Boot Camp for Bad Boys

Chapter 2

Adapting to an all new environment, well let me tell you, it was not easy as I thought it would be. It was easy when it was in high school since it was pretty chill with everyone there. There were so many cliques/ groups you could easily fit in to, no one really eats or sits alone back there. Everyone had at least a friend.

Anyways, it felt like I was practically dropped out of high school over 20 hours or so ago and now here I am, stuck in a Boot Camp, well let me rephrase that, a Boot Camp for boys. And somehow, for whatever reason, my dad and Principal Walters managed to leave that part out. When I get out from here, I’ll walk right into his office and I’m taking the pot of fern that I so liked from his office.

On the way to our cabin, my eyes caught the sight of an Olympic sized pool from not too far away and in the water, oh ho ho. A couple of boys were swim racing against each other; there were half-naked boys with a really great set of abs and muscles (well I’d be damned) who sent cat calls to Demi and showed no shame by pointing at me shouting across the pool. “Yo who’s that snack you brought along with you?”

Me? A snack? You boys are too kind. Damn it Allie, focus. You’re supposed to do your ‘parole’ here and get out with absolutely no string attached, you hear me?

She rolled her eyes and told me to ignore them—man I wish I could when half of them looked like Calvin Klein male models. At the far side, there was a tennis court, a football field with a running track on the outer area. A man-made lake with some ropes dangling from a big tree trunk to another and ah, the ultimate enemy, the mother of all playgrounds, the obstacle course.

"So, I assume you were forced to be here against your own will?" Demi asked, tugging on her bead necklace around her neck.

"I punched a girl in school yesterday and I sorta broke her nose." I replied glumly. "And pretty much every other bad thing I did that was accumulated throughout the years."

"There must be a damn good reason why you broke her nose, was it to test the realness of it?" she smirked and tugged at my suitcase. We were now approaching the long row of cabins. I silently sighed, and my arms were killing me with the amount of crap in my suitcase.

"My ex cheated on me” I shrugged as we trudged on a little more. “And I got my sweet revenge.”

"Oh, let me guess, you broke his nose too?”

"Nah" I shook my head.

"Kicked him where the sun don’t shine..?"

"No no no, of course not, that would just be too easy. I had him wear a super glue filled boxers."

"I see a great friendship bond ahead of us" she laughed. "A weird reason to but I’ll take it." I smiled under the hot sun with my eyes pretty much squinting, trying to see what was ahead of me. It was the least I could say for the help I got within the last ten minutes.

“We’re here.” she announced as she stopped and stood in front of one of the cabins huts. I finally looked up from all that pebble kicking on the way here. “Trust me you’ll grow to love your cabin more than any place on this camp.”

“It’s only for four months, please teach me how to survive.”

"I know what you're thinking, four months may seem a lot to you, but I've been here for the last three years." she said as she unlocked the door with her set of keys.

"Are you kidding me? Three whole years? Why? Did you like set a building on fire or something that got you locked her permanently?"

“I think that would make me end up in juvie but no, but I’ll tell you when we get to know each other better.”

“Fair enough.” I agreed.

She pushed open the door to our cabin and a gust of cold air hit me. The air conditioner was already switched on, the cabin smelt like freshly baked cookies that came right out of the oven. There were two single sized beds with really fluffy pillows opposite each other and a bed side table next to each bed. There was two average size closets painted in blue, two writing desks and a large mirror attached at the left side of the wall. A large two doored window with sea green drapes pulled to the either side, allowing the warm sun rays to give some light to the room. Oh there's even an attached en-suites, thank god, because I detest the whole let's-get-naked-together, shared bathroom idea.

"The girls’ cabin goes along this whole row that you saw earlier from the start of the pathway we came from, the ones a little down the pathway on the right are the boys’ cabin."

"I didn't expect it to be this decent honestly." I threw my back pack on the bed, sitting on the bed to test it’s bounciness and it did not disappoint. Demi placed my suitcase on the ground next to the other one I had dragged in earlier.

“Well it’s nothing much, but I try to make the most out of it.” she encouraged.

"Yeah, I think I could get used to it" and for a moment there, I had actually meant it. “Thanks Demi."

"Hey no biggie, to tell you the truth, I’m not usually this friendly but you my friend, are an exception."

“Yeah? and why is that so?”

She shrugged. “You could say it’s my sixth sense.”

There was the sound of a bell ringing from a distance and her ears literally perked up, she dropped what she was doing to look at me.

"And that was the lunch bell. Come with me, I think you would love the food there. I would like you to meet two of my only friends" she smiled and dragged my reluctant ass along with her out of the cabin. I whimpered quietly when the cold air was no longer.

The walk to the cafeteria was much bearable after I’ve changed out of my converse into my sandals. I’ve lost all the feeling in both my arms once I placed my suitcase down. I texted Amanda telling her I was already here and that it was time for lunch. She hasn’t replied me yet and I can only assumed that she was on the field since around this time today was usually her track training.

