Chapter 21
When we arrived, there was a bonfire and tables set up with food. There was a keg of beer and other alcohol as well. Everyone was there. Maurice was leaning on his motorcycle with a gorgeous girl hanging onto his every word. Chase was sitting on the back of his pickup with a few girls laughing. Vince was sitting in his convertible with a girl as well. I opened the door for Natalia. As she stepped out I grabbed her hand and we walked over to the table to grab a drink.
“Hey Jason. what do you want to drink?” Natalia asked
“Just water for me thanks.”
Natalia got some punch for herself. We walked over and sat next to the bonfire. Maurice lifted his beer to salute me. I returned the gesture. Natalia and I stayed for about an hour then we drove to a secluded part of the lake area so we could be alone. I was nervous to finally be alone with her.
“Well Jason, I finally have you all to myself.”
“Yes, it looks that way.”
Natalia took another sip of her drink then sat it in the cup holder.
She put her hand on my leg and started to rub my thigh.
“So, what should we do now Jason?”
Natalia crawled over to my side of the truck and straddled me. We started to kiss passionately and the windows steamed up.
“I want you so badly right now”
“I know I want you too Natalia. But I’m not ready to go all the way yet.” Natalia looked at me with a disappointed look on her face.
“Am I doing something wrong?”
“No, I have never gone this far before and I just wanna go slow.”
“I have never done this before either.” Natalia said. “Okay no pressure we can slow down and take as much time as you need. I just feel like I’m falling hard for you,” Natalia said with tears rolling down her face.
“I have strong feelings for you too babe, but we have plenty of time to see where this relationship is going. This is our senior year and of course I want you by my side, but Mr. Thompson is also on my case about training and staying focused.” I wiped the tears from Natalia’s face.
“Jason, I’m here for the long-haul baby.”
That night I knew I would never let anything come between Natalia and I. Our senior year flew by and before I knew it graduation day was here. My senior year with Natalia and the guys was great. We won the State football championship. Natalia and I were crowned prom king and queen. Natalia and her swimming team won the State swim team championships. The night before graduation, Mr. Thompson called me into his office.
“Hi Mr. Thompson, you wanted to see me?”
“Jason have a seat. From this moment on you will refer to me as Admiral Thompson. The next time you see me will be in a few months in Annapolis at the Naval Academy. You have done very well and have done everything I have asked of you. A million dollars has been put into your account as promised and each of your team members has received the same. The team has performed exceptionally well. But you are now moving into a critical part of your training and there can be no distractions. For that reason, I will need you to end your personal relationship with Natalia for more reasons than one. At the end of your training you will be the leader of the most covert military unit on the planet. You will be sent on missions that have no room for error. Your team will be sent to eliminate some of the deadliest criminals on the planet. Having a personal relationship between members will not be tolerated. I want you to take the next few months during training to explain things to Natalia and break things off with her for the benefit of the team. Do you understand?”
“You have no idea what you are asking me to do. This will break Natalia’s heart. How are we supposed to work together after this?”
“If Natalia wants to be a SEAL as bad as she claims, then she will fall in line with the rest of the team. Figure it out Jason. That is all.”
As I walked from Mr. Thompson’s office I felt a knot in my stomach. I didn’t know how I was gonna break this news to Natalia. This is supposed to be the best time of our lives. Tomorrow was graduation and I had to get home to finish my valedictorian speech. Natalia and I both were co-valedictorian and Maurice of all people based on his GPA was salutatorian. Natalia was meeting me at my house so we could finish our speech. She and I still hadn’t gone all the way yet and I was kind of glad, with the news I was going to have to tell her tonight. I couldn’t open myself like that to her after what happened to me as a kid. Tears streamed down my face as I raced to get home. It was killing me to have to hurt her like this. I know I had to do what was best for the team but my heart was telling me different. As I arrived at my house Natalia was sitting in her car outside my house.
I pulled up and parked. Natalia got out of her car and met me at my front door. “Hey,” Natalia said as she kissed me.
“Hey.”
“What’s wrong babe?”
