Gains and Losses (ON HOLD)

Chapter No. 18: Not So Normal Routine

Chapter No. 18: Not So Normal Routine

''Well, I expected this from you guys,'' a disembodied voice called, and, suddenly, the lights turned on. We looked around and found Jennifer standing beside the corner couch. She sat up and moved to us. We were all looking at each other with shock.

''But I didn't know that you would be in this too, Anna.'' She frowned and I looked down. I tucked my hair behind my ear. It was obvious she didn't expect this from a girl who just came here. ''Kylie is a bad influence on all of the girls here.''

Kylie didn't speak a word but rolled her eyes and gave Jennifer a sullen look. I felt bad because it was my fault, I pushed her to go out. I had tried to step back when we saw the old rusty lock on the gate, but they didn't listen to me. I was so scared of what Jennifer was going to do to me.

''And what are you doing with the girls?'' she asked as she walked toward Cameron.

He also stayed quiet like Kylie. For a good five seconds there was a pin drop silence in whole hall.

''Cameron, answer me,'' she shouted. ''Why are you here? I told you not to come here at night. I don't need anymore girl problems. Why can't you understand that-''

''Can you please shut up?'' he cut her off. His eyes were scary and dark.

Jennifer's eyes were wide with eyebrows lifted upward and her mouth formed O-shape. Right after a second she spoke,'' How can u speak to me like this? I'm your mother-''

''Don't pretend like you are my mother,'' he snapped at her.

He scowled at her for a second and then stormed out through main door. Jennifer closed her eyes as the door banged shut. She massaged her temples and took a deep breath.

Me and Kylie were exchanging glances during their unpleasant conversation. Kylie nodded to me, and that was the sign that we should run back to our rooms, and I did it. We took slow steps backward and then rushed back to our room.

''Thank God, I didn't go with you,'' Lauren said monotonously without looking up from her book as we collapsed onto our beds, breathless. We had run straight from the hall to our room at the fastest pace we could. Kylie and I didn't respond back, because we were still in shock of what had happened earlier.

I changed into my comfy sweatpants and a baggy shirt, and tied my hair in a loose bun. As I lay on the bed, the scene of my earlier panic attack kicked in, but I pushed my thoughts away and forced myself to sleep.

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The noise of usual air horn could be heard as I opened my eyes and came back into reality.

''Girls, get up,'' a voice said from outside with same air horn noise following, piercing our ears, but the voice was not of Jennifer.

We repeated our same old routine: waking up, eating breakfast, and working out. I had never skipped my breakfast after that first day. I ate my same plate of berries, oatmeal, and hard boiled eggs with some smoothie and protein shake.

''C'mon, we have to go into boring nutrition class,'' Kylie said.

We rushed to the nutrition class, and saw the same projector, the same girls, but Jennifer was still not around. I wondered why she didn't show up to our nutrition class. Instead of her, a woman who looked in her late twenties was there.

''Hi girls, I'm Lena. I'm Miss Jennifer's secretary,'' she said in a flat tone. Jennifer always addressed us with enthusiasm even though girls gave her bored looks.