before mealtimes for inspection.”
“God!” one girl muttered. “We’re not in the military.”
Elijah took a step forward until his nose was inches from hers, looked her in the eyes, and yelled so they could all hear him loud and clear. “No, you are not. This is going to be tougher than any military boot camp out there, and when you leave here, you won’t ever even think of shoplifting, cyberbullying, driving under the influence, grand theft auto, assault, drug dealing, or any other way to break the law.” His voice had gotten louder with each word—now it dropped to barely a whisper. “Young lady, since you have not read the handbook, you get a pass on that smart-ass remark, but next time you speak while in formation without being asked a question, you will get a demerit. Three of those will get you kicked out of this program that your parents have paid big bucks for. Now, toes touching the line, arms to your sides, eyes forward, and six inches between shoulders, and then we’ll march inside.”
Jayden could tell by their attitudes that they didn’t like to submit to that kind of authority, but not one of them even batted an eye, so evidently Elijah had gotten through to them on some level. Either that or they had a touch of fear for what the judge would do.
“This line is not perfect, but it will be by the end of eight weeks,” Elijah said. “Now follow me single file into the dining room, where you will each meet your counselor and learn which cabin you will call home for the next eight weeks.”
As they passed by Jayden, every one of them looked like they could chew up scrub oak trees and spit out toothpicks. They were all wearing jeans—some that probably cost more than a hundred bucks a pair and others with a Wrangler or Levi’s brand on the pocket. Most of them had pierced ears and wore other jewelry, and a few had a tattoo or two peeking out from around their bra straps and their expensive tank tops. Poor little darlings, their worlds were about to be turned upside down and inside out.
Jayden could sympathize with them. Her own world had crumbled the day that she found out Skyler was in charge of everything after their mother’s death, including the house where they’d both grown up.
“Good morning, ladies,” Mary said. “Welcome to Piney Wood Academy.”
Elijah and Henry both stepped out of the dining hall and closed the door behind them. The girls relaxed and began to look around the room, and then their eyes came to rest on the tables.
“I see that you’ve noticed you each have a name card on one of the tables for three.” Mary made a sweeping motion with her hand. “This is where you will sit for every meal while you are here.” Her tone held as much authority as Elijah’s had. “Right now, beside that card, you will find a set of clothing and a brown paper bag with your name on it. You will put everything you are wearing into the bag. That includes jewelry and underwear, and if you are still holding your cell phones, then they go in the bag also. We will see to it all your things are put into your luggage. That will go in storage and be returned to you when you leave.”
Several of the girls gasped, and Jayden could tell that they were weighing the idea of pleading with the judge or even their parents about having to stay in this horrible place with no phones for eight whole weeks. They’d just gotten the first shock of their stay at Piney Wood. Every one of them looked like they were about to bolt.
“All of your new clothing is marked with your name and cabin. You have one set on your table, and the other two are in the footlocker at the end of your cot in your bedroom. For the next eight weeks, this is what you will wear, and if you are caught outside without your cap on, it will be one demerit,” Mary said. “Now get dressed, ladies, so we can have some lunch, and then your counselors will go over the handbook this afternoon.”
When she was fifteen or sixteen, Jayden sure wouldn’t have wanted to strip down to her bare skin in front of complete strangers, even if some of them were also teens. Looking back, she was glad that her folks