Chapter 125: First Time was at an Army Party 002

Quickly Jeremiah wrapped an arm around the back of my neck and pulled me in close, "That's my job, son. I organized basketball and football games but I couldn't do a party like this in Iraq, you know, the rules, but now that we're back, I want those that did not have a chance to get out and have some fun. Now myself, my family lives in Louisiana and I love my momma but I don't want to go home right now, it's personal, but you, why are you here?"

"I can't make it home and back in forty-eight hours," dipping my head in disappointment.

Jeremiah curled his arm and said, "No worries. I feel ya. Tonight you're gonna get to meet some people, some fine ladies and get to hang loose."

I sure hoped for it. Even though I could not drink it was still a nice chance to meet a girl. I did not bother to change my uniform. Jeremiah made no mention of it still and I hoped that there would be no officers, but then remembered that the only officers that came back with us were married thus were long gone by now.

As the minutes slowly ticked by everything was in place. According to the plan no one was allowed in until after 2200 hours, or ten o'clock and the doors closed at 2300 or 11. Looking at his watch constantly Jeremiah saw it tick closer to 10. The doors were closed to avoid any wandering eyes from seeing what was being done.

At the moment it was just us guys and I looked about and realized that all of the coolers had only beer, no water, Gatorade, hard liquor, just beer that he had bought in bulk and when it sank into my mind that we needed to correct this it turned ten o' clock and Jeremiah told me to unlock the doors. Pulling them open there were people already waiting there and seeing their faces I tried to smile but I was so shy that my cheeks turned beet red and I shied away.

The first people through were in civvies, or civilian clothing, and seeing me in uniform they were confused but Jeremiah beckoned them in then the next few people came in were also in uniform, some woodland camo others in desert, this was before the Velcro studded ACU uniform came out. It was against military regulations, but Jeremiah did not care and apparently neither did the people coming in wearing them. Sometime around ten-thirty the largest influx of people arrived and I could not see all of their faces then, at precisely eleven, the doors were closed and locked; no one was allowed in.

Walking towards a spot next to the stereo equipment Jeremiah took up a microphone and rapped his fingers to make sure that he could be heard, "Everyone!" their heads turned towards him, "I wanna thank you all for coming. I know that it's been very stressful coming back but let's not worry about that right now. Let's have some fun! Now remember, there are to be no cameras at all. No cell phones, no video cameras, we do not want anything that could be leaked about this."

He was holding people to their honor system, a rather tall order, but he did not sink to the point of searching everyone when they entered. Jeremiah went on, "And remember; what happens here...." thrusting his microphone towards the crowd.

"Stays here!" they finished.

The lights were dimmed significantly to the point that I could barely make out their faces unless they were nose to nose with me, even then they were strangers. I did not know most outside of my platoon and being so incredibly shy I sulked to a corner and waited as the first song came on.

It was a techno remix with a very rapid beat and the room echoed because of the acoustics that made my ears ache to the point I covered them with my hands and tried to find a safe place to wait it out. Being alone and seeing everyone have their fun I did not know why I was there any more. It was dark, the air was foul already with so many people crowded into this room, must have been beyond the occupancy limit, and people were coughing, spitting, cracking open beers and dancing rather freely.

Taking my hands off the ears they still rang but I started to walk through the dark crowd to keep myself occupied. With the dim lights Jeremiah had hooked up a strobe light that began kicking in with the music; when it reached a beat a blue light would flash for an instant illuminating the faces around me then have it disappear.

I did not have a watch so I could not tell how long the first song lasted but then it changed into an R&B.

Gently pushing through the crowd I was trying to keep busy, there were girls there having a good time but I could not force up enough courage to approach them and ask even a simple question or even to say 'hello.' I saw a couple kissing with the girl pressed against the wall and I shied away and kept going rather aimlessly and found the doors to the room when someone bumped in front of me and recoiled slightly.

"Oh, I'm sorry" I said and a voice replied the same.

It was almost impossible to see the person's face when the lights slightly flared up as Jeremiah had the discs changed and I was able to see who it was, a pretty looking woman, in desert dress, with long strawberry blonde hair tied up in a bun behind her head and I could see a dark hair line that formed a zigzag pattern that went from the front of her hairline on the right and went to the back. I stood at 5'10" and her eyes were at my nose meaning she was 5"6" and very cheery announcing, "Hi, I'm Samantha," offering her hand to shake which I took.

"I'm Cole."

"Hi, Cole, you having fun?"

"Oh yes, lots" to tell the truth my ears were aching from the music, the heat was building up inside this room and I was nervous being hemmed in with so many in this place but in seeing Samantha I tried to stay focused on her. I did not mention that she was still in uniform and neither did she.

She asked, "How did you hear about this party?"

"Sergeant Jeremiah told me," I replied having to raise my voice a bit as the music came back on.

Jerking her head back towards him as Jeremiah stepped from around the stereo system then back towards me, "Yeah, he's a good guy. I enjoy his 'parties,'" she replied. After a moment the music started to lessen in volume thus I could hear better but people were still dancing and drinking all around us. We slowly migrated towards the closed doors to get some space. She looked up at my face, "What company are you with?"

"Bravo-Third platoon"

"Oh, that's a good one. I'm with HHC," meaning headquarters company.

"What do you do there?" I asked.

"Squad leader" she replied.

My body immediately tensed up to the flexibility of a plank of wood. Oh my god a sergeant. I am going to get smoked for breaking regulations but she seemed to notice and chuckled reaching out and gently placed long, slender, fingers on my left bicep, "Relax, you're cool. I'm here to relax. Try to picture me without this uniform and stripes."

My eyes widened to the size of saucers and again she tapped the same arm, "You're so bad," teasingly.