

"Is she your girlfriend?" 

I shook my head again, as I unlocked the door and then swung it open. 

"Do you want her to be?" She asked in a teasing voice. 

I scoffed, "I don't even know how she looks," I told her. 

"What?" She furrowed her eyebrows and then gasped, "wow...oh my god, that is...adorable!" 

I frowned, about to close my door, "if you close your door I'm going to scream out to everyone that you have a crush on Bianca!" She whisper yelled and I frowned even more. 

"I just want you to tell me how you know this girl." 

"I don't," I responded, "I just got a letter one day and here I am, four weeks later." 

"Don't you want to see how she looks? Or hear her voice?"

"I mean, yeah sure, I just don't really feel like there's a need." 

"Yes there is! You should ask her if you can video chat some time," she said, "I've got a laptop you can use." 

"Are you done?" I asked her, feeling tired and needing to be away from this woman. 

She frowned, "you can't already be going to bed, it's still so early. I just," she looked around the camp and then at me, "listen, Zack, there's something I need to say and I need you to hear me out." 

"Make it quick," I said to her as I leaned against the door frame and then looked at her with disinterested eyes. 

"That letter wasn't sent to anyone specific. My aunt just sent it to me and asked me to give it to someone who I knew would be able to treat that letter and whoever sent it with respect and care. That day when you came in carrying a soldier like you always do, and then heading into the tent and not receiving any letter led me to believe that you were the perfect one to get the letter." 

"What's your point?" 

"Can you shut the f**k up and stop interrupting me? I'm talking for goodness sakes! As I was saying, I later found out that you were an orphan and I just want to say that I've noticed the change in you in these four weeks. It might not be one you show everyone else but I see the excitement every time you get a letter and I just want to say that," she coughed and then looked around, "I think you've found more than just a friend through those letters, you found family and I want you to get to know the person behind it and at least thank them because look at you now, you now have something to look forward to and someone to talk to. Even though I try to talk to you and you shut me out, with her, you don't and everything comes naturally. So yes, good night, go to bed, just think about it, ok? Bye and goodnight, Mr muscles."