“Come on Natalia, let’s go inside we need to talk.”
As we walked in Brooklyn ran up to us barking and wagging his tail.
Natalia got down on her knees to pet and rub Brooklyn. She really liked him. I looked around but no one was home. We went up to my room and I closed the door.
I sat down on my bed and Natalia sat next to me.
“Okay Jason what’s going on? Is something wrong?” she asked.
“Natalia this past year for me has been full of emotions I never expected. I never expected to meet you and feel the way I do about you. You complete me in every way and I see a future with you one day, but I don’t feel now is the right time for us. We have some hard training going forward and I really need to focus on being the leader of this team.”
“So, you’re breaking up with me. Really? I can’t believe this.” Natalia started to cry.
“Please Natalia I really don’t want to. but Mr. Thompson said going forward we can only have a professional relationship.”
“What? Is there someone else? You couldn’t have hurt me more if you shot me in the. chest. I have fallen in love with you, so now what are we supposed to do? How do we work together now? Am I supposed to just pretend I don’t feel anything for you anymore?”
“No Natalia, there is no one else. I’m not like that. I see a future with you we just have to put things on hold for a while.”
‘I’m not gonna sit around and wait for you to figure out if you want to be with me Jason. Mr. Thompson has no right to ask such a thing of us anyway.”
She got up off the bed and ran out of my room and out of my house. I looked out of the window as she jumped in her car and drove away. I felt like my heart had just been ripped out. I wanted to tell her the truth but I knew it would only put her in more danger. I changed my clothes and went for a run to clear my head. When I got back Robert, Ryan and Ms. V were in the kitchen.
“Hey Jason, you hungry? We ordered pizza.” Robert said.
“No, I’m fine I will just get a protein shake.”
“What’s wrong Jason? I know something is wrong. Ryan go to your room while we talk,” Ms. V said.
“Yes, ma’am.” Ryan responded.
Ryan took his pizza and soda upstairs to his room and Brooklyn followed behind him.
I sat down at the table. I rested my head in my hands. I began to shake my head.
“Mr. Thompson made me break up with Natalia and I feel terrible.”
“I’m sorry Jason, did he say why?” Ms. V asked.
“Why do you think, Virginia. In their world you don’t get to have a life. They use everyone. I feel responsible for all of this Jason. I should have never got you and Ryan involved with them. I should have told them NO!”
“Well if you had said no Robert you know they wouldn’t have accepted that. All our lives would have been in danger. I never wanted the boys in any danger.” Ms. V said.
“All I wanted to do was to serve my country just like my dad and uncles had done before me. I was only able to keep all of you safe all these years because I went away and did missions for them that I will never be able to talk about. All of my demons are now affecting us all and I am sorry for that.”
“What I am I supposed to do now? I know I really hurt Natalia and I wanna be with her and only her. But I know they are always watching and they will find out if we do start seeing each other personally.”
“Yes, they will definitely find out and you can’t take that chance. The only thing you can hope for is that when this is all over and you are able to get out, her love for you and your love for her will still be there. The only reason Virginia and I were able to be together is because she and I were already married when they recruited me and I wasn’t gonna let her go,” Robert explained.
“Listen Jason, tomorrow is your big day. You have worked so hard. Let’s focus on the positive. I have everything set up for your graduation party tomorrow night. Is Natalia still gonna come?” Ms. V asked.
“I hope so I really wanna see her and talk to her more about this situation.”
“Do you have your speech all prepared for tomorrow?” Ms. V asked.
“Mostly I guess. Natalia and I were supposed to finish it up tonight, but she ran out when I gave her the news, so I may have to give it alone tomorrow.”
“Okay well go head upstairs and get ready for bed. Tomorrow is a big day for you.”
“You’re right, goodnight.”
I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and went upstairs to my room. I went out and sat on my balcony overlooking the river below. I watched the water as it crashed over the rocks below getting lost in my thoughts. Brooklyn had wandered into my room and laid down next to my feet. I reached down to rub his head and I then was overcome with emotions. I got into bed and drifted off to sleep.