Chapter Text
Cassie and Luke have known each other since their first day at kindergarten, they have been through a lot side by side.
When the girl needed a space to stay away from the chaos at her home, Luke was happy to welcome her. When the boy's mom died from cancer, Cassie was there for him.
Cassie was also aware about Luke’s addiction problems, and she didn’t know how to help her friend. So when Jacob Morrow sends his son to rehab she tries to visit him but his father never gives her a chance to do it.
Once Luke was out he came to Cassie’s house to tell her that he was joining the Marine Corps with one of their friends from school, Frankie Mubuthia.
Salazar was happy that her friend found a purpose to his life but at the same time she was worried for him because she knows too well that being a Marine is a risky job.
For eight months Luke and Cassie didn’t see each other or even have a simple conversation on the phone, the Marine told her that if she only say a word he would give up everything for and also he wanted her best friend to be proud of him.
The one thing he didn’t know, is that Cassie is already proud of her friend.
Oceanside, San Diego County, California, USA.
POV Cassie Salazar
Good times never seemed so good
So good, so good, so good
Crowd cherring
“My name is Cassie and we are The Loyals”
Billy unplugs the multiple shot of the scene.
“Dude, that was your request. And give it up for Billy, the owner who apparently really meant it when he said only two songs. Oh, and please don’t forget to tip your servers, cause, PS, we are also your servers.”
We leave the stage and I take my apron back to serve the customers.
“Bye, guys. That was awesome” I say to my fellow performers.
“See you tomorrow.” And then they leave the place.
“Look, Cassie, it’s your faves” Nora says to me while she pointe some thing in my back.
I turn around and see a group of Marines coming into the bar.
“Oh, great. Marines. Mild to medium harassment by nine, chaotic evil by ten.”
I give them another look without paying too much attention .
“Hey stranger” Say a familiar voice.
I give them another look without paying too much attention, and then I see him, my best childhood friend.
“Cass !”
“No. Luke ?”
“Cass ?”
“Stop.”
“Hey”
“Luke !”
“Suprise”
“I missed you, you freak.”
“I missed you too, Salazar.”
“Oh my God. Look at the buzz. No, I’m not okay with this at all.”
I turn to Nora to introduce her to my old friend.
“Uh Nora, Luke. Luke, Nora.”
“Nice to meet you”
They checks hands.
“Nora, they’re in The Loyals with me. Luke, we grew up together, and I was his babysitter.”
“Okay. Okay. Don’t say that in front of everybody.” Say Luke to me.
“Baby-faced Luke,” said one of his Marine friends.
“You see what you did ?”
Everyone is laughing about what I just said.
“Cassie was just telling how much she loves military boys.” Says Nora next to me.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
“Mmm”
“Uh, these are the guys. We’ve two weeks ‘til we ship out to Iraq.”
“We’re still in Iraq ?”
“Not out yet.”
“Another war that never ends. In that case, what do you guys wanna drink ? First one’s in the house.”
I take the orders, then I go to the bar while Nora stays with the Marine group. Luke had missed me so much, eight months without any news from him is too long, especially if he leaves soon for his first external mission.
I come back with the drinks from the guys and one of them makes a remark that doesn’t pass at all, so I walk away from the group to go back to the counter. I feel Luke glancing at me but he doesn’t come to me. He knows that this kind of misogynistic remark irritates me to the point that I could break everything around me, so I take it upon myself and continue my work as if nothing had happened.
Moments later, Luke joins me at the counter to excuse the behavior of his roommate.
“Cass, I’m so sorry for Armando, he is a dumb. You know, with our deployment in two weeks, we’re all under a little bit of strain, we just want to have a quiet night, okay.”
Is he really defending this guy instead of me? Like all these years of knowing each other means nothing.
“No, Luke, your deployment in Iraq doesn’t excuse his misogynist remark on my butt. I do understand that the next weeks are not going to be easy for you guys, but what your friend just said is unappropriate”
I walk away from him to meet Nora on the other side, but he calls me again.
“Cass, come on please. Don’t be ….”
“Don’t be what, Luke ? Don’t be so offended, your buddy just talked about the fact that he’s allowed to touch my ass. I’m sorry, Luke, but you know me to know that this kind of guy doesn’t deserve an ounce of respect, or even my attention. And you stand up for him? It’s okay I’ve had my fix for tonight, see you later Morrow, have a good night with your buddies."
