Unrewarded

《6》A Prime Example

Gathering her things, Corinna was careful to not wake anyone up. As soon as they got back, Jack had gone to bed hoping to catch a few hours before the others woke up. Corinna knew it was pointless though, she wasn't a big one on sleeping anyway.

The depths of the night were when she was most creative.

Of course, with all the extra time on her hands, the girl was prepped and ready for their big day. The Horseman were on the move for their first show.

Now came the rehersals. It would take a lot of practice, everything needed to be perfect for the presentation before Arthur. They needed to make Mr. Tresslar like them, more importantly they needed to make Mr. Tresslar invest in them.

It was her job to make sure that he loved the idea of them, and it was the four presenter's job to make him fall in love with the look of them.

As far as fashion went, that area of expertise was left to Henley. She seemed to be all over it when it came to shopping, and the girl loved dressing Jack up like he was her personal puppet.

Of course the boy didn't mind. He was a nice guy, so he just smiled and waved.

Constantly she was insisting on buying Corinna clothes as well, but there was no use for it. The girl liked her raggity old jeans that were toughed up by the streets. It was who she was, and she didn't plan on advertising herself as something that she wasn't.

Jack was the only one to know who she truley was. The Dove was pretty well known, and her identity was a secret. She wanted to keep it that way for as long as she could- so Jack promised to grant her that wish.

"Why am I always surpised?" Atlas' voice suddenly called through the kitchen.

Spinning around at his sudden entrance, Corinna glanced at him with her tired eyes.

"You're always the first one up, aren't you?" He tried to spark conversation.

Looking towards her bags, the girl took a breath and directed her attention back to him. "Figured I'd get a head start on mine, it'll take hours as soon as Henley decides to ask me for help."

It was true, the girl had more clothes than the rest of them combined.

"Well thank got we have a private jet, otherwise I don't think a quarter of that would make it through customs. Soon as that girl loses something, I swear she doesn't stop complaining-" His ranting trailed off as he picked up his box of hot chocolate.

Immediately he noticed the weight difference and it made Corinna chuckle and look down to her feet.

Atlas caught this. "Cam, why are there two packets missing?"

In the background, the timing was perfect. Jack walked into the room, the white towel drying his freshly dampened hair.

It was like they were both hit by a truck. Neither could hold a straight face, even as Atlas' eyes pierced daggers into each one of them. If looked could kill, they could both be dead ten times over.

"Run!" Jack screamed before throwing his towel in Atlas' direction. The man went at them like a Lion hunting it's prey. The towel was in no way, shape, or form going to keep him from them.

Both Jack and Cam laughed rounding the island counter away from him. He constantly had a hand on her hip guiding her which way to avoid the wrath of Daniel Atlas.

Slowly, one by one, Henley and Merrit made their way into the room as well smiling at the site. Everyone found it hilarious except for Atlas, so that's what made it even more funny.

Everyone knew that he over reacted a lot.

This was just a prime example of it.

"Alright kiddies, alright." Merritt stepped in throwing his hands in the air. The man stood in between the three, and Atlas was nearly at his throat as well. "I think we better round up our luggage, we don't want to be late for our first day of school do we?"

"Oh nice, childish insults at 7 in the morning." Atlas hissed.

Quickly however, Henley countered. "Childish insults for childish behavior." Jack and Cam breathed heavy but grinned watching as everyone took their defense. "Now Cam, be a dear and help me pack my bags?"

Without a word, she was smiling and nodding towards the red haired woman. Then, together, they were making their way up and towards their room to finish packing the 100 tons of clothes that somehow Henley planned to fit into her bags.

Jack watched her go, a smile on his face at the genuine laughter he had just heard from her moments ago. If angering Atlas was what it took, Jack would make a point of it every day to do so. He would do anything to see that smile, to hear that laugh, and to feel her happiness. The girl deserved it. No, he didn't know her story, her background, but he knew that one day he would find out.

Even if it was the last thing that he would do.

As Daniel's hands wrapped around his neck however, it seemed that his thoughts would come true.

Apparently, hot cocoa powder was a little more valuable than Jack had thought to Mr. Atlas.

Way. More. Valuable.