Chapter 42
After a terribly awkward catch-up brunch with Athena, Lizzy headed down to The Challengers’ dorm for a debriefing with her cousin about The Healer Challenge and, of course, her new suitemate. However, Ken was in the shower when she arrived, so Jax Bradley greeted her and invited her into the room.
She sat on Ken’s bed while Jax sat on his own. The silence was awkward, so Lizzy asked, “So, how’s it going? Congrats on tenth place last challenge.”
“Uhhhhh, thanks,” Jax stammered. “I’m not sure I deserved it.”
“Kid, you need to grow a pair. If you cracked the Top Ten, it’s because you did something awesome or saved a ton of people. I, for one, didn’t think you had it in you.” Lizzy was aware of the cameras and needed to come off as empathetic; plus, Jax just looked so pathetic.
“That’s nice of you to say, which is super weird. I thought you hated me and my whole family.” Jax raised his eyebrows, apparently looking past the condescension in her tone. Who was she to be calling him "kid"? What was she, like a year or two older?
“Whatever gave you that idea?” Lizzy asked, wide-eyed.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it was my family’s ‘litany of scandals’?” Jax threw her insults from the welcome party back in her face.
“Oh, nonsense. That was just a little post-game, pre-fight banter. I didn't think you’d take it seriously. I’m sorry if I offended you - or June.” Lizzy lied.
“I appreciate that. I’ll make sure to let her know you said so.” He realized he had an opportunity here. Lizzy had just led her team masterfully, corralling a bunch of self-interested metas to work together when they could have all been out for themselves. “Hey, Lizzy, mind if I ask you a question?”
“Another one?” she joked.
“Oh, yeah. Um, how did you get the All-Star team to work so well together? I mean, I know you are all trained and everything, but with all those egos, it could have gone horribly wrong, ya know?”
“Thanks!” She perked up a bit at the compliment. “It wasn’t really that hard. The whole challenge format rewarded teamwork. Once everyone realized that most of the top individuals would come from the winning team, getting everyone to fall in line was easy. But, it was important that I had a clear idea and communicated the basics of the concept without getting weighed down with specifics. With all these tight-assed type-A know-it-alls, it was important to rally everyone behind a shared vision without allowing anyone to pick apart the details.”
“Interesting. And you didn’t have any personality conflicts?”
Lizzy thought about her morning and what she had come here to talk to Ken about. Even she was shocked that Athena hadn’t bucked her leadership. Maybe it was because Lizzy had been picked by The Council while Athena had been voted in by America. Or maybe it was just that Lizzy had had a month’s head start on preparation. Either way, she was pretty sure the détente wouldn’t last long. “I wouldn’t say there were none. But everyone did at least trust each other’s capabilities.”
“Thanks, Lizzy, you’ve actually helped a lot!” Jax said, popping up and rustling through his things to grab his tablet, headphones, and jacket. He threw on his shoes quickly and made his way to the door. “And, thanks for clearing the air. It was really big of you. I’m really sorry, too. I may have told America that I thought you were a bitch. In my confessionals.” He made the “eek” face, “Sorry!” and then dashed out of the room.
Lizzy rolled her eyes and slumped onto her cousin’s pillow. Being America’s sweetheart was exhausting. That poor kid thought his team actually stood a chance against her. She was ten steps ahead, and he didn’t even realize it. She heard her cousin turn off the shower, and a few moments later, he made his way out of the steamy bathroom wearing only a robe. His slick hair was combed back, and he used his fingers to rub in the last bits of hair product.
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“Nice of you to drop by, cousin. Did you scare off my roommate? Will I need to apologize for your behavior yet again?” Ken queried calmly.
“You think so little of me, cousin,” Lizzy answered. “And you will be pleased to know that it was I who just did the apologizing. See, I can do the right thing, once in a while.”
“Hmmm. What was in it for you?” he asked.
“Nothing!” Lizzy feigned offense and then seemed genuinely downcast. “You really do think so little of me.” She perked up when she remembered why she had come down there in the first place. “Anyway, you’ll never guess who I’m sharing a bathroom with.”
“Athena?”
“Wha? How?” She was actually a bit thrown. “What do you know?”
Ken laughed, “Nothing! Not everything is some conspiracy, you know. Since I saw she was announced on your team, I knew this was coming. And the only reason you would be sitting in my room, asking this question today, was because of her.”
“Smartypants. Well, you are right. It is Athena. Ugh,” Lizzy was getting reaggravated. “That bully is like a ghost. Haunting me wherever I go!” For a moment, she had forgotten about the cameras. “But, at least it’s someone I know. Plus, I’m sure she has changed. We were just kids the last time I saw her. You know she hugged me this morning?”
Ken was legitimately shocked by that little piece of information. “She hugged? You?”
“Yes! She straight up said she was excited to be roomies and hugged me!”
“That is surprising.” Ken decided that while his cousin was here and seemingly in such a good mood, he might talk to her about what had been on his mind. “Changing the subject, I would like to talk to you about my performance in yesterday's challenge.”
“You too?”
“What?”
“Oh, your roommate wanted to talk about the challenge, too. Never mind, continue.” Lizzy was curious. How had Ken failed to crack the Top Ten? So, she waved him on.
“Well, I went into the challenge with the mindset that I would only transform into…” Ken hesitated, reaching for the right word, “...it… if I absolutely needed to. And it was not until too late that I realized that I did need to. Do you think I am being stupid?”
“Yes.” She did.
“...and?” he asked.
“And what, jackass? You are being stupid. Your power comes from Samurai Tortoise, which is a ridiculous name, by the way, and only makes sense if you’re a fan of-”
“I do not watch those types of shows! You know that. But do you really think that? That it is my only source of power? Because I have trained my mind, spirit, and body to be in top shape at all times, completely in harmony with each other. That has to count for something.”
“Of course, it counts. But so does the fact that you were born with something more. Something powerful. It’s up to you if you want to use it to your benefit, but if I were you, I’d learn to embrace your other half.”
“It is not my other half. It is a parasite. A demon seed growing in my blood.”
“Nonsense.” Lizzy never bought into that bullshit. “Whoever told you that is an idiot.” She knew exactly who had told him that, and Ken knew what she thought of that weak-ass, good-for-nothing waste of space. “He isn’t a parasite, or a demon, or any of that other crap. Samurai Tortoise is the part of you designed to be stronger, faster, more agile, and, weirdly, less tightly wound. Again, if I were you, I would be working with him instead of against him. If you did, you could challenge even me for Top Seed.” She put her index finger over her lips and paused. “Well, maybe not me, but anyone else. You need to get your shit together and trust your entire self.”
She didn’t know whether Ken would listen to her, but for his sake, she hoped he would. Her cousin was strong and really could challenge her to be The Seed. However, it would take a lot more training to get there, and he couldn’t even begin that process until he came to terms with who he really was.
“Well, you’ve got a lot to think about, and I need to go plan my first roommate prank!” Before Ken could chastise her, Lizzy added, “Just kidding! Geez, you think I don’t have a whole notebook full of ideas already?” And then she rose and gracefully glided from the room.