Bella laughed. “I think you just described half of LA.”
“Just need to work out some of that nervous energy.” Kara put her fork down on her empty plate. “I think we might need some parkour or a bunch of stairs after dessert, but if we ran those stairs every couple of days, I bet we could eat whatever we wanted.”
Shay smiled to herself. She might have deviated from her life plan, but she still had a life. It was a compartmentalized and complicated threading of multiple identities, obligations, and goals, but it was still a life.
I’m living now, not just existing.
Chapter Sixteen
The morning sun was still climbing into the sky, with more than a few of the taller buildings in the east eclipsing the glowing orb.
Shay stretched her arms above her head as she looked at the other people gathered atop the roof in the business district that morning. Everyone had a vaguely similar look: lithe, and wearing loose-fitting shirts and pants.
Her own tank and sweatpants matched everyone’s else style, but she’d gone for dark colors, whereas everyone else was wearing something brighter. She had no idea if that said something about her or the group.
The Free-to-Move website didn’t say anything about a dress code, but I didn’t look that hard.
A tall, lanky man with bushy brown hair walked her way and extended his hand. “Don’t think I’ve seen you around before. I’m Aaron.”
Shay looked him up and down. He stood with a relaxed air. There wasn’t a hint of tension around him, despite the fact he was about to go running and jumping through half of LA.
“I’m Shay. You in charge?”
He shrugged. “We don’t really do hierarchy or ranks. We feel it goes against the spirit of parkour. Freedom, you know? That’s the way I look at it. I want to have maximum freedom, in my life and my movement.”
“I’ve been…toying with the idea of parkour, but I feel like if I really want to learn it, I’ll need to be around people who are proficient, if only to observe people better than me. I don’t know about all the freedom sh…stuff, though.”
Aaron smiled. “Yeah, watching others can help at first, but you’ll soon realize how natural this all is and start improving your moves without even thinking about it. Just got to practice, practice, practice.”
Shay had already taken to that mantra. She’d set up some walls, stairs, and platforms inside Warehouse One so she could at least train in parkour without drawing attention to her secret building. Her movements were still inelegant and her thought processes too direct, but at least it was a start.
Seeking out a group of experienced practitioners was the next natural step. At a minimum, they’d know parkour routes that wouldn’t have too many issues with trespassing or official disapproval.
Aaron waved and turned. “Just try and keep up. If not, no shame.”
A pony-tailed Asian woman sauntered up to Shay. “It’s good to get a new girl in the group. These guys aren’t super-full of testosterone, but it’s still nice to up the chick balance.” She extended her hand. “Lana.”
“Shay.” The woman had a firm shake.
“We don’t do judgment here, but we also don’t hold your hand. So don’t feel bad if you can’t keep up.”
Shay chuckled. “Okay, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Aaron raised his arm. “Okay, everyone, time to get going. As a reminder, we’re having our post meal at the Great Sandwich Hut this week. Go to the forum and vote if you want to eat somewhere else next time. Other than that, see you soon.” He spun and sprinted toward the edge of the building.
Lana winked at Shay and jogged after him. Shay took a deep breath and followed.
Let’s see if any of that practice has paid off.
The traceurs and traceuses leapt from the building at an angle, bright smiles on their faces. Shay was the last person to make the jump. Everyone landed with a smooth roll, even Shay.
So far, so good. I can do this.
Aaron and Lana were the first two up and running again. Shay managed to get to her feet before some of the others, but everyone else was moving forward before her.
They approached another ledge, but this time the next roof was higher rather than lower. The athletes all leapt and caught the edge, pulling themselves up, and jumping to their feet.
The light morning traffic flowed on the roads below them, the walkers never looking up and spotting the half-dozen people leaping from building to building as if gravity were a mere inconvenience.
Lana took the lead, leaping off the side of the building onto a metal staircase and flipping backward over the railing to a narrow alley. Aaron and the others followed.
Shay knew her limitations. She didn’t go for the flip, instead pushing off the railing. The split second of consideration cost her a few yards as the group sprinted down the alley.
Her heart galloped in her chest and sweat beaded on her face, but she smiled.
She didn’t mind that she was pulling up the rear. Her parkour experience was limited, and the morning wasn’t about catching an arrogant asshole, but training and expanding her skills.
The cat burglar had escaped because she hadn’t been prepared, and this group would help ensure that never happened again.
For now, keeping up was impressive enough.
At last, a real challenge—one that makes me better and doesn’t just piss me off.
Aaron and Lana vaulted over a trash bin in perfect sync. The woman landed with a roll, then burst into the air grabbing a windowsill and swinging, her toned arms taut, over to the next window. Aaron and then everyone else followed. Shay didn’t pay attention to where they were going, instead concentrating on following the men and women in front of her.
There was a ledge at the end of the windows. Lana leapt to it and pulled herself up, followed by Aaron.
The minutes flowed
