Author's note
Sorry that this has taken so long to get out and that it is a shorter chapter; I'm really bad at planning and I have a new story I am working on alongside this one. But, anyway, please, if you can, leave a review or put it on your alert list, anything is appreciated.
Chapter 4
In the lift, the air was filled with a tangible excitement. Though we were all silent, we knew what we were all thinking. Time for a new life, together. Although I was bursting with questions for the captain, they could be answered tomorrow, all I needed was a hot shower and a soft bed.
As the lift doors slid open, we were led back through the labyrinth of rooms and soon came to a long corridor with the same monochromatic colour scheme as the rest of the complex, only this one had a splashes of colour on all the doors that lined it, the signs. Each door had a piece of card with a name, presumably denoting different squads, and a logo. The logos ranged from what looked like an art student's doodles to just a stylized name.
The captain stopped when he came to the only plain, ordinary door. It was opened with the swipe of a card and hissed as it slowly opened. "I'll be in that room if you need me," he said, with a weary hand wave to a room a few doors down, "I'll meet you out here at 0600 for breakfast. And, from now on, unless we are in a formal situation, call me Jack." And, with that, he opened his door and went inside, closing the door behind him, a hearty cheer erupting from the room.
As I slowly entered the room, I admired how...well...homey it was. There were two brand new pastel armchairs against the right wall, one yellow and one sky blue. Opposite these was a large three-seated sofa that was a pastel green. There were also 3 bunk beds lined up against the far wall. A light brown coffee table, with bright and colourful placemats stacked in the middle.
A door led off either side of the room. The one on the left seemed to lead off into a bathroom and the other accommodated what look like a very small room of cupboards with just enough room for a kettle, a toaster, a microwave and a small fridge.
Suddenly, I heard a happy squeal from behind me and I was knocked a little from where Hannah had hurriedly run past and jumped excitedly onto one of the beds, seeming to enjoy curling up on it and feeling it out. Kat, despite her aristocratic upbringing, followed suit, though more carefully, and sat on one if the colourful armchairs. Charlotte quietly tried to get past me without physical contact, until I noticed her and allowed her to sidle past with a knowing smile, and she sat on the other armchair, cautiously making sure to keep it as clean as possible.
While everyone else settled in, I turned to the boy and said, apologetically "Sorry, I forgot to mention: I'm Alice!"
"Adam." He responded happily, "Sorry for my silence earlier. You seem really kind and caring, I was just a bit shaken up."
"Don't worry. I understand." I replied. And with that, we both walked into the room and sat on the soft sofa.
"OK. First off: Adam, everyone; everyone, Adam" I start, with a quick gesture to Adam.
Hannah, now lying on her stomach, looked at Adam curiously "Nice to meet you. I'm Hannah."
"Wait. Hannah Crayla? From Almerton?" Adam looked surprised.
"The very same." Hannah replied, amazement written across her face. "How do you know my name?"
"A few months ago, I performed against you at the County Music Festival." Adam explained, looking at Hannah, her face brightening.
"Oh, I remember you now!" she said excitedly, "You were that amazing singer who sang...oh...what did you sing?"
"Earth by Sleeping At Last." He replied, with a smile, "You performed your own song, didn't you? It was brilliant! You definitely deserved that win!"
"Well...um...thanks!" Hannah replied, her cheeks turning red.
"I'm Kat!" Kat told Adam, continuing the introductions.
"I'm Charlotte." Charlotte said, shyly.
"Very nice to meet you both." Adam curtly replied.
"So, who wants what bed?" I asked.
Hannah immediately cuddled her pillow cutely and said "Mine!", giggling.
"I'm going to take this one." Kat said, walking over to the far left bottom bunk.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to take this one." Charlotte politely said, standing next to the top bunk of Kat's bed.
"If you want to go with Hannah, I'll take the one on the right." Adam said. I nodded and put my bag on the bed, Hannah beaming happily at me.
Then, I noticed a door behind each bed and found they were tall, thin wardrobes and found loads of clothes, for all sizes. There were jackets, leggings, sweaters, jeans and loads more. The wardrobe was a colourful rainbow of clothes, not what I was expecting. However, then I thought of The Commander and thought that he seemed the sort of person that wouldn't enforce a uniform policy.
Hannah looked over and saw the array of clothes and, after a short gasp, raced to the wardrobe, grabbed the most colourful sleepwear and then ran into the bathroom yelling "First shower!" back at us with an enormous grin.
As the door slammed closed, I couldn't help but laugh at Hannah's enthusiasm.
After around two hours of small talk and taking turns to shower, the day ended with all of us, exhausted from recent events, near enough collapsing into our beds, sleep taking us quickly.
