don't speak.

chapter twenty-nine

The eight of us sat in a circle with our metal trays on the floor. We were no longer allowed the privilege of eating in the small cafeteria that was connected to our room after our Great Escape attempt. The food on the plate, as per usual, looked like sludge. It was oatmeal – but it was sludge. I pushed the food around on the tray, not feeling particularly motivated to finish. It was a general rule that if you finished your meal you got to watch a movie with everyone – and whoever weighed the most that week got to pick the film. It was some sort of competitive motivation. But I was not in the mood to watch the film or be anywhere near Terrance. Every time I looked at him I thought Lucas, and felt myself wanting to split in two. 

"Come on there." Halie reached over Logan to get to my tray, scooping up my food, "I need to put on a few pounds if I'm going to successfully enact my revenge on T." I laughed as she shoveled my food into her mouth.

Before Terrence's 'I'm going to make everyone watch Les Mis four times a day for an entire week' stunt the line for the bathrooms after meal time was as long as... well a line of everyone in the room. People sneaking in to purge or – in my case – pee. But after having to sit through that film every day four times a day for an entire week – people started gaining to just to sanction their revenge.

"Alright everyone get ready for your weigh in." One of the many rotating nurses spoke from the front of the room. Everyone scrambled to their feet as I stayed down for a moment until I saw Terrence waiting back for me. I rolled my eyes and got up to my feet.

"Maya wait!" He clambered to an awkward standing position, taking his place next to me in line. "You've been avoiding me since that hole runaway skeletons thing. I thought we were friends?"

"I don't need any more friends." I continued to look forward at the back of Darrien's head – he desperately needed a haircut.

"You do in here." He moved to the side so he could look at me, "C'mon everyone in here has their person."

"My person's name is Riley." I folded my arms over my chest, "I don't need anyone else."

"What if I do?"

I didn't respond. There are too many people for me to disappoint as is – I didn't need to add another name to the list. Especially if that name rhymed with Barrence and made me question my feelings for Lucas.

I waited for my name to be called and then stepped forward into the room where dreams die. It was void of everything except a scale that we weren't even allowed to face. We were only told who weighed in the highest when they announced who could pick the films for the day – assuming they finished their meals. I de-gowned myself and stepped onto the scale, rolling my eyes as the nurses scribbled down on their fussy clipboards. I didn't need an audience – but apparently it was to make sure we didn't bribe the weigher to write us in as something we weren't. I think it was because the pervert nurses all wanted a peak at the boney kids. There were concerned looks followed by whispers – something I was not unused to so I shrugged it off and tied up my dress again before stepping out back into the room.

"Your turn." I raised my eyebrows for a second as I stepped aside to let Terrence into the room. He slipped past me and I quickly made my way to the two-sided mirror. No one was out there, and I don't know why I was so disappointed. They usually didn't let people in until half past five in the evenings – but I desperately needed to see someone from outside of this hospital. Preferably someone I liked.

"Alright!" One of the nurses stepped out of the weigh station after Terrence, his clip board propped against his chest, "Julia what's your pick."

Julia taps her chin like she's deep in thought before barring a devilish grin pointed directly at Terrance, "I think I'd fancy viewing... The Notebook." If at all possible her smile became more devious as everyone else applauded. Terrance didn't hate many things – but 'romance films with no climax or comedy' (as he'd like to call them) were one of few things he did. I'd like to judge but I thought the same.