The Sweet Crazy Life

Chapter 12: Deep Trouble

Chapter 12: Deep Trouble

(This one's dedicated to such a loyal reader. Thanks for sticking around even if I update too long) -Hammie :D

Ariana

After a nice hot shower and a change of clothes, Lannie and I sat on one of the benches in the locker room. My wet uniform, I realized, was nothing compared to the fact I might have my scholarship stripped off any minute now. Someone will come in and tell me I no longer have my scholarship and I pack my bags and go home. I'd leave Cinnamon lodge and I'd leave the people who I have come to know so well. I'd miss Lannie and her boisterous laughs, Nick with his ability to make you feel good about yourself, Jamie's goofy ways, Maggie's strict yet motherly talks, Buzz with his bald head and steaks, my new roomie, Sheila and Nathan's friendly chats during afternoon classes. But I'd probably miss Ro most of all with him being who he is.

"Ari?" I broke out of my thoughts and came back to reality.

Lannie's head was bent down, her light brown hair still wet.

"Thanks for helping me out in the fountain." she says gratefully. "And sorry for getting yourself wet too."

"Are you kidding? It was fun!" I told her. "C'mon, Lannie, we all have the thought of going for a bath under it when we saw that fountain on our first day.

Lannie burst out laughing as she nodded her head. She went on laughing for quite a long time and I was starting to wonder if she even breathed.

"I can't breathe." Lannie laughs and this time it was my turn to throw fits of laughter as I watched my best friend tried her best to stop laughing.

When things finally calmed down, we still had gigantic smiles on our faces.

"Lannie, thanks for sticking up for me back there with Bethany." I told her.

Lannie smiles at me. "That's what best friends do."

What made Lannie special was the fact that she was my first best friend. Having been a loner in my younger years, I never really had close friends. Even during high school, some people were really nice to me and all but I never really had time for them. I was busy acing my tests and perfecting my skills in order to get into CIA. I got my scholarship but lost my friends. It's quite sad really. But knowing this brunette, the first one to greet me when I entered Cinnamon, will always believe and support me, then I guess I have no regrets.

One day has passed. No bad news of losing my scholarship.

Two days. Nothing at all.

A week. Bethany's ignoring me. Did she get amnesia or something? Didn't she say she was going to strip my scholarship off with one call? Hello?! Not that I look forward to have my scholarship stripped off. In fact I'm happy to still be schooling and doing what I do best but things have been just too silent.

I was convinced I was safe but something was gnawing me in the inside. You know that feeling when something terrible is about to happen?

Well, exams for the first semester has finally arrived. We've been studying for the written and practical exams since last week. Everyone in Cinnamon had to work double-time since we not only had culinary arts but also baking and pastry arts to study. More for me since I had my scholarship to work hard on. Mostly everyone was stuck with their noses stuck in between books. Maggie had locked herself inside her room and didn't come out unless she needed some food. Buzz had a stack of bologna sandwiches near him so that he needn't have to stand up from his seat in the Great Room. Lannie had to copy some of mine since almost all of her notes were destroyed after the fountain fiasco. My roommates were murmuring ingredients and food techniques during their sleep. Ro spent most of his time in the kitchens in Roth Hall to perfect his skills so I rarely got to see him. Nick gave me a "hey" or a small "morning" but his attention is then passed to the notebooks in his hands. I even found Jamie in the kitchen with his head resting on the counter. Half of his face was covered in flour and the other was resting on bread dough (make-shift pillow).