Chapter Four: Could Just Something Go Right?
Annie was growing tired of running. It felt like all they did was run. And if they weren't running, they were doing push-ups, pull-ups, and sit ups. She was definitely in the best shape of her life. Then, after about 2 weeks, Major Brzenska took them to the pool. "Jump in, ladies!"
"Oh no. What are they making us do now?" Mina whispered.
"I have no idea. Something awful, I'm sure." Annie whispered back, before plunging into the pool. She gasped as the cold water shocked her system. What the hell? It was absolutely freezing. Mina let out a small shriek as she hit the water, as did several others.
"Carolina! Diamont! Braus! Lenz! Schurmann! Hiller! Out of the pool and do it again!" The major barked. "You must be able to navigate any situation as silently as possible!"
"We're jumping in a pool, how quiet could we be?" Annie heard Ackerman murmer. The major clearly heard it as well.
"Your life could depend on your silence!" She scolded. "We're going to work on water entries at a later time." Mina let out a loud gasp when she hit the water the second time, but it was enough improvement for the major. Sergeants Hiller and Diamont weren't so fortunate. "Hiller and Diamont! Do it again!" The major crossed her arms. "I can do this all day. But that water is 40 degrees, so I'm not sure your classmates can." Clearly, the third time was the charm, though Diamont let out a little squeak. "Now, all of you are going to tread water."
"For how long, Major?" Sasha asked.
The major sneered. "Until you can't, Braus."
"She's trying to kill us." Mina whispered to Annie.
"Probably." Annie whispered back. "It's a tactic to weed out the weak."
"I'm sure it will work." Mina groaned.
"But look on the bright side, Mina."
"What bright side?"
Annie smirked at her. "At least it's not running."
"Shut up." Mina splashed water on her, making Annie gasp. The major didn't seem to really be paying attention to them. In fact, she was reading a book while sitting in a lawn chair.
After awhile, Sasha sidled up to them. "Hey guys." She whispered.
"What are you doing over here?" Annie asked.
"Shouldn't you be with the Barbies?" Mina questioned.
"Don't call them that." Annie rolled her eyes.
"Why not?"
"Why do you hate them? You don't even know them."
"They just seem cliquey."
Annie rolled her eyes again. "Sasha, why aren't you with Krista and Ackerman?"
"What? Am I not allowed to talk to other people?" Sasha avoided eye contact. Annie found that suspicious.
"Were they mean to you?" Mina asked.
"What? NO."
"You've got to stand up for yourself. Next time she says something, punch buff barbie in the throat."
Annie swung her elbow into Mina's side. Mina let out a grunt. "Don't tell her things that will ger her drowned in a pool."
"She wasn't mean to me." Sasha answered.
"Keep telling yourself that." Mina muttered.
After about 10 minutes, the major snapped her book closed and stood up. "Alright, ladies! I want three laps, the length of the pool."
"You've got to be kidding me." Mina huffed.
"Just go." Annie muttered back before starting to swim.
The major let them go after they all completed their swim, though some severely struggled. They then had to trudge back to their barracks in their soaking wet clothes. "She's going to kill me. I'm convinced." Mina grumbled, shivering in the cold, evening air.
"You have to think positive!" Sasha replied encouragingly. "She's making you stronger every day! You'll be a super soldier soon."
Mina raised an eyebrow and looked at Annie. "Is she always like this?"
"Yes." Annie answered flatly. Why was Sasha still tagging along with them? HAD something happened with Ackerman? Or were they trying to use Sasha to spy on her? Her thoughts were interrupted by a male voice calling out.
"Mina!"
"Oh fuck!" Mina grumbled. "Go away, Thomas."
"Mina! Just talk to me!" Thomas was evidently one of the tall, blond ones. Annie didn't like him already. He gave off douchey vibes.
"I have nothing to say to you." Mina kept walking.
Thomas reached out and grabbed Mina's arm, spinning her around to face him. "Then, listen!"
"Don't touch me!" Mina wrenched her arm from his grasp and took a step back. "I told you I never wanted to see you again!"
"Come on, Mina! It was one mistake."
"One mistake? You slept with my sister!" Annie's eyes widened and she heard Sasha gasp. Out of her periphery, she could see the other women begin to gather around, many of them seeming tense. Angry men put women on edge. "That's not one mistake. That's a series of mistakes leading to one massive fuck up!"
"I told you it was a misunderstanding! I thought it was you!" Annie actually winced. What the hell kind of excuse was that?
"We're not twins, Thomas! I know the truth! Now, leave me alone!"
"Listen you, bit-OW!" he reached out for Mina again, and Annie stepped in, grabbing his wrist and twisting his arm around behind him.
"She said don't touch her." Annie growled.
"Let go of me! You're breaking my arm!" he whined.
"No, I'm not." She stated, letting go of him, and pushing him away. He stumbled forward several steps. "But if you come near her again, I'll do a lot worse."
"Mina." He pleaded with her, looking around Annie who stood between them.
"Fuck off, Thomas." Mina responded.
"Listen, you bitch-" Thomas snapped at Annie.
"That's Sergeant Bitch to you." Annie crossed her arms. "Now you better walk away before your feelings really get hurt." Thomas scowled before stalking off, muttering under his breath as he went. Several women dodged out of his way as he stomped off, clearly trying to shove his shoulder into someone.
"Annie that was…" Mina started.
"Amazing." Diamont filled in.
"Incredible." Sasha gasped.
"Bad ass." Mina finally finished. "Thank you."
"A real winner you picked there." Annie sighed, crossing her arms. "It's whatever. I fail to see what you ever saw in him." Annie started to walk away. She was still wet, and cold.
"Well, he was handsome." Mina and the others followed.
"That's debatable." Annie replied.
"And he was funny and popular." Mina continued. "But he was the typical popular boy. And it turned out he wasn't funny and charming. He was nasty and selfish. Thought he could have whatever he wanted. Including my sister."
"Older or younger?" Sasha asked.
"What?"
"Is your sister older or younger?"
"Younger. Why?"
"What a scum bag."
"I'm pretty sure he's a scum bag for sleeping with her sister whether she's older of younger." Annie chimed in. "I don't think that part matters."
"It makes him MORE of a scum bag, sleeping with little high school girls." Sasha defended her position.
"Whatever."
"Yeah, my sister's two years younger. He sweet talked her into it. She regretted it. He tried to say he was confused. So, I dumped his ass and told our parents. He's not allowed near my sister. Instead, he started following me. I thought joining the army would get rid of an entitled rich boy. Apparently, I was wrong." They reached the barracks.
"Well, he's not going to bother you anymore. I'll make sure of that." Annie said bluntly.
"I wish he would just drop dead." Mina replied.
"I could arrange that." That made Mina laugh. Annie liked Mina's laugh.
"Oh, watch out for Sergeant Bitch." Sasha laughed.
"More like Sergeant Bad Ass." Mina grinned, wrapping an arm around Annie's shoulders. "Now, let's go warm the hell up."