I woke up when someone was shaking me. I sat straight up and looked around. Every Miss whatever was crowded around me and staring at me.
I jump up, "WHAT THE HE-"
"You were crying in your sleep." Isabelle says blankly.
"Oh so you all came and stared at me?" I ask angrily.
"We woke you up." Amy says. "Besides. We landed."
I look out the closest window, "huh." I say shifting into a more relaxed pose.
"Are you okay?" James asks putting his hand on my shoulder.
"Yeah." I say, wiping my eyes, "I'm fine. Just a dream."
"Okay." James said as he put his hand back to his side.
***
When we got to the building we were supposed to train in, I was given a quick tour, then the next bus drove us to a hotel about a block away.
We got a huge three room suite. In my room was Jordan and Lily. In another was was Amy, Patricia, and Isabelle. And the third was James and Bill.
That night, when my roommates were in their nice expensive pajamas, and I in my shorts and an oversized T-shirt, I couldn't sleep.
Maybe it was the bed. I didn't like the soft squishy pillows or the big warm quilt. I wasn't used to it.
Back at home I had a mattress on the floor with a hard pillow and a comforter. And I was fine with that.
But I wasn't about to pull the mattress off the bed, or sleep on the floor.
Or should I...
No. I didn't. I should've, because even now the comfort and hospitality is eating my brain out with its comfort and warmness.
So I stand up and walk to the snack bar. I don't have to pay for this right? Am I able to leave the room? Can I go drown my sorrows in the expensive food? Is there pizza here?
All very important questions that swirled around in my mind as I left the room to find pizza. As I neared a room, I looked in and saw a ton of people swaying around to loud music.
THERE'S A BALLROOM HERE? I think. I've never been in such luxurious places.
I hear the music start to crank up into an up beat tune. The bodies started to sway with more hostility along with the music.
Debating whether to go in or not, I smell chlorine. Looking over the railing, I see a big pool. Wow. I wanna jump in it. I'm gonna jump over the railing-
"Liz?" I hear a voice from behind me. I turn around and see James standing there in a tight T-shirt and loose pants. The shirt really showed off his abs.
Which was totally and completely necessary to this story. Heh heh...
"That's..." I look up at his eyes, "that's my name." I say with fake enthusiasm.
He grinned, and walked closer to me, "you aren't supposed to leave."
"Says who?" I ask.
He smirks, "I dunno..."
I shrug, "so it's not a rule."
James smirks again, "can you not sleep?"
I shrug again, "my last dream was a deal breaker."
"Hm. So you don't want to sleep?" James asks.
"Meh." I say with a slight shrug. I gotta stop shrugging... "I donno..."
"What was it about?" James asks.
"Ehh..." I glance to the ground, "lifey stuff."
"Like what?" He asks.
"Ya' know." I say as I start to walk around him, "I'm suddenly very tired. I'm gonna go sleep if you don't mind."
"Okay." James says with defeat.
***
I woke up the next morning, not remembering my dream, to a lot of noise and ruckus.
I sit up tiredly and look around. I see all of the girls in leggings and work out tops, with nice ponytails.
"Woah." One if them says.
Then they all look at me.
"Daang, girl." Patricia says, "you gotta get fixed up."
"It's my hair, isn't it?" I yawn.
All of them nod.
I roll out of the bed, but stick the landing, and trudge to the bathroom with a hair brush from my duffle bag I had on the sink.
"I can do your hair." A voice says from the door.
I turn and see Isabelle in the door way.
"No I'm fine-" I start to say.
"I'm done getting myself ready. Sit on the toilet lid." She commands.
"No.. It's fi-"
"Do it." Isabelle says in an almost demonic voice.
"Oh...okay..."
I do as I'm told, and she pulls my hair into a ponytail.
"Your hair would be pretty in curls." She says in a sweeter voice.
"Meh." I reply, "I'm not good with hot things."
"Yikes." Isabelle says, "how are you gonna deal with James, then?
I snort, "he isn't hot."
"Are you kidding?" She asks. When I shake my head her mouth drops open, "you, obviously, don't know hot from not hot."
"Well, he's kinda cu-"
"KINDA CUTE?" she shrieks, "whoops. Shh."
I narrow my eyes, "look, Isabe-"
"Call me Izzy." She says.
"Look, Izzy." I say, "I just don't think he's hot."
She smirks, "you will." Without further adieu, she leaves.
I walk out and dig into my duffle bag. When I finally found my workout-dance-comfort leggings, a tank top, and a sweatshirt, I changed and waited for instructions.
I follow everyone out of the room and walk by Jordan.
"Where are we going?" I ask.
"The training place." Jordan answers.
When we get there, I go to the room I'm supposed to. James is waiting for me in there.
"Hey." I say with a slight wave.
"Well you finally showed up." James says with a small smile.
"C'mon." I say, "I wasn't that late."
James snorts, "let's start."
"Hold the phone." I say holding up a hand, "what are we training for? And what are we training in?"
"Uh..." James hesitates and starts to walk towards me, "you have to be strong."
"Why?" I ask.
James puts his arms out and stops, "we've stepped up the game."
"Hold on." I say, causing him to stop again, "I have to learn to fight?"
"Yes." James says as he puts his fist in his hand gently.
"Why?" I ask.
"Because." James says.
"Why do I get the feeling you're lying to me...?"
"Well..." James says, stopping when we're about a foot apart, "we are lying to you. And you'll find out soon enough what your here for."
"Okay." I say, "when do I get my money?"
"At the end of this." James says, "All of this."
