I continued smoking in silence, enjoying the detachment it brought me. I could feel Matthew's stare on me, though. It was making me squirm.
“It’s creepy to stare.” I pointed out after a while.
“What are you doing out here alone?”
“What areyoudoing out here alone?I’mclearly smoking.”
“I…couldn’t sleep. My roommate snores.”
“Poor thing.” I grinned mockingly.
Matthew didn’t speak for a few long moments “you been here long?”
I shook my head. Didn’t elaborated. He didn’t ask, instead opting for “did you choose to sign up?”
I found it kind of a bizarre question. Nobodychoseto risk their lives in the army, not anyone I knew, anyway.
“Not really. My dad thought that it would be good for me. I didn’t really oppose.”
“Hm.” Matthew frowned “I didn’t either.”
“No?”I asked curiously.
“No. I…my dad thought it would be good for me too. But I, uh…prefer not to fight.”
I blinked, processing the statement and how ridiculous it was before laughing out loud “came to the wrong place, mate.”
“Don’t I know it.”
“Do you knowhowto fight?”I justhadto ask.
“Course I do. Just don’t like it. Stop laughing.” But he was smiling too. There was something endearing about that smile. I liked it. I wanted to see it more often.
“How old are you, anyway? My age?”
“Sixteen.”
“My age.” I nodded sagely “only one?”
“Jack’s seventeen. He’s my roommate.” Matthew murmured “he’s brutal. He likes inflicting damage.”
“I think Stryker does too.” I murmured pensively.It was certainly the impression he'd left on me.
“Aisen?”
“Mh, yeah. We share a room.”
“The prince is in the army?”
“He’s clearly good at what he does.” I shrugged “he’s full of scars. Only been here a month though, so...I dunno.”
“Right. So, you said you haven’t been here long. What does that- I mean, how longhaveyou been here?”
“Seven hours?” I snorted, inhaling again “you?”
“Almost a year.” He grumbled.
I hummed “wow. Hey, Matt, come on, humour me.” I waved the joint in front of him again, enthusiastic.
