Covering the recruiter’s eyes while turning around, I whispered. “Catharine can you go get my shirt please.”

Watching her white butt disappear back into my room, I stand their awkwardly with my guest. It isn’t my fault you dropped by unannounced. You even stepped into my apartment without asking. There is differently nothing wrong with a twenty year old sleeping around. Right?

Stop looking at me accusingly. I swear it is your fault and not mine. I know I didn’t give you a great impression yesterday, but you didn’t have to track me down. You even ruined my happy time I was having. Can you even imagine how fun it was experimenting with the shower head?

Silently, the recruiter start going through my things. Picking up my magazines scattered about and even eyeing the couch.

Looking at me, he jokingly asks. “What happened to the couch? There is teeth marks all over it and scratches. I hope you don’t have any wild animals in here.”

Coughing awkwardly, I sit down in a chair. “You sudden visit was unexpected. Can I at least know what your name is, considering you know mine? Also, why are you even here?”

Looking at me amusingly, he pulls up a chair in front of me. Handing over a folder he was carrying, he says. “First of all you may look through that file I just gave you. While you’re looking, I guess you should know my name. People call me Richard and I’m just a lieutenant looking around for possible recruits.”

That’s all I’m going to get, I guess I’m satisfied with his answer for now. Opening his folder quickly, I scan through the contents. Picture profile, hobbies, living arrangements, activities, places last visited, friends and current interests. What the hell is this all about?

“Why the hell is there an intelligence report about me? Who the fuck has been stalking me? Is it you Richard!?”

Chuckling to himself, he just sits their drinking his espresso drink. Arching his bushy eyebrows, he watches Catharine come over to give me a shirt. Thinking for a moment, he crosses one leg over another.

“Interesting Will. We read your history, but never knew you had this kind of relationship with Catharine. Color me surprise, but I never knew you were such a player. Remember that girl Aris…”

“Shut up! Stop making things up now.”

Calm down Will. He’s trying to mess with my mind. There is no reason for a verbal dispute. Let’s think, he first came to recruit me, shows up unexpected and throws a stalkers alibi right into my lap. Either he is warning me or he is trying to pressure me into something.

Looking over to a dressed Catharine, I notice her displeasure. “Don’t listen to him Cat. He’s the guy who I pissed off yesterday, when I rejected joining the military.”

Visibly her face softens and turns into a sneering smile directed to him. Damn kind of hot seeing her displease with another guy. No stop thinking like that, got to first sort out my questions for him.

“Rich so….”

“Call me Richard, William.”

“Richard is it. First stop making things up. Next tell me why the hell you are here. This report in my hands must be related to this whole charades.”

Looking at me sternly, he uncrosses his legs and leans forward. “Well William, I am here to give you a second chance to rethink your decision in joining. If you don’t then some unknown person might be displeased enough to post you information online. He might also be trying to get you kicked out of your free housing as we speak.”

The hell is this? Seriously, I wake up having a wonderful day and here comes the damn military coercing me into joining their guinea pig squad. I heard all about the survival rates for the new vaccines their creating, but I don’t want anything to do with that. I would rather have them make do on their promise, and be able to live for another day.

Standing up, I walk over to my liquor cabinet, pouring myself a drink. “You know Rich. I don’t like being pressured into things I don’t like. Right here is a remedy for me when I make stupid decisions.” Taking a big gulp of alcohol, I bring an extra glass to Richard. “Here, how about having a drink with me.”

Seeing him accept my offering, I lean back in my chair. Glancing at Catharine whose kind of nervous I give out a sigh. Why couldn’t he come here tomorrow instead? He totally ruined my time with her and now I might make a stupid decision.

Waiting for Richard, he leans back enjoying his drink. “Listen Will, I know we might have gone off on the wrong foot when I came unannounced. However, I believe we can become real good friends in the future.” Pouring his glass up again, he downs it. “Listen I’ll be honest with you. If you don’t join I’ll get in trouble with my superior. You’ll most likely will be kick out on the streets for evading job employment. And you girlfriend here might also get in a bit of trouble seeing you.”

You piece of shit. Threatening me by using my girl? You think I will just fold like those wimpy guys out on the streets. You are wishfully thinking, but I can’t antagonize you. This is a serious matter.

“I currently don’t plan on enlisting. I can rethink this if you just tell me why they are so interested in me. I’m not that remarkable at all.”

Watching him tense up for a minute, he pulls out a piece of paper. Writing on it he hands it over to me.

[Will don’t hate me for this, but even I don’t know. ‘They’ only gave me an order to get you to join willingly. If I don’t I have to tell them I failed, and get a slap on the wrist. Information wise, I only know that your genetics is a good match for what they want.]

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My genetics? I know I’m rather healthy and strong, but could that get the attention of the military. Possibly they just want some DNA or something to compare with. And communicating while writing? Are you telling me, they are listening to us right now? Did they hear last night’s play?

Writing on the piece of paper I reply.

[Just tell them, I don’t plan on cooperating. I don’t like being threatened and if they want a DNA sample they can come get it themselves. I would be happy to comply if it’s just a simple blood test if they leave Catharine alone.]

Seeing my reply he frowns. “William are you sure this is your answer? I promise you might not get to reconsider later.”

Drinking straight out of the bottle, I fold my arms behind my head. “Yeah Rich, I don’t care what they want, but I will never reconsider.”

Standing up, he retrieves his folder before walking away. “I see William. I hope you won’t regret this decision. If I see you on the streets I’ll think about giving you a helping hand.”

Shaking hands, I lead him to the door. Watching him disappear, I feel a pair of arms wrapping around my shoulders. Feeling a kiss on my cheek, I turn around and go in for a hot kiss.

“Will that was weird.”

