Sarah was spending the next few days on 24 hour watch. She slept in the lodge, watched by a female student. Tonight that student was Shelby.
Sarah kept tossing and turning in her sleeping bag, until Shelby finally spoke up. "Can't sleep?"
"That's very observant of you Shelby."
"Cut the sarcasm, that's my gig." She glanced around the room. "How about a game of chess?"
Sarah stood up. "Yah, I could do that."
Shelby watched while Sarah set up the chess board. Once, as she reached across the board, her shirt exposed the bandages the nurse had used to cover her cuts.
"I don't get it."
"Get what?" asked Sarah as she finished setting up. "You move first."
"Why you do that to yourself. You and Jules both do. I don't get it."
"There's not really anything to get," she answered as she captured one of Shelby's pawns.
"Most people don't do that you know. It's not normal."
"Yah neither is running away or being abused by your parents. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen."
Shelby shook her head. "You're weird, you know that?"
"Yah, I do."
"And aren't you like starving all the time?"
Sarah stared across the board. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh come on. You're a stick just like Jules. You've gotta be a barfer or something."
"I don't have an eating disorder if that's what you're asking." Sarah was very nonchalant as she captured another one of Shelby's pieces.
"Get off it. You can't even weigh a hundred pounds."
"Back off Shelby. I've never asked you about your life."
"Fine, I get it. I was just trying to help."
Sarah nodded. "That's what they all say." She quickly moved her piece across the board. "Checkmate."
Shelby hadn't been paying very much attention to the game. She stared at the board in disbelief. "That was quick."
Sarah walked back to her sleeping bag. "And by the way Shelb, you suck at chess."
*****
The next day in history, Sarah could barely stay awake. Ezra had to poke her awake several times. Jeff just droned on and on about the Civil War. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, class was over. As everyone gathered up their books, Jeff called out to Sarah.
"Sarah, could I talk to you for a minute?"
Daisy looked annoyed. "Um, Jeff, she's on 24 hour watch. I've got to get her to her next class."
"It's okay Daisy, I'll take her." Daisy saluted and left Jeff and Sarah alone to talk.
"What did you want to see me about?"
"It's about your last few homework assignments."
"What about them?"
"Well, you haven't done them. I know you're new here, but you are still expected to do the work. I've given you several extensions, and now I'm afraid that I'll have to give you zero's on the assignments that you haven't turned in."
"Is that all?" Sarah looked irritated.
"No. I also wanted to talk about your last test. The class average was an 80, but you scored a 27. That combined with the homework means that you are failing this class." He waited for her to respond, but she just continued staring out the window. "I'm going to have to tell Peter about this."
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Can you take me to my next class now?"
*****
English class was very similar, with Roger asking Sarah to once again stay after class.
"Gawd," she exclaimed, "is this nag Sarah day or what?"
"No, I noticed that you didn't hand in your journal with the rest of the class."
"Oh, you want my journal." She reached into her bag and pulled out the notebook that Sophie had given her when she first arrived. "Here you go."
Roger took the book and thumbed through it. "This is empty."
"Mmm…good observation."
"Sarah, you're failing my class. I've given you several extensions because I know you're new here-"
"- but I'm still expected to do the work," she finished. "Did anyone ever tell you that this place is like a broken record?"
"Why didn't you do the journal assignments?"
"I didn't feel like it. Now can you please take me to my next class?"
"Soon, you're going to have to start caring about what happens in your life."
She sighed. "Luckily it's not today."