Then I’m gonna meet Nora on the other side of the counter.
“Or they’ll skip straight to chaotic evil.”
“You see the guy that looks like he’s 12 years old ? He told me that I should reconsider my stance on men, because if I marry him, I would get incredible health insurance.”
“Wow. Health Insurance. That’s some dirty talk right there.
“So hot”
We laugh but my phone rings interrupt us. I’ll ask my friend to cover me for the next five minutes. I go to my car to check my glucose and get a shot of insulin.
I’m out of insulin, I have to pay the rent of my apartment and my mom thinks she didn't do things right with me by the way I live. I don’t know what to do. I'm so tired but in a minute I have to be on stage with my friends, so I won’t cry about my fate.
So here I am on stage singing Feel it still .
Am coming out of left field ?
Ooh, I’m a rebel just for your kicks, now
But it’s 1996, now
Might be over now, but I feel it still
We could fight a war for peace
Is it coming ? Is it coming ?
Breath …..
I cant breath normally
The air …. is …. ooh
The air is suffocating me.
I need air right now.
Is it coming ?
Oh ‘til it falls, won’t bother me
Nora continues to sing while I get off the stage because of my dizziness. My view is blurry but I find my way to the counter and ask for my bag. I need an insulin shot right now.
I am in the bathroom of Billy’s bar, on the floor and it’s official I am out of insulin.
After a few minutes, my eyesight improves and I can finally see clearly.
Sitting on the bathroom floor my eyes are now staring at the mirror in front of me, it has the Marine Corps emblem on it.
And the words of Nora come back in my mind.
“ …. He told me that I should reconsider my stance on men, because if I marry him, I would get incredible health insurance.”
Damn it Luke’s friend, you are my hero.
This morning I got up off my bed with the determination to ask one question to my best friend. He texted me after my shift the night we met that he was crashing at Frankie’s house. I also met him in kindergarten, no one could separate us when we were young, people used to call us the Three Musketeers.
So here I am knocking at my friend’s door, Frankie is the one who opens to me.
“Hey Cassie what’s up ? Come on in, it's so good to see you.”
I hug him and go inside the house.
“Wow dude, your mom knows how to decorate her living room.”
“Well you know her, plus tomorrow we have to go back on base so she is getting a little emotional. So what are you doing here ? Not that I am not happy to see but you didn’t call”
I was about to answer him but Luke came at the exact moment in the room.
“She came to see my brother, sorry. Hey, how’s it going?” The Marine asks me while he hugs me.
“Hey, it’s okay”
“Uh Frankie can you give…”
“I’ll be in my room if you guys need me.”
Now that our friend is no longer with us, I am free to ask Luke the ultimate question.
“Do you want something to eat or drink?”
I politely decline his offer and waste no time.
“So what’s the big question, girl ?”
“It’s, uh… It’s gonna sound a little crazy.”
“I’m ready”
“I was wondering …. I was hoping that you might marry me.”
Like I was expecting, he is laughing about my proposition.
“I’m serious.”
He keeps laughing and asks me if I am okay.
“Not exactly. Um … I found out six months ago that I have diagnosed diabetes. Type I. And, uh … Get this. Uh, the insurance I have doesn’t actually cover the insulin that I need to live. So I can either pay off my debt, or pay my rent, I just can’t do both.”
“I’m so sorry Cassie”
“And I’m like there’s gotta be another way, right ? Turns out there is. Your friend gave me the idea when you guys came to the bar. Marine spouses get full health benefits. And we get extra pay just for being married. Like basic housing allowance and separation pay, which adds up to be pretty decent, and we could split it, and everybody wins. What do you think ?”
Luke doesn’t say a word, well I was expecting that kind of reaction.
“Take your time. But it could work.”
"I don’t know Cassie, it’s literally ripping off the government and you know how I feel about that. Also, remember that my father was in the military police, he still has contacts, and if he finds out about this, the weak relationship I have with him will be over.”
He is making a point and I do know how his relation with his father is fragil. So I am not insisting and I decide it’s time for me to leave the place.
“Cass you know if there was another way I would help you with no hesitation but this …”
“I know, don’t worry I will figure out”
We hug and I tell him to stay safe until his deployment.
“See you soon Morrow”
“You too Salazar”
And then I leave Frankie’s house.
A week later I am woken up by a message from Luke saying to meet him at a restaurant, and that he is going to marry me. His text was short, direct and also kind of suspicious, because after what he said on his father I was so sure he wouldn't change his mind. But now I can assume I was wrong.
