laps works out at eight kilometres per day and youEl even get a dayt rest in the middle.?
Lauren felt tears welling up in her eyes. The running was going to be tough, but sher survived worse. What really worried her was the gaunt look on James?face as he steamed out of the office. It was like sher ripped out his heart.
6. ADMISSION
320 laps later
Lauren could run eight kilometres easily, but doing it every day was entirely different. Without time to recover, aches and pains didn't heal and after four days the fifty-minute run became too much. CHERUBt athletics coach, Meryl Spencer, advised Lauren to split the laps into morning and evening sessions and take it slowly, by walking or jogging most of the way.
This made the laps manageable, but also meant they took a two-hour bite out of Laurent day, which, like all cherubs? was tightly scheduled with lessons, homework, combat training and occasional mission training exercises.
On top of everything else, the lifts in the main building were closed for annual maintenance. Lauren and Bethany looked shattered as they rounded the sixth-floor landing. Theyr both showered after their evening laps. Wet hair ran down their backs and they held carrier bags stuffed with damp towels and running kit.
Nere,?Lauren said, holding her bag out to Bethany. Dump this in my room, will you? Ire made up my mind, I'll gonna go see if James is in.?
Don't,?Bethany said sharply. Let him stew for a while. HeEl come running when he wants something out of you.?
AAAARGHHH!?Lauren said, shaking her hands at the side of her head. Etop speaking like that, Bethany. Itt you thinking like that what got us into trouble in the first place.?
Thinking like what??Bethany said indignantly.
Tou always plan out how everyone is gonna react.?Lauren said. Toure always got to think five steps ahead.?
Mine. Give us your dirty washing,?Bethany tutted. Lust don't blame me if you make everything worse.?
Part of being best friends was being able say stuff that your only dare to think about your other mates. Lauren and Bethany always had little digs at each other, but it never turned into a big row.
Tish me luck??Lauren grinned, as Bethany snatched the rustling bag.
Teah,?Bethany smiled back, But if our pocket money hadn't been confiscated, Ir bet you every penny that JamesEl blank you.?
Tith friends like you 厭 Lauren said, tailing off as she started down the sixth-floor corridor towards her brothert room.
As Lauren closed on James?door, she realised it was going to be awkward and kind of hoped he wasn't in. She didn't do her usual distinctive knock, because she didn't want to get marching orders before making it through the door.
That??James asked aggressively, as he turned away from the homework piled on his desk and saw his sister in the doorway.
Lauren felt sad as she edged into the room. Tou don't really hate me do you, James??
It was a difficult question and James didn't want to answer it. Tre got a massive Russian essay to write,?he said irritably. T don't have time for this now.?
Lauren had been preparing a speech in her head the whole time sher been doing her evening laps, but now she was on the spot her mind was blank and all she could do was whine.
Tre said sorry like fifty times, James. I even bought you that game for your Playstation. What more do you want me to do??
T don't want anything from you. I told you to take the game back to the shop.?
Lauren had felt really bad about the whole blackmail thing ever since the meeting in Mact office, but she was also slightly aggrieved that James hadn't forgiven her.
Ttt not like you're so perfect yourself, you know,?Lauren said. Toure dumped me in the shit enough times, youre broken my stuff, youre even hit me.?
T know Ire got a stupid temper,?James barked back. But Ire never sat around a table with all my friends, plotting stuff out and telling everyone that you're an idiot.?
T swear it wasn't like that,?Lauren said desperately. T know it looked cold written down on that sheet of paper, but all I was thinking about was helping Jake and Rat. I was just trying to make the plan work and writing stuff down as it came into my head. Bethany never saw it until you did, in Mact office.?
Tou didn't give a damn about my feelings, or getting me into trouble.?
T got it wrong, James,?Lauren gasped, And I'll really, really sorry. I don't think Ire ever been so sorry,