Defiance (Significance #3)(29)

"You're better today," she observed.
"Yes, lots better."
"Good. Don't worry about anything today. Peter and Caleb won't let anyone mess with you. Alright, dear?" I nodded. "I better get back to breakfast."
"Aren't I supposed to help?" I asked.
"No, honey. You just rest."
"But I want to help. I feel fine." She eyed me and decided on whether or not to fight me one it. "Rachel, come on. I can't act like this hurt me. I need them to see that I can handle things."
She nodded. "You're right," she sighed. "Come on." She looked back at me with an odd expression though. "Let me handle the bacon, though."
I laughed and let her put her arm around me as we went into the kitchen. Rodney followed us in and stood next to me.
"Honey child, I need help with these eggs," Gran called. "It's about time you got your lazy bones up and at 'em. Now crack these eggs and then put a sprinkle of pepper on 'me."
"Sure," I said, totally amused at how Gran never gave that Visionary status of mine a second of thought. She spoke her mind and nothing was changing that fact.
"Can I help?" Rodney asked.
I nodded. I cracked and he whipped and sprinkled pepper until we were done. Then I grabbed a pot of coffee and started toward the dining hall. I took a deep breath and turned to face the room. Paulo's wife was the first one to walk up. Everyone else was trying to act like they were eating and not watching me.
I assured her I was fine and thanks to Caleb, I was one hundred percent up to par. Rodney had his own pot, but was just kind of walking around with it. I started making the rounds with the hot brew. Everyone was very concerned and not one person thought anything but sympathy and anger toward the one who did that to me. And surprisingly, most of them agreed that Marla was to blame, but no one wanted to point the finger that way for fear of Donald.
And even more surprising was how much I learned that morning. Donald was the one everyone was afraid of. I thought Sikes had been some kind of evil genius, but that had been child's play. Donald was pulling everyone's strings. Even though Marla was the one who'd hurt me, everyone assumed it was Donald, somehow on the sly where he wasn't connected, had put her up to it.
In my opinion, their little plan backfired. Instead of everyone thinking I was a raging wino, they felt sorry for me. I spoke to almost every single member of the Virtuoso that morning. I tried to steer the conversation to neutral topics and we wound up talking about where they were from, what school they went to, what company their family operated.
By the time I was finished and made my way back to the Jacobsons it was almost lunch time and they were gearing up for another round of serving. I sat down with Rodney for a second to catch my breath and suck down a glass of sweet tea.
"Hey," I said and realized that Caleb had never come back down.
Caleb...Caleb, where are you?
He didn't respond and I instantly panicked. He'd said he was going to change and then call his uncle.
"What's the matter?" Rodney asked beside me as he scooted his plate away."Where's Caleb?" I said more to myself than him.
"Oh, he came by my room this morning. Said he was sneaking out to go to this Italian motorcycle shop."
"What?" I said in unbelief. He wouldn't have left me like that, without a word, while my father was possibly dead and the day after I almost died of alcohol poisoning by my enemy.
"Yeah. I thought it was a little weird myself, I mean with everything that happened last night, but he said you were fine and that he would only be a little while. He said to keep an eye on you until he got back."
I didn't really know what to say to that. So I just stood and went back into the kitchen. He followed me and asked me if I was ok. I said I was, but I was definitely confused. I decided to just chop something, so I asked Gran what needed to be done. She said we were having some kind of Greek salad and that I could handle the olives. I tried not to be insulted that the only job she'd give me was opening olive jars. I guess it was no secret that I was a disaster in the kitchen.
"So," I asked Jen, "did you see Caleb this morning?"
"Yeah," she answered. "He came by and asked me to keep an eye on you."
What? What was he doing?
"Ok," I dragged out in sarcasm.
"He said he had to run an errand," she said and shrugged as she cut tomatoes.
Run an errand… Ok, I needed to step back a little. I was about to become serious clingy girl. I took a deep breath. He could go to a frigging motorcycle shop if he wanted to, right? He was a man with his own money and I was here with his family and lots of protection. It was totally fine.
At least that was what I tried to tell myself. So I kept busy and I helped with everything they would let me help with. Then we served lunch, with Rodney shadowing me, and eventually it was time for the afternoon event.
