The Love Box

Chapter 11

I climbed out of the vent, and I stood in the laundry room. Then I turned to look at the other side, and I jumped; a man stood on the other side.

Then I looked closer and saw it was Kai’s dad; he waved to me, and I waved back. I liked Kai’s dad and nothing would change that. After that he opened a washing machine and emptied the clothes from his basket; I watched as he left the laundry room.

Then I too left the laundry room, and I walked to my room. When I entered the room I found my mom lying in her bed.

I walked to my bed and picked up the clothes I had for the next day; then I entered the bathroom and took my clothes off. When my clothes were off I started the water in the bath tub, and I waited for it to fill; after it filled I stopped the water and I stepped in.

The water felt good; I watched as the soap from my skin dissolved in the water around me, and I dunked my head under water.

After I was finished I stepped out and grabbed my towel; I dried myself off, and I drained the tub filled with water. I sat in the bathroom and waited for the water to drain as I dried my hair; the water drained, and I changed my clothes.

I left the bathroom, and I lied on my bed and stared at the ceiling until I fell asleep.

When I woke up I left my room, it was empty, and my mom had gone to the cafeteria for work. I walked to the cafeteria, and I stood in line.

I looked to my left and on the other side was Kai; he stood right next to me, but he didn’t look at me, not even a glance. The line moved, so did I; I tried to ignore Kai on the other side, but I couldn’t help but glance over a few times. That I saw he never looked back; I hoped I had always missed his glance.

No.

I was supposed to forget Kai; the line moved, and I moved with it. Kai and I no longer stood side by side but diagonal from one another; I didn’t look back at him. Once again the line moved, and I followed until I got my food and sat at a table with my friends.

They talked, and I listened; it was like B.K., before Kai. I never talked, and I was fine with it again; besides my mind was focused on what was in store for me that day.

My friends and I finished our food and then we walked to the library; they played cards, and I watched. I didn’t feel like playing and they didn’t want to play order; only war. They didn’t want me to beat them again.

“Are you ready?” I heard someone ask from behind me.

I turned around to see Nicki stood behind my chair; I stood up and nodded.

“Great,” She told me, “Follow me.” Then she turned around, and I followed her out of the library without a word to my friends. Nicki led me past Bedroom and Suicide Hall; then we took a right and the guards opened the door.

Instead of sitting in the seats we had sat in the past times I had been here; we entered a room on the opposite side of the room we had sat in. Nicki opened and held the door for me; I entered and she followed.

It was a large room with many people, women to be exact, and they all wore white coats. They stood around screens that showed pictures; I had never seen them before. Nicki led me to the far side of the room, and we sat down in chairs in front of a screen; I gazed at the screen.

“Oh I forgot,” Nicki said as she examined my expression, “You’ve never seen a computer before.”

“What does it do?” I asked her as I continued my stare at the computer; I wanted to touch it, but I decided against it.