THE HEART WON’T LIE

My story behind the music video.

Ellie Sampson stepped off the big yellow bus, scared and confused. She looked left and right at the school she was at.

“What was I thinking?” She wondered aloud.

“What was that, cadet?” Someone barked. She raised her eyes to look at the six foot tall man above her. Black hair, broad shoulders, deep blue eyes... he was beautiful. He was dressed in all white, his medals and rank bars shined in the sun.

‘STOP!’ She yelled at herself. “Nothing, Sir!” She bellowed back, saluting stiffly.

“At ease. Name Please?” He asked. She stood at attention.

“Elise Sampson, Sir.” Ellie replied. He looked down at his clipboard.

“Women’s cabin 6.” He said. “Get moving”

“Sir, Yes Sir.” Ellie watched a group go marching by, then lugged her red duffle bag for a half a mile, to cabin six. This whole academy wasn’t as glamorous as the movies made it seem. It was a dirt path, that made her boots muddy.

The rickety door flew open as she stepped inside a cabin. Three women were inside, changing into stark white uniforms.

“Yours is on the bed.” One girl stated plainly. Ellie could tell she didn’t want to be here.

“Thanks” Ellie grabbed it. “I’m Ellie” The girls noticed her southern accent.

“Sarah” came a reply.

“Mel” Came another. Finally the girl who had spoken first introduced herself as Celeste. Ellie really was happy so far with her room-mates and didn’t find anything wrong with them. Suddenly Mel started a conversation as the four women laced their brand new boots.

“Did you see the general that checked us all in?” She asked.

“Oh, yes, General McPhearson...” Celeste had a dreamy look on her face.

“You guys, we’ve been here less then an hour, and you’re already infatuated with the general?” Sarah said, obviously disgusted. Ellie suddenly knew the only problem with her room mates. They liked him too.

The group in cabin six heard a horn blasting loudly. They knew, from pre-training, that this meant they were to gather in the mess hall. They tied a neat square knot on their boots, and trampled down the path.

Entering the mess hall was difficult. You had to be completely silent, which for Ellie, was a problem in itself, and you must sit with your cabin, at their assigned table. Your back can not touch the chair, you must chew your food 32 times. A slew of other rules existed as well. Ellie and her cabin mates entered as directed, and faced the front. General McPhearson stepped up.

“Your bedtime is 2100 hours. You will be awake at 0600 hours. You will be here at 0700 hours. No questions” He barked. “Cabins 1, 2 , 3 and 4 are under the command of General Lee.” a few snickers could be heard, at the name. “Not funny cadets!” His booming voice almost shook the building. “Cabins 5, 6, 7, and 8 are under my command.” Ellie heard no more after this.

After lunch was a conditioning session. The girls of cabin six showed up 2 minutes early. They stood at attention, as the general paced back and forth, picking out people to scoff at. He paced, and stopped right in front of Ellie. He stared into her eyes, and, as much pressure as it put on her, Ellie never broke the gaze.

“Your shoes are tied backwards cadet. Fix them!” He commanded. Ellie saluted.

“Sir, Yes Sir!” She yelled, and then kneeled down to re-tie them.

“Faster!” He scoffed louder. He had gotten to her, but she’d never show it.

“Sorry Sir!” She apologized. General McPhearson just moved on. He scolded the rest of the group for all their faults, but never took his eyes off Ellie. He captivated her. With her beautiful green eyes; her long, curly red hair; and her creamy white skin, he found himself lost in thoughts of her, but knew he had to fight the feelings he had for her. He could be fired if he had relations of any kind with his inferiors, or worse, she could give up her degree. Plus he didn’t even know if she had feelings back.

He shook himself from his thoughts, and sent the group on a run, up and down stairs, through the woods, through mud. 2 miles, and it has to be done in less then an hour. He never once thought it might be hard, because that wasn’t his issue. He watched Ellie run by him, and he had to stop himself from staring. She looked at him as she passed, giving him a glare of resentment. He was sure that the look meant she was hating him.

Ellie watched the ground the rest of the way. She was thinking about her superior officer. She knew nothing could happen between them, or she’d lose her chance at an education, or worse, she’d get him fired. But still, she couldn’t help thinking about those eyes, those deep blue eyes; and don’t even get her started about the black hair and broad shoulders. She wanted to get to know him, and knew behind that uniform, and tough outer shell, there was a sensitive, loving man waiting to get out, and she was determined to find him.

The 2 miles were finished for all in 45 minutes, and then they were told they’d have to do three miles in less then an hour the next day. The group marched back to their cabins, with black clouds moving in. They had an hour to change into alternate uniforms and get the uniforms they were wearing to the washing machines, for lunch the next day. They had six uniforms, breakfast uniform, lunch uniform, 2 training uniforms, dinner uniforms and dress whites.

Ellie was the first ready, and they heard the horn again. They all flocked to the mess hall, and entered as directed again. Dinner was served as General McPhearson again went over the rules for the newcomers.

“You must....” He went on. Ellie just looked at him. He paused in his speech and met her eyes for a long gaze, and almost forgot to start talking again. After his speech, he went to the restroom to mull over his thoughts.

‘Why am I so infatuated with her?’ He asked himself. ‘This has to stop, it just has to.’ He pounded his hand on the wall, as if to try to make himself forget. It didn’t work. It just made his hand hurt, and another general stare at him.

As Ellie counted how many times she chewed, she drove herself crazy inside her self. She was so drawn to this man, and she couldn’t figure out why. She had to shake this feeling. She just had to.

The dinner finished and taps played as the cadets marched silently back to their cabins to go to bed. The four women of cabin six chatted quietly.

“I caught him looking at me twice!” Mel squealed.

“I beat you with three!” Celeste purred. Sarah just sighed loudly.

“Give it a rest, he’ll never like you, he’s your superior.” Sarah said. The three girls kept talking while Ellie lie awake on her cot. The other women wondered why Ellie wasn’t talking, but none of them asked. Celeste was wondering, and whispered to the other girls.

“I think she has a past with him.” Celeste said slyly.

“I don’t think so.” Mel chimed in. “But I think she wants one.”

“I think you’re right.” Celeste said. Ellie heard every word, but didn’t say a thing. The girls made it sound like she was looking at every man in sight. It hurt her to have them talking behind her back, but she didn’t cry, she wouldn’t let them see that.