Chapter 32: **…if she wins her first fight.”*
Alora was leaning back, her hands braced next to her hips on the bench. Her legs stretched out in front of her with her ankles crossed. Alora’s hoodie had fallen off her shoulders and was midway down her biceps. Alora tilted her head one way then the next, stretching her neck muscles.
Down in the arena, the last fighter of the Scout Class defeated his opponent, earning a rank advancement to the Beta Class. The buzzer went off, the music stopped, and the light brightened up all over the stadium.
“We will go into a twenty minute recess now, before we continue with the Rank advancement challenges from the Enforcer Class. Please take this time to cather food and drink, stretch your legs and use the facilities “The announcer boomed out over the stadium.
Alora was blinking, and sympathized with Garret when he said, “Goddess I forgot how bright these lights were after being in the dark for so long”
Everybody stood up and stretched their stiff limbs, letting out moans and groans of both relief and pain. While stretching, Serenity, with her brothers following closely behind, ran up the steps to their row,
Darien lit up like the sun the moment his gaze landed on Serenity: Alora laughed as the watched Darien bound over to Serenity like an excited pup. He scooped up Serenity and squeezed her to him while she gizzled and hugged Darien back.
Galen and Kain had matching expressions of annoyance at their sisters antics. Alora, amused and curious, got closer to the twins.
“What’s with the dark looks?” Alora asked them teasingly.
Behind Alora, the rest of the Alpha Class was demanding an introduction from Darien.
“The moment the light went on and the announcer said recess, Serenity was out of her seat and running up here.* Galen grumbled, looking slightly embarrassed.
“She should have waited for the announcer to finish speaking before jumping out of her seat. Instead, she decaded she would rather act like a hooligan.” Kain crossed his arms and our eyebrow twitched.
Jason walked up behind Alora in time to hear what his cousins were saying. He was highly amused and knew Alora to be when the burst into laughter. Alora’s voice was like music, the notes were filled with her emotions.
Those emotion laden notes wrapped around those in hearing distance, filling them with Alora’s feelings of amusement. Jaxon could almost see them, it was interesting. laxon also saw the emotions in the eyes of his twin cousins.
He knew what those looks meant, because he was feeling the same emotions those looks spoke of Kain and Galen had the Alpha they wanted to serve as their Delta Enforcers. Then Galen and Kain finally noticed Jaxon was behind Alora and waved a hello at him.
Jaxon nodded, acknowledging their greeting. “Did you two see that Sarah challenged Alora?” He asked the twins.
Kain and Galen looked at Alora with matching expressions of surprise. “Really?” They asked in unison.
Alora nodded. “She did.”
“How do you feel about that?” Galen asked Alora.
Alora shrugged, then with a half grin said, “I’m kind of looking forward to it.”
“That’s if Sarah even wins her first fight.” Serenity said, her voice coming from behind Jaxon.
Jaxon and Alora turned to look at Serenity at the same time, but it was Jaxon who asked. “What do you mean?”
“Sarah, while ranked in the top five of the Enforcer fighter class, has to fight someone in the top five of the Delta class or the Beta class in order to fight Alora.” Serenity explained.
“Why?” Garrett asked.
Hand on her hips, Darien’s arm around her shoulders, Serenity huffed adorably as she glared at the others. “Were none of you paying attention to our VP while she was explaining the rules of the challenge?”
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her first fight.”
Every male of the Alpha Class but Darien started to shuffle and look off in a different direction with various expressions of guilt.
“It’s not that they were not paying attention to our VP.” Alora said, and all heads snapped in her direction, their expressions now a combination of panic and embarrassment. “It’s that they were paying attention to how gorgeous our VP is, instead of what she was saying.”
Serenity’s glare had more than one male look at her with apologetic faces. With a snort she said. “It figures.” With a shake of her head her gaze focused on Garret and began to explain,
“The rules are… you are allowed to challenge two fighters to advance your rank. For your first fight, the fighter you challenge can’t be ahead of you by more than two fight classes. They also must be within five rank placements of your own rank in your fight class. If you win your first challenge, the rules of the challenge will adhere to your new fight class and tank.”
