Madam President ✓

102.Leo

2000

  "Oh come on, one more round won't hurrrrt." I slur, chuckling at the male bartender.

  "Yeah we- wev'eeee spent half of our paychecks here this week." Carlos joins in.

In a small bar just outside the barracks, we blend in. Half of the military has a drinking problem- and the other half is working on getting one. Getting kicked out of this place is almost unheard of.

  I guess it wouldn't be the first military norm we broke.

—-
2000
One Month Ago

My feet ache so badly I want nothing more than to collapse on the tiny cot and block the world out forever. The commanders have taken a special interest in me because of my physical strength and have even gone as far as to vett me for an officer position- despite me having no plans to go to college.

  I glance at the small picture of my girlfriend, propped up against my pillow- and smile. She may not be my soulmate, but she's gotten me through a lot and for that I have every intention set on marrying her.

  Then a wave of worry courses through me- and I can't help but think about our potential children's futures- and the futures of children overseas. The past few months in the Middle East have been too calm. We don't know what- but we know something is coming and it scares the hell out of us. The commanders have told us not to get too comfortable, that we should expect it'll happen when we do.

  Even as they said that, they sounded relaxed.

  I do not have faith in the military I am a part of.

  I force myself to close my eyes, blocking out the sounds and horrendous smells that come from sharing a room with fifty men of varying ages. I wish I had the energy or germaphobia that forces Carlos to shower four times a day.

  He lays in the top bunk across from me now, staring at the ceiling- contemplating his life choices.

  We have just three hours until they wake us up for another drill.

  "You know-" he says, feeling my eyes on him. "I think the don't ask-don't tell policy is fucking bullshit. We should be able to be... openly gay without worrying about... getting discharged."

  He looks around, making sure nobody heard him.

  "Sounds like you know the feeling." I raise an eyebrow.

  "No, I just...I..." He stutters.

  "Oh come on-" I force myself to sit up, rubbing my under eyes. "You go out of your way to look at anything but the other guys penises in the shower.  Your favorite singer is P!nk and you tried to request private housing the day we graduated. I've seen you have greasy hair twice the past seven weeks."

  "Well...."

  "Carlos- you know I don't care but at least be honest with yourself. There's no telling how far apart the deployments are gonna-"

  "I don't wanna think about it." He shakes his head. "No I.... You're all I've got here."

He hops down from the top bunk and walks the few feet to my bed. I pat the spot beside me.

"We may be able to get away with a ....roommate situation. And you are gay. So what?" I shrug.

"So what?" He scoffs. "I'm not gay I.... I like women too. We're in the U.S military. Can I...."

"Can you what?" My heart rate subtly picks up.

"Can I ask....."

"What?"