Equilibrium - #ProjectWomanUp

Four

When we reach the yard, I am surprised at how simplistic it is. There is a running track around the perimeter and in the middle is lots of weights and other activities to help build body mass. I can see other Warriors – and novices – in the centre doing press-ups, sit-ups and chin-ups on bars.

"One hour of running, now" Kane screams at us. He is glaring at me as his group begin running. Feeling mischievous I wink at Kane before I run off to the track. I can practically feel his eyes burning holes into my back.

I don't mind running – in fact I enjoy it. I used to go running back before I was Warrior; but back then I used it as a way of getting out my frustration; both anger and sexual. But now, I run because I have to.

I find the first forty minutes of running easy, and I am at the front of my group of novices. As I am completing my last few laps – I have slowed down slightly due to fatigue – I see a Warrior running beside me. I don't recognise him, but I see he seems to know me.

"Barbie Girl can run" he chuckles as he runs in line with me. He seems to be in his mid-twenties; his hair a red-brown shade of auburn – with electric blue dyed through his hair – and his eyes a glistening brown colour. He is good looking, a large smirk over his lips. A blue One over his left pocket.

"Bet I can run better you, Stripes" I reply cockily – I have no idea how fast he is, but I know I have to appear confident to the other Warriors.

The man I have nicknamed Stripes, laughs loudly. "Bring it on, Barbie" he says. Then we are sprinting. Both of us charging full out; out combat boots hitting the track floor heavily. We are neck and neck; both us of pushing our bodies to the limit.

"Give up, girlie" he hisses between laboured breaths; our speed not decreasing. I can feel others eyes on us.

"Not a chance, Stripes, you give up" I growl out, my legs burning with the speed we are going. We reach the last lap and we push even more. I can see the finish line. I glance at Stripes and he glances at me. We both share a smirk and push even faster.

My legs are screaming, yet I ignore them. Kane is standing at the finishing line, looking ready to murder me. Yet I didn't care, maybe I am being selfish but I am having fun. As we come to the finishing line, Stripes is slightly ahead of me. I can't let him win.

Just before we reach the line, I shove Stripes and he stumbles. He shouts in complaint as I soar over the line. I win. I smirk happily as I come to a stop and turn around to Stripes. He is panting hard; but there is a teasing look of amusement on his face. "Playing dirty, girlie?" he asks.

"You didn't specify any rules, Stripes" I reply and he lets out a booming laugh.

"Oh Barbie, I'm going to enjoy you" he winks. I don't get time to ask what he means by that because Kane comes storming over. Stripes and I are still both catching our breaths, but we are smiling in amusement.

"Barbie, what the hell was that?" Kane snaps, his green eyes narrowing in fury. "This was a lesson of endurance not speed".

"Calm now Kane-y" Stripes laughs, playfully shoving my teachers shoulder as if they are old friends. They obviously know each other, but I can feel the tension between the pair. Kane is glaring at Stripes, and Stripes is smirking at Kane in a mocking way.

"We were just having fun" I shrug. Kane turns his annoyed look towards me.

"Oh Kane doesn't understand the word 'fun'; never has, never will" Stripes comments, slinging his arm over my shoulders. I instantly stiffen at the contact – Daniel would never do that and he is my fiancé. Or was my fiancé, I am still not sure where I stand with him.