“Hi”
“Hi”
“Thanks for meeting with me”
I can see that he is not comfortable at all and it’s kind of funny.
“You’re acting kinda sus.”
“Yeah. Well, if we do this, if …. We need to be very careful. All right ? We need a story. You and I have known each other for years and we never date or even kiss so ....”
“You forgot in 7th grade at Riley’s birthday party, but thanks I’m guessing my kisses are not memorable.”
“ You know that’s not what I mean and plus you remember perfectly what I told right after that kiss”
Yeah I do, I always do.
“So right after we saw each other in the bar I decided to text you and invited you to the restaurant. The next night I finally ask you to go out with me. Since then we spend every day together and because we repressed our feelings for too long, we decided to get married before I left for Iraq.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just gonna need to explain myself, because a week ago you were lecturing me on how this is fraud, so …..”
“It’s fraud, I don’t wanna do this.”
“Okay, so …. don’t. I am not forcing you to do it.”
“Believe me. If I had any other choice, I wouldn’t be.”
“Why don’t you have another choice ? I'm curious to know why.”
“How’s that your business ?”
“I don’t know, maybe because I am possibly about to marry and also I’m your best friend dude. Why ?”
“I need the extra two grand a month married guys get.”
“That’s it ? And I’m supposed to trust you on that ?”
“That’s the least you can do especially since I am also doing this for you.”
I’m laught, please, does he really believe that he is kind of a knight who came here to save my ass.
“Oh please you know that I don’t have blind obedience, I have an ethical code and I desperately need the assurance to literally survive. Whereas you could, I don’t know, stockpiling supplies for your bro-militia.”
He gets up and starts to leave the place whispering that all this thing was a huge mistake.
And then he turns to me to say.
“I thought you know me better than that Salazar, I guess I was wrong.”
He is almost at the door when I call him.
“Luke.”
“Bro-militia”
“Liberal nut”
“Luke !”
“What ?”
I sigh before I answer.
“Look, I don’t know if I can trust you on this.”
“No shit.”
“But you are solid. So …. I’m sorry, okay ? Please.”
“Listen. I need you to know what you’re getting yourself into. If we’re caught, I get court-martialed. As in, arrested and maybe doing time.”
“Okay.”
“Look, this is already gonna be a shotgun wedding. We’re gonna be on their radar. So, once I get over there, to Iraq, we’ve …. we’ve got to just, like, set up consistent times where we are gonna speak, okay ? We gotta make this look normal, like a real marriage.”
I nod my head to tell that I understand.
“We’d have to write some romantic emails in case somebody read them. We just have to keep it tight for my tour. And once I’m back here, we file for divorce and pursue our life separately as best friends. And that gives you a year free of health insurance. And we can split the cash down the middle. Yeah ?”
“Great”
“And one more small thing. I deploy Friday morning. We’d also have to go out with my company. Act like we ….
“ Like we are interesting in each other”
He laughs.
“Yeah, more than that. Like, love each other. And, um …. So, all married couples spend the night at this motel near base. It means we would have to.”
“Super. So, are we out of “if” territory ? Are we doing this ?”
“Yeah. Yeah, we’re doing this. But you can’t tell anybody that doesn't need to know. You have to promise.”
“I promise. In fact, I pinky swear.”
“No, I’m not doing that.”
“We’re getting married, man.”
Our little fingers join to signify the pact we have just made.
“I’ll text you” says Luke before leaving the restaurant and let me all by myself.
And the big day is here, where Luke and I are gonna be husband and wife.
Luke just text me that he is here, waiting for me downstairs.
So I hurry up and close my door and then start walking down the stairs when his familiar voice calls me.
“No.”
“What ?”
“You can’t wear that.”
“Why ?”
“Because we’re taking wedding photos. You have to dress a certain way”
“Really ?”
“No. I’m coming up.”
Then he goes up to meet me on my floor.
“There’s no fluffy virgin white wedding in there, Commando.”
“Stop calling me like that.”
Even though we have been friends for a long time, we always have certain points of difference between our different opinions on any subject of society. This does not prevent our friendship from being solid, some said that we will grow old together, which seems strange. Others said that one day we would realize that our respective feelings are more than friendly. People are so dreamers, they can’t face reality. There was even a time when my own mother thought the same thing as them.
“You know the place, make yourself comfortable.”
