The Race

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

After we finished training at five o’clock, I headed upstairs with Kier.  We had three hours before we had to be back down in the lobby to go to the Gala.  But according to Isla, three hours wasn’t going to be enough time to transform me.  I’m sure she could manage, though.

“So you’re going to get ready for the Gala?” Kier asked as we rode up to our floor in the elevator.

I smiled.  “What else would I be doing right now?” I asked.

“Oh, I don’t know, beating me up just a little more?”

“Wouldn’t you like that,” I laughed. 

When we were practicing fighting, I certainly had the upper hand in that area, seeing as I’d been training in martial arts for years.  Kier, on the other hand, had only a few months. 

My dad had taught him all of the basic moves and some of the intermediate and advanced moves, but he was no match for me.  I had him down on the mats within a few moments.  He was excellent at blocking my hits but I was able to catch him off guard most of the time, though he did get me a few times.

“Are you still hurting?” I asked, looking over at him with a smile.

“I’m good,” he said, stretching out his arms, and then grinned back.  “How’s your head?”

I reached up to touch the small knot on the back of my head from when he’d knocked his arm into my chest unexpectedly and I fell to the ground. 

“It’s good,” I said.  “At least it’s not a big knot.  My hair will cover it.”

He laughed as the elevator doors opened up and we started toward our room. 

“I’ll see you in a few hours,” he said, pulling out his room key from his pocket.  He smiled and opened his door, stepping inside.

“Yeah, I’ll see you,” I said before he closed the door, my hand on the handle of my door.  But then I realized that I didn’t have my room key with me.

I knocked twice on the door, leaning my forehead against it.  Before I knew it, I found myself stumbling forward as Isla swung open the door. 

“Lennox!  God, you scared me!” she said.  Her hair was half up in rollers, the other half down in a messy array of curls.  “I didn’t know who it was and I didn’t order any room service.”

“Sorry,” I said, going into our room.  “I forgot my key this morning when I left.”

“Oh, it’s okay!” she said, smiling.  Her hands went up to take more curlers out.  “You’d better get in the shower.  I’ll try and finish up with my hair before you get out.  I’ve already got my makeup done, so I’ll be almost good to go!  I don’t want to put my dress on until we absolutely have to.”

“Okay,” I said, sighing, as I rubbed my temples.  “I’ll be taking a shower.”

“Don’t take too long because we’ve got to get started on everything!” she said, smiling.  “Oh, I’m going to make you gorgeous!  Not that you aren’t already, though!”

I waved her off and headed toward my room.  I stripped off my clothes and got into the shower.  The warm water soothed my sore body as it rained down on me.  I closed my eyes and stood there for a long moment before I started washing my hair. 

When I was finished, I wrapped my hair and body in towels and headed toward my room.  I got out underwear and another tank top and put them on right before Isla came into my room, her hair a mass of curls.