When Rebels Meet Racers

Chapter 2

"Today's the day! Come on sleepy heads, wake up!" Batchi, ever the morning person, was practically chirping.

"Five more minutes Batchi!" Althea groaned, her head still pounding from her sleep deprived state. Their previous gig took a toll on them. Encores are only good ideas if there's no alcohol involved.

"We can't afford five minutes. Do you want Andrew to come up here and drag the both of you to the showers?" Batchi asked them, making a point by getting the phone and dialing their bodyguard's number.

"Okay, okay, stop. We'll get up." Wila finally said, annoyance dripping in her voice. She shuddered at the thought of the bodyguard's last visit in their room. Being dragged into the shower and drenched into the water while still in your robe is an unpleasant feeling.

Wila walked over to Althea's bed and started to kick the foam

"Wake up! I don't want a repeat of last time! " Wila said as she kicked one sharp kick on her band-mate's the bed that made Althea sit up in surprise.

"Wila!What the hell was that for? I said 5 minutes." Althea groaned.

"Don't pretend that I don't know you. 5 minutes more to you is 5 hours more. " Wila stated a fact, effectively shutting up Althea.

Wila turned to Batchi and said

"And for your information, nobody human is that chirpy in the morning."Wila huffed and stomped her way to the showers.

"What time is it?" Althea stiffled a yawn.

"It's 8 in the morning. We have to leave at 8:30 because it's a long drive from here to Clark City." Batchi said, mentally calculating the amount of stops that will be allowed,as well as the time they will take to get there, had there been traffic. (which it always does.)

"Fine. I never thought this day would come, us playing in the bash." Althea said with a dreamy smile. She thought of ways to please the crowd, perhaps playing the new riff she made the night before, or playing a track from their upcoming album.

"Yeah, and we won't be able to get there in time if you won't move your ass now!" Batchi said as she threw Althea's suitcase in the foot of the other woman's bed.

The hotel they were staying in had a room with three beds, ideal for the three of them. Being a close-knit trio, they've grown close and protective of each other. Batchi and Wila were like the siblings Althea never had. Althea was an only child and was taken care of by her father until the time she finished college. Her mother died as she was being given birth, and since then, her father swore to be the best he can be to Althea, forgetting about his bad habits such as smoking. Unfortunately, his habit came back around the time Althea was in college and ultimately went into hospitalization for his lung cancer.

Since then, Althea's saving grace was music. It was the thing closest to her heart. It was her father who taught her how to play the guitar. Her mother was a singer in her younger years, which solidifies that music do run in her blood. She remembers the first time she played and sang for her father

"You sound exactly like her, Althea," Felix said with teary eyes.

"'tay why are you crying? Do I really sound like her? Should I stop?" Althea was now removing the guitar strap from her shoulder for her to hug her father.

"No, my dear. This is your gift, your talent, never stop doing whatever makes you happy. I'm just so glad I'm able to hear her voice again through you," He said hugging his child.

"You made me nervous for a second there, 'tay. This does make me happy." Althea said with a smile.

"I know, my dear."