The Meaning Games

6.No Secrets, All Lies

The girls never kept anything from each other, but as contestants, they lied to everyone else. 

Avarie walked through the entrance of the gym in Chevy Chase Village's Castelo Hotel and stared down at her stepbrother who was currently lifting weights, his face red.

Marcus Castelo, Avarie's father, was the CEO of a chain of hotels all across America and was becoming almost as popular, as rich and as large as the Hilton's chain. Marcus had just made a deal with England, France and Germany. He wanted his business to go global, one day. His children got unlimited access to the facilities in the hotel. 

Milo looked up at Avarie. A bead of sweat rolled down his face passed his brown eyes as he lifted the weights above him again. Avarie stood in her bikini having come from the pool. She tapped her foot on the floor, waiting for him to put the weight back. After a moment, he did, huffing and grunting. He sat up with one leg either side of the bench. He picked up a towel from the floor, wiping his face in it. His mouse-brown hair was sticking to the side of his head. 

"You're going to need to freshen up," Avarie said before Milo could say anything. "You haven't got that long."

Milo wrinkled his nose. "What are you going on about?"

Avarie sighed heavily and dramatically, sitting down on the bench too. "Have you heard of the saying I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine?"

"Yes." He dropped the towel in his lap, scanning the gym room and the people in it. "But the problem is that I don't need you to scratch my back."

Avarie rang the water out of her hair, letting it form a little pool on the floor. Milo noticed and grabbed his towel, chucking it down over the top so no one slipped. "I know," she said confidently. "I already did."

"What?"

Avarie stood up. Milo was about to follow, but he heard someone snigger from the other side of the room, over by the treadmills. A man was no longer running; instead he had the emergency pull cord in his hand as he stared at Avarie in a lascivious way, noticing her lack of clothes. Milo grunted. "Uh, Milo?"

"Hold on," Milo said, standing up. He gently pushed passed Avarie but she turned, not giving up on their conversation. She had to talk to him; after all, she had a deal to uphold. 

"No. Milo. I'm trying to tell you something." 

Milo patted his sister's arm, distracted. His eyes were fixated on the man standing over by the treadmill. He watched as the man, dripping in sweat, glanced at Avarie. His eyes scanned over her body hungrily. Momentarily, his eyes flickered to Milo who stood in front of him. Annoyed, he scowled. "Can I help you?"

"Yes." Milo's hands gripped the edge of the treadmill as he raised an eyebrow at the stranger who was hairy, quite old looking, and not in a good shape. "You can, actually."

"Get out of my way, kid," the guy scoffed, trying to crane his neck around Milo to glance at Avarie again, who'd crossed her arms, watching the scene in front of her in amusement. 

"Get out of my hotel," Milo said lowly. 

The bloke laughed, glancing at the person on the treadmill next to him who was still running, trying to keep his head down. Milo got the impression that they'd come here together. "Your hotel?" His friend then cleared his throat and the guy's chuckle became heavy with nerves at his friends worried expression. 

Milo's lips curved upwards for the first time since he'd spotted the man's eyes ravish Avarie's body. Moments later, though, the man perked up again obviously gaining courage. "No, wait," he said after a moment, leaning against the treadmill. "I want to know what this kid's problem is."