Page 76 of Raise 'Em Up

“I say we check in, drop our bags off, then do a quick rehearsal. I know. I know. Don't give me any attitude. We need to practice on the mats here. After that, you are all free to roam and explore, but no drinking, and curfew is at nine!” Colton shouts, and a few of the girls cheer while Ursula whines.

“Come on, baby,” Teo says, grabbing Cherry's hand and taking her from me. Len stays beside me and I sigh.

“Ahhh, I love competing!” Fatima squeals, then does a cartwheel before running after the others.

I snort, watching her excitement, and Len nudges me with his arm. “Buck up, bro, we’ve got this shit in the bag!”

“I know we can't stay long, but I want to come back here one day. I want to explore all the casinos and go to the aquarium,” Rylee says as we walk along the strip.

The sun is setting and all the lights are turning on. We are currently standing in front of Caesar’s Palace.

We had some good food, but when I tried to buy Rylee a purse at one of the designer stores, she got really mad at me, and I don't know why.

“We can make a trip down here this summer,” Colt says, offering her his hand when they begin walking again.

“How come he's allowed to buy her some gourmet chocolate and a slice of cheesecake, but I take her into a Prada store and get screamed at?” I ask Teo, and he laughs.

“Because Rylee isn't materialistic. She doesn't need a designer purse,” he mutters and I sigh.

“I have more money than I can spend in five lifetimes, I don't understand why I can't spoil the people I love,” I grumble.

“Hey, I'll take a handout, if you're offering.” Teo winks, nudging my arm.

I scoff, “Fuck off!”

I know he's just being an ass, but I do love the fucker, and he managed to make me smile, which is a chore these days.

Following Colt and Rylee, we talk bullshit and laugh about some of the things the people we pass are wearing.

It's not long until we are back at the hotel, and I'm laying in bed, alone. Colton is my roommate, and I'm tempted to ask him to cuddle.

I don't want to make shit weird, but we have a long day tomorrow and I need sleep.

I clear my throat to ask him, and it's like he already knows.

Sighing, Colton rolls off his bed and slides in under the covers beside me.

My throat gets choked up.

“If I wake up to your dick saying hello to my ass, I will nut punch you,” he mumbles and I laugh.

Laying my hand flat beside his, I close my eyes and take some deep breaths.

“Thanks, Colt.”

Shit, shit, shit! I’m late, how can I be late?! Fuck.

I scramble out of bed and rush over to my bag. Digging through it, I toss all its contents onto the ground until I find my uniform. Damn it, I didn’t shower. Screw it, I don’t have time. We’re up any minute now.

Why didn’t anyone wake me? Have they not noticed I’m not there? I’m going to beat their asses for this.

Stripping out of my sleep stuff, I quickly throw on my uniform and groan when I see what a mess my hair is. It will take a good half an hour to brush this out before I can even style it.

Grabbing a hair tie off the dresser, I quickly pull it up into a sloppy pony, because that's the best I can do right now, and clip my bow into place. I use half a bottle of hairspray, hoping no one gets close enough to see my hot mess hair.

I’m out of the door and running through the hotel, trying to order an Uber. “No,” I groan when I see that no one can pick me up for at least a half hour.

I don’t have time, so when I see someone getting out of a cab, I rush over and slip inside.

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