Don't fall

Chapter III: Grey Mustang

    I have been here for only 6 days and the sound of that damn alarm clock is already driving me crazy every time I hear it. I bang my hand against it twice before it stops ringing. I get up and open up the curtains; the same grey sky as usual. I pick up my uniform and bathroom kit before walking out of the room. On the hallway, I can see that most of the girls have their uniforms on, they must have woken up early to skip the line on the showers. It's a good method, but there's another way; being late. As I get to the bathroom I find myself alone as expected. I shower as fast as possible, trying to avoid running into anyone who's late as well. With my hair still wet, I go to my room and change, only to realize that I have 10 minutes before breakfast. Well, I guess I should just do what I always do to kill off time; sit down by the window and watch the outside. I wonder if there's any contraband around here... I could really use a good book or a smoke. Staring into the small parking lot, I notice something unusual: a car that's always early is nowhere to be seen. Could it be that someone is late? The fact that this is intriguing and interesting to me says a lot about what this place does to people. I keep staring into the small black gate, waiting for the grey 1967 ford mustang to arrive. For the first time, I am not disappointed; the car appears and parks at the regular spot. For my surprise, out of the car comes out a person I actually know: Doctor Paulson. That's her car? Of course it is. How the fuck do I seem to have a small obsession for her even when I don't know that it's her? She closes the car door and walks away casually. Why does she look good doing anything? I look over at the clock and realize it's 3 minutes past the time. I grab my agenda and go to the cafeteria, late again. I eat breakfast as I gaze upon the schedules on the agenda. Next up, prayer group session. Early prayer on Saturdays, huh? Good to know. I finish my meal, looking around, hoping that what happened on my first day would happen again, but no one shows up. Slowly, I walk over to the chapel to find that good old bitchy nun, Sister Theresa. She leads prayer group sessions for level one students. I sit in the back of the chapel, trying to avoid contact with her, knowing that she definitely does not like me. Next to her, her personal little slave: Sister Claire. She is the young (and rude) nun that guided me to my room on the first day. I don't like her for obvious reasons, but sometimes I feel really bad for the way she's treated by the other nuns, specially by Sister Theresa. The prayer session officially starts and I just put my hands together and look down, pretending that I'm actually praying. Sister Theresa walks around the chapel, chanting the prayer as we repeat it. For some reason, the only thing I can actually think about is Doctor Paulson. Well, that's no surprise, I've been thinking about her every single day. Is that what crushes are like? Or am I actually obsessed or something?

    -Hernández. -I look up only to see Sister Theresa standing by my side. Her voice seems bitter, as usual.

    -Yes? -I answer with an equally bitter voice.

    -Lead the session.

    I extend my hand out to her, hoping that she would give me her "pocket book" with the verses. She remains still. The room is absolutely silent and everyone is looking at me.

    -Well? -She asks.

    -I don't have it memorized. -I explain calmly.

    -What?! -Her voice becomes louder and angrier. -It is a simple verse.

    -I do know it, I just don't know it in english. I can give you a rough translation but...

    -That's enough! -She interrupts me. -I'll just ask someone who actually belongs here. -She walks away from me. -Peters, begin.

    Another girl begins to lead the prayer as I butcher the words, trying to repeat it at the same speed as the rest of the girls.

    After that all of that torture, I am pleased to say that I have a therapy session now. Is it conversion therapy? Yes. But is my Doctor a total babe who's also sweet? Hell yes. Before everyone else, I arrive at the third floor and follow the same procedure as always; sit in the doctor's office and wait for... Her.