“Do you still play ?”
“No, it’s just to impress the other guys. I’m a musician, remember, the band and I have been working at it for like five years. You even came to one of our concert”
“Yeah I remember, I hope you are still good at it like in my memories. That’s gotta be rought.”
“Rought would be punching the clock at some soul-sucking job while I’m just making the rich richer. I’d rather hustle for my art any day.”
I start changing clothes, when I feel a look on me. I turn to see Luke look away from me.
“Uh ….”
“Uh, hi”
he walks away a little bit.
“So, what does the tattoo say ? “Socialism Now” ? “
I laugh.
“You’re very clever. No, it 's say … “ Quien no arriesga no gana ”. “
“Someone, something, I …”
“Risk nothing, gain nothing. It’s something my grandma said to my mom when she moved to America.”
Once I put on my outfit I open the doors of my room
“Hello, my prince. Today is the day that our credit scores shall become intertwined.”
He looks at me with an air I could not describe, but we do not have time to continue this game of contemplation because we are expected at the city hall.
I didn’t tell him but Luke looks very handsome in his uniform and I really like it. He is so proud to serve his country, like I am proud of him. I just hope that this little contrat between us won’t change our relationship. I care too much about him.
Here we are on the road to San Diego. Luke didn’t want to risk one of us being recognized at Oceanside, so fifty minutes later I park in front of this building that pretty much reflects everything I despise about my country.
We get out of my car and we’re headed for the death of our single life, or at least for the next six months.
“You know, you really look the part.”
“What does that mean ?”
“You look pretty.”
“Your blushing bride.”
Frankie is waiting for us inside, he doesn't know about our little settling and it’s better this way. I opened my arms to my friend to thank him for being our witness today.
“Hi. Thank you for coming.”
“Of course”
Suddenly a question comes up in my mind.
“Oh, did you get rings ?”
“Uh ….”
“Here.”
“Oh my God, you bought a real ring ?”
“Well …”
“Me. I did”
“What ?”
“I got it for Riley. I’ve been saving up since I enlisted.”
“Frankie. No, I can’t accept this.”
“I didn’t wanna ask her now and then just ship out. Like, I wanna be her husband. You know, do it right. And Mom wants me to wait ‘till I’m 21, when I get back, so, uh …. Just keep it warm for me.”
And then we call us, it's our time.
“Luke Morrow and Casandra Salazar.”
“Shit”
In front of the ministerI feel like shit, I really realize what a sneaky adventure I’m embarking on.
“We are gathered here today to join you two together in lawful matrimony. And your witness today ?”
“Frankie.”
“That’s me. How ya doing ?”
“Hi, Frankie.”
“Hiya.”
“Luke Morrow, do you pledge to love this woman, to be true and loyal to her, and to comfort and keep her in sickness and in health ?”
“I do” says my best friend with a ton of solemnity in his voice.
“Casandra Salazar, do you pledge to love this man, to be true and loyal to him, and to comfort and keep him in sickness and in health ? “
“I do.”
My voice is assured, it does not tremble. Despite all these confused feelings in me.
“By the power vested in me by the great Station of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
The feeling of the ring on my finger makes me shudder a little when Luke puts it on me. His hand trembles feebly but his confident look makes me forget.
Then when we face each other, our eyes cross, the uncertainty can be seen in our eyes. None of us move until the pastor speaks again.
Holy shit we are married.
“You may kiss the bride.”
Our lips seal our (false) union, the kiss has nothing to do with the one we exchanged when we were children.
Some feelings are mixed, such as fear and discomfort. As I remember Luke’s lips are fine and soft, when he moves away I feel like I’ve been given a big blast of air.
“Congratulations.”
POV Luke Morrow
When I put on my Marine uniform, I realized that today I’m going to marry my best friend. I know a lot of people would want to say that, including me. I’ve known Cassie for so long, she’s always been there for me. When my mother succumbed to her cancer she was by my side, when I went to rehab I knew she wanted to visit me but my father forbade her. She doesn’t know I know that, Jake told me that on one of his visits.
Cassie Salazar is the best friend everyone would like to have, she is just amazing. And today I will marry her, normally I should be happy, but given the circumstances of our express marriage I keep my smile to myself. Once I get on the bus to go to Cassie’s, I can feel some looks on me, it’s not a problem but a little disturbing. I just feel like a freak in costume. I wasn’t going to wear a simple suit, one because I know it’s chic and also because I’m proud to have joined the Marine Corps. Finally arriving at my friend’s address, I sent her a message to notify her of my presence.
