Clouds

Part 2-7 Dinner

Part 7

            I gently lead Awesome off the stage.  I can’t believe Misty would mention Emedee like that in front of us.  I was on the verge of crying myself

            I’ve never really liked Misty all that much.  She’s heartless and cruel sometimes and, I dare say, more than the Queen.

            As we leave the stage Dakota catches us.

            “I can’t believe that,” he hissed.  “Misty is terrible sometimes.”  I nod.  Awesome sniffles.

            “Yeah,” she says. 

            “Let’s get you cleaned up,” Dakota says.  “I know where we can all go to have some privacy.  The lobby is nice but too public.”

            Dakota leads us back to the elevators.  At first we get a few snickers, but when the people’s eyes see Dakota, they stop.  It’s as if he has the magic touch.

            We soon arrive at the fifth floor.  Dakota continues to walk and we follow.

            “This is the training floor,” he says.  “Adult training, that is.  No one will laugh at us on this floor, and hardly anyone else our age comes up here.”  The walls are a dull gray, and the doors are painted black.  We take what must be the fifth, and enter a large bathroom.

            “You can wash your face,” Dakota says to Awesome.  She nods.  “It’s a good thing you weren’t wearing makeup, because there’s nothing to remove it here.  Plus, it would run pretty badly.”

            Awesome approaches the sink and bends over to scrub her face.  After drying it gently with a few paper towels, she thanks Dakota.

            “No problem,” he says.  “Now, I do have some advice for you two.”  We look at him.  “I can tell you are both more skilled then meets the eye.  Colby, you must be fast and Victoria, you must have a good throwing arm.”  Awesome and I exchange a glance.  How does he know?

            “How do you know that?” Awesome asks, as good as new.

            “I could see it when you were on stage.  Colby, you stand up so straight, and Awesome, you’re so quick to defend yourself.  Those aren’t traits of someone weak.”  It makes sense.  No wonder Dakota is in the A group.  He can really observe people well, and that’s a good quality in battle.  Plus, he knows I’m fast and Awesome has a strong punch just by looking at us.

            “What’s the advice?” I ask him.  Dakota smiles.

            “Just watch your back,” he says.  “If you do very well and get into the A or B group, which are very particular, I might add, lots of people will see you as a threat.  Don’t let that get to you, just keep beating them.”

            We nod.

            “Now,” Dakota says, “Tell me a little bit about yourselves.”

            “A little bit about ourselves?”

            “Yeah,” Dakota says.  “I can’t be your friend if I know nothing about you.”  I consider this.  I can’t give too much away, because Dakota will be our enemy tomorrow, but it couldn’t hurt to tell him a bit about our past.  Plus, it would be too rude to say no.

            “My dad was an inventor,” I say.  Dakota looks at me. 

            “You worked with Emedee’s parents!” Dakota exclaims.  “It all makes sense now!”  Awesome smiles.