The cafeteria was indoors, thank god, with this crazy temperature, I'd probably be drinking my own sweat instead of the OJ they're serving, which I hope they do. There tonnes of teenagers buzzing around the cafeteria, some were already seated with the red food trays in front of them.  Some lining up in a straight line, some just sitting around, talking. A couple of people looked up when they saw me walking in with Demi, she greeted most of them and introduced me but I just muttered a quick ‘hi’, not really wanting to engage in any sort of conversation right now.

We finally stopped at a table where a boy was sat alone, munching on his fries from his tray as he was scrolling through his iPhone. The sight of his back looked so good, I wonder what he really looked like if he turned around?

"Hey loser." Demi chirped as she sat down, patting the seat next to her, she made me sit down. “This is Allie, my new roommate and this goof here, is Daniel.”

“Hi” I smiled curtly and I had to make sure I kept my facial expression in check because my oh my, he was really, really cute. Although initially, I was so not in the mood in socializing but now? Well, now’s a different story. Also, Demi was nothing but nice to me, I didn’t want to seem like a kill joy by putting on a sour face all day.

"Hello, I’m Daniel but people call me Danny.” He said, shaking my hand. “I’m guessing that you're the new girl the boys had been talking about all morning?" Danny asked. Sandy hair, grey eyed boys are definitely Amanda’s type and she would have screamed her head off in delight if she ever saw Danny.

"I guess so?" I smiled uncertainly and shook his hand. After all, I was the newbie at camp, and newbies gotta play nice.

"Where's Caleb?" Demi asked, shifting in her seat, looking around the cafeteria.

"He’s in our cabin taking a shower after swimming all morning.”

"I see.” She answered. “So do you want to get something to eat first?" Demi asked, turning to me.

"Well, I suppose I could use a little food, I didn’t really eat much this morning." I shrugged, my stomach was rumbling like crazy considering I only had a slice of toast with jam. I ate my breakfast earlier today as if it was the last supper, with tears in my eyes and I didn’t even manage to finish my toast.

"The food's great actually, despite here being a boot camp, it's not as nasty as you think it is." She got up from her seat and gestured me to follow her to the line where I suppose we get our food.

Ooh, today's menu is pretty good, they even wrote down the list of food they're serving for the day.

"Chef Andre is a really good cook, he makes the best meals here and it almost makes up for the crazy PE you’ll be doing all day." Demi smiled as she handed me a red tray and plonked a carton of milk on her tray and I decided to skip the milk, afraid I’d throw it all up later if I was gonna do some serious workout later.

"The burgers sure look good." I said after taking a quick glance at the content on a tray of a random kid that exited the other side of the queue.

Okay the burgers were pretty damn big, I just think there was absolutely no way I’d ever finish that on my own. The melted cheese was spilling and dripping its away down the burger line up and the edges of the bacon was oozing out its glorious grease.

After we got our food and was ready to head back to our table, there, I spotted, sat another boy opposite of Danny. He was looking up, right at me. I swallowed, looking away pretending like I hadn’t notice whilst almost knocking into someone else. “Yo watch it girl.” A boy chuckled as he steadied my tray. I muttered a quick sorry before I looked back at the table to see the stranger shaking his head, smiling at me. Oh my..

“Caleb, I would like you to meet my new roommate. Allie, this is Caleb Hawthorne.” Demi introduced us right away before we even got our trays on the table.

“Do you not look at where you’re going at all?” he asked teasingly. “Hello.” He said, and I let out a nervous chuckle. It took me more than five seconds before I could find a response. My fingers gripped the tray tightly as I sat down. What was this sudden lack of confidence?

“Not when it’s so packed up front, hi, my name is Allie.”

“I know, I heard it the first time.”

Oh god Allie, shut up shut up!

“She waxed her ex’s pubes with pouring super glue down his pants.”

“Ouch” Danny winced at the thought of it. Dropping his fry back on his tray as he winced, shaking his head. “You gotta teach me a couple of tricks then.”

“I can’t say I’m not impressed already.” Caleb said as he stole a fry from my tray.  I looked up as I watched him chew, smirking right at me and Demi rolled her eyes as she took a sip of her juice. “Looking forward to train with you.”

Bless my soul and someone please pay me 50 dollars if I don’t faint from his boyish charms.

* * *

"Oh my god." was the first thing that came to my mind.

Standing before me, was a really buff lady with bulging muscles from head to toe. Yes you heard me right, head to toe. I bet her hair strands had muscles on their own. She was our PE sergeant in charge of this squad. Anyways, she wore a grey muscle tank and green army pants, also I couldn’t help but wonder are those her chest muscles or..

She had a tight bun tied neatly on the top of her head that pulled all of her face muscles to the back of her head and her beady eyes were glaring right at us. I was never afraid of adults, I mean I wasn’t even afraid of my principle, but this lady right here had me squirming in my spot in less than 5 minutes.

