“Night,” he replied. “Beautiful?”
“Yes, Player?” I asked sleepily.
“I’m glad you’re okay, but I’m really worried about you.” he said softly as I drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 5
I was around four or five, and I was sitting in a stark white room. There was a window on one side of the wall with a two-way mirror. I knew I was being watched; I knew we were being watched. I looked tiny in my white uniform and white sneakers. My curls looked sleeker, more manageable like someone had taken the time to style it. On one side of the table, a somber-looking older boy was sitting clutching one of my hands. He had dark hair, was extremely tall (although he was only older than me by three or so years) and looked like the world rested on his shoulders.
On the other side of me was a boy around my age. His eyes were twinkling with laughter, but you could tell he was stressed out. He handled most situations with laughter and jokes. It annoyed his brother to no end. He was cute in a round sort of way; his baby fat still clinging to his frame.
“Again! Amanda! Again!” a voice yelled at me from an intercom above me. “Try to focus and ask Jax to hop on one foot.”
I tensed and immediately the older boy squeezed my hand.
“I can’t,” I cried. “I’m tired!”
“We will sit here all day if we have to; just do it one more time.” The harsh male voice said once more.
“She can’t!” the older boy cried out. “Please, Dad. Let her rest. We can do it again tomorrow.”
It felt like we sat there for a long time. I had bowed my head and started crying again. Finally, the door opened, and a nurse dressed in grey extricated me from the boys.
“Where are you taking her?” The older boy jumped up with his fist balled up.
“Relax Jace, we’re going to try something else,” she chided him as she pulled me behind her.
“No!” both boys cried out trying to tug me away from the woman.
“Jace! Jax!” I cried frantically. “Please don’t let her take me!”
I woke up in a cold sweat. What the hell was that all about? Why were Mr. Jace and his brother in my dream? Had I been a part of the institute that Mr. Jace had talked about? I wanted to chalk it up as a dream, but somehow it felt more like a memory. What was it all about? How am I just now remembering it?
I looked at my watch and groaned. I had another thirty minutes to sleep, but I knew sleep would elude me, so I decided to jump in the shower and get my day started. I grabbed my clothes, determined not to have a repeat of yesterday.
In the shower I let the hot water wash over me as I replayed the dream repeatedly in my head. What did they want me to do in the dream? After my shower, I brought out my make-up kit and took special care to hide the angry welt on my cheek. I added mascara and eyeliner today as well; I normally didn’t bother with it, but my face looked too washed out.
I really needed a day to sleep in, but there was no end in sight. I was working for the next two days, and I knew I wouldn’t be getting out any earlier than midnight. Hopefully, I would make good money to make it worth it. Tonight, was wing night which was generally a good tip night. Tomorrow night was half price burgers, but they had specials on their beer; I frequently made good money on those nights.
Maybe on Thursday I could go to bed early. I didn’t have anything planned for afterschool so maybe I could go straight home after picking up Ella and crash.
I finished getting dressed in a black Henley that wasn’t as baggy as my normal attire, and a pair of military camo pants, threading a black belt through the loops of the pants since the waist was too big; I laced up my combat boots before leaving the bathroom. I grimaced as I dressed, looking at the welts and bruises on my body. June couldn’t come fast enough. I needed to start looking at apartments on the better side of town; someplace that was willing to rent to me without credit and no references. I could ask the owner of the trailer park for a reference letter, but I doubt he would. He knew without my money he wouldn’t be getting any from Heidi.
Then there was the trivial problem of Heidi signing over guardianship to me. I would be eighteen in three months, and I wanted it done before then.
I went back in the room and pulled out a Tupperware bowl, mixing the tuna packets, mayo packet, pepper, and onion powder together before I placed the mixture on bread slices. I slid the sandwiches into some sandwiches bags. I threw a sandwich, applesauce, pretzel, and Yoo-hoo in my bag and Ella’s lunch box. I had ditched my lunch box years ago, but Ella’s little friends still packed their lunches in lunch boxes, so she wanted hers in one too.
I set out a new outfit for Ella; she would need a pick-me-up after last night. I laced up her new sneakers, grinning as the bottoms lit up. She adored them so much. Her friends had light up sneakers, and it was hard for her to see her friends constantly keeping up with the trends. When I could, I got her the newest and latest things. The number of deals I found at the thrift store was surprising.
I could care less about the trends; I gave up long ago, and I wasn’t out to impress anyone. If I were being honest with myself, I would admit I missed the days of wearing cute, girly outfits, but I didn’t like drawing attention to myself— intentional or unintentional.
I gently woke Ella up and sent her into the shower. She was grumpy this morning, but I didn’t get on her as I normally would. She came back into the room, withdrawn. I showed her the outfit I had picked out for her and she brightened up some. She slid on her new clothing, and I took a brush through her long hair and pulled her hair back into a single ponytail.
“You ready?” I asked her.
She stomped her feet as she looked in the full-length mirror attached to the closet door, her eyes lighting up when the shoes lit up. “Yes, these look better than Bree’s. Hers are all scuffed up and pink. She likes pink. She wears pink all the time. Pink’s boring.”
I laughed and took her hand as we left the bedroom. She didn’t like Bree because Bree constantly picked on her, and because she hated pink. I turned to lock my door but remembered the lock was broken. I needed to figure out a way to fix that sooner than later. I didn’t want Tom getting