"Gin, you look like shit!" Drew says as I make my way to him and our PT, Tomas in the early morning. Today we are out by the football field and there is an impressive collection of torture devices, I mean gym equipment.
I offer a little laugh, "Yeah, remind me not to do sushi with the girls on a week night. Too much Sake, not enough food!"
"Okay guys, today I was going to take it easy, but now it looks like Gin needs a challenge day, so let's change over to sprints, with circuits in between," Tomas offers, a sly smirk on his face.
"Bring it!" I respond, my enthusiasm waning, while I start stretching it out next to them both grinning like silly kids.
The thing they don't know is that I have my Italian heritage, Bellafonte stubbornness burning through my veins. There is no way I will quit this session. I will no doubt be heaving, but I will not give up.
Tomas is right, he is being an ass and our session is insanely hard. I did chuck up a few times and by the end of it as I lay in a sweaty heap staring up at the clouds as the black spots in my vision danced in the sky. Still, I feel a lot better than I did earlier.
"Tomas, what the hell! I am not fessing up to being hungover anymore, like ever actually. I need a shower and food," I say as I slowly climb up to my feet after finally stopping feeling like I am going to pass out, even my breathing has returned to a more acceptable rhythm.
"Want to meet for a quick bite in ten?" Drew asks.
"Okay, but I only have a few and then I need to run up to the library to get a book for English," I tell him, as I offer him my hand, struggling to pull his heavy butt up off the lawn where he is sprawled out next to me.
"What are you doing for English? I think I am going to doOdyssey, I mean I was going to doIlliad," he replies as we start walking back. "Hey, Tomas, man, thanks for today, that was good. Nice work with Ginny too. Worth It!"
I shove a shoulder into him and a smile, we both laugh and wave off at Tomas. We somehow break into a slow jog which will no doubt help my cramps later.
"See you soon, hey," I offer as we break away at the lift bank. I honestly am one of those girls who is ready in an instant, I think it is a superpower of mine. Admittedly I don’t do flouncy hair or eyelash extensions, just lip gloss and mascara unless I am out for a night. Which means, I am back in the lift back down in under ten minutes, feeling better, smelling a hell of a lot better too.
I sit down at our usual table in the main dining room, which is teeming with students getting ready for another busy day. Without waiting I order eggs, juice, and tea before sitting down. I am reading through my notes for my first lecture, when someone sits down unannounced next to me. I look up unsurprised to see Dom there, looking a little tired but happy.
"Hey you," I say as I look at him, "you doing okay Dom? You look knackered."
He looks away from me, staring off into the distance. I keep my gaze on him though, my worry increasing as he doesn’t answer me.
"Dom?"
"Gin, sorry, I am going to catch up with you later okay?" he responds quietly, before getting up and walking away, confusing the heck out of me. I watch him walk away with a little shake of my head.
"Sorry I am late, have you ordered Gin?" Drew asks, dropping his bag on the table, moving past me, towards the counter.
"Yeah thanks," I mutter, still distracted by Dom.
Drew is back sitting down at our table a few minutes later, opposite me and a waitress seems to follow after him with a tray with my breakfast.
"Don't wait for me, honestly, dig in Gin. My god did you piss Tomas off this morning or what?" he laughs opening up the bottled water.
"Hey, Drew can I ask you something?" I ask quickly, moving off track. I continue after he nods at me, "What's up with Dom?" my words seem to still him and his eyes flash around the room before settling back on mine, strangely guarded.
"It's not my story to tell, but it's not you Gin. Trust me on that. It's not bad but at the same time it's not good," he continues, "does that make sense?"
"No. Drew, if one of my friends is in trouble I want to know," I say politely, putting my cutlery down so that he can see he has my full attention.
Drew's food arrives, I give him the time to think before I start hounding him for answers to what is going on with Dom. He obviously knows and it does shit me that they haven't confided in me. I get it but still, it stings. We start eating in silence before he speaks again.
"Gin, honestly if I could, I would. But for some of it, it is a discussion that is not mine to have, but I will say, Dom is having a bit of trouble with someone. We are not sure what is going on properly, but he is obviously being targeted," his words are like a slap to my face.
"What do you mean, Dom is being targeted?" I ask slowly, not really getting what he is saying just yet. I need the details.
"Silly things, his phone ringing at strange times during the night. His power was cut to his room yesterday but maintenance couldn't find a reason. Yesterday he received a delivery of all food he is allergic to, the day before after training, his clothes were stolen. Stupid pranks but either way, it's disturbing. But he is also troubled about something else, not something bad, but something he needs to figure out, know what I mean?" he speaks gently, softly even, which is totally different from the Drew I have seen so far.
"Can I help?"
"Just give him a bit of time okay. That's all I could suggest," he says before finishing off his breakfast. We both sit in silence and eat and we are nearly done ready to go when Dom comes back, looking a little better.
