Insurrection (Completed) [editing]

17. Bright and Ripped

Chapter seventeen - Bright and Ripped

"What happened to your hair?" Melanie laughed as she embraced Keira.

"I fell on my way here," Keira answered, hoping that Melanie wouldn't realise that Keira didn't have her bag.

"Dirty and scruffy or not, I missed you. Welcome home friend," Melanie smiled.

Keira smiled back and the girls linked arms and made their way to their dorm.

"The famous Keira," Raymond laughed and attempted to embrace Keira.

He put his arms around her and lifted her with one arm.

Keira laughed as the air was squeezed out of her. It was weird, Raymond hadn't been in good terms with her in the past few days.

"Well this is a bit awkward," Keira said as Raymond put her down.

"He's like that once you get to know him," Melanie whispered into Keira's ear.

Keira mouthed an oh and and flopped onto the couch in their living room.

"Mel dear, can I have a glass of water?" Keira teased.

Melanie laughed and made her way to the kitchen.

Keira smiled to herself. It was nice having friends and dorm mates. She couldn't help but be happy that she was back and she was sure that Xander might soon be of little importance to her.

Melanie handed a glass of cold water to Keira and sat next to her. She picked at her nails and tried to scratch the black nail polish off her fingernails.

Keira thanked her and gulped the water down. Usually she would take slow sips but there wasn't time for her ladylikeness. Keira supressed a burp and got up to rinse her glass.

Keira tapped on the marble glass with her nails as she entered the kitchen. Her stomach grumbled and she quickly rinsed the glass and put it in the drying rack.

Keira opened the bottom cupboard and took a bowl of instant noodles. She flicked the kettle switch and waited for the water to boil.

There were laughing and chattering noises coming from the living room, Keira guessed that everyone else had come back. Her heart skipped a beat, she was nervous. The voices of people she hadn't seen in a while filled her with butterflies.

Keira poured enough water in the plastic bowl and put it in the microwave to cook. As she folded her arms, Raymond walked through the door and smiled. He opened the fridge and grabbed a can of coke.

"We're going out later, wanna join?" The tattooed, red haired boy said, as he opened the can.

Keira was taken aback, the boy that had scolded her for being too 'shy' was actually being friendly. The first impression he had made, was nothing to what Keira saw now. She was a bit doubtful, she kept remembering that look he had given her. It wasn't something to forget.

"Uh sure," Keira said, surprising herself.

This was unlike her. Keira argued with herself in her head. Usually she would have liked to just do something alone. Making friends and talking to people, wasn't her best attribute. The silence of being alone was comforting, no one could hurt you or disturb you. Keira was used to it. She hadn't had much contact with other people when she was younger. It was always Keira and Bo.

"We're leaving in half an hour, I think you should freshen up," Raymond chuckled.

Keira flushed, he was probably right, she looked a mess.

Ding!

Keira took her noodles out of the microwave and went to Melanie's room.

"Mel," Keira knocked on the door.

"Yeah?" Mel turned around just as she fixed her tank top.

"Can I borrow a pair of pants and a jacket or something?" Keira said.

Keira knew she had clothes in her closet, but she decided that everything was too sporty and chilled to wear out.

No one had told her that training camp could be fun.

Keira was expecting Melanie to laugh at her, but Melanie nodded and dug around in her closet.

She pulled out a pair of black high waisted pants and a bright pink long sleeved crop top.

Keira was about to refuse the outfit, it seemed a little too revealing for her. She would have been more comfortable with a hoodie or a baggy top instead.

"I know what you're thinking, and you're absolutely right. But I think it's time you show off that bod" Melanie said.

"But it doesn't really matter, no ones going to see me, I think I'll just wear a hoodie or something," Keira hesitated.

"No one has seen you in a week, that's a very bad choice," Melanie waved a finger,"The first thing you should know about fashion, always be prepared."

"Prepared for what?" Keira asked confused.

"Prepared to meet the man of your life of course!" Melanie chuckled.

"I don't think the man of my life would like me in this.." Keira screwed up her face.

"I was being sarcastic.." Melanie rolled her eyes.

"Oh," Keira flushed.

That was something she has to watch out for, not everything was serious or meant to be taken that way.

"We'll be late, go change," Melanie shooed Keira out of her room.

Keira held the clothes tight and shoulder her door open.

She sighed as the feel of her empty, underused room enveloped her. It was just the way she had left it, nice and tidy.

She smoothed out the crease lines of her duvet and opened her cupboard to look for shoes.

"I suggest those black combat boots!" Melanie shouted through Keira's open door.

Kiera jumped a little and nodded.

She closed her door, got into the bathroom and stripped.

Keira tied her hair up and turned the faucet in the shower. She examined her legs, probing them to see if the scars were still sore. Keira was relieved when no bolt of pain shot through her calves. That type of pain was something she didn't want to experience again.

Keira furrowed her eyebrows at the amount of time it had taken to heal. It seemed magical, almost impossible that the deep cuts had now been reduced to pink scars.

She picked up the bottle of ointment and read the back for ingredients. Nothing.

Weird. Keira felt a need to know what had been put inside the ointment. She decided that she would ask someone later.

Keira stepped into the shower and hummed as she scrubbed her body and washed her hair. She hummed the only song she seemed to remember, a lullaby her mother would sing to her every night before bedtime.

Keira rinsed her hair and racked her brain for the words to the lullaby. The lullaby had always managed to make her calm, even when she cried her mother would sing to her.

Keira shook her head as she felt a lump rising in her throat. The memories were too fragile to be remembered now. If she wanted to cry, it wasn't the place nor the time.

It was time to have fun, and to enjoy the night.

Keira ignored the ache to hear her mothers voice again and instead, hummed a tune she had never known.

Author's note:

Hey, so it's been a week. I was just writing exams and being sick and busy so yeah..

This is quite a short chapter.. But I wanted you guys to have a little something to hold onto :p

Thanks to CharlotteCeceAdams.. For her help and advice. xx

I hope you enjoy.