Right On Track

Chapter 16

"Don't judge me."Kiara told her trainer as they neared the end of an exercise session.
Kate shook her head,looking at the bruise on Kiara's shoulder."Absolutely not."
Kiara sat down on the yoga mat she had sprawled along the floor of the balcony.She grabbed her bottle from nearby and took a sip of her water,inhaling some air after the work-out routine.Kate sat down on the chair nearby,her elbow resting on the balcony railing.
"That one must have really hurt."Kate said.
Kiara let out a weak laugh."That one is still small.The bigger one is one my back." The bruise on her shoulder,as could be seen as she currently wore a tank top,was only about the size of two coins,not very big.But the one on her upper back was the one she currently despised the most.
"A lot of plans for the break?"
Kiara shrugged,trying not to think about the the stupid PR stunt."Just at home for a little bit.Then,we're going for a short vacation somewhere."
"Its your birthday soon,right?"Kate arched a brow.
"Yeah,"She replied."Both mine and Alora's.Thats mainly what the trip is for."
She nodded,seeming to like the idea.
Kiara checked her watch,sighing.It was exactly eleven in the morning,which also meant that Kate had to go.She had been around since nine-thirty.Kiara knew that the next session with Kate would only be towards the end of the break.
Kiara stood up from where she sat cross-legged on the yoga mat.Kate stood up and they shared a hug.Then,a few minutes later,the trainer gathered her training equipment and was leaving the hotel room.
Kiara flopped down on the bed straight after.She lay down for some time,the air-conditioner switched on in the heat.She soon pulled out her phone and decided to look through her inbox,since there wasn't really much to do that day.The break had just started.
She looked through some posts,feeling embarrassed now and again.But of course,she had slowly gotten used to that type of thing.So far,people started to go on about the crash and how she had kicked Carlos.It was the main topic of the race weekend,as it seemed.But definitely not in a good way.
Kiara muttered some words of regret to herself.She had brought this upon herself.The incident in the paddock and the PR stunt was all because of her stupid decisions.She didn't understand how it was hard to have some common sense in those moments.She had not been able to sleep Sunday night,tossing and turning in bed.During the restless night,all she could think about was Carlos.And how she had to keep her angry behaviour in check everytime she thought about him.
He was currently in the same hotel as her,since he was obviously supposed to leave with her for the airport tomorrow.In the eyes of Lydia and Caco,it seemed as if Kiara had just given in and accepted the fact that she had no choice but to do this in public.But Kiara had her own idea forming in her head...
Her phone chimed as she looked at the screen,a notification popping up.It was Ivy,asking if Kiara was fine.Kiara sent a simple 'I'm fine' and continued on without saying more.Ivy started to type a response,but soon stopped.She knew that Kiara would only give dry responses to it.So,she just left her message saying "Okay,tell me if you need anything."
Kiara had received another text too,one from her father and one from Alora.She left them on delivered,since she couldn't stomach the fact that she had to hide this stupid stunt from her sister.And aside from that,she couldn't work up the courage to apologise to Alora for causing a problem during the podium celebration.
Kiara set her phone aside and sat up.She walked into the lounge and grabbed the tv remote,switching on the tv as she sat down.She switched on the television and leaned back,still feeling tired from the night before.She was also still frustrated about the article Nathan had written.
She needed to clear her head,but didn't know how to even do that.
There was a knock on the hotel room door.Kiara sighed and clicked the pause button on the tv remote.She asked loud enough for the person to hear."Who is it?"
"Carlos."He replied.
She unpaused the television and turned up the volume,rolling her eyes to herself.
He knocked again and she shouted."Go away!"
"No."
"Go!"She demanded.
"Nope."
Kiara got up from the couch and stormed over to the door he waited behind.She stopped,a hand on the handle.Her gaze drifted to the peephole,which she looked through and saw Carlos waiting.He just waited there,hands in the pockets of his jeans,his dark hair neatly combed.
"I know you're standing there."He said.
She stepped away from the door."Well,that doesn't mean I'm letting you in."
"Kiara-"
"I'm not in the mood."
He sighed."But I just want to talk."
"Oh,we spoke enough during the weekend already.I'm done."
"No,not enough."He said.
"For me,yes."
Carlos decided to quietly reply to that with."I think you're forgetting the fact that you eventually have to talk to me during the whole PR issue."
"You're not really my boyfriend,so what's the need?"She said,frowning even though he was on the other side of the door and couldn't see it.
"I'm only trying to-"
"Bye,Carlos."She cut him off.
"Come on!"He said."Just wait-"
As much as she wanted to confront him about it,she couldn't admit it.To herself,mostly.Her gut told her to let him in,let him explain himself.And she usually followed her gut.
But this time was different.She didn't have the motivation for anything at the moment.And most importantly...the courage.
"I'll wait for you right here."Carlos said,interrupting her thoughts."I'll wait until you'll let me explain."
She scoffed and sarcastically told him."Fine,then sit outside the door all day so you can see that i don't really give a damn."
And with that,she finally walked away from the door and back to the couch.
He knocked again and she said."Go ahead and wait,then,Carlos.Waste your time."
And just as she sat down to relax again,her phone started to ring.She swore under her breath and eventually picked up the phone,looking at the caller ID.It was Daniel,who was most-likely checking in on her.To be honest,she wouldn't mind answering his call.In fact,maybe he would even add some sort of way to lighten up her mood.He had a way of doing that with everyone.
"Danny?"Kiara answered the call.
"Hey,Kiara."He said."How are you doing?"
"I'm good."She lied.
"And I'm not convinced."He said.
"What?Am I supposed to spill out all of my thoughts over this phone call?"
"I wouldn't mind hearing you out."Daniel said.
"Trust me..."She sighed."You would mind."
"Oh,come on."He said."Don't be so negative."
"After this shit race weekend?Yes,I can be negative."
Daniel was quiet for a moment,then her said."It was only the third race of the season,Ki.There's so many more ahead for you."
"No,it's not just the racing."
"Carlos?"
"Yeah..."She replied."How do you-"
"It will pass by,Kiara."He told her,still trying to be optimistic,as he always was."Trust me when I say that all bad things happen for reason and they eventually leave."
"Its hard,Danny."She said,leaning back while exhaling.
"I know."He said."But you just have to leave it behind."
"The media-"
"They'll forget."He said.
"No,I don't think they're going to forget the-" She immediately stopped herself,realising that she couldn't tell Daniel about the fake relationship.As much as she wanted to,she couldn't.And being so negative about the situation with Carlos would only leave Daniel wondering after they started to "go public."
To cover it up,she told Daniel."Maybe you're right."
"Huh?"
"I said you're right."She lied again,as much as she wanted to tell the truth.
"I got that,Ki."He said."I'm just surprised as to why..."
"I'm just considering your words now."She said."And maybe you're actually right.I should let it pass by."
"Well,that was unexpected."He said,sounding a little confused on his end of the call.
Kiara needed to end this conversation.She thought about it for a second,then told Danny."I think I'm going to just rest for today."And that,for one,was not a lie.
"Okay..."He said."Do you need anything?"
"Nope."She said.
"Sure?"
"Yeah,thanks."
He started to catch on to the fact that the conversation was coming to an end.So,he finally said."Text me if you need anything.Alright,Ms.Feisty."
She gave a weak laugh."Okay.Thanks,Daniel."
"Bye."
Kiara ended the call,shaking her head to herself as she had just lied straight to him.She put her phone down on the coffee table and went back to watching some tv.She actually was telling the truth when she told Daniel that she would spend the day resting after the chaotic race weekend.She meant it.So,she leaned back in the couch and tried to block out everything else.