The Secret Service ~~~

4 - Carpe Diem Apparently Doesn't Last Around Here

Chapter Four - Carpe Diem Apparently Doesn't Last Around Here

11:19am.

Ari tied her hair carefully on top of her head. The intricate black loops and swishes sat just right, like a crown had been placed on her head. Her mum always used to tell her she was a little princess.

She tugged on her white leather jacket, the smell covering up the scent of lavender that she'd washed over herself in the shower. Adding her combat boots, she was finally ready for the day. The early wake-up call had been eye-opening and she hoped there wouldn't be another too soon. One was enough.

Leaving her room for the second time that day, she realised she hadn't got much of a plan. What even was there to do? She wanted to explore the place but realised that's what most of the others were probably doing. But climbing over the balcony hadn't been the exact way she'd wanted to see this place. If anything, it had installed fear.

Her door shut with a click and she moved away from it. Pacing down the hall, she heard faint laughter and then voices. White double doors were ahead so she pushed them open.

This wasn't a bedroom. In fact, it was more of a games room. There was a dart's board, an air hockey rink, even a bar in the far corner with some sofas and chairs. But the laughter came from the three people huddled around the pool table as they played.

"Hey!" One of the girl's cheered. It was the red-head, the one who had walked out at breakfast. Instead of fire now, she seemed to have cooled. "Come join us. I'm Emma."

Ari took her offered hand and shook it. "Arianne, but I prefer Ari."

"This is Xavier," Emma indicated to the boy. "And this," she pointed to the other girl, "is Allie."

Allie held out her hand and Ari shook that. Xavier then thought he probably ought to do the same, and so offered his hand. Ari noticed his painted nails but he quickly withdrew before she could compliment him.

"What is this place?" Ari asked, looking around.

"The second floor living room, or games room." Allie shrugged. "It's whatever we want to call it. The room of badly playing pool seems to be the theme right now."

"Speak for yourself," Emma commented, hitting a ball that rolled right into a corner.

"I won't be losing my money, chick." Allie turned back to Ari, smiling. "How do you fancy losing money?"

Ari pushed up her glasses. "Sounds like it could be fun?"

"Place your bets on her losing," Emma smirked.

"I don't think she'll lose," Xavier said confidently. He gave Ari a smile that reached his eyes.

"Only because you're losing," Emma said. "And badly."

Xavier said nothing but kept smiling as he lined up to take his shot. He indeed missed, and tutted, though didn't seem to be too disappointed.

Ari took the cue Allie offered and stood to the side, eyeing the game for a moment. She noticed how Allie bent lower to take her shots, but that could've been because she was taller so had to get a better angle lower. She also noticed the stack of coins in one corner of the table - clearly it was the amount they were playing for, just pennies, but when someone missed a shot, they had to add a coin, and the overall winner of that match would get whatever the stack was.

Ari lost time and how many games she played. She won only one, collecting a total ninety three pence. Allie had joked that she should take her millions to the bank immediately. Emma joked she would rob Ari while she slept. Xavier said that he'd win his share back, which, he did.