“What happens if you fail your first challenge?” Mason asked,
Serenity turned to Mason to answer. “If you fail your first challenge, and your second challenge is outside your current fight class and rank, your second challenge will be canceled, and you won’t advance.”
Lexus raised a hand, his fingers half curled. “What happens if you win the first, but fail the second?”
Turning her head. Serenity again looked directly at the one who asked her a question and answered. “If you win the first challenge, but fail the second, you remain in the same fight class and rank that you advanced to in the first round.”
“Meaning Alora will only get to fight Sarah if she wins her first fight.” Jaxon said with a sigh, repeating Serenity’s earlier statement.
“Exactly.” Serenity said with a bright smile.
“Did anyone see who Sarah’s first challenge was?” Mason asked.
“No, I only happened to look because it had Sarah challenging Alora.” Jaxon said.
Several more “nos’ later and everyone looked at Serenity with questioning expressions. Serenity looked at each one of them in turn in silence.
Finally, Serenity shrugged and said, “I think Sarah was wanting to play it safe so she could challenge Alora. Her first fight is with the fourth ranked Sighter of the Delta Class”
Jamison let out a startled laugh, and when everyone turned his way explained. “I only know who the male is that you are talking about, because he is in my science class. I caught him and Sarah doing the deed in an empty classroom one day.”
“Ewwww.” Serenity said, cringing.
“Doesn’t surprise me.” Alora said placidly.
“This means Sarah’s not completely stupid, she made a plan.“ Lexus said with a stony expression, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Sarah’s plenty stupid, believe me, but she also happens to be a conniving bitch on top of it.” Alora said in a caustic tone.
Darien let out a derisive snort and said, “Sarah is the definition of every nasty insult she has hurled at Alora over the years.”
“Ah! You mean Sarah is throwing stones from a glass house” lamison said.
Alora let out a short laugh. “That’s as good an explanation as any.”
“All right everyone, enough talking unless we are walking. I am hungry and thirsty, and we have already used up seven of our twenty minute break just standing here,” Garrett said, waving his hand in a gesture for everyone to start moving.
With a little bit of maneuvering, Darien wound up in the middle of Alora and Serenity. Serenity was cuddled up into Darien x side, with his arm stapped around her. Alora was casually strolling along his other side, hand in the pockets of her hoodie
Behind them was Kain, Jason and Galen, behind them was the rest of the Alpha Class. They made their way down to the ground level where the food courts were.
“What are you in the mood to eat Darien asked Serenity.
“I’m thinking of a couple of Chicago style hot dogs, with a basket of fries.” Serenity said, while rubbing her belly.
Darien chuckled, then he turned to Alora and asked the same question. Serenity’s comment on hot dogs sparked a desire in Alora for some of her own. “I want dow New York style hot dogs, with an order of Jalapeno poppers.”
There was a gagging sound behind her with a muttering of “Sauerkraut, bleck.”
Alora looked back at Mason, narrowing her eyes a little. “I happen to like sauerkraut on my hot dog and a few other things.”
“But never on its own.” Darien added.
Masori grimace. “How can you like that stuff?”
“On a hot dog with spicy brown mustard and onion relish.” Alora responded in a dry tone, making several in their large group laugh.
“Yeah well, I will stick to a nice normal chili cheese dog with fries, nothing fancy.” Mason responded.
“I’ll find a California style dog and a Mediterranean salad.” Jamison said, gaining a couple of funny looks.
“Whats a California style hot dog? Lexus asked.
“It comes on a toasted bun with a grilled all beef hot dog, sliced avocados, tomatoes, and crumbled feta cheese.” Jamison replied.
“Quit judging rach other’s food choices and let’s just get to ordering our food,” Jaxon said.
They all managed to get their food ordered and received. With drinks and food in hand, the group went back to their seats to sit down and eat without any mishaps.
Chapter Comments
Susan Moledor
Yummy. I think I would like all of their choices
