Staying Alive

Chapter One

*Alex's POV*

"Alex! Hey! Wait up!" I hear my name being called from behind me. I turn around and see my friend Jason. "Hey Jason. What's up?" I ask him. "Oh not much. Colonel (kernel) Monroe yelled at me again. Go figure." He exclaims.

"Dude. Stop smoking in the bathrooms. You know he hates that." I tell him, stopping and crossing my arms, watching the newbies that just came in. Most of them being teenagers, because their parents sent them to boot camp to get "readjusted."

"Yes Alexandria." He says, standing next to me and looking down at his feet. I give him a look, "Right. Sorry. I know you hate your full name." I then smile at him.

"Alex! Jason...." Colonel Monroe says from behind us. "Sir." We respond simultaneously. "I see the newbies came in." He says, hands folded behind his back, standing tall. "Yes sir, I believe there is one more bus coming in. Small load this season." I respond back to him.

He nods, "Alex... You know you're my favorite... Strong willed, sassy, sarcastic and confident, strong...." He starts. I stop him before he can continue. Which I shouldn't have done, but it is true, I am his favorite. "What would you like Colonel?" I ask him, looking at him.

"Show the newbies around.... I know you might get hit on.... Again. But I don't have anyone else that's able to do it." He says, stating facts once again. I sigh, then look at Jason, then back to him. "Fine. But Jason gets to help." I state. "Let him win your trust back. He's a good dude. Promise."

He stares at me. Then sticks his hand out. "Deal. But don't screw it up. This is your last chance." He says, "Thank you, sir." I smile, shaking his hand, he smiles back. "You two start at 3 o'clock sharp. Be there." He says walking away.

"How are you his favorite?" Jason asks me. I shrug, "Because, I'm not what I own. Unlike some people..." I raise an eyebrow at him. "And  I was born with southern hospitality..." I then walk away, leaving my sass with him. I hear him scoff, along with dirt and stones being crushed under his boots. "I am not what I own either..." He tried defending himself. "Says the guy that's disobeyed Colonels orders since I met you." I state, smirking. "Mr. I like to smoke in the bathrooms..."

"What?! It helps with the stress... Plus some people think it's classy..." He says. "Yeah because sitting on a porcelain throne is classy and helps you destress." I sassily say back to him.

"Yeah. It is." He says. I roll my eyes and walk away, heading to the pavilion to start showing the newbies around.