Jenalyn: From the Inside (#3) [Complete]

Chapter 16: Hayden

Monday, 10:22 A.M. EST

I've gotten accustomed to waking up to the sound of Crystal’s voice since being here, so it comes as a surprise when it’s Ren’s voice pulling me from sleep instead.

“Wow, what did you do to get the privilege of sleeping in?” she asks before I even open my eyes. She stands over where I lay on my bed, a smile on her face though I can see she’s upset that I’ve gotten to sleep in. 

I stretch myself up on my elbows and wipe my eyes, a confused look on my face as I turn to her. “Why, what time is it?” I ask, my voice groggy with sleep.

Ren rolls her eyes as if she doesn’t believe I don’t know the time. I don’t understand why though considering we don’t have clocks in these rooms, I sure as hell don’t have my phone on me, and I just woke up. How am I supposed to know what time it is?

She makes no sense.

“It’s ten in the morning,” she says matter of factly before turning around and making her way to the bed across the room. “All of the patients are to wake up at 8 for vitals, showers, and breakfast; haven’t you already used up your newbie grace days?” 

I nod my head, but she doesn’t pay me any mind. She unpacks a few belongings onto the other bed, seemingly no longer interested in me. Sitting myself up, I stretch out the muscles that ache from Dane’s visit last night. As soon as I do, I’m reminded of the bag of drugs sitting between my pillow and pillowcase; I wake up as I feel myself fall into a panic. 

“Well, either way, girlie!” Ren says after a few moments. “Don’t go thinking you’re top dog around here, okay? You get special treatment because you’re famous... I earned my shit, at least.”

I’m floored by her response. Who the hell is concerned about being some kind of top dog? An innocent woman’s house got set on fucking fire! I have a bag of drugs sitting under my pillow in a rehab center, and this bitch is over here talking about some ‘top dog.’ 

This place is so fucked.

“You got it, boss!” I mumble with little emotion, trying to brush off all of the bullshit and make my way over to my slippers.

I need to get the fuck out of this room; I need to go engage myself with the rest of the group and do whatever the hell it is that you’re supposed to do in one of these places. No more bullshit. 

Everyone is expecting me to come out of this place a new person. I’m supposed to be better so that the Golds don’t want to get rid of me, and I can raise my daughter knowing I can take care of her. How am I supposed to do that if I involve myself in all of this crap?

And I’m not taking those fucking drugs. 

Dane told me I didn’t have to. Yeah, there was a threat of that decision bearing ‘terrible’ consequences for me… but you want to know what? So be it. I’m not letting him kill my baby again- That’s not an option. 

I need to get through this, get better, and get the hell back to Hayden.

I will never let this child down again. We’ll have everything, and everything will be perfect.