Boot Camp

25: Old Version

The past several days of training have been intense. Even though by now my muscles are used to the strains of exercise, I'm feeling an overwhelming urge to hide under my bed covers with a chocolate doughnut.

Not that they provide those here.

"Are you sure they don't have any doughnuts around here?" I ask Martina as we walk outside, enjoying the warmth of the late morning.

"Whitney, for the thirty-seventh time, no, there are no chocolate doughnuts here," she replies, looking like she wants to fling herself off a cliff from my annoying questions.

"Just making sure," I hum, trying to ignore my chocolate cravings. Fail.

"Hey, how about if we—" Martina says, but I cut her off.

"Oh God, Martina—no, no, no," I say, hitting my hand against my forehead. "It must be coming."

"Wait, what?"

"The tiredness, the chocolate doughnut cravings..." I grab onto her arm, and her lips curl into a smirk, realizing what I mean.

"Congratulations Whitney, another month, and you are not pregnant," she answers. I groan.

"You look lonely," I hear Martina say, and I look up to see her talking to Willow who is sitting on one of the chairs by the fire pit, her elbows on her knees and hands on her face.

"Kind of," she answers with a small smile, brushing a lock of bright blonde hair from her eyes. "I have no one to talk to."

"Where's Adriana and her herd?" Martina asks.

Willow shrugs. "Beats me. They don't really care about anything except their pathetic drama."

Martina scoffs. "You're telling me. I shared a womb with her; she's probably been starting drama since way back then."

Willow laughs so much at that statement her cheeks turn pink. I find myself laughing as well, while Martina just smiles complacently.

"Do you want to come come with me and Whitney to find some coffee or soda?" Martina asks Willow. "I'm need something good to drink."

"Oh, so you'd be willing to venture off to find drinks but not my chocolate doughnuts," I mumble to Martina, and she snaps her head in my direction, throwing her hands up.

"I bet if we snuck into the kitchen, we'd find some, trust me," Willow says to me, weakly smiling.

"Well then, don't mind if I do," I reply, dragging Martina behind me while Willow tries to catch up to us. We walk in a line to the Central Building, hurrying down to the dining hall and kitchen.

I remember the lounge room Axel showed me a few days ago and know for sure there's something good to eat or drink in there, but I know I can't show them that place.

"Is there anyone in there?" Martina whispers, glancing at Willow who has cracked open the swinging door to the kitchen. Willow turns around and shakes her head, motioning us to come inside. I quietly slip in there, realizing the kitchen is much bigger than I thought.

Willow opens the pantry and Martina pulls open the chrome fridge, while I prop myself onto the silver countertop to see if they find anything. I hear something clank in the fridge and Martina pulls out three bottles of iced coffee, setting then down on the counter and popping one open for herself.

"I found them!" Willow calls and pulls out a box of mini doughnuts, flavored powdered sugar and chocolate.

"You're a lifesaver," I tell her as she holds open the box for me. I take two for myself, and Martina grabs a powdered sugar one. Willow busies herself with trying to get the stubborn cap off the bottle of iced coffee.