I folded my boot-scrubbing rag and ran my finger firmly in the edge, giving a crisp crease at the side.

"Aw, the pretty boy even folds rags. Are you going for a Cinderella, Ken doll?"

My oh-so-clever fellow hell-mates had taken to calling me "Ken", the male Barbie.

I smirked. "I'll be out of here within the time your potty-trained, your King-ship."

I glanced along them and gave another smirk.

I had come in to this place 26 hours, 32 minutes ago. It was needless to say the guys weren't worshiping the ground I walked on- Yet.

There was Frank King. Everyone called him King, even the guys older and stronger than him. The Coperals and drill sergeantsdidn't like doing it, I could tell. But they called everyone by their last name, so I guess it didn't matter. At least I got "King Of Chilton" on my own.

I don't know the two guys around him.I think they're Harding and Gregory. Anyhow, they buzz around King, doing basically whatever he wants. I knew what it felt like though, I'm used to being buzzed around myself.

Then there's her. I didn't find out her name till this morning. Her dad is some big shot commando out in Iraq right now. She prefers being in the boys' camp. Her name is Vixen, I think. Everyone calls her that. I suppose it's probably a nickname. What father in their right mind would let their daughter be named Vixen, then continue to call her that when she grew up as a boy-crazy chick?

They all brushed out of the equipment room, some knocking my shoulder. King sent a cool glob of mucas-y spit onto my boots before slamming the door.

I let out a slow breath of relief. Finally alone.

Anyhow, I hadn't seen her since my cold shoulder at the bunkhouse. I imagined I would see a lot of her in the coming two months.

My muscles ached from yesterday's run. My famous touseled hair, the locks that girls loved to run their hands through, was shorn to the longest cut optional-a crew cut.

"They can be tough"

I whirled to see a short kid, maybe thirteen or fourteen. Pudgy, he was either here as a newbie, or didn't get the physical aspect of the camp Dad so joyously signed me up for.

"Who are you?" I asked the stumpy boy. I bet he's never had a girl.

"I'm Kory." His white shirt framed folds of baby fat. "I do laundry on Wednesdays here."

That's his staple? He's the laundry kid? Not, "Hi I'm Kory, I'm smart" it's "Hi, I'm Kory. I do laundry"

I blinked. "Nice." I went back to my boots.

"King doesn't like you." He noted.

I bit back a sarcastic remark, reining it to "No kiddn' Sherlock."

"We have out camp do get togethers with the Merrel girls camp down the road." Kory said loudly.

"Flavor of the week." I mumbled, scrubbing harshly with my brush on the boot.

"What?"

"Back home I hooked up with a new chick every seven days. I called it my 'flavor of the week'."

Innocence glowed through his orb-like grey eyes. "Like Vixen."

Vixen...she seemed to have the similar effect here that I possessed in Chilton. Only she had the advantage of being the only female within the electric fence. She reminded me slightly of Summer. Her sensual way of strutting, gaze of fire, a toying smile and fake titters.

"No...Not like Vixen." I took my laces and began weaving it through the appropriate holes.

"The girls call him the King of Redding." Kory bounced from one foot to the other.

The kid doesn't take a hint!

I set my boots on the shelf and gave him a patronizing look. This kid would be eaten alive back home. Skewered and roasted. "I gotta go."

I pushed past him then walked into the mess hall.

I sat alone.

I've never done it before. I was always flanked by a few select guys and met up with a couple choice hotties.

Grimly I chewed my canned peaches. I felt a knot twisting in my stomach. I had often snatched a lunch tray from a loner, but aside from Mary I'd never...

Mary.

I mixed a smile and masking smirk in rememberance. She would sit with a thick novel, headphones, lunch, and a coffee...no matter if it was 200 degrees out.

I was sitting and eating lunch alone.It was a first, a new one, something I'd never done before.It was like a first fight, or a first prank - without collapsing into laughter afterwards.

"Mail."

Sergeant Cruiz stood in the front of the room with a mail bag that said "Mail" in black stenciled on letters. "Parkinson, Lopez, Laffet..." One or two letters were handed to each guyas he began going down a list on his ever present clipboard.

"DuGrey."

I walked up. I wasn't sure how many there would be, if anyone had even remembered I was gone after I left. I glaned at King who was sifting through four letters. I'll get more then him...no problem...I hope.

Commander showed an armful of letters into my hands, along with a shoebox - all ready full.

I made sure not to look as surprised as I felt as I brought the box back to my table. I saw leering glares - but didn't give a hoot. It's two months, I'm not here to make friends.

I stuffed the letters to fit into the box, then left.

I sat on my bed, and threw the box's contents on the neat sheets. My eyes hungrily seached the envelopes.

I threw them into stacks, I sorted through, hoping. It was stupid even to imagine a real letter.

I shifted most into "girls from Chilton". One from mom, I didn't even bother reading it.

I raised my eyebrows. One was from Paris. "Gellar gets a gold star." I mumbled and scanned the handwriting I still think should be a font.

Tristan,

Because of you I had to be Romeo. I had to kiss Rory Gilmore. (No lewed comments mister grease paint and combat boots) Yes. your fault. I hope you get beaten up over there and learn common sense.

-Paris

I grinned. Even though Paris still has a crush on me - nothing gets between her and a precious A.

She had to kiss Mar. I couldn't believe I was jealous.

I pushed through the perfume smelling letters. I tried to pretend to myself that I wasn't, but I was holding my breath for a plain, white letter that smelled of strong coffee.

"Letters to the local celebrity."

I didn't even look up, I knew Vixen's voice already.

"This is a boys' dorm, get out."

My own comment confused me. Last week I would be her, bothering someone else.

I finally sighed, there was no letter from here and I shouldn't have even imagined there was.

I knew Vixen was still at the foot of my bed, but I ignored her and took out another letter to read.

Over the edge of the violet stationary I saw Vixen's cheeks flushed scarlet. Not the embarassed flush I enjoyed provoking on Mary, but a raged one.

I gave a smirk before continuing the rubbish filled "Miss You" letter.

A/N: Well, there's the update. Tell me what you think please. And I knew there are some typos and stuff. If you're interested in being a beta reader and have the time to keep up with updates lemme know!

R.R.