Thinking about the recent encounter, I reply “I know. But, I will never agree to those who dare threaten me. Maybe if they compromise by taking some tests on me, I’ll be able to keep this place. However, that may not happen now.”

Embracing my chest, Catharine looks up to me. “You could always come to my place if that happens.”

“Thanks…Do you think I made the right decision?”

“I don’t know, even if I was in your position. But a good drink always helped me out.”

Chuckling I said. “At least my thought about drinking before answering wasn’t wrong.”

Noticing her smile, I come back to my senses and give her a peck on the nose. While Catharine is returning my kiss, I notice the time on the clock. “Cat I’m going to head out and let out some steam. You can stay here until your work starts.”

“All right Will. Say high to your girl Aris for me.”

She’s must be joking, I hope. “Yeah I will definitely tell her about last night.”

Laughing at our stupid joke, I wave goodbye to her and step outside.

Walking up to the track, I look around for the spunky blonde. Seeing no sign of her, I sit down on a bench and admire the weather.

It is late autumn, and the leaves on the trees are falling. There is a cloudy overcast, and a slight chill is in the wind. Perfect weather to go out for a jog. Sitting here, I pull up my hoodie and tuck my hands into my sleeves.

Noticing a hot blonde looking about curiously, I take it as a sign. Standing up I waddled my way over to her. Sneaking up on the small creature, I slow my pace down. One bounce two bounce and three bounces, goes her ponytail. Watching her move about erratically, I’m memorized by the sheer movement of her hair. How can something like this be so hypnotic?

Hearing movement behind her, she jumps from fright when she sees me. Not realizing who I am, she backs up slowly. Seeing me continue to approach her, she starts fidgeting nervously.

“Stay away from me.” Slowly she pulls out a bottle from her coat. “If you don’t I’ll spray you.”

Is that a bottle of mace? Why would she bring that along with her to work out? Someone must be trying to stalk her too. Even I am pretty creeped out by Richards’s fetish with me.

Stopping abruptly, I take a step back. “Aris calm down. It’s me, and not Richy.”

Not dropping her guard, she takes a closer step forward. Raising my hands I allow her to remove my hood. Taking in a deep breath she puts her can away.

I’m pretty happy I didn’t just get sprayed on accident. I remember getting sprayed years ago when I was sneaking around after curfew. Anyone who gets sprayed by that stuff knows it sucks a lot. The only thing I wished for, was for the bastard who did it to me would get stabbed in some dark alley. The experience could be counted as one of the top five most painful moments for me.

Distracting me from my thoughts, Aris sighs out of relief. “Will, you scared me. You shouldn’t be sneaking around like that.”

Lowering my hands, I give off a laugh. “Sorry about that. I saw you and just came over without thinking of much.”

“As long as you don’t do it again. Anyway who’s Richy?”

Richard is the military’s dog. He’s a bastard trying to peer pressure me. The man who followed me home and drank my booze for free.

“He’s the military recruiter I told you about from yesterday. He came by earlier today and had a nice conversation with me.”

Excitingly, Aris says. “Oh. Did you make your decision yet? About joining?”

It never crossed my mind of saying yes to that man. “Unfortunately I had to turn him down. I think I’m better fit working in the research field. I’m sorry to disappoint.”

Visibly her face deflates. No longer super cheery and hyper, her head lowers. Realizing I might have put a damper on things, I try to deflect any damage.

Coughing, I hurriedly said. “Aris it’s not like things will be that bad enlisting by yourself. Sure their might be some guys in their hitting on you, but they wouldn’t do anything bad. Well I think.”

That last part just slipped out.

Slightly shocked by what I said, an aurora of despair washes over her. “Y.you think?”

Not good Will. You can’t say things like that, even if it could happen. Most likely there are some sort of rules they got to follow.

“Don’t worry about it Aris. There are rules against things like that. Nothing will happen. I promise.”

Calming down a bit, her cheerful attitude comes back. “Yeah, that’s right. It shouldn’t be a real problem even if you didn’t join. We can be just be work out friends.”

Just friends? Hm that wasn’t what I was planning yesterday, but since Catharine did such a good job, I might accept just being friends. I don’t really want to ruin what I already have with Cat. Whatever that is.

“Don’t sweat it. We can hangout whenever you’re free in the future. Today let’s get our workout out of the way.”

Smiling, she beckons me to follow. Watching her small figure jog in front of me I realize today wasn’t that bad of a day. I had shower sex, met a bastard and get to watch a tight… Work out with Aris.

Noticing my absent mindedness, Aris slows down for me. “Hey Will want to grab lunch after our run?”

Sounds like she is hitting on me. No that’s not right, this is what friends do. They hang out, eat together and talk about girls. No not girls, girly things? I don’t know, I usual have sex with my girl-friends.

Pulling myself out of thinking, I smirk. “Yeah you have a place in mind? I haven’t ate all morning.”

Well not the usual type of breakfast.

“I have a place in mind. It’s a coffee shop with some pastries. I’m thinking about getting some hot chocolate and a doughnut or two.”

Pastries do sound good. I haven’t went out for a normal lunch in a long time. This should be a good change of pace. I hope Catharine won’t see us together. It could lead to some complications.

“Sounds good. I’m craving some coffee and I hope they have some coconut doughnuts too.”

Giving off a confident smile, she replies. “They should I believe, but I don’t know though. I haven’t been their yet.”

“Seems like we can both figure it out ‘together’.”

It’s like I’m going out on a date with this hot blonde. However, she is the one inviting me and not the other way around. Is this what being in the friend zone is? Interesting, but not a bad feeling.

After running a few miles, we’re both hot and sweating. I’m behind Aris gasping for breath, trying to figure out how I even made it so far. Aris on the other hand is as hyper as ever. She is on the ground stretching and looking very seductive.

Standing up, she pulls me to the showers.