Taste Of Time

CHAPTER TWO.

"Dude, what is wrong with you?" Megan screamed, hitting the door of the Jeep. Aria and Tanya ran to the other door of the vehicle and banged on it.

"Get out of this car!" Aria let out, making attempts to remove the side mirror.

Austin Quavo and Jordan stepped out of the car.

"Behave yourselves, will you?" Jordan directed her next question to Megan. "Miss, who issued you a driver's license?"

"I see it's you." Megan gazed at Jordan and Austin Quavo.

"Yes, it's me," Jordan replied. "What you gon' do?"

"I'm sorry." Austin Quavo said, looking up at Megan.

"Sorry?" Megan wasn't prepared to let go.

Not wanting to create a scene, Austin Quavo quickly pulled Jordan inside his Jeep, and in a bid to speed off, he scratched Megan's car again. As he drove off, Megan scrambled for a stone beside a flower vessel and at his car.

She didn't miss the target, as the stone landed on the rear windscreen of Austin's Jeep and broke it.

"Come and fight me, cowards!" She screamed angrily, packing her hair into a ponytail, ready for the worst.

Austin Quavo stared at her from his side mirror, shook his head in amusement, and kept driving.

"You should have let me teach her some lessons." Jordan allowed a small disappointed sigh to escape from her lips. "You can get her arrested, you know."

Austin Quavo struggled to find an appropriate response before giving up. "What's the need? Her father will get her bailed the next minute."

Jordan's eyes dilated with anxiety. She nodded her head. She was alive, young, strong and safe. She pulled herself up to lean on her elbows. She had all it took to remain the shooting star. She had all it took to make it to the Olympics this year, defeat Dream Chasers and win her first gold medal. She had all it took to win the money and get the fame. She wanted it all!

"It won't be bad if you make her your friend," Austin Quavo said.

"Who? Megan?"

Austin Quavo nodded.

"Why will I want to be friends with someone that hates me?"

"Why does she hate you?"

"Because she is a bitter loser, period."

"She's beautiful though," Austin Quavo said in admiration.

"Can we change the topic please?"

"I have my reasons for selecting that lingerie myself, please wear one of them tonight."

***

Megan was flushed with a whirlwind of emotions every time she thought pictured the future. Her thoughts grew deep as she sat at the Spices Lounge and Cafeteria. She had thought it would be easy to send Jordan away, far away from Ocean, from her life, and have her dream life. But it seemed impossible. Jordan was everywhere in her face.

Aria and Tanya looked at her with concern. Realizing her friends were looking, Megan faked a smile to brighten up her face.

"What? I'm fine. Let's just order something really nice, eat then go to the gym. I don't want to be late."

"I'm not hungry," Aria said, scrolling through her phone. She felt something sharp inside her. This was not how her life was supposed to be. She was not some pawn to be tossed from one man to another, and abandoned as they chose. She would not let it happen. If anyone deserved heartbreak, it wasn't her.

Before Aria could get her emotions in check, the tears drizzled down her face and ruined her makeup. Megan and Tanya couldn't have been more surprised.

"Hunie, what's wrong?" Megan asked.

"Why are you crying?" Tanya looked at her in confusion.

"Jasper broke up with me," Aria responded, heavy tears running down her cheeks.

***

The gymnasium was filled with gymnasts training ferociously. Coach Maleek was in no mood for jokes. He went around supervising. He stopped, then observed Alex closely. He was impressed. She had improved greatly over the past weeks. Moving towards Monica, he paused and tried to control his anger.

"Monica!" Coach Maleek called out.

"Yes, Coach," Monica answered, offering silent prayers and hoping that all was well. From the tone of his voice, she couldn't decipher if she was in trouble or not.

"See me in my office after class."

Coach Maleek moved around the hall carefully observing all the students.

"Has anyone seen Megan, Aria and Tanya today?" Coach Maleek threw the question at everyone. His eyes were serious.

Jordan smiled and fixed him a smile. "They are..."

"Right here, Coach," Megan sharply answered, cutting Jordan short. She stood at the entrance door panting.

Megan, Aria and Tanya ran inside the hall, dropped their backpacks and shoulder bags, then walked straight to Coach Maleek.

"Our sincere apologies, Coach," Megan said. "We got into an accident on our way."

"Excuses! That's all you are good at these days." Coach Maleek spat out the gum he was chewing into the waste bin. "Listen, three of you, be on your best behaviour or you will leave me with no choice but to take certain actions."

"I'm sorry, Coach." Aria bent her head and wiped off a tear. "It won't happen again."

