I didn't watch the Jordan and James thing... I'm glad, too. But I slept okay that night, and went to bed early. I woke up super early, though. At, like, 6am.
I snatch my phone off the night stand and text my best friend, Rachel. She was all for going to Taco Bell, so the plans were set.
And hey. Don't get me wrong, I did text my uncle a lot. Mainly about smaller, more fatherly things. Such as "are any boys there?" "Do you sleep by them?" And "no. Wear a tent."
I know what you may be thinking. "WHAT. BUT YOU'RE IN NEW YORK." Yeah, well, my best friend is in New York, too.
I walk to Taco Bell, which isn't that far away. Rachel's already there and waiting for me. When we see each other, we run into each others arms.
"Oh my god." Rachel says, "I can't believe you're actually here. How did you pay for your flight?"
"I didn't." I answer as we stop hugging. "It was free."
"How?" Rachel furrows her eyebrows.
"So... Ya' know those beauty things...?"
"You're here for that?" She asks in disbelief.
"Kinda?" I slouch a little.
Rachel sits at a table, "tell me everything."
"Don't you want food?" I ask.
"Yeah. Right. Forgot about that."
After we got food and drinks and sat down, I told Rachel everything. From meeting James, to the flight, to the stuff that happened at training, to James's "love life," to my feelings about that, and so on.
The whole time Rachel stares at me wide eyed and nods.
"Wow..." She says, "it's so good to see you, though. I'm so glad you're safe."
I nod slightly and smile. Rachel glances over my shoulder and gapes.
"He's hot." She says quietly.
I look over my shoulder and see James opening a straw wrapper. My eyes widen slightly, and I turn back to Rachel, "not that hot." I mutter.
Rachel snorts and looks back at me, "if he's so 'not hot,' go talk to him."
"No." I say.
"Why not?" Rachel has a begging sound in her words, "just do it. If you don't, I will."
I almost choke on my pop when she says that, "you? Talk to a guy? Suuure. That's gonna work."
"Challenge accepted." Rachel says as she stands up and walks to James.
"Hey." I can hear her say. I glance over my shoulder and see James look down at her.
"Hey." He says smoothly.
"I'm Rachel." She says, "I'm with my friend." She points to me, so I lower my head into the table, "I don't... I don't think she likes you."
I hear James snort, "well... I'm James. I'm here by myself."
"Oh..." She says. I can hear the 'flirt' in her voice. "Well. Call me if you need someone to go with next time."
I can hear Rachel giving James her number seconds before she comes back and sits down proudly.
"See?" She asks, "I can flirt."
"I'm gonna..." I start, "I'm gonna go talk to your friend..."
"Ooh." Rachel jokes, "I call dibs, though."
I shoot her a fake smile and walk over to James.
"What are you doing here. I demand quietly.
"Getting food." James says innocently. "Is that your friend?" James glances over my shoulder and winks.
I glare at him, "yes." I growl.
James puts his hands up in fake surrender, but drops them to his side, "she's cute."
"Don't touch her." I snap, still glaring.
James puts his hands up again, "okay. No promises."
"I'll kill you." I say, with the glare on my face hardening, "I'm capable."
"Ugh." James mutters, "I swear I won't touch her."
"Good." I say, softening my face, "now, I don't know you until Monday."
***
Monday came fast and I woke up early again. In my personal opinion, it's better to be up early. You can start your day sooner, and conquer the world.
PSH. WHO AM I? I just like walking with James...
James was at the fridge when I was done getting ready. We ate a quick breakfast and headed over to the training building.
"So you know me now, right?" James asks, smirking.
"Yes." I say with annoyance, "and I swear to God. If you go anywhere near Rachel-"
"I won't, I won't." James says, "don't you trust me?"
"No."
When we got inside the building, Amy was waiting right inside then door.
"Hello, guys," She says, menacingly.
"Hey, Amy." James says, acting oblivious to the hatred in her voice, "how are you." But it wasn't a question.
Amy grimaces and shoots me a glare. I slightly wave, and she turns back to James.
"So... When does training start?" She asks.
I look at James, "wha-"
"Oh. He didn't tell you?" Amy asks sweetly, "typical."
"What do you mean 'typical?'" James demands.
"You secretive self-centered little twat." Amy growls.
"Nobody's talking about you..." James says slowly.
I glance at Amy trying to hide a smirk. When she doesn't look amused, I quickly turn away.
"Liz." James says, "today you're fighting with someone your level."
"I am not her level, Jamesie." Amy complains.
"Yeah." I mutter, "you're way under."
James smirks and looks at Amy, "you'd be surprised."
"Fine, whatever." Amy says, turning to the mats.
When I shoot James a worried look, he slightly tilts his head. But I just go to the mats, too.
Amy and I square up, and she sends a kick to my face. I doge it, and hook my foot around her knee to pull it out from under her.
Amy jumped up fast. Like really fast. I can't explain it. She throws a punch at me, and I catch it mid air, and twist her arm.
"Double jointed." She says as she swings a punch into my face.
I stumble back, and try to kick her in the stomach. Amy swats my leg away and kicks my stomach, making me fall down.
When Amy comes over, she kicks me in the side.
"Amy." James calls, "you won. It's over. Come on."
She ignores him, and kicks me harder.
"Amy stop." James says louder, "you won, now leave her alone."
I try to get up, but Amy starts to kick me nonstop. I try to use my hands as a shield, but she moves around me and keeps kicking me.
"AMY." James yells, "STOP."
Amy kicks my in the side, and I roll over, clutching it, just to be kicked in the stomach.
"AMANDA." James yells, "GET AWAY FROM HER."
Amanda? Huh.
I feel Amy getting tugged away from me.
Moments later, I hear a door slam and foot steps.
"Are you okay?" James asks, squatting down next to me.
I groan and roll onto my back and look at him, "yeah." I wheeze, "yeah. I'm fine."
James looks at me with a worried expression.
"I'm fine." I repeat with a slightly stronger voice. I sit up, not realizing how close James was to me. We're practically nose to nose.
I widen my eyes slightly, "you're very close."
James smirks, "you sat into it." Literally.
I roll my eyes, "whatever. Just be a gentleman and help me up."
James chuckles and stands up, holding his hand out for me to take. I take it and stand up painfully.
"Thanks." I mumble, "is it okay if we just cut training short...?"
James nods, "yeah. Want me to walk you back?"
"No." I reply as I leave the building clutching my stomach, "I'm fine."
----
AN: I'm a slave to my own people.
