The Showcase

Chapter Ten

The next morning, I woke up early and ran straight to the shower. I wanted to fully enjoy my last day here, and that included me taking a shower that lasted longer than five minutes.

I stripped down and set the shower to ‘sauna’. I pulled my hair into a loose bun and stepped into the stall, inhaling the thick steam that rose from the little holes in the tile.

In 24 hours, I’d be waking up somewhere far away with seven other strange, scared and confused kids. I didn’t know what, or who, lay ahead of me. Or where it lay, for that matter. I should feel scared, but honestly, I didn’t feel anything but excitement. I loved the way that my life always seemed to be moving forward now.

I guess I did like surprises after all.

After a while, my fingers started to go pruny, so I changed the settings to ‘cool’. I quickly washed up and threw on the first clothes to pop up in the box, not caring whether or not they’d be Eleanor-approved. I reached into the basket next to the sink to grab a brush, and headed for the door.

“She’s got just as much a chance as anybody!” I heard Marshal whisper angrily as I placed my hand on the knob.

“Did you not see the others? They’re going to have to hold her hand the entire month!”

“She’s a lot more than you think she is, Eleanor,” Carita say defensively.

“And she’s a lot less than you both believe!” There was a long pause and then she continued. “I won’t say that she doesn’t have it in her. Only, keep in mind that our last Product nearly left in a body bag. Just don’t set your hopes too high.”

I took that as my queue to cut in. All three of their heads shot up when they heard the bathroom door open.

I forced a smile. “Morning, everyone.”

“Good morning,” they echoed.

Still a bit tired and more than a little bit hurt, I plodded over to the kitchen. There was a huge muffin basket on the table. I smirked as I read the card:

‘Thanks for stopping by last night, Amia. I enjoyed meeting you, and so did the rest of Alvuse. See you in June! ~Cali’

“You know you’re famous when you get enormous muffin baskets with generic thank you cards.”

Marshal snorted and started to unwrap the basket.

“Aw, thanks, Marsh, you’re so sw-”

I stopped and watched while he grabbed the biggest blueberry muffin from the top of the basket, peeled the wrapper off and bit into it. He walked over to the couch and flopped down on it, dropping crumbs everywhere. “Don’t call me Marsh.”

I put a cinnamon and a blueberry on a plate and sat down next to him. “Never again,” I promised.

Eleanor positioned herself on the couch opposite us and Carita stretched out in the big white leather recliner.

I bit into my muffin. It was really fluffy and the fruit tasted real. Impressive. The Cali Carson Show may be obnoxious and invasive, but they didn’t skimp on the quality of their muffins....

I heard Eleanor clear her throat.

I looked up. “What?” I asked, my mouth full. Everyone was staring at me.

“Well,” she said slowly. “It is your last day here. What we do today is entirely up to you. Whatever you want, we can do.”

“It’s like your birthday and a farewell party rolled into one,” Carita added.