Zailey (Sequel) ✔️

Part Twenty Seven

It was pretty damn obvious that it wasn't actually morning when my phone's alarm went off on Monday.
I could hardly hold my eyes open as I forced myself into a sitting position.
If I stayed lying down, I would just go back to sleep as soon as the noise stopped.
3AM.
In no way did I consider this morning.
I silenced my phone and forced myself out of my warm, comfortable bed.
If I didn't get up, I'd lose my job before I even actually started.
A fellow stable hand was going to be picking me up, because I explained to the boss man that I currently only have my L's.
And that my brother's would not be okay with me catching the buss at half past three in the morning.
They don't even like me to get on the bus past 9 o'clock at night.
I stumbled over to my drawers, my eyes feeling like sandpaper.
My nerves were beginning to kick in, leaving me actually feeling somewhat alert as I rummaged in my drawers for jeans, a t-shirt and jumper.
Next I threw socks and fresh underwear and bra towards my bed.
Somewhere are twenty and quarter to three my lift would arrive.
Even John had agreed it would not be fair to ask my brother's or Kylie to be up at such an insane hour to drive me around, so he'd arranged for a lift for me.

When Brax and Sledge dragged their butt's down off the lounge chairs, I figured my lift had arrived.
I wasn't expecting anybody would wander their way up and knock on somebody's door at 3:45AM, so I hurriedly chugged down the last of my coffee, rinsed my mug and set it into the drying rack, then practically ran out the door.
Not a soul was stirring inside my house and there was good reason for that.
It's way too bloody early!
I used my phone's torch to light my way as I moved quickly down the stairs, not wanting to irritate my new work mate already.
My nerves hit me even more as I hit the flat ground.
What if my coworker's don't like me?
What if they're mean?
I had to force my boot covered feet to keep taking me towards the driveway.
A rather small looking car was idling in the driveway, its headlights on as I stepped onto the gravel.
I wasn't sure whether to go straight to the passenger seat or not.
John didn't tell me if there would be any other passenger's.
Hell, he didn't even tell me who it was that was picking me up!
No wonder I was feeling nervous!
Worse case scenario, I'd be told to go to the back seat, so I headed for the passenger side.
The glow of somebody on their phone came into my view as I neared the car.
My moving through the headlights must have caught their attention, because a face lifted, illuminated by the phone screen.
I carefully opened the passenger side front door.
"Morning."
It was pretty difficult to see in the darkness, the only lightness being from the dashboard lights and the lit up phone screen, but the general scent of the car and the sound of the voice told me it was a guy.
Hopefully this doesn't piss Zander off too much...
"Hey."
I replied, carefully climbing into the car that appeared to have leather seats.
"Oh! I'm Bailey."
I explained.
The guy laughed!
"Yeah I know. Well I don't know who you are obviously, but John asked me to pick 'Bailey' up at this address."
Oh.
Yeah that makes sense...
"I'm Lane."
The guy explained.
I felt a blush warm my cheeks as I buckled my seat belt.
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
Lane told me with a quick smiled
"Today you'll probably think 'yeah I can do this!' By the end of the week you'll be dog tired every day. In a few weeks you'll be used to it enough."
He explained as he put the car into gear.
I smiled sheepishly as we backed out onto the road.
"Yeah, I kinda somehow actually feel a bit awake this morning."
"That's because it's new."
Lane told me as he turned the car in the opposite direction to the beach.
"So you're a stable hand too?"
I asked.
He shook his head.
"I'm a jockey."
"Oh!"
How the hell did a jockey get shunted to the job of driving me?
Aren't Jockey's in higher rank than Stable Hands?
"I live quite literally three house's down from you, hence why John asked if I'd pick you up."
Lane said as if he'd read my mind.
Awkward!
I felt a blush warm on my cheeks and just hoped that he couldn't see it due to the darkness if he glanced my way.
"I-I have my L's and am having lesson's, but can't get my P's yet."
I stammered.i
Lane laughed!
"You're literally on my way so I don't mind picking you up. I can drop you home too, if ya want."
"Oh! My brother is going to get me coz we have school."
I quickly explained.
"Twin?"
He asked, glancing over at me.
I shook my head.
"He's a year older than me. He's year twelve and I'm year eleven."
"Ah, right."
He nodded.
"So umm... any chance you know anything about what I'm headed for?"
I tried.
"You've got no experience in the racing industry?"
Lane asked, glancing over at me.
Feeling yet another blush warm my face, I shook my head.
Now's probably the part where he disowns me.
He made a sound like he was blowing air through his lips.
"Well... speaking as someone who was workin' as a stable hand from the age of fourteen and started their jockey apprenticeship at sixteen, I can tell you to listen to the Trainer's, not the busy body hand's and to be prepared for a lot of job shifting and blaming mistakes on other's."
Uh oh.
"So basically it's gonna be just like High School?"
Lane laughed, sounding completely amused.
Only now did I realise the car had stopped and he was turning it off.
"That sounds just about right."
He agreed.
I looked out of the windows, but couldn't see anything but shadowed buildings and lights shining.
"C'mon."
Lane urged, pushing his door open.
Oh yeah!
I'm here to work!
I hurriedly unbuckled my seat belt and climbed out of the car.