Difference

Chapter 10

After dinner, I go into my room and let it all out. About a week's worth of tears that I've held in spill all over my stupid, fluffy white pillows. I pound them until they're almost flat, and after they puff back up, I pound them again. I don't know how long I do this. I wear myself out.

There's a knock on my door. I know I don't have to answer it. I could just sit on the bed that's not mine and feel sorry for myself. But I don't like that, so I wipe my eyes and open the door.

"Oh, bad time? Sorry?" Tess stands in the doorway. Without hesitating, she gives me a hug. I've known this girl for less than a week and she's already my closest friend I have here. Without her, I'd be completely lost.

"No, you're fine Tess," I manage to get out. She pulls back and looks me over.

"I was going to take you shopping for a phone, but we don't have to go tonight. I can leave you alone if you want," She suggests. I shake my head.

"Let's go. It'll take my mind off of everything," I start to close my door, but Tess stops me.

"Can we at least fix your hair?"

"Do I really look that bad?'

"Well, depends on what kind of bird is living in your hair," I think I laugh when she says that. Or I might have cried more. I'm not sure.

Tess sits me down on my bed and brushes my hair. More like gently tears my hair out of my scalp. She apologizes every time I make a noise. I just shrug it off. She braids my hair after she thinks it's as smooth as it'll be, then declares me "decent".

We walk through the hallways, which I think I'm starting to memorize. We end up at what I guess is the phone store. Imagine that, a phone store in a prison. This place really surprises me.

We walk through the door, and they even have a bell that tinkles. A woman rushes over to us.

"Welcome! How can I help you?" She gushes. I cringe at her eagerness, but she doesn't notice.

"She needs a phone," Tess nods to me. The woman nods.

"Right this way. Now what kind of phone are we looking for?"

Tess pulls out her own phone, "One like this. Erinn, do you mind white?"

I shake my head. Ms. Readytoserve guides us to a stand with a huge smile plastered on her face. I try not to think about how happy she is to be here. Although, she just works here. She doesn't have to go into The Room.

"This is the one. I'm Shelly, by the way. If you need any assistance, just call," She offers, then giggles at her own pun. Shelly skips away to help another customer.

Tess hands me the phone and I look it over. It's just a plain white.

"You can get a case, if you want. Everything's free, of course," Tess tells me, and I nod. Of course.

"You'll get any important texts now. The number is already added into everyone's phone. Here, I'll add my number," Tess takes my phone and types something in. She hands it back to me.

"Wait! I know Jakob's number, too," She says, and takes my phone from me again. She types in Jakob's number and gives me my phone.

"You're all set. You're allowed to bring your phone with you everywhere, just as long as it's silent during class," Tess instructs me.

"What classes are you all talking about?" I ask.

"Oh, no one's told you? It's summer, so we get a break, but it's almost over. You just sign up for a couple classes in the fall. Whatever sounds interesting. That is, if we're still here in the fall," Tess says, and immediately my mood plummets again. She sees my face.