"Get to work." Coach Maleek turned and walked to the stage. He looked at the students sternly, smiled briefly, then cleared his throat to address them. "Auditions start in thirty minutes at the multi-purpose hall. I wish all of you good luck. Not everyone will make it to Olympics this year, but however, hope for the best."

The hall suddenly went cold and dropped dead. The gymnasts looked around in anxiety and exchanged glances. Coach Maleek left the hall with his head held up.

"Don't worry, I know you will pass the audition." Monica walked to Megan and rubbed her shoulder gently. "You're the Queen of Ocean."

"Yes, I know," Megan replied.

One after the other, the gymnasts quietly left the hall. Jordan Sparks didn't leave, rather she sat on the beam, staring outside the window.

"She knows she won't make it," Tanya said mockingly.

The nervousness on Megan's face didn't let her speak further. She nodded quietly and headed towards the exit, hoping her nightmare would not turn into reality. She stopped by the exit, then stood on her toe to wipe a tear that rolled down Aria's cheek. The trio held hands, looked back to stare at Jordan, smiled cornily, then raced out.

"It doesn't matter if you pass the audition or not." Tory Sparks sat Jordan, looking directly into her eyes.

"Tory!" Jordan couldn't have been more surprised. She hurriedly embraced Tory as he sat on the beam, with a bright smile smeared on his baby face.

"Don't just sit here like a loser." Tory jumped to his feet and stretched his hands. "Let's go."

"Where have you been?" Jordan frowned. "Why didn't you call me or mom?"

"I've been out hustling, trying to secure the bag," Tory replied. "Call you? I didn't want to trouble you, Mom. Now, don't be funny, we both know she doesn't care. That is by the way, cheer up."

"Truth be told, Tory," Jordan stood to her feet and walked outside with Tory, clinging to each other. "I need to pass the audition."

"Else what will happen?"

"Else it's over for all of us."

"We'll be fine, with or without this your audition and the Olympics." Tory looked around, carefully studying the multi-purpose hall as they walked inside. "Besides, you sound like you don't believe in yourself, which is bad."

Jordan shook her head in disagreement. "I have faith in my ability. I believe in myself..."

"But?" Tory interrupted.

Jordan stared at Megan for long, then looked away. "Nothing. Sit here in the visitors' arena. I'm going to join my teammates."

"Make it shine." Tory relaxed on a long bench. He didn't look bothered or worried. He had absolute faith in his elder sister. To him, with or without an Olympic gold medal, she was the best gymnast in Ocean Academy.

***

"Mr. Trainor, I don't mean to disrespect you, but we cannot grant your scholar admission into the academy." Zain fixed his eyes boldly on Mr. Trainer as he spoke. "I'm sorry."

"I do not appreciate jokes like this," Mr. Trainor snapped. "You ought to have issued Jigga an admission letter by now."

Zain looked away. "He is not qualified to attend here, you should try another district."

Coach Maleek knocked, then pushed the door open. "Zain, it's about time. They're all waiting."

"Start with the junior gymnasts. I'll join you in twenty minutes," Zain responded.

Coach Maleek gave Zain a pleading look. He left the door open as he scurried to go about the day's business.

"I need to leave now," Zain said in a dismissive tone. "Any special slot aside Megan?"

Mr. Trainor inhaled deeply. "With or without my presence and affluence in the academy, we both know my daughter will always be qualified for Olympics. So don't sound like I am the reason why she always makes it to the Olympics."

"We both know if you weren't involved, she'd be long gone." Zain snapped back.

"Don't rob Megan of her glory. She works hard, she deserves the spotlight."

Zain smiled. "She won't have that moment forever."

"We'll see about that." Mr. Trainor stormed out of the room, maintaining his cool.

Zain Adolphus, silent billionaire boss, CEO and businessman in his early thirties. He lived in the gymnasium basement, and, was a major shareholder of Ocean Academy. Mr. Trainor worked directly under him.

To everyone, he was just that homeless man luck shone on, that was able to afford to be part of Ocean Academy. He had just moved into the city a few months ago, no one knew he was a billionaire in the city, with numerous investments and companies.

When it came to looks, he was indeed a charming young man women had eyes on, except the spoilt brat, Megan Trainor.

The most interesting part of his life; Zain Zaza was the alpha of Atena pack. He broke out of home, and was representing well.

Zain ran his fingers through his hair, staring at the door. For each time Mr. Trainor spoke to him rudely, Megan would pay for his sins through her teeth.