6

"You may sit down, Ms. Lorenzo but remember lady, the next time you sleep in my class you're going to meet yourself in the detention room for the entire day." I shrugged once then another shrug without thinking.

I went to sit down down with a hurting back.

The laughter of my classmates had by now turned into a noises as they continued to mind their own business.

Simply looking around them at the paper balls been thrown and passed around, the gossips and noises, I realized something; Mrs Colter still has a lot to do on them but seems I'm the only one she's seeing.

What a luck?

The bell finally rung, a piercing sound that jolted me out of my seat. I was on my feet before anyone else, pushing me forward and I didn't even bother gathering my things gently, just shoved my books into my backpack and bolted for the door.

By the time the classroom emptied, I was already weaving through the hallway fucking constantly just as not to collide with anyone.

The many guards stationed at the end of the corridor, were still distracted by the exodus. It was my chance, a rare one.

It's one guard per five students, sometimes they can be switched. A reason I'm not letting mine to find me and return me to the dorm just yet.

I have these precious few minutes to myself before the guard can catchb with me.

I ducked into a side corridor a narrow passage leading to the Academy kitchen.

The air is filled with of tasty foods, something more promised than the bland, tasteless gruel half of us are always served in the dining hall.

"Hey, you! Where do you think you're going?" A voice barked behind me.

I whirled around, and blinked twice against my lost of words. I can't even go anywhere for a second without been seen?

It was a guard- not mine, his face contorted in a scowl and I wanted to face palm myself.

"Just getting some water, any issue?" He muttered and he looked back at me to catch me still waiting.

"You better not be trying anything." He warned, his hand hovering over the taser strapped to his belt.

"I never said I want to." I retorted uncaringly.

He grunted and turned away, his gaze scanning the hallway for whoever he's still looking for. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.

I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep this shit up but I had to try.

I slipped into the kitchen my eyes scanning the different dishes and right at the face of the chefs I snatched a cup cake from the tray and hummed as I ate. The sweetest food have eaten in a while.

I devoured a new pastry in two bites, savoring every crumb and the taste was likewise heavenly.

As I finished, I heard the same guard's voice coming from the doorway. "What do you think you're doing, even if you want to steal you couldn't have done it moderately?"

I froze and blinked, the cinnamon roll halfway to my mouth. I had been caught,

"I'm hungry as you can see. You expect me to die of hunger or my parents didn't at least pay for the meal? This is the only place where I can find something decent to eat for goodness sake so leave me alone, you aren't even my guard." I lifted one shoulder in a small approving shrug.

"You think this is a playground? or your home?"

I shook my head with a laugh. Is he for real?

"You guys knew this wasn't my home before bringing me the fuck here. Don't piss me off, Mr. guard."

He looked like he wanted to speak something harsh or worse charge at me but he retreated. "Five minutes is all I give you to return to your dorm."

I waved him off my missing not missing the eye roll he threw at me before he left.

I ate to my heart's content crushing down whatever meets with my hands, and it was surpringly how the chefs spoke no word to me till I left..

As I walked away the scent from the kitchen lingered at the back of my mind. How can they be so mean to me when such a good food exist around. No doubt, I'll be coming here frequently now.

~

I squinted at the calendar hanging by the wall the date staring back at me. "March 15th," I muttered to myself, "How much longer, exactly, before I can finally breathe free air again and be back at my damn house?"

I shoved the calendar back into its frame, a sigh escaping my lips. Another day in this prison academy. My eyes drifted to the clock, plain bored.

Suddenly, I collided with something or rather someone and I stumbled back, a gasp escaping my lips.

"Oh my god! I am so sorry!" I exclaimed, my eyes widening as I realized what I had done but looking up at the person's face, I snickered.

The cheerleader- Erica- for that’s who she was, with her perfectly coiffed hair and perfectly painted lips, stared at me with a raised eyebrow, her painted manicured nails eying me.

"Watch where you're going, girl!" she spat, pushing me aside with a disdainful flick of her wrist that I almost stumbled.

I wasn’t the one who decided to be the embodiment of perfection and I wasn’t the one who decided to spend our lunch break gossiping about the latest fling in the academy but she's here putting the frustration on me?

"And you could maybe try being a little more…considerate. You think I'm a push over? There's a whole world out there, you know. One that doesn't revolve around pom-poms and popularity. If I wasn't so considerate I can push you also."

A stunned silence followed on her makeup face for the first time which cracked with surprise. I get that from my parents too.

“Well, I guess you have a point. But don't think for a second that I'm going to be nice to you just because you're a know-it-all."

"I apologized when though we both own the blame and now what? You think that will have me taking insults from you? It's not my fault you seem to have a problem with me already." I said although I'm far too drained from this conversation but she asked for it.

"You don't know what you're saying, trust me." She clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and shook her head.

The bell rang cutting through the conversation. It was the signal for the end of the day, and for us to return to our separate rooms.

Erica and I exchanged a bitter look before we went our separate ways.