How Could You Know - Luke Morrow

Part One

As I walked out of the Drug Rehab Centre in Oceanside, I was greeted by the sun shining in my face and my sister Camille holding a bouquet of flowers, her olive skin shining in the heat of the California sun.

"Its good to have you back, I've missed you so much." She pulled me into a bone crushing hug before she helped me load my bags in the trunk of her beat up old car.

"I've missed you too. It's been so long since I've seen the outside world." We hopped into the cab of her car as she handed me the flowers she had gotten me.

"It really has been such a long time," she pulled out of the parking lot and headed in the direction of her house on the beach. Camille was a hard-working bartender and business owner. She owns her own dive bar with the help of her business partner Billy. With her income she was able to afford a lavish home with beach views.

Once we pulled up, she grabbed my bags and unlocked her front door for me to follow her in.

"So, I do have to work tonight, but after the girls have finished on stage, you'll have me all night long. We can have a few drinks and then get food on our way home and watch crappy movies." I nodded at her as she showed me the room that she had converted for me to live in. She nodded as I sat on the bed in the centre of the room.

I watched as she backed out of the room. I looked around at my new room, everything seemed new, and I didn't know how to take it all in. I had been in rehab for the last 12 months everything was so different for me now. I had been sober for a year now no more drugs running through my veins. Camille and I had lost our mother 6 months ago and I couldn't even get a day pass to attend her funeral. I pulled out a photo frame from my bag. In the picture two little girls smiled up at me with an older woman behind the girls. My beautiful mother was the one who made me get help. She was the reason that I pushed myself to get better so I could come home to her. And now I'll never be able to see her beautiful smile again. I watched a small tear drip onto the frame as I placed it on the side table and started to unpack my bag.

An hour later Camille popped her head in to see how I was going. I was sitting on the bed with a book in my hands and looked up.

"You ready to head out?" I nodded and pulled on my leather jacket as I followed her out the door. I noticed the bar was already fairly full when we walked in, and I pulled my jacket tighter around my body. Camille squeezed my shoulder before heading behind the bar. I took a seat at the bar and she handed me a glass of coke. I spun around to watch band play. The lead singer was Cassie Salazar, she used to babysit me and my best friend Frankie Mabuthia, I watched fondly as she took over the stage, she was going to be big one day. She used to teach me piano when she would babysit me, I don't play anymore but I wish I did and I wish I still could. I twirled the straw in my drink as Billy pulled the cords out of amp effectively shutting off the mic as Cassie was introducing the band. She and Nora, the other waitress, made their way over to me and the bar.

"Omg! Callie! Your back? When did you get back?" Cassie pulled up off my seat and into a crushing hug.

"I got out today, Cam had to work so you could rock the stage, then were going to get greasy food and watch crappy movies when we get home." I waved to Nora as Cassie tied her apron around her waist.

"Cassie, your favourite people are here." Nora nodded to the group of Marines that just walked into the bar. I rolled me eyes a long with Cassie as she and Nora made their way over to get their orders. I looked back down at my drink waiting for Cam to come out from the back so we could get on with this girls night we had planned.

"Cal! Get your ass over here." I looked up at my name and noticed Cassie standing with the Marines gesturing me over to them. I groaned but got off my seat leaving my drink and walked the few steps to the group. Cassie was talking animatedly to a dark-skinned man with a buzz cut, as I approached he turned around and I jumped into his arms. His arms wound around my back as my legs wrapped around his hips. I held him close tears brimming my eyes.

"It's so good to see you too Ope." I pulled away from him and jumped down suddenly remembering we weren't the only ones here. Frankie pulled me to his side as he gestured around to the boys. "These are the guys, were shipping off to Iraq in two weeks."

"Since when have you been a Marine?" I asked him as I punched his shoulder.

"6 months, after your, after everything I wanted to go out and do something, be someone other than just another taxpayer. We've been in training ever since. You look good, it helped you a lot." I nodded and looked down, being reminded of where I had been and what I had missed. "Guys, this is Calliope, my very best friend in the whole world. Cassie used to babysit us." I watched as Cassie blushed and looked around at the other guys. My eyes followed hers and my heart leapt into my throat. I pushed Frankie away and took a step back. It felt like I had seen a ghost, a ghost of my past I was hoping to forget. My hands started to shake as I continued to back up. Johno's face flew through my mind and as I felt the cold the concrete of the bar on my knees I felt a soft pair of large hands gently take hold of my shoulders.

"Callie, hold your breath, your having a panic attack." His sweet deep voice floated through my ears, the breakup of music to hear his voice helped bring me back from my panic. My green eyes flicked up to his hazel ones, tears were freely running down my face now. I looked over his shoulder at his Marine buddies. I noticed Frankie was standing right behind Luke. His expression one of realisation. I looked back at Luke willing my tears to stop but looking at him just brought back memories, memories I had tried so hard to forget, to push away. The way he made me feel in the last year or two before he went away. And he was here sober as well by the looks of things. Luke helped me up off the ground and helped me walk back over to the others. Cassie had brought over drinks for everyone before one of the bigger Marines spoke up.

"So, were good enough to save your ass but not good enough to touch it?" I watched as she walked away shaking her head. Luke handed me to Frankie and made to follow Cassie. I felt something deep in the pit of my stomach wake up before I turned my head back to Frankie and the guys. I wiped away my tears and looked at each one of them. Without Luke near me it was easier to not break down.

"I need names for whose ass I'm kicking if this one comes home injured." I joked poking franking in the chest. Camille showed up and Frankie left me to say hello to my sister.

The blonde guy to my left who looked no older than 20 spoke up first.

"Brandon."

"Armando." The who made the ass comment. I nodded and took a seat at the table.

"Look you two better watch those two for me, if you come home and they don't there will be hell to pay and I can promise you no matter what kind of training you've had you will not get away." I threatened as I got closer to them. They swallowed loudly before nodding as Luke, Frankie and my sister all walked back up to us.

"You ready to get out of here?" Cam asked me, I nodded and waved at the boys as I followed my sister out.