"Nope. I like dick just as much as the next chick. I just don't think you have much, so I'm not even willing to go there with you."

The guys crooned, "Ooohhh," as I countered, pissing Allen off even further.

We started playing, and after going 1-1 on the two rounds we fought, somehow I managed to land a crushing blow on Allen's man, knocking him to the ground and securing a victory. I dropped the controller to the ground, cocky as ever, strutting around the space while the guy's high-fived me.

"Fuck this shit. I want a fucking rematch!" Allen yelled, staring in my direction. Raw anger radiated from his eyes as he stared at me, He was breathing hard while the bulging veins in his neck looked as if they would give way to the mounting pressure and burst. The look scared me, but I felt secure with the amount of other guys around me.

"Pete, help me get Allen to his room, please," Dalton called out, signaling for the scrawny guy to take one side of the rabid beast of a man who looked as if he was ready to attack on command.

Dalton and Pete grabbed him, and he didn't resist. Instead, he yelled things at me, in an attempt to frighten me even more.

"You'll pay, bitch. I want a rematch. I want a fucking rematch."

I sat down and sighed as they walked him out, thankful that he was out of the room and away from me. The few people who were left sat in silence, probably just as stunned as I was that someone could get that angry over a silly video game. Yes, he had been drinking, but to get to the point of threats just seemed a bit excessive.

I walked out of the room, ready to call it a night since we had an early morning awaiting us. Just as I turned left to head back to my room, Dalton came running after me, calling for me to slow down.

"Let me walk you back."

I turned and looked back at him.

"I'm just up the stairs. You don't need to walk me back."

"Yes I do. After Allen's little outburst, I feel the need to. I'm really sorry about that."

I didn't put up any more of an argument. He was right. Allen acted like a complete psycho in the room.

"What are you sorry about? That wasn't you talking like that."

"I know. But he was there, in my room. I've known him since bootcamp, and from what I gather he hates that women are in the Marine Corps. I'm not sure why he chose Communications since there are women in this field. He probably should have gone Infantry or something, where women aren't allowed."

"Yeah, well I don't care what his deal is. As long as he stays away from me, we'll be fine," I calmly replied, hoping I wouldn't have to deal with Allen very often.

"Well, thanks for coming. Sorry you were the only female. I thought Ruiz was going to come over."

"I thought so, too," I said, pulling out my key and unlocking the door to my room. I looked inside and found the room empty. Wherever Angelica went, she’d left me hanging for the night, probably still angry with whatever it was that Jensen had said to her earlier in the day.

"I guess I'll see you in the morning."

"Yeah, ready to run," he replied much too enthusiastically.

"Don't remind me. I hate running," I said, making a face that made Dalton laugh hysterically.

"See you in the morning."

"Yeah. See ya."

I stepped into my room and shut the door behind me. Allen’s demeanor from earlier in the evening rattled my nerves a bit. I just wanted to fall asleep and forget about the fact that Angelica completely ditched me and that another Marine all but wanted to kick my ass over a stupid video game. This day was one that I couldn't wait to drift away from, in hopes of the next one being much, much better.

0445 came much too soon. My screeching alarm clock jolted me out of bed, making me painfully aware of what was awaiting me. The PFT had never been a favorite of mine. I always scored well, but the process was tortuous, and running long distances was not my strong suit.

I looked over to Angelica's bed to find her sound asleep. The noise of the alarm seemed to have had little effect on her. I made my way back to the bathroom and quickly washed my face and brushed my teeth, before pulling my hair back into my quintessential bun. By the time I made my way out of the bathroom, Angelica was up and moving about. We both got dressed in our PT gear, an awkward silence filling the room. The tension filling the space could have been sliced with a fingernail. I was a bit annoyed that she hadn't come by Dalton's room last night like she'd said, leaving me as the sole female in attendance.

"Hey, sorry about last night. I needed to blow some steam," she quietly said, making her way to the bathroom.

