Bootcamp? Seriously?
I’d spent my whole life trying to prevent myself from ever becoming anything like my father. From doing ballet to learning to play the violin. All of it, all of it just out of spite for a man who barely looks at me besides the occasional insult and sneer. He hated me. Utterly hated me. And the second he got the opportunity, he ripped the rug out from beneath me and turned my whole world upside down…
I, Ava Mavis Jones, am standing in what could possibly be the worst place I have ever found myself in. Not that time in college when I woke up in a room full of people, half clothed and so hammered that I remembered nothing. Not that time I walked in on my brother fucking three girls…at once. No. Although, I needed copious amounts of therapy after that one. This was by far the most dreadful place.
Standing on the side of the road, I swallowed hard as I threw a glance towards my father, who was clad in head to toe with his military uniform. One he wore with such arrogance and held his head so proudly…I wanted to smack that proud grin from his mouth. But I couldn’t. Not now, or possibly ever. Especially as I now stood before a military fucking bootcamp that they send delinquents to. A fucking boot camp!
The officer that came to greet me — or lack there of considering he didn't so much as glance at me with an ounce of acknowledgement — was stone faced and tall. His brittle grey hair was combed back, slick with some kind of gel as he stared just as proudly and arrogantly as my father. Another officer urged me towards the camp and I didn’t get anything from my father as I disappeared inside. Not that I expected to as I was dragged deep into my own fucking hell.
“Attention! General on deck!” The smaller man yelled, startling me. The tall grey haired man walked into the cabin and I followed after. I swallowed hard, my hands clammy and trembling slightly as I followed. Inside, girls — surprisingly yet unsurprisingly I think — stood beside bunkbeds, arms slick at their sides and gazes pinned straight ahead of them. Silence. Utter and complete silence.
“We have a new arrival. Play nice, ladies.” Was all the tall man said before he disappeared, followed by the other man until I was left alone with 11 pairs of gawking eyes fixed on me. Fuck…me… Someone shoot me.
Everyone resumed what they had been doing a moment later leaving me completely stunned and biting back my trembling. Biting my lip, I dropped my head to the ground, gripping my duffel tighter as I walked through the cabin, marking each and every bunk until I found one that seemed unoccupied.
“It’s the only one left.” A voice chimed from behind and it took me every ounce of control not jump as I turned to the source. But my gaze met that of a raven haired girl, no older than me and at least 5ft. Her grey eyes popped against her tanned skin and her smile… She had to be from a rich family by the way she held herself and that accent. A second later and she offered me her hand, “I’m Adeline.” Biting at my bottom lip, I smiled weakly and shook her hand. God, I’m pathetic.
“Ava. I’m Ava.” That smile widened and she let go of my hand a moment later before motioning to the bed. “I have the top bunk. I hope you don’t mind.” Her voice was so calm, so gentle and yet, I had this knot deep in my stomach telling me not to be deceived by such sweet appearances. So I nodded, returning her smile. “No problem at all.” Adeline walked towards our bunk and stepped on the ladder to reach something from her bed. Her camouflage jacket, I discovered when she stepped down and pulled it on. “You missed shower time. Get into your uniform quickly before the Captain arrives.” I was about to ask who she meant but that stern glance kept me quiet. Flicking a cautious gaze around me, I slowly peeled off my clothes and stepped into the uniform provided for me. Day 1 of hell: fucking shoot me.
