The Rise of the Nations

Chapter 4

After the competition ended, we said our goodbyes. Rio and Tokala gave their family members hugs, saying goodbye for the night since they wouldn’t be going to the campfire, and Rio gave Sparrow a hug that seemed to stretch for hours. Not that I was concerned or counting how long the hug was exactly or anything. Tokala linked his arm in mine, for which I was grateful as it took my attention away from Rio, and he pulled me away from the table. Rio followed us out to the parking lot, Tokala refusing to let go of my arm in case I was to get lost again; something I was very prone to do but didn’t necessarily appreciate him pointing out. It was bad enough getting “lost” on my way to the restroom and everyone seeing it, but I couldn’t help feeling like an idiot that Tokala thought I couldn’t even fin d the parking lot.

It’s true that I’m quite prone to getting lost, once having been lost for 2 whole hours because I had forgotten the proper way to read the street signs, but if I’d gone somewhere once, I would remember it for years to come. I don’t look at street signs per-say, but more at landmarks and surroundings, and not matter how far I’ve gone, I can always remember the way I came and if I make it to my destination safely, I can recall perfectly how it is I got there. Which kind of stinks because I can never follow or give directions because I can’t read street signs; the letters are always too small. Finding the parking lot isn’t too hard of a feat for me, especially since I’d been there already, but I liked Tokala and honestly, when he touches me, I feel warm inside; the sort of warm feeling that comes when you are with your best friend, or surrounded by your sisters. Tokala felt familiar and since I was here alone, familiar and comfortable was a really good feeling.

“So where is your car?” Rio asked, coming up on the other side of me.

“It’s over there,” I said, pointing to the north side of the parking lot, “You guys took the bus right? I could drive you back.”

“Nuh-“

“Yeah, we took the bus,” Tokala said, interrupting whatever Rio was about to say. I wasn’t an idiot and I knew Rio was going to say he didn’t actually take the bus, but I didn’t recall seeing them in the parking lot earlier and there weren’t that many cars; the majority of the people had either car pooled or taken shuttles and public transportation. Unless they flew, Tokala and Rio would have had to take the bus, or this I was sure.

“Okay,” I said smiling, “Then you guys can ride with me. Hope you like French music.”

The ride back to the hotel went smoothly. Thanks to my special skill, I didn’t need to use the GPS, much to Tokala’s confusion. It felt good to show him that I wasn’t as incapable of getting places as he thought I was. He made some annoying quips about women not being good drivers and not being aggressive enough along the way and kept questioning where we were going, but I knew he was just trying to annoy me.

When we arrived, we filed out from the car and into the hotel.

“Who was that singer we were listening to?” Rio asked as we walked through the lobby.

“His name is Stromae.”

“He’s really good,” Rio said, “Didn’t understand a word he said, but I liked it.”

“I know, right? He’s one of my favorites.” I was happy that Rio liked the same music that I did and it kind of made me a little bubbly.

“Tokala, you can take the elevator. Mica and I are going to take the stairs,” Rio said after Tokala led us to the elevators.

“Why are you taking the stairs?” Tokala asked, giving Rio a weird look.

“I’m claustrophobic,” I said, answering for Rio and then jokingly, I said, “But if there’s only the three of us so I think I’ll be fine on the elevator. Besides, I live on the top floor, and even though I’m okay with taking the stairs, I don’t know about you. It’s quite a hike.”