April

Day 16

Elula suddenly sat upright. She hadn't had a nightmare in a long time. But there she was, sweating and gasping. Luckily, she didn't have to share a room with anybody, since Poppie and Kaylen shared then Joy and Nyesha shared.

Elula slowly got out of bed and left her room. She just needed some fresh air. Elula made her way up to the plant room. It was sort of lonely without Taylor but also peaceful.

Elula sat next to a large flowerpot and looked at the sky out the balcony door. She wanted to go outside, but there might be an alarm system.

So, slowly, Elula fell asleep among the plants.

Colton whacked the toaster. Why wasn't it working?

"Maybe plug it in first?"

Colton turned to see Adrian. "I did plug it in."

Adrian gestured to the plug, that was not connected to an outlet.

"Oh. It must have fallen out or something."

Adrian nodded. "Makes sense. Kind of. What kind of cheap toaster can't even stay connected to power?"

"It's an introverted toaster."

Adrian looked at Colton with what Colton thought was an expression of, 'that was very offensive'.

"I'm sorry, that was random." Colton rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

"It's going to take me a couple of days to understand that joke."

"Oh no, it was rude, I didn't mean to say anything."

"How is it rude?" Adrian looked at Colton in confusion.

"Well, I'm not introverted so I wouldn't understand, and I don't know, maybe you're sensitive about that?"

Adrian looked at him blankly for a moment. "Interesting."

"Somebody's been hanging out with their boyfriend too much."

The two boys turned to see Charlie had joined them in the kitchen.

"Did I miss something?" Colton asked.

"I don't know, did you?"

Colton laughed nervously. "Okay, now I'm just confused."

Charlie shrugged as Adrian left the kitchen.

"Oh no," Charlie said sarcastically. "I scared him off."

Colton stood silently for a moment then went back to making toast.

Taylor sat next to Elula. Why the heck was she sleeping in the plant room? Did she sleepwalk? Or did she never go to her room? No, he had said goodnight to her and saw her walk inside.

Taylor touched Elula's arm lightly. Of course she didn't wake up. She was a heavy sleeper.

After a moment Taylor decided the floor wasn't a comfortable place to sleep. He picked Elula up and took her back to her room.

After laying Elula on her bed Taylor stood half-awkwardly. What was he supposed to do? He didn't want to leave.

Taylor hovered for a second before sitting next to her.

"What are you wearing for the dance?" Logan asked as they walked to Kimberly's room.

"I already showed you."

"Yeah, but you showed me two dresses you MIGHT wear, I never saw what you decided on."

Kimberly stopped at her door. "I went for the lavender."