Chapter 6

The next week passed quickly, even with such intense practices. On Saturday, we all piled into a charter bus, ready for a three day tournament. We were leaving two days before the tournament begins, so we have time to recover from the 6 hour ride there. I sat in the very back, in my own seat. Caitlyn and Mitchie sat a few seats ahead of me, but Tess was the closest to me. She was sitting in the seat right in front of me.

When I saw Tess that morning, I was shocked. At four in the morning, her hair and makeup was perfect. She looked exhausted, but she appeared to be a Barbie doll nonetheless. When I asked her why she looked perfect even when she was in for a six hour ride and a nap, she scoffed at me.

"There is no excuse for imperfection."

I laughed and let it go. I popped in my headphones and took a nap while listening to a mix of Eminem's music.

Nothing interesting happened until we were about halfway there. We pulled into a rest stop and practically ran out of the bus. We didn't want to get back on, so we killed more time in the restroom than we actually needed. I was fixing my hair and minimal makeup that smudged slightly from my nap when Mitchie and Caitlyn walked up.

"Hey, Alex," Mitchie said as she walked up behind me.

"What's up Mitchie?" My relationship with Mitchie was better than it was a week ago, but still wasn't on firm ground. I didn't want to get hurt again.

"Just coming to see if you're done. None of the girls would get on the bus unless we lead them. Come be a leader with me…"

"Alright, alright, I'm coming." And with one last glance in the mirror, I follow the pair out of the restroom and into the dreaded bus. I sighed as I walked on. Within five minutes, the rest of the team was back on the bus and we were continuing on journey there. Apparently, Caitlyn traded seats with Tess and wanted to talk to me.

"Alex, I know we decided not to tell people about us, but we're rooming together unless we tell coach. It's up to you, if you want to room with me or not."

"I thought we were going four to a room?"

"We got adjoining rooms with Mitchie and Tess, but the door is supposed to be closed at night. Our sponsors were so proud of us that they paid extra for us to have two to a room."

"That's pretty awesome. I don't mind rooming with you. Why would I? It's not like I want us to be awkward around each other."

"Okay, good. I was nervous there for a second. If Mitchie finds out, she'll flail me alive."

"Why would she care?"

"Don't you know? She has the biggest crush on you, no matter what she says. You're all she talks about. No offense, but it's a bit annoying."

"I never would have guessed…" I trailed off. It was true, Mitchie has been careful not to do anything more than a friend would do. It was shocking to find out that she really did have feelings for me.

"Yeah…" Caitlyn said, sounding slightly dejected.

I looked at her. I could see that she wanted me happy, whatever the cost to her. But I could also see that she liked me just as much as she says Mitchie did. I couldn't bear to see that dejected look on her face.

"Caitlyn, what if it's you that I like, and not Mitchie?" I asked her, slightly embellishing. But I really did like her, so what was the harm in giving it a try?

"Really? Do you mean that?" she asked, hesitantly.

"Really. Give us a try, Caitlyn."

She smiled at me, and just like that I knew I made her day. What did it matter if I still had feelings for Mitchie? It's not like that would work out anyway. At least, that was what I told myself.

When we arrived in Las Vegas, the sun was still high in the sky. Because of that, the strip looked a lot less impressive than I expected. We pulled up to the Hilton on the strip, and walked into the hotel with our bags in hand.

Our coach checked us in and assigned us rooms. Just like Caitlyn said, she and I were rooming together. I smiled when I looked over at her as our names were called. I was excited, this would be a fun trip.

When we were handed our room keys, our coach told us we had three hours to do whatever we wanted, so long as it was inside the hotel. We would be allowed to walk the strip when the sun went down. I knew what I wanted to do in our three hours of freedom.

I beat Caitlyn to our room, so I put my suitcase on my bed and took off my shirt to change it into something more appropriate for the desert heat. It was while my shirt was off that Caitlyn walked into the room.

As soon as she saw me, she stopped dead; her eyes wide with shock and darkening with lust. I hadn't planned this, but I knew the moment I saw her that I wanted her right now, before I changed or we did anything else. I walked over to her and pulled her shirt off before she could do anything.

She got over her shock when her shirt came off, because she attacked my lips with hers immediately. There was little passion between us, only desire and need. That was how I liked it, I decided. Without passion, there wouldn't be a chance for my heart to be broken again.

We spent an hour and a half in the room, and after that Caitlyn went to take a shower and I went to the pool only to find Mitchie sitting on the side of the pool with her feet in the water reading a book.

"What are you reading?" I asked as I put my stuff down on a table.

She jumped when she heard me, but answered my question. "Some book about wizards. It's pretty good."

"Why are you here alone?"

"Because I don't have anyone left to be here with. You were in your room with Caitlyn, and Tess is at the restaurant with Juliet."

"Wow, I'm sorry. I didn't know you would be alone, or I would have joined you earlier."

"It's fine, I needed to think anyway. Speaking of thinking, I have something I need to tell you."

"What?" I asked, curiosity filling me.

"Alex, I'm sorry I was a bitch to you after the party. I really do like you. Please give us a try?"

I didn't know what to say. The last part of her mini-speech sounded a lot like what I had said to Caitlyn only a few hours prior. Mitchie saw my hesitation and continued.

"I know I have no right to ask, and you don't have to forgive me for what I did or to give us a try. I'm sorry for even asking…"

"No, Mitch, it's fine. I want to try, but I don't want to get hurt again," I found myself saying. Oh man, Caitlyn was going to kill me if I kept this up.

"Really?"

Wait, what am I doing? How could I hurt Caitlyn like this. This is wrong, I shouldn't do it…

"Yes."

That was when I kissed her, and all thoughts of Caitlyn flew out of my head. Unlike the kisses I've shared with Caitlyn, that kiss had a passion that burned within me. I was powerless to stop once I started.

Already in our bikinis, the tiny pieces of cloth came off quickly, the two of us now in the shallow end of the pool. Our moans of pleasure filled the pool as both of us reached our orgasm at the same time. I opened my eyes as I recovered to see Caitlyn staring at me with tears in her eyes.

"Caitlyn—"