War

I splash water on my face. My white tank top is slightly soaked and my practically glued-shut eyes open slightly. I have five minutes to get them completely open.

This is gonna suck.

It’s 3 in the goddamn morning, why can’t aliens attack in the middle of the day? Why do they have to attack so late? UGH.

“Lux? You in there?” Calix calls through the door.

“Yeah.” I reply.

I splash my face again, and again, and one more time until I can completely open my eyes. Three minutes left.

Lucky Calix, normally I take longer.

I open the door, Calix is sitting on his bed patiently waiting for my return into the bedroom.

“That was fast.” He says before entering the bathroom himself.

“Guess I slept lightly last night.”

“Guess so.”

We both know what I really mean.

I quickly slip into the ‘uniform,’ a black jumpsuit with black sneakers. I don’t know why they require this stupid thing. It’s not like anyone can really see us while we’re kicking alien ass.

“You almost ready Calix?” I call.

“Yup.”

They’re gonna come get us in about another minute.

There’s a slight knock on the metal door.

Aaaaaaaaannnnnnnddddd, of course they’re early. I shouldn’t have expected anything less from General Asshole. Well, his real name is General Dubois, but I’ve lovingly nicknamed him General Asshole based on his simply peachy attitude.

I open the door to see, of course, General Asshole. His way-to-long beard with its attached moustache is perfectly groomed as usual and his uniform doesn’t have a single crease.

“Good morning Sir.” I salute, despite my desire to stick my tongue out in his face.

“Good morning Govain. Where’s Brymer?”

“The lavatory, Sir.” Always use the fanciest form of the word when speaking to General Asshole.

“At ease Govain.” He says, and I sit back down on my bed.

General Asshole knocks on the bathroom door.

“Brymer? You still doing your damn hair?” I have a sudden urge to punch him in the face. Yeah, bully me all you want, but leave Calix alone. THIS is why I gave him my loving nickname.

Calix opens the door.

“No, Sir.” He salutes.

And, even after General Asshole was an asshole to him, Calix doesn’t even regret being respectful. Which is why he shouldn’t be here. Even though I’m happy he’s here, he shouldn’t be here. He should be back home, finishing 12th grade, and looking forward to his future with some pretty girl who fell head-over-heels the second she saw him. Thinking about college, and what job he’s gonna get once he’s done with that. What he wants to do with the rest of his life.

Not what his family will do if he loses the rest of his life.

“Well? Are we going to sit here chitchatting all day, or are we gonna go kill some aliens?” The general declares.

“Yes Sir!” We answer simultaneously.