The Playground (Book #1)

five

The next morning I wake up as early as I can and head down to get a quick hot breakfast. I eat it quickly at a table by myself and then run as fast as I can to the fashion workshop. Just as I had suspected, The Dolls were hard at work sketching and mending. I bee line towards Florins office, knocking lightly to announce my presence.

"Come in!" I hear him say.

When he sees me his eyes become wide with excitement. "Laelia!" he exclaims. "Well good morning to you!"

"Good morning, Florin" I say with a smile. "How are things coming along?"

"Rather, well thank you. You're up early. Did you get yourself something to eat?"

"Don't worry, I did." I say.

"Good, good." Florin says. "It's a good thing your here, Laelia. I've finished the design for your dress. All we need to do is get your measurements so that the dress making can begin." He gets up from his office and I follow him out of the doorway. "Jaz!" He calls to a doll with long pink hair and dark blue skin. "Can we get this young lady measured please." "Yes! Yes!" Jaz says in a high pitched squeal. She takes my hand and guides to a small circular platform which is positioned in front of a large mirror. Then she takes out a measuring tool and gets to work. She takes measurments of my arms, legs, torso; almost every part of me. She even takes a mesurement of my head. "Florin is thinking about a headpiece of some kind." Jaz explains. "Not quiet sure what he's conjurred up for you, young lady but it's going to be big!" I already knew this of course. I had immense faith in Florin.

"Can I see your final sketches?" I ask him once Jaz has marked down the last measurement of mine onto a piece of paper.

"What did I tell you?" Florin says with a chuckle. He's arranging different pieces of white fabric onto his desk. "It's a surprise! And Instead of sitting here and watching me work, there are a million of things you could be doing to prepare yourself for your test."

"Like what?" I say.

"Laelia" He says looking up at me, his expression changing from teasing to serious. "I don't appreciate you not taking this seriously."

"What? I'm taking this as seriously as ever!" I say sarcastically.

Florin gives me a disapproving look. "Please,Laelia." He says. "There are countless endeavors you could be immersing yourself in right now that would be far more beneficial for you."

"And what might those be?" I say.

"Well for starters," he says irritated "we have an abundance of resources here at the facility. A distinguished library full of useful material along with a plethora of Phase 1 strategists in the fashion auditorium that have all kinds of different pointers that you'll find most beneficial. I know you like it here better, but you're certainly not helping yourself by just sitting here and talking to me. I won't allow you to waste your time."

"But--"

"But nothing! Now if you could kindly get out of the office. Come back in a couple hours once you've done something useful with yourself. Go on, shoo!" He waves me out towards the door.

"Fine." I say reluctantly taking my leave.

As I'm walking out, I contemplate my options. I could go to the fashion auditorium but it's absolutely tedious and all the Dolls there are so uptight. I could go to the library and pick up a stupid Phase 1 book but I know that I wouldn't be able to concentrate. I didn't want to do either of those things. But there was one place that oddly enough, I was itching to go to. It is the Simulation Center. I'm not sure why I feel the need to go down there. Perhaps, I had new found confidence now that I knew that I could be as good as Raveena. I pictured myself beating her score altogether in the actual Playground test and triumphantly claiming my prize of perfection. A sweet and delicious victory. I decided to head down there. I click the elevator and click SC. The elevator dips down and the pit of my stomach does a flip. I still haven't gotten used to how fast it goes. When I arrive, I notice that only a few other testers are in Simulation rooms. Of course there are no students, I remember Haldis saying that their privileges were taken away for the time being while we testers were here. I see that the room we used last time is open so I decide to head into that one. As I walk in and see the large dome and computer pad before me, I realize that I'm not quite sure how to work the simulation by myself. This is already starting to feel like a bad idea but I came this far and what do I have to lose? Raveena nor Haldis is watching me anyhow.