Meet Me In The Pit

Chapter Eight - I Snogged a Flying Benjamin

Keira

Score: Bad Day - Justin Bieber

The ride to the ground floor is taking painstakingly long, as mortification courses to me. It takes physical effort to suppress my urge to hit a random floor button and bolt out of this lift and out of this hotel.

"Strange Hot Guy? Really, Kiki? Really?!"

"Fuck, I said that out loud, didn't I?"

"Oh, you most certainly did," he says and I side glance at him only to see that smirk of his deepening, revealing a dimple in his left cheek that makes him look even cuter.

Lisa whimpers by my side and I turn to look at her. She's just standing there, blatantly gawking at Strange Hot Guy and I can't really tell what's more embarrassing - my reaction, or hers.

"Hello there," Strange Hot Guy says, leaning across me to face Lisa. "What's your name?" He extends his hand toward her. Lisa just stares at him with her mouth open for a beat, then her eyes drop to his hand, extended in front of her, but still doesn't take it.

Oh, for fuck's sake!

"That's my friend, Lisa," I decide to intervene. Lisa's gaze snaps up, zeroing in on my face, bewilderment and confusion written all over hers.

"Hi there, Lisa," Strange Hot Guys says, his hand still extended in the air. Lisa lifts her hand slowly and, finally, takes his offered hand. "It's so nice to meet you."

"You...You are...beautiful," Lisa stutters and the level of awkwardness in this elevator reaches levels incompatible with human life.

The doors open on the Ground Floor, saving me from this torture, and I scurry outside of the elevator, heading for the Conference Room.

"Kiki!" Lisa's voice from behind my back makes me stop in my tracks and turn on my heels just as Strange Hot Guy is walking past me. He nods at me, that smirk of his lifting the corner of his mouth, and whispers:

"I'll see you around, miss Vough," before striding down the hallway. At least five people turn to stare at him, as he disappears at the opposite end of the lobby.

Wow. I don't think his ego needs the boost, but, Okay.

I glance at my watch. Already two minutes late for my meeting.

"Sorry, babe, I really need to go," I say to Lisa, who's taking painstakingly long to cross the lobby to where I'm standing. "You're right, babe, I'll take the afternoon off, so that we can spend some time together, Okay?" I tell her, as I start to pivot toward the far end of the lobby, where Strange Hot Guy disappeared to.

"Kiki..." Lisa's voice makes me stop again, and this time she's actually at my side, grabbing at my arm, her eyes, wide as saucers, staring up at me.

"I know, babe, I fucked up, but I'm already late for a very important meeting, so, can you please just hold it off another hour or so, and I'll be right back with you..." I say, as I gently unclench Lisa's hand from around my forearm, and, this time, I really break into a run. "I'll meet you in the room in an hour," I yell over my shoulder, as I take the turn round Reception and then take the right corridor toward the conference rooms. Lisa's face, still a mask of bewilderment, disappears behind the wall.

As bad as it may sound, I am glad I got out of her way. Now, she'll have some time to think everything through, possibly have a drink or two, take a walk around the hotel, an finally realize she's on vacation. Even if only for s weekend.

I raise my wrist to my eyes and check my Apple Watch again, just as I pass the guards in front of one of our smaller, more private conference rooms that Jack and I picked for the briefing between the people from the band's management, Lavet Barcelona, and the band.