Today was an indoor soccer game. Boys were playing first, so I sat off to the side with Jen and watched…and sulked a little. Music began to play from the overhead speakers. The Police's King of Pain of all things. Rodney wanted to play, I could see it.
"Go on," I told him. "I'll sit right here and won't move a muscle."
"You're sure?" he said excitedly.
"Of course. Go."
"Alright." He started to go and then said, "I'll get someone to come and sit with you."
"You don’t have to-" I started, but he was already gone. 
A few minutes later a guy I'd talked to briefly before came up to us. He was the same guy who'd done the three legged race with Jen. He was tall and slim, but very handsome with blonde hair. He had a bashful smile as he bowed to me slightly. "Visionary," he said and then turned to Jen and it was a completely different story. "Jenna," he practically hummed.
My lips pursed as I watched her.
Oh, great.
"Hi, Jonathan. How are you?" she said politely.
"I'm great," he said and beamed at her. "We didn't get much of a chance to talk earlier. How is everyone?"
"Good," she answered. "How's school coming?"
"I finally got my law degree," he said and shook his head. "Been working hard to buy my first house."
"That's nice," she said and blushed at the mention of his house.
Houses were a big deal with their race. Houses were their engagement rings\wedding presents and for him to be considering his own place meant he'd given up on waiting for his significant. Jen understood the implications.
Jonathan, however, was only focused on one thing and his outer and inner monologue was all I could hear.
Wow, she looks so good.
"That Maria has turned out to be a little beauty, huh?" he said nervously.
Ah, such an idiot. She wants nothing to do with you, man.
"Yeah," Jen said and tucked her hair behind her ear. "She's a mess."
Ah, I love it when she does that.
"I bet. Um…would you like a drink? I can get you a glass of tea or something?"
Jen stalled, her thoughts wild.
Why not? It's not like it'll hurt anything. Maybe it'll take my mind off of Bish if nothing else.
"Sure, I'd like that."
He grinned in delight. "Great. Be right back." He practically ran to do her bidding.
I stood laughing and Jen nudged my arm as we leaned against the table top together. "Shut up," she said through a sad giggle.
He returned with two glasses and sweetly handed one to me as well. I thanked him and started to give them some space. Jen caught on and also caught my sleeve.
Don't you dare leave me with him.
I bit my lip to stop the smile. We watched the match that Jonathan had no interest in as he leaned next to Jen. He spent the whole hour trying to come up with points of interest solely to speak to her.
He'd been infatuated with her since he was little. They were the same age and grew up together. Once they reached teenage age, and Jen filled out nicely, he was hooked. He never broke any dating rules, but he would if she just said the word.
When it was the girl's turn to play, I was pumped. I had an anger and a frustration that needed to be worked out today. Jen didn't want to play, but she wanted to get rid of Jonathan so she was on my team, along with Marla.
It seemed weird to me to play in our regular clothes, though we all played barefoot. I was in a dress for goodness sake, but no one else was weird about it. They strapped these yellow sashes on us and blue on the opposing team.
We took our sides and got ready. You had to play with your hands behind your back at all times in their rules, so I linked my fingers behind my back and tried not to roll my eyes at the music choices. So far we'd heard Michael Jackson's The Way You Make Me Feel, U2's Sunday Bloody Sunday and Tom Petty's Free Fallin'. These people were seriously stuck in the nineties for real.The whistle blew - What was up with that whistle? - and we started off. I closed off my mind. I didn't want to be a cheater for reading their next moves right out of their heads. I went after the ball and was knocked from my left side. I caught myself on my knees and looked up to see what had happened. Marla bounced away happily and looked back at me.
'Oops,' she mouthed and laughed.
Oh, it was on now. I got up and went after her.
"We're on the same team, you know," I said loudly as I finally got the ball and kicked it to Jen.
"Are we?" she said sarcastically. "I thought we were mortal enemies."
"Have it your way," I said and rammed her with my shoulder as I scooted between her and someone on the other team. I heard her grunt and fume behind me, but I didn’t look back. A girl from the Petrona clan had the ball and was switching it from foot to foot, but not moving a whole lot toward the goal. I swooped in from behind her and stole it. I kicked it once hard and it zipped right into the goal. I wondered if someone had used their ability to make me win that shot. It seemed really clean and tight for someone who didn't even play soccer.