Page 101 of Daddy, Sir

Some Things Never Change

Kessily Lewel

Chapter One

The scraping of the heavy metal door warned them they were about to have company, and all three students quickly shifted to shield their cigarettes from view. Smoking wasn’t allowed on campus, obviously, but this sheltered nook behind the ROTC building was usually safe enough to sneak a quick cigarette, once the last bell had rung.

Jamie, Kelly, and Brandon weren’t especially friendly, but they all took the city bus that stopped at the base of the back parking lot. They found themselves together there most days, having a quick smoke to relax, before hiking down to catch the bus.

“What are you three doing back here?” There was a bark to the question. A demand. Which made sense… since it came from the highest-ranking ROTC student officer, Major Oliver Scott. He was used to giving orders and all three smokers were ROTC cadets.

Which meant they were in trouble.

The other girl muttered, “Fuck,” under her breath, but Jamie just rolled her eyes. She tossed a sassy look over her shoulder. “Ollie, it’s the end of the day. Everyone is gone. You can relax.”

Kelly gasped and Brandon backed away. No ROTC cadet talked to the student officers that way. ROTC was about learning discipline, and for some, it was about preparing for a future in the military. Most of them took the ranks very seriously.

Besides, you didn’t want to aggravate a fellow student who had the power to make your life miserable during homeroom, classes, and monthly training. Jamie agreed with all of that, except when it came to Oliver.

“Uh, we better go, or we’ll miss the bus,” Brandon said quickly.

Oliver didn’t even glance at the other two. His eyes were narrowed and fixed on Jamie with a cold stare. “You do that, and don’t let me catch you smoking out here again, or you’ll spend next formation doing PT for the whole two hours.”

“Yes, Sir,” they said in unison. Calling officers ‘Sir’ outside of ROTC time wasn’t required but given the situation… they’d obviously decided it couldn’t hurt. Oliver didn’t seem to care either way, so they picked up their backpacks and hurried off without another word.

Jamie sighed, stood up, and went to follow them, but Oliver stopped her. “Not you. You and I are going to have a conversation.”

She blinked, surprised. “Ollie… c’mon. It was just a cigarette.”

“This isn’t about the smoking, Jamie, although you should know better.” There was a low growl to his tone that sent a shiver through her. “It’s about your mouth and your attitude.”

Usually he ignored it when she got bratty, so this was new. She let one eyebrow rise. “I’ll miss the bus…”

“I’ll drive you home…after. Inside.” He jerked his chin toward the door.

She rolled her eyes and made a show of stomping up the two steps to go inside. The landing branched off with one set of stairsleading up to the ROTC classrooms and lockers. The other went down to the sublevel. She waited for him to show the way.

He brushed past her and went down the stairs. His steps were crisp and full of purpose, while hers dragged and scraped along, mostly just to annoy him.

“Hurry up, cadet. We don’t have all day,” he snapped, without looking back.

Jamie knew she was pissing him off, but she didn’t care. Lately she’d started to enjoy annoying Oliver. It hadn’t always been like that.

They’d grown up in each other’s houses, with moms who were best friends. Back then the years between them hadn’t mattered, and they’d been close. Things had changed when he reached high school.

Distance sprang up between them. He was suddenly too old to hang out. He’d started treating her like an annoying little sister, instead of a friend, when they ran into each other.

She wasn’t sure why, but she’d expected things to get better when she finally joined him in high school. After all, she wasn’t a kid anymore. The student population was small, classes were mixed between the grades, and there would be lots of opportunities to run into each other.

She’d even joined ROTC, because she knew Oliver was really into it, but it hadn’t helped. It wasn’t the real Army. It was just high school ROTC. There were no rules about officers fraternizing. He just… treated her like a sister, ignoring her, except when giving her orders.

The fact that he was three years older than she was shouldn’t mean he got to boss her around, but he always tried. Okay, technically… itdidmean that, at least while they were in the ROTC building. Like all seniors, Oliver had authority, and Jamie was just a lowly freshman, even with her brand-new corporal stripe.

He paused in the open doorway of the Colonel’s office and rapped once on the frame to announce his presence. When their commanding officer looked up, Oliver saluted. “Sir, I’ve got a discipline problem. Okay to use the range?”

Like all ROTC instructors, the Colonel was retired military. He understood about discipline and didn’t even question it. “Fine. You’ve got an hour before I lock up.”

“Thank you, Sir.” Oliver turned smartly on his heel. “With me, Corporal.”

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