and wheels the pole over to Delilah’s bed.
Delilah sits up, panicked. Tia takes a seat down on the empty bed beside hers.
“What do you want?” she interrogates, her one eye still slightly swollen.
“Just wanted to see how you were feeling,” Tia states, softly.
“I suppose I’m alright.” Delilah glances down at her hands, which are fiddling with the edge of her blanket.
“You hit pretty hard. I mean, that punch to my ear, the first time, I didn’t want to admit it, but it was a smart move, blocking another one of my senses,” Tia yammers, attempting to make conversation.
“Did you come over here to gloat or make me feel better?” Delilah spits out.
“No,” Tia stares at her feet, “I just thought, maybe it would be nice to be friends, you know, instead of ripping each other apart all the time.” Tia lifts her head up again. Delilah mulls over the idea for a while.
“I understand, though, if you don’t want to. I mean, I do have a tendency to piss people off easily.” Tia laughs, nervously. Delilah smirks and begins to laugh as well.
“Maybe a truce would be nice. I don’t really know anyone here, anyway. All of my friends back home are a year below me,” Delilah admits.
“I know what it’s like to not have a lot of friends, trust me. The only friend I have came with me to the Electus. He is pretty pre-occupied with someone else since we arrived here. In fact, I made her mad too.” Tia motions over at the bed where Kira sits. She is bruised and her face is contorted into a snarl at the sight of Tia.
“I’m noticing a pattern,” Delilah chuckles. Tia laughs, as well, and nods.
“Is that the girl who pummeled you this morning?” Delilah asks.
“Yeah, like I said, it’s a gift. I tend to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Someone really should put a filter on my mouth.” They both laugh, and for the first time since she met Delilah, she feels comfortable.
The nurse releases Tia, and she heads for her hotel room. Of course, not until she is forced to eat some ice cream. She feels better than she felt in two days, skipping up the stairs to her room. Everything is light and happy, she wonders what they put in that ice cream.
When she opens her door, she enters to find a gift on her bed. It’s a flat rectangular package, wrapped in black paper, with a white bow. Carefully, Tia shuts the door and walks toward it. She opens the package, unsure of what it is or who it is from.
It’s a plain box with a lid. Inside is a black, strapless, satin, knee-length dress with white, high-heeled shoes. Underneath the dress is a note. Out of curiosity, she unfolds the note to see who it is from.
Congratulations on your victory today, Miss Trumble. I wish to celebrate with you. Meet me out back of your hotel at midnight. Yours Truly, Javan Leporem. P.S. Wear the dress.
Chapter 6
Tia showers the mud, from earlier that day, off of her body. It takes a few rounds of shampoo to completely cleanse her hair. Afterward, she applies lotion to her skin, ensuring it is smooth to the touch. Tia notices a full length mirror hanging on the back of the door. Curiously, she inspects her body, wrapped partially in a towel. She beholds her cream colored skin, her toned muscles from years of physical training, and her soft curves. So this is what other people see, she thinks before opening the door.
Somehow the dress fits perfectly. How do so many people know my size? She dries her hair and decides to place it up in a loose bun, with some pins. It appears elegant, and she adds her mother’s necklace to make herself seem more feminine than she actually is. Tia remembers the mascara and lipstick that Fera gave her to use and attempts to apply it in the same fashion as before.
For ten minutes, she stares at the high-heels. It is a luxury that Tia could never afford, nor has interest in owning. Glancing at the clock, she sees it is eleven thirty.
“I have a half hour to learn how to walk in
Delilah sits up, panicked. Tia takes a seat down on the empty bed beside hers.
“What do you want?” she interrogates, her one eye still slightly swollen.
“Just wanted to see how you were feeling,” Tia states, softly.
“I suppose I’m alright.” Delilah glances down at her hands, which are fiddling with the edge of her blanket.
“You hit pretty hard. I mean, that punch to my ear, the first time, I didn’t want to admit it, but it was a smart move, blocking another one of my senses,” Tia yammers, attempting to make conversation.
“Did you come over here to gloat or make me feel better?” Delilah spits out.
“No,” Tia stares at her feet, “I just thought, maybe it would be nice to be friends, you know, instead of ripping each other apart all the time.” Tia lifts her head up again. Delilah mulls over the idea for a while.
“I understand, though, if you don’t want to. I mean, I do have a tendency to piss people off easily.” Tia laughs, nervously. Delilah smirks and begins to laugh as well.
“Maybe a truce would be nice. I don’t really know anyone here, anyway. All of my friends back home are a year below me,” Delilah admits.
“I know what it’s like to not have a lot of friends, trust me. The only friend I have came with me to the Electus. He is pretty pre-occupied with someone else since we arrived here. In fact, I made her mad too.” Tia motions over at the bed where Kira sits. She is bruised and her face is contorted into a snarl at the sight of Tia.
“I’m noticing a pattern,” Delilah chuckles. Tia laughs, as well, and nods.
“Is that the girl who pummeled you this morning?” Delilah asks.
“Yeah, like I said, it’s a gift. I tend to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Someone really should put a filter on my mouth.” They both laugh, and for the first time since she met Delilah, she feels comfortable.
The nurse releases Tia, and she heads for her hotel room. Of course, not until she is forced to eat some ice cream. She feels better than she felt in two days, skipping up the stairs to her room. Everything is light and happy, she wonders what they put in that ice cream.
When she opens her door, she enters to find a gift on her bed. It’s a flat rectangular package, wrapped in black paper, with a white bow. Carefully, Tia shuts the door and walks toward it. She opens the package, unsure of what it is or who it is from.
It’s a plain box with a lid. Inside is a black, strapless, satin, knee-length dress with white, high-heeled shoes. Underneath the dress is a note. Out of curiosity, she unfolds the note to see who it is from.
Congratulations on your victory today, Miss Trumble. I wish to celebrate with you. Meet me out back of your hotel at midnight. Yours Truly, Javan Leporem. P.S. Wear the dress.
Chapter 6
Tia showers the mud, from earlier that day, off of her body. It takes a few rounds of shampoo to completely cleanse her hair. Afterward, she applies lotion to her skin, ensuring it is smooth to the touch. Tia notices a full length mirror hanging on the back of the door. Curiously, she inspects her body, wrapped partially in a towel. She beholds her cream colored skin, her toned muscles from years of physical training, and her soft curves. So this is what other people see, she thinks before opening the door.
Somehow the dress fits perfectly. How do so many people know my size? She dries her hair and decides to place it up in a loose bun, with some pins. It appears elegant, and she adds her mother’s necklace to make herself seem more feminine than she actually is. Tia remembers the mascara and lipstick that Fera gave her to use and attempts to apply it in the same fashion as before.
For ten minutes, she stares at the high-heels. It is a luxury that Tia could never afford, nor has interest in owning. Glancing at the clock, she sees it is eleven thirty.
“I have a half hour to learn how to walk in
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