The Academy

Part One: Chapter Three

I take a large gulp of water, wiping the sweat beads off my forehead. It's The first week of August, yet it feels like mid-summer out here. At least we're almost done. Well, almost done for today. It's still day one.

After our warm-up, the instructors combined us with the men in our class, another fifty guys. They have their own four instructors, meaning there are eight special agents ordering around one hundred newbies. 

I am satisfied, though. I'm pretty sure today was just a test of our physical capabilities. I smirk as I watch the rest of my class jog through the finish line of the huge obstacle course they just made us complete after me. Lacey, another girl, and like three dudes, none of whose names I know seem to be my closest competition. I'm not sure what Lacey's deal is, but when she gets in the zone, she's in the zone. 

Most people aren't far behind, Liz is...well, Liz brings up the rear a lot of the time. I feel a bit bad for her, but she's a tough woman, definitely more fit than a lot of people I know, and with all the hell they're going to put us through here, I have no doubt we'll all be in ten times better shape than when we arrived.

We stopped for lunch awhile ago, which a lot of people ended up vomiting everywhere. I shiver at the thought. I can't stand vomit. I almost gag just thinking about it. Apparently, some people don't know not to eat an entire four-course meal when you're about to go workout again. Amateurs. 

"Hey," A tall, dark-skinned guy stands next to me, and I recognize him as one of the few who could keep up with me today. 

"Hi," I respond curtly, still keeping my eyes on the finish, watching as the instructors scream at everyone. 

"I'm Finn Alvarez. You're pretty good."

"Thanks. You too."

"You're not going to tell me your name?"

"Nope." I still don't so much as glance at Finn, who seems pretty full of himself.

"Playing hard to get, I like it." He nods, shuffling closer to me than what I'm comfortable with. I take a step back and face him. He smiles smugly. "Relax, sweetheart."

"Look, we can train together, fine, but we're not friends. You better back the hell off before I beat that smirk off your face with my own two fists." My tone is serious as I look him dead in the eye, gleefully aware of the crowd of our classmates surrounding us. 

"Is that a threat?" He looks at me, baffled.

"No." I step back, holding his gaze as I throw away my now empty water bottle. "It's a promise." I turn and walk away now, smiling to myself. Threatening overconfident men never gets old. Not ten seconds later, Lacey appears at my side.

"I think we're going to get along great." She chuckles. "You're good, Prenton."

I face her, my smile genuine now. "So are you. Honestly, Elizabeth is too peppy for my taste."

"Oh thank god you feel the same way." She looks relieved, and we both laugh. "She's sweet though..."

"Yeah. We'll just have to look out for her, won't we?"

"You're making us sound like a big, happy family now." The redhead rolls her eyes.

"You're not here to make friends," I state, trying to read her.

"Neither are you."

"So we're not friends. Just...good competition. You push me, I'll push you back harder."

The other woman half-smiles, something I've noticed she does often. "Much better."

Apparently, the last person has finished, because SSA Sullivan blows her damn airhorn, getting everyone's attention. We gather around as she stands on top of a chair. Honestly, I have no idea how she makes her voice so loud.