"Now I do expect you all to man up, especially you boys, don't be p*****s!" she screamed. I snickered. I like this woman already.

"Did she just say, p*****s?" I whispered to Demi. Someone please call my dad because I might just return home from this camp with a degree in swearing.

"Trust me, it gets better than this." Demi smirked while the rest of us stood in a straight line. My back was already hurting from standing upright and its only when I realized I had terrible posture all these while. Guess I was standing like the hunchback of notredame all those years.

"I want you to get your head out of your asses because you're not having a party here, you are training on how to be men with discipline."

Cool, now all get to grow body parts we girls didn’t have too.

"You there!" Buffy suddenly stopped in her stomping around pointed one giant sausage finger at me. My eyes grew wide as the rest fell back in line, leaving me standing alone in the open. Wow guys, so much for a welcome march huh?

"Oh s**t" I mumbled.

Danny and Caleb shot me a look and I looked around like a deer in headlight.

"Yes ma'am?" I squeaked.

"March right here." she commanded. I had a blank look on my face as I took in the command. March? March how? Like left right with my hands swinging. I think that’s what she meant with that, and so I did. And that caused a whole eruption of laughter behind me. So I put my hands down, wincing in embarrassment as I made my way towards her.

"You newbie, what’s your name?" She screamed in my ear.

“Allie” I replied.

“What was that pathetic excuse of a walk earlier?”

“You said to march.”

“Right, I said to march, not trot over.”

Holy s**t woman, I’m standing right in front of you, do you really find the need to yell? I was completely distracted by the piece of kale that was stuck between her teeth and I didn’t hear the next thing she was saying. Somewhere in between the lines of hard work and discipline.

"I’m sorry, could you perhaps repeat that again?" I asked. Okay now I wished I was mute because the entire squad was laughing—again. I had a bad attention span and I get distracted easily; I blame the kale in her teeth.

"Young lady! I do not like your tone!" she shouted and I flinched, ignoring the spit that just landed on my face. Somebody got some ear plugs and hand sanitizer? I need some deep cleanse after this. Damn, does this woman or man have a volume button on her because I’d like to turn her volume down a hundred notches lower.

"I require your full attention at all times, do you hear me?"

"Loud and clear ma'am, maybe just a little too loud." I nodded and then I paused. Oh my god, this wasn’t Mr. Walters that I was speaking to.

Her eyes popped out of its sockets for excessive screaming. Okay, this is bad.

"You little shrimp! Go run around that track for a whole hour, and NO STOPPING!" she screamed at me. My jaw dropped. She can’t make me do that? I’d die of exhaustion, I can’t even run track for my life with my vegetable legs.

Demi stepped out from the line and said. "Ma'am, I’ll go with her."

"Are you f*****g kidding me, do you ever stop shouting?" I hissed but she heard me loud and clear. Well here we go again. So much for staying out of trouble. Gasps, giggles and fits of laughter were heard behind me and I made an ‘uh-oh’ face, ready to brace what’s coming for me.

"NO PROFANITIES!" Buffy leaned into my face and screamed. Yeap, I definitely could hear Santa’s sleigh bells ringing in my ear.

"Okay mom, geez." Danny scoffed. Caleb laughed along the rest of them. “Damn girl!’ I heard someone cheered.

"I SAID SILENCE YOU INSOLENT DELINQUENTS! You and you! Go out there and get your ass on the track, both of you! NOW!"

"Yes ma'am!" Demi yelled in reply and jogged up behind me. "Come on you trouble maker." she hissed and pulled me with her. Maya and her group of girly cows smirked at us as we jogged past them.

And so I began my first work out of the year, oh shut up, I know.

"You didn't have to do this with me Demi, I’m totally fine in running on my own." I told her as we began our first round of slow jog.

"If we’re gonna be friends, I’m gonna need to save your ass every once in a while. Friends don't leave each other behind" she smiled.

"But that was two hours ago, how does one become such quick friends with a stranger?" I questioned, huffing and puffing my last few breaths as we jogged.

"Well, that’s how I roll, you’ll get used to it." she shrugged as she jogged backwards and I stared at the girl incredulously, wondering how she was running so effortlessly while I was already out of breath, ears bleeding, brain cells being fried.

"Hey girls, wait up!" Danny called from behind. Oh look, even Caleb had this smug look plastered across his face when he saw me, and they were jogging behind me.

"Whoa, what happened back there?" I asked.

"We decided to join you girls, that's what happened"

"Aw guys, how sweet." Demi snickered as she turned back around, eyes in front of the track.

"I SAID NO TALKING!" Buffy screamed from across the field.

"It’s only been a couple of hours since you got here and you’ve already made a name for yourself. Welcome to hell, Allie.” Caleb said, falling into pace right next to me.