Page 1 of Closely Guarded

Chapter 1- Nick

I almost can’t believe that this day has finally come.

Today, my best friend Zach Jeffries and I are taking the first steps in becoming members of the United States Air Force. We graduated from high school a few weeks ago, but that excitement was eclipsed by the letters we had both received a few weeks prior: Our applications had been accepted, and we would be heading to Little Rock, Arkansas to start our training.

We’re going through the usual logistics that apply to all bus rides: Attendance, loading bags, families milling about to say goodbye. My folks are over on the other side of the public parking lot talking to Zach’s parents by their minivan.

Zach and I are introducing ourselves to some of the other guys who have come to load up. There’s an air of proud excitement surrounding all of us. We’re going to go serve our country. Some of us may even make a name for ourselves along the way. That’s what Zach and I plan to do. One day, we’re going to be known as General Zachary Jeffries and General Nicholas Howard.

But that day is a long way off. I’m sure we’ll get there, though— the both of us.

Zach and I have been best friends since kindergarten. We do everything together, so entering the Air Force is no different. I don’t know what will happen if, for some reason, we get separated during training or when we’re assigned to our first official mission after that. To be quite honest, the thought makes me nervous.

We both have other friends, sure, but it feels like I’ve known him my whole life. Zach and I had decided we would be best friends before either of us really understood what that meant, how important and strong that bond could be.

I’m over at his house just as much as he’s at mine. Our parents have come to accept that where one of us is, the other is probably following. It’s not always just the two of us though. Zach’s little sister Claire is often right there with us.

Claire’s a sweet girl, and really smart. Even though she’s thirteen, I know that Zach’s nervous about not being there for her if she needs him. Even though we’re not even leaving the state for our training, it’s only a matter of time before we could be stationed literally anywhere in the world, and have minimal opportunities to contact our families stateside.

It’s the one thing that Zach and I disagree about. I think that he’s too overprotective of her. She’s growing up; he needs to let her. He says that I don’t understand because I don’t have siblings. Zach told me a few years ago that his mom had some trouble when she was in labor with Claire that left her very weak.

The doctors got her taken care of, and she’s healthy and happy now, but in those early days no one was really sure what was going to happen. As Zach tells it, his dad spent a lot of time at her bedside and the nurses let him stay with his new baby sister in the hospital nursery. When his dad would check in on them, he would tell Zach that he needed him to take care of his baby sister while he took care of their mom.

I’ll never tell him this, but Zach was so young when his father told him that… I think it’s become part of who he is, his core personality. There’s going to come a day where she doesn’t need him as much. That’s hard for Zach to accept.

For now though, Claire is navigating her way through the crowd towards us, a big smile on her face and a Tupperware box in her hands. Zach and I step away from the guys we were introducing ourselves to and meet her.

“Hey there little sis, what’s all that?” Zach ruffled Claire’s hair and she darts away to stand next to me.

“I made you guys cookies for the bus ride.” She holds up the container and Zach and I both ooh and ahh over it. The kid loves sweets and baked goods, and Zach and I are all too happy to reap the benefits of that by eating anything and everything that’s put in front of us. What? We’re growing boys!

Soon, we’re interrupted by the announcement that it’s time to load up and leave. The three of us wander over to meet with both of our parents and hugs are exchanged all around. I might be imagining it, but the hug Claire gives me seems extra tight as we say goodbye. Her whisper of “take care” is almost lost among the chorus of others saying their own goodbyes that surround us. Claire is still watching and waving along with both sets of our parents as Zach and I load up on the bus.

As we settle into our seats, I turn to face my best friend. “You ready for this?” I ask him.

“Hell yes!”

I’m practically vibrating with energy as we sit waiting for the bus to roll out and take us on the biggest adventure of our lives.

Chapter 2- Claire

Five years later…

The smell of scented candles makes me nervous.

They didn’t used to. When I was younger, I used to love wandering into the home goods section of various stores, closing my eyes, and picking out a candle. I’d try and identify what scent it was. There’s no comparing a sugar cookie scented candle with the real thing, but I enjoyed it. I would imagine the house that I would live in when I’m all grown up, candles and pillows in every room, big picture windows and a fancy kitchen.

Now, though… now things are different. Now, all I want to do is feel safe in my own apartment, never mind being comfortable or having fancy throw pillows.

I still live in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where I grew up, but after I graduated from high school, I rented an apartment. It’s pretty small, but super close to the café I work at. I hadn’t planned to move out of my parents’ house, but I felt like I had to. Not because of my parents—they’re wonderful! I just felt like I needed some distance from them, for their own safety.

The problem is, I’ve got a stalker. It sounds self-centered, claiming to have a stalker: Someone wants me so much that they follow me? But it’s the only thing that I can call him. It’s what he does, after all. Call me, follow me… stalk me.

His name is Leonard Drisdale, but he tells everyone to call him Lenny. He was a grade ahead of me in high school, so we only shared one or two classes here and there. I didn’t have a lot of friends in school, but I had people I hung out with before and after classes. I tried dating a little bit, but none of the boys I ever went out with made it past a first date. None of them were who I really wanted.

Lenny was one of the boys that I went out on a first date with. All we did was go and get pizza after school one afternoon. It wasn’t very exciting and the conversation was boring. I thanked him anyways and was polite in saying that, while I had a nice enough time, I really didn’t want to go on another date with him.

The few other boys that I had said the same thing to had been understanding. Some had asked if there was anything they could do to change my mind, but took me at my word when I said no. Others asked if we could still talk during class or work on homework projects together.

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