"No biggie. I had a good time anyway. Where'd you go?"

"That's good. I took my binder and went to the food court for a small dinner and study session." She rubbed a towel over her face, turning to look back at me. "I saw Sgt. Cruz there. He was with Sgt. Castillo and they were out of uniform. I think they were on a date." A slight grin caressed her lips and a twinkle went off in her eyes. For some strange reason, it made goose bumps pop up all over my arms.

"Well, he is entitled to that," I responded, not wanting her to see that the bit of news had definitely pinched a nerve.

"Yes. That he is. Just thought you'd want to know. He seems like a playboy, so I hope you're serious about wanting to stay away from him."

The faux smile she gave me while walking back to her bed and putting on her running shoes was boiling my blood. I didn't have any claim to Cruz, but for some reason hearing that he was out with someone else was turning me a deep shade of green—green with absolute envy.

"You just worry about you, Angelica. I've got me taken care of."

I walked out of the room, letting the fresh, warm morning air steal my breath like a thief in the night. I wasn't sure if I would ever get used to such a dry climate.

Angelica was presenting herself as a challenge. Even her apology came with some snide comment or rude retort. It was becoming blatantly obvious that I would have to limit my time around her if I wanted to keep my composure.

Standing before all of the PT gear clad instructors in the wee hours of the morning, we were led over to the pull-up bars. Dalton came up behind me, placing his hand on my shoulder.

"You ready?" he asked with a smile that could have lit up the dusky, morning sky.

"I guess so," I responded, giving him my first genuine smile of the morning. He was about to say something more, when I heard the deep rumble of Sgt. Cruz's voice bellowing out to the crowd.

"Good morning, Radio and Data," he said, looking around the group and never once loosening the tense muscles that held the scowl on his face. "We are starting your morning out with your preliminary PFT. Males will go to the left, females to the right. You should all be aiming for a first class PFT today."

I watched the Adam's apple in his throat protrude with every word he spoke. Thoughts of running my tongue over and around it bombarded me, taking me away for a minute before I regained my focus.

"Males will be performing pull-ups, females will be performing the flexed arm hang. Males, you will start with your body at a dead hang, your chin must pass the bar, and you must come back down to a dead hang for each pull up to count. Aim to max out at twenty." He moved aside and out came a female instructor that I had not yet met.

"I am Corporal Collins, and I work in the Data section. Females, your flexed arm hang, unlike the male pull-ups, is timed. You are to start with your chin above the bar. The time will stop when your arms become fully extended. Aim to hold your body up for seventy seconds for maximum points."

As soon as she was finished speaking, Sgt. Jensen stepped out, giving the order for us to move to our respective sides. As I moved to the female line, Cruz's eyes landed on me, narrowing into dark little slits the longer we were eye locked on one another. Prickles began coating my arms, even though it was probably about eighty degrees out in the desert already. Castillo walked up behind him, tapping him on the shoulder, which effectively broke our stare. She whispered something to him, making him nod as he strode away. I looked back to find her eyes on me, inquisition laced throughout like she was trying to figure me out. The moment turned awkward in a heartbeat, so I turned my head back around and made my way into my line to start my PFT.

Angelica was one of the first to jump up onto the bar, hanging for a full minute before the weight of her own body gave way and her arms were fully extended. She let go of the bar, dropping to the ground yelling, "Shit!" as she angrily rubbed her moist hands on her t-shirt.

"Good job, Ruiz," Collins said to her, prompting Angelica to give a very tightened response of thank you.

After a few more females, it was finally my turn. I looked around before stating my rank and name, waiting to be given the all clear to get up on the bar. Just as Cpl. Collins gave the go ahead, I looked around and my eyes landed on Cruz, who was standing about fifty feet away, arms locked over his chest, eyes focused with his expressionless face fixated on me. My nerves began to jumble as I gripped the bar, trying hard to steady my weight when the weight of his gaze on me seemed like it was pressing me down.