Read Online Fast-Tracked by Tracy Rozzlynn - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tracy Rozzlynn
Tags: Fast-Track
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best to relax and fend off the constant ache of despair.
It worked for a while too, until the air-tram started to move. I pulled my ear buds out and bolted straight up in my chair, causing it to bang closed.
“First time flying, huh?” a deep amused voice asked in between chuckles.
I looked around the cabin and saw a young man close to my age had joined me. “Guilty,” I admitted sheepishly knowing there was no way to deny it after my panicked behavior.
“Well there’s nothing to it really,” he reassured me. Then he switched over to the seat next to me. The seats were wide, but he somehow managed to press his leg and arm against mine. I scooted further away. “I’ll walk you through the process so you know everything that’s going on. Right now the air-tram is taxiing to the end of the runway. Then we’ll stop for a bit while the pilot waits for the okay to take off from the control room.” He leaned over close to me and gave me his attempt at a reassuring smile.
Something about him struck me as familiar. It certainly couldn’t be his strange gray eyes with a mischievous glint in them. I would remember seeing eyes like that before. I examined the rest of his features to see if I could put my finger on it. He had dark brown – almost black – hair that stuck up in long spikes pointing in every direction. His skin was a pale ivory, but I couldn’t detect any shadow of a beard under it. He must have just recently shaved. His features were both broad but delicate at the same time. On a girl they would have looked pretty – on him they looked handsome. I’m sure he had no issues gaining girls’ attention, which certainly explained his overly friendly behavior with me. Too bad for him that he was stuck with the one girl that had zero interest in anything to do with romance.
“So are you always this friendly to complete strangers?” I finally said when I realized he was waiting for me to say something.
“Nah. I’m truly a scoundrel at heart, but there’s an unwritten rule that us fast-trackers stick together,” he smoothly purred.
“How did you know?” I blurted back in shock.
“So I’m right them.” He smiled smugly. “You just have the look of someone new to the lifestyle.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I crossly snapped back.
Holding his hands up in mock surrender he said, “Hey, nothing personal: I just know the look. I’ve grown up around fast-trackers. They are a despicable, ruthless crowd that will stop at nothing to get their way. You can’t trust a single one of them – believe me.” He smiled and let the words just roll off his tongue. “But if you want I can show you the ropes. I’m Avery Huntington, by the way.” He held out his hand to shake.
“Alexandria Scannell . Before you commit yourself to anything, I should warn you, I have absolutely no interest in a romantic relationship. So if you’re looking for a girlfriend or even a quick hook-up, save your energies for another girl.” I grabbed his hand and gave it a firm, very non-girly shake.
“Consider me warned and point taken.” He chuckled. “You keep up that attitude and you’ll have no problem dealing with us scoundrels.” He leaned back in his chair and warned, “Take off.”
I followed his example and was glad I did. A moment later the air-tram lurched forward, quickly gaining an incredible speed. Then I felt us tilt upwards. I intentionally kept from looking out the window, but I knew we must be in the air climbing upwards. I didn’t like this feeling at all: my ears felt like they were going to burst.
I felt Avery’s hand give mine a squeeze. I pulled my hand back. “It’ll get better in a minute. Try chewing the gum you have. It will help.”
I had forgotten about the gum – it was clamped between my clenched teeth. I followed his instructions and started chewing it again. My ears began a soft series of pops and the pressure I felt eased.
When at last the plane evened out, I
It worked for a while too, until the air-tram started to move. I pulled my ear buds out and bolted straight up in my chair, causing it to bang closed.
“First time flying, huh?” a deep amused voice asked in between chuckles.
I looked around the cabin and saw a young man close to my age had joined me. “Guilty,” I admitted sheepishly knowing there was no way to deny it after my panicked behavior.
“Well there’s nothing to it really,” he reassured me. Then he switched over to the seat next to me. The seats were wide, but he somehow managed to press his leg and arm against mine. I scooted further away. “I’ll walk you through the process so you know everything that’s going on. Right now the air-tram is taxiing to the end of the runway. Then we’ll stop for a bit while the pilot waits for the okay to take off from the control room.” He leaned over close to me and gave me his attempt at a reassuring smile.
Something about him struck me as familiar. It certainly couldn’t be his strange gray eyes with a mischievous glint in them. I would remember seeing eyes like that before. I examined the rest of his features to see if I could put my finger on it. He had dark brown – almost black – hair that stuck up in long spikes pointing in every direction. His skin was a pale ivory, but I couldn’t detect any shadow of a beard under it. He must have just recently shaved. His features were both broad but delicate at the same time. On a girl they would have looked pretty – on him they looked handsome. I’m sure he had no issues gaining girls’ attention, which certainly explained his overly friendly behavior with me. Too bad for him that he was stuck with the one girl that had zero interest in anything to do with romance.
“So are you always this friendly to complete strangers?” I finally said when I realized he was waiting for me to say something.
“Nah. I’m truly a scoundrel at heart, but there’s an unwritten rule that us fast-trackers stick together,” he smoothly purred.
“How did you know?” I blurted back in shock.
“So I’m right them.” He smiled smugly. “You just have the look of someone new to the lifestyle.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I crossly snapped back.
Holding his hands up in mock surrender he said, “Hey, nothing personal: I just know the look. I’ve grown up around fast-trackers. They are a despicable, ruthless crowd that will stop at nothing to get their way. You can’t trust a single one of them – believe me.” He smiled and let the words just roll off his tongue. “But if you want I can show you the ropes. I’m Avery Huntington, by the way.” He held out his hand to shake.
“Alexandria Scannell . Before you commit yourself to anything, I should warn you, I have absolutely no interest in a romantic relationship. So if you’re looking for a girlfriend or even a quick hook-up, save your energies for another girl.” I grabbed his hand and gave it a firm, very non-girly shake.
“Consider me warned and point taken.” He chuckled. “You keep up that attitude and you’ll have no problem dealing with us scoundrels.” He leaned back in his chair and warned, “Take off.”
I followed his example and was glad I did. A moment later the air-tram lurched forward, quickly gaining an incredible speed. Then I felt us tilt upwards. I intentionally kept from looking out the window, but I knew we must be in the air climbing upwards. I didn’t like this feeling at all: my ears felt like they were going to burst.
I felt Avery’s hand give mine a squeeze. I pulled my hand back. “It’ll get better in a minute. Try chewing the gum you have. It will help.”
I had forgotten about the gum – it was clamped between my clenched teeth. I followed his instructions and started chewing it again. My ears began a soft series of pops and the pressure I felt eased.
When at last the plane evened out, I
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