Patrick just laughed. “She's not worth it.”
Brendon took the pillow off of his face. “Guys,not right now, okay? Just… not now.”
All three sighed and nodded. Quietly they allgot ready for bed.
Chapter Five
It had taken Brendon a few days to get himselfback to so-called normal. The Drills didn't let up until the onlything Brendon could think of was getting squared the fuck away toget the Drills off his back. Ryan felt sorry for the boy but hey,the Drills seemed to know the right thing to say and do. By thesecond day Brendon didn't even mention Sophia again.
That morning Patrick and he pulled KP duty. ToRyan's way of thinking it was great. They got up and dressed. Oncein the Chow Hall they noticed who was in charge. It was none otherthan Drill Sergeant Grabowski.
“Aww, fuck. I was hoping for someone else,” Ryansaid low under his breath.
“Hell, I just want people to see how fuckingcrazy he is so they don't think I'm insane when I tell them,”Patrick said, watching the others as they looked at the reputedlycrazy Drill.
“Bet they have no clue how insane he is,” Ryansaid back.
“Fall in!” Grabowski shouted.
All of the soldiers reporting for KP duty fellinto formation and awaited instructions.
“My name is Drill Sergeant Grabowski. I knowmost of you like KP duty because it's so much fucking fun. Well Iam here to change your mind. Today I expect this place to runsmoothly. Is this understood?”
“Yes, Drill Sergeant!”
Quickly they were all assigned to differentduties. Ryan was working with a guy from Delta Company. It was allhe could do not to roll his eyes at the bastard. He was a fuckingmoron.
“So, dude, what's that guy like?”
“He's a Drill Sergeant,” Ryan said tiredly. Hewas going to kill someone. The guy hadn't shut up since they beganto peel potatoes. Patrick came in carrying a pan of scrambled eggs.He snickered when Ryan made eye contact.
“No, I heard he killed a guy!” Matt or Marksaid.
“I think that's a rumor,” Ryan muttered. Hereally wasn't sure if it was a rumor or not but it kinda pissed himoff that another soldier from a completely different fucking unitwas saying shit about HIS fucking Drill.
“They say he's a real bastard. We got lucky andgot Drill Sergeant Davis. He's cool as fuck.”
Ryan bit his lip to keep from defending the guywho had made his life a living hell so far.
“I'd hate to be stuck with a crazy fucker likeGrabowski.”
“Dude!” Ryan said, staring at the guy. “Youdon't fucking know him.” Not that Ryan did either but still. “Soshut your fucking mouth.”
“Not enough work, Privates?”
Just fucking great. Ryan sighed. They bothsnapped their mouths shut.
“Private...What the fuck? Private, you'll answerby No-Name because that is the world's most fucked-up name.”Grabowski said, looking at the soldier that Ryan was talking to.“Y'all want to tell me what you were talking about.”
Private No-Name blinked and shook his head. Hiseyes widened and Ryan felt like giggling. His Drill Sergeant hadn'teven warmed up yet.
“Freckles, wanna tell me?”
Ryan could either tell him or not. It was ano-win situation. On one hand he could stick with the DrillSergeant and tell him what the soldier was talking about or hecould lie.
“Let me guess. No-name here wanted to talk smackabout the Drills?” Grabowski said knowingly. “Hear that I'm a crazyfuck, No-Name?”
Ryan let out a breath of air. Grabowski didn'tmake him answer the question.
