"Thanks, Lex."
Claire said with a bright smile, grabbing her portion.
As she ate, she started waking up the others.
"Rise and shine, beauties! If you don't get up now, you'll miss breakfast and we'll be late!"
Skylar rolled over and groaned, dragging herself out of bed, but Zara pulled the covers over her head and covered her ears.
It was painfully obvious she had zero intention of getting up.
"Don't wake me! I'm not eating!"
Lex looked awkward. "But... I already bought yours."
"Then you eat it," Zara mumbled without a second thought, telling Lex to finish her portion.
"You're going to be starving later." Lex didn't want to take advantage.
"I'll eat when I'm hungry." Money wasn't an issue for Zara; she figured she could just buy something later.
Besides, Connie had packed her a mountain of snacks. She could survive on junk food if she had to.
Seeing Lex's hesitation, Claire reassured her, "Just eat it if you have the appetite. If not, don't worry about it."
Lex could certainly eat it, and the breakfast wrap was still decent even when cold.
"I don't eat cold food anyway. Just take it," Zara groaned, finally forced to get out of bed by the noise.
She kept her eyes glued shut as she stumbled her way to the bathroom to brush her teeth.
Skylar wasn't faring much better, doing the same zombie shuffle.
Claire was already fully packed—one suitcase for her clothes and a duffel bag for her bedding.
She traveled light.
Looking at Zara's two massive suitcases filled to the brim, Claire felt the need to warn her.
"You really shouldn't bring all your valuables. It's not safe."
"The instructors will make you put everything away, and electronics are definitely banned."
Although Claire hadn't been to this training camp before, her cousin Yolande had told her all about it.
Camp Blackwood operated under incredibly strict discipline.
Plus, there was a real risk of things getting stolen.
Cabinda University might be a
top-tier school filled with brilliant et
students, but good grades didn't automatically yequate to good character.
"No way. My tablet is my life. I need it for movies."
"I heard the base is super boring. I need this to pass the time at night."
Zara refused to listen, leaving Claire shaking her head in defeat.
If her stuff got confiscated by the instructors and locked away until the end of camp,
it was on her.
And the training was notoriously
grueling not just a walk in the park. Would anyone even have the energy to watch movies after being worked to the bone?
But clearly, Zara wasn't the type to take advice. She had to learn things the hard way.
Claire decided to just let her hit a brick wall.
Finishing her breakfast, Claire grabbed her things and headed down to the assembly area.
They weren't grouped by dorm rooms, so the girls had to head out separately.
Connie had already gone home, leaving Zara staring at her massive luggage in despair.
"What am I supposed to do with these? I can't lift them!"
Claire glanced at the pile of bags. Zara would likely end up dragging half of them back upstairs.
"You packed way too much. They probably won't even let you bring it all. Are you sure you don't want to downsize?"
Claire offered one last reminder.
"No! This is me downsizing!"
Claire pointed at one of the suitcases. "Isn't that entire bag just snacks?"
"Snacks are my life too!" Zara wrapped her arms protectively around the bag.
There was no way she was leaving them behind!
"And it looks like you jammed a giant stuffed animal in that one."
"I can't sleep without my plushie!" Zara absolutely refused to part with her toy.
Realizing there was no getting
through
to her, Claire shrugged.
"Alright then have full
them down the stairs."
Realizing she had no help, Zara looked ready to cry.
Lex hesitated for a second. "I can help you carry them."
Zara's face instantly lit up.