Underride Guard

Chapter Eleven

A couple weeks passed and I was getting better and better at hand to hand combat. Tyler worked with me everyday teaching me everything he'd learned while being here. I was at a point where I could almost hold my own against him for a few minutes before he pinned me to the ground. I blamed his dance background for him being so light on his feet, which was the complete opposite of me, a giant klutz.

A few times I'd been able to face other girls who happened to be training at the same time and actually beat a few of them. If I won I'd be rewarded with getting to sleep in an extra hour the next morning although I would just lay awake for the hour. It was the only thing Tyler could do though and I didn't have to the heart to tell him that I don't sleep at night as it is.

Although we were free to do what we wanted we tended to still hang around each other all day as if we were still under Arcand's rule with the exception of the awkward bathroom trips and showers. Every day we were either eating, sleeping, or training. We were both determined and too stubborn to not become the best, which is what got me thinking one day at lunch.

"We need brains."

Tyler looked at me like I had two heads, "So you don't have one or you're a zombie now or what..."

I rolled my eyes, "No, we work out and train all the time but we don't do anything to enhance our intelligence. We need to learn more about what's going on out there so if we ever get out of here whether on our own or we're kicked out, we're not just sitting ducks. Do you know what I'm talking about?"

"Yeah like how to blend in and stuff."

"Exactly! We can't just go punching through everything. Like this Rachel girl in my dorm, she spends her free time reading books on how to break codes and fake passwords and all that techy stuff that neither of us knows anything about. Can you even pick a lock?"

"I could learn..."

"Well that's what we need to do, learn. That's what I meant by brain, as in brain and braun."

"Ok we'll do that. I think there's a library somewhere around here with all that information."

"Really? Are there other books too, like recreational reading ones?"

Tyler laughed, "I doubt it, is there recreational anything here?"

"Yeah, basketball. This place is sexist."

"Actually you're sexist for saying basketball is only for boys. Girls can play too."

"Shut up, you know what I mean."

Tyler laughed, "So is there anything you want to learn up on first?"

"I don't know, I guess we could just check out what's available and go from there?"

"Sounds good, we can go after you're done eating."

"I'm done," I said standing up to leave but Tyler pulled me back down.

"No you're not, you've barely eaten."

I looked down at the remaining half of my sandwich, unopened chips and juice, "Oh yeah, waste not want not or whatever they say. Do you want it?" I asked pushing my tray over to him.

"No," Tyler said pushing it back to me, "What I want is for you to eat it."

"Oh don't worry about me I'm not hungry and I know how boys are. You're all black holes when it comes to eating."

Tyler laughed, "True is that may be I want you to eat because you should eat a full meal, you're to skinny."

I pulled on my shorts and tank top trying to get them to cover more skin, "That's why I wore the baggy clothes."

Tyler slapped his forehead and groaned, "That's not what I meant and you know that. I want you to be healthy and eating like an anorexic is not healthy."

I rolled my eyes and stuffed the other half of my sandwich in my mouth, "Ah oo haee ow?"

"One, ew, two, didn't your mom ever tell you don't talk with your mouth full? And three, I have no idea what you said."

I focused on chewing for the next minute or so before swallowing and opening my mouth to show it was now empty, "I said, are you happy now, and I'll eat these on the way," I said grabbing the chip bag and standing up.