When I see her leaving her apartment, I think I’m hallucinating.
“No.”
She’s wearing simple shorts and a white blouse, but I’m dreaming.
“What ?”
“You can’t wear that.”
“Why ?”
“Because we’re taking wedding photos. You have to dress a certain way”
“Really ?”
“No. I’m coming up.”
Then he goes up to meet me on my floor.
“There’s no fluffy virgin white wedding in there, Commando.”
“Stop calling me like that.”
Closing the door behind me I can feel that I am well at Cassie Salazar, the elements of decorations, everything in this apartment is a reflection of her.
“You know the place, make yourself comfortable.”
And of course, his piano and his guitar.
“Do you still play ?”
“No, it’s just to impress the other guys. I’m a musician, remember, the band and I have been working at it for like five years. You even came to one of our concert”
“Yeah I remember, I hope you are still good at it like in my memories. That’s gotta be rought.”
“Rought would be punching the clock at some soul-sucking job while I’m just making the rich richer. I’d rather hustle for my art any day.”
I start changing clothes, when I feel a look on me. I turn to see Luke look away from me.
“Uh ….”
“Uh, hi”
I walked away a little bit.
“So, what does the tattoo say ? “Socialism Now” ? “
I laugh.
“You’re very clever. No, it 's say … “ Quien no arriesga no gana ”. “
“Someone, something, I …”
“Risk nothing, gain nothing. It’s something my grandma said to my mom when she moved to America.”
The squeaking of the door tells me that I can finally turn around.
She’s just beautiful, this dress fits her perfectly. I can’t find the words to describe her, and yet this is not the first time Cassie has left me speechless.
I do not know whether I should say something or not, but I do not have time because she is speaking before any words escape from my lips.
“Hello, my prince. Today is the day that our credit scores shall become intertwined.”
After this romantic commentary, we go to his car to go to the San Diego Civil Administration.
I just hope that this little contrat between us won’t change our relationship. I care too much about her.
Here we are on the road to San Diego.
We get out of my car and we’re headed for the death of our single life, or at least for the next six months.
“You know, you really look the part.”
“What does that mean ?”
“You look pretty.”
“Your blushing bride.”
Frankie is waiting for us inside, he doesn't know about our little settling and it’s better this way. Cassie opened her arms to our friend to thank him for being our witness today.
“Hi. Thank you for coming.”
“Of course”
Suddenly a question comes up in my mind.
“Oh, did you get rings ?”
“Uh ….”
“Here.”
“Oh my God, you bought a real ring ?”
“Well …”
“Me. I did”
“What ?”
“I got it for Riley. I’ve been saving up since I enlisted.”
“Frankie. No, I can’t accept this.”
“I didn’t wanna ask her now and then just ship out. Like, I wanna be her husband. You know, do it right. And Mom wants me to wait ‘till I’m 21, when I get back, so, uh …. Just keep it warm for me.”
And then we call us, it's our time.
“Luke Morrow and Casandra Salazar.”
“Shit”
The moment I dreaded is coming, we are facing the pastor and my heart has never beat so fast.
“We are gathered here today to join you two together in lawful matrimony. And your witness today ?”
“Frankie.”
“That’s me. How ya doing ?”
“Hi, Frankie.”
“Hiya.”
“Luke Morrow, do you pledge to love this woman, to be true and loyal to her, and to comfort and keep her in sickness and in health ?”
“I do” says my best friend with a ton of solemnity in his voice.
“Casandra Salazar, do you pledge to love this man, to be true and loyal to him, and to comfort and keep him in sickness and in health ? “
“I do.”
My voice is assured, it does not tremble. Despite all these confused feelings in me.
“By the power vested in me by the great Station of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
This word.
My wife.
Cassie Salazar is my wife, for better or for worse.
When our eyes cross, I instantly plunge mine into her, I almost forget the world around us.
And it hit me, we’re married. My best childhood friend and I are husband and wife.
Holy shit we are married.
We could have stayed like this all day if the pastor hadn’t intervened.
“You may kiss the bride.”
Our lips seal our (false) union, the kiss has nothing to do with the one we exchanged when we were children.
Some feelings are mixed, such as fear and discomfort. As I remember Cassie’s lips are fine and soft, when she moves away I feel like I’ve been given a big blast of air.
“Congratulations.”