Chapter 17

• The next morning it’s back to square one. After breakfast, I have my head down. I’m walking toward my Physical training class with Alex and just as I exit the canteen, I accidentally walk into Amy. “Watch where you going clumsy,” she scowls when she sees it’s me. “You again. Do you need glasses?” I shake my head, too afraid to say anything for fear she’ll add more time to my sentence. As it is I cannot keep up with my schoolwork because most of my time is spent cleaning a garden in a part of the forest that doesn’t seem like it’ll ever get clean. Amy glances over my shoulder then walks off.
• I turn to see Alex standing on the corner of the corridor. He turns around and walks away from me. I walk toward the gym and find Alex at the centre of the room. As soon as I put down my gym back he says “Ready? Position one.”
• I fall into the position. The move is becoming easier and I feel my muscles burn with the hold. Whenever Alex says “Stop,” I need to hold the position. Alex adjusts my arms. He moves my knees further apart and I feel as if I’m about to fall. “Again!” he commands. He might as be a military sergeant with the amount of sympathy he has for my pain. Just as I suspect, I plop to the ground. “Get up! Again!” My fury for him builds.