Chapter 28

                                    

                                          
|To conform is so easy that you forget you're doing it after a certain point. |
                          
~***~
                          
	'How hard could it be?' Well, turns out it's very hard; maybe even impossible.
                          
The shrill sound of trumpets over the intercom jolts us awake, and I rub my eyes while slipping out of bed. I lean over to start putting my boots on, and Athena makes a whispered noise to catch my attention. I look up at her with hazy eyes, still half asleep.
                          
	"Where were you last night? I saw you enter the restroom and not come back for a long time."
                          
	"You answered your own question," I mumble, finishing off with my shoelaces.
                          
	"I also walked in there to make sure you were alright," I freeze, "but you weren't in there."
                          
	"Sh!t," I mutter under my breath as we stand up at attention. Athena smiles at me, giving me a reassuring nod.
                          
	"I won't tell anyone," she looks over her shoulder and back, "but I really wanna know what you were up to last night."
                          
	I start walking with her out the doors after the second horn goes off, and whisper, "and you will know. I promise." We march out to our spots in the lineup, and every child in the camp stands at attention with their hands over their hearts. They start to play the national anthem on the trumpet, and then we all pledge allegiance to the American Flag as they raise it up on the pole.
                          
	Today is an easier day with our section just doing various chores instead of extensive training on the playground. I trudge over to the wheat truck and lift a giant bag over my shoulder with a grunt. I resist the urge to wipe my forehead, because I know I'll topple over from the heavy weight of the bag. We go back and forth for a while until it's almost unbearable to move. I think I prefer the training over the chores, now that I think about it.
                          
	"So, you wanna share with us where you ran off to last night?" Gidget asks with an arched eyebrow. I instantly pout, looking at Athena with a sharp glare.
                          
	"You said you wouldn't tell anyone."
                          
	"I didn't!" Athena pleads with her hands waving defensively. Margaret giggles with Gidget, and I cross my arms.
                          
	"We're not blind. We saw you disappear last night. Athena woke Gidget up," Margaret glares at Gidget, "and then he woke me up."
                          
	I roll my eyes before picking up another bag from the back of the truck. "Look, you guys will find out in due time, I promise."
                          
	"Why not just tell us now and get it over with?" Gidget asks with a tilted head. I sigh, putting the bag down to put my hands on my hips.
                          
	"Hey, Ellie-Jo! No slacking!" Clyde yells with his arms crossed. I try not to grin at his performance as I mock-salute him.
                          
	"Aye aye, Cap'n!" I turn to lift the bag, and Athena leans close to me.
                          
	"Your recruiter is so nice," she whispers with what I swear are rosy cheeks.
                          
	"He's a dipsh!t is what he is," I roll my eyes sarcastically, and Gidget chuckles behind me. We all walk over silently to keep the weight up until we toss the bags in the storage garage of the dining building. We pat the dust off of our hands, and Margaret giggles.
                          
	"He is the nicest out of them all," she comments while eyeing him up and down. I feel like these two lose their sanity whenever Clyde comes by and pretends to boss me around - or maybe I'm the one going nuts.
                          
	"Careful, you may devour that poor man with just your eyes if you stare any longer," Gidget says with a knowing smirk. I arch an eyebrow at his comment, and Margaret and Athena seem to snap out of a daze.