Intrigue (12 page)

The dance was everything I had expected it to be. Beautiful setting. Lame music. Awkward dancing. Several couples broke up. Several new couples hooked up, and plenty of girl’s bathroom drama. Jazz, Key, and I sat back and watched it all while the guys disappeared at intervals to get more
refreshments.
We laughed at Rafe’s attempts to fend off Siena’s attack. Rafe had managed to escape Siena for a couple minutes and was talking to me when I looked up at one of the balcony areas on the opposite side wall and saw Delian and another dark-haired hottie. I couldn’t make out his features, but it was clear that he was gorgeous.

My breath caught and I stuttered, “What is Delian doing here?”

Rafe seemed as shocked as I was. He then did something surprising. He stepped in front of me blocking my view of Delian and vice versa. Then, he walked toward me making me step back until we were in the shadows.

He finally commented, “I promised I would keep Delian away from you. I’m always a man that keeps his promises. You definitely don’t want Delian and Thrace in the same room.”

I nodded and agreed, “True dat. Do you know who the other guy is with him?”

Rafe looked worried for a second before he gave me a devilish smile and commented, “He is a fraternity brother of Delian’s. They are probably scoping this place out for their fall event. Three guys willing to display their feathers for you are not enough. You need to enchant another one.”

As we walked back toward the dance floor, we saw Thrace and Siena dancing. I guess since Rafe escaped she decided to pay me back. Siena had her arms wrapped around Thrace like an octopus. I looked at Rafe and said, “Come on. Let’s go rescue my boyfriend.”

We slowly danced to them, and I attempted to kick Rafe into submission, but he was too quick for me. He finally sighed and tapped Thrace on the shoulder and asked, “Can I cut in?”

Thrace looked like he wanted to give Rafe a hug but instead he slurred, “Yes. I’ve been neglecting Calli all night.”

Siena slurred at Rafe, “Too bored without me, lover?”

Rafe’s expression was comical, but I didn’t hear his reply over the music. Thrace took me into his arms, and we swayed slowly to the music. He leaned down to kiss me on the forehead, but I caught a very strong whiff of whiskey and leaned back as I said, “Contract written in blood, huh?”

He backed off but looked a little wounded. I just laid my head on his chest for the rest of the dance. On the way back to Justin’s house, one guy passed out in the limo and had to be carried out, and Tiffany puked again. We used the guy’s jacket that passed out to clean up the limo. As usual, I was DD for Thrace and several other classmates. I dropped Thrace off and headed home feeling like we were right back to where I didn’t want to be.

Hermes Field Log: August 2007

I feel like I am living in the middle of a house of cards. One wrong move and it all falls down. Disrupt Calli and Thrace without hurting her. Guard her without being drawn to her. Try to figure out why she is important to Apollo without being obvious. Protect her from Apollo without offending him. I no longer believe Apollo’s interest in Calli is platonic. He seems to have a similar effect on her as she has on me. Apollo almost ruined everything tonight by going to the dance to observe my progress. He somehow drew Ares's attention, and Ares's attention always comes with a price. Apollo assured me that Ares did not see either Calli or I. He just wanted to talk business and had one of his many minions track Apollo down. Ares is getting suspicious, and he is malicious enough to try to steal any female that draws Apollo’s attention. Ares's human “girlfriends” have very short life expectancies. Apollo hopes that the media attention about the deaths, disappearances, and injuries of the young adults will distract Ares's attention from us. The media does not know how close their Fight Club theory is to the truth. There is no way to know how Ares will deal with this issue or who will pay the price. I will just have to always keep in mind the words of Charles Lamb—“Cards are war, in disguise of a sport.”

Chapter 10: Camelot

I was happy that I had little time on Sunday to dwell on the previous night’s dance. In addition to our usual family routine, I had to finalize all four of my presentations: Superintendent, School Board, PTA, and volunteer group. They all needed the same information, but the sales pitch that I would use for each group had to be different. My parents made me give each pitch to them after I practiced it in the mirror with my laptop. Yes, that is how lame I was and how badly I wanted to get this right. Rafe called me for a pep talk and some last minute brainstorming. I asked him how the evening with Siena turned out.

“Yeah. Apparently, the arrest had little impact on him. He did always suffer from short-term memory loss. I would rather focus on the presentations than Thrace’s issues.” I remarked.

“I can see why you would want to focus on working with me than Thrace. We do make a perfect team. I think I should probably drive you tomorrow since we are just going to head to the GAR after the School Board Meeting anyway.”

I reluctantly agreed to the ride, but I cut Rafe’s flirting short as I said, “You’re definitely gonna a need your beauty rest to be at your most persuasive, Sparky, so I will let you go.”

The next morning I was a bundle nerves when Rafe picked me up a half hour earlier than I usually left. I sent Thrace a text letting him know that I was already on my way to school. I had put my hair up in a twist and actually had on my glasses instead of contacts to look more professional.

Rafe looked slightly taken aback by my appearance, but laughingly announced, “Love the sexy librarian persona.”

I snapped, “Since we have no choice about the uniforms, the least I could do was look a little more professional.”

“Yes, but it’s going to put ideas into all the guys’ heads. We all had at least one fantasy about the tempting teacher that whips off her glasses and shakes her hair out of her bun. You just turned yourself into a walking talking male fantasy,” Rafe explained with a devilish wink.

I shot him an icy look back and snarled, “Hey! Get your mind in the game and out of your little dream world. Flock! I haven’t had enough caffeine to deal with you yet.”

Rafe nodded down to the cup holder. It had a fountain Mt. Dew in it.

I smiled at him and announced, “If I said, ‘I could kiss you right now’--it would only be an expression. So I am just going to say, Thank you.” I took a drink and sighed in pleasure.

“That would be three kisses you owe me. Don’t worry, I am still counting, and I will collect when the time is right.”

Although the thought of kissing Rafe made my stomach churn, it wasn’t going to happen. However, I could tease him in another way. “Would you trade the three kisses for me taking off my glasses and shaking down my hair at the GAR building after the school board meeting?”

Rafe’s hazel eyes felt like they actually burned into mine as he huskily whispered, “I would consider that payment in full.”

My lips twitched in a smile and I replied, “Deal, but only if the Superintendent, Principal,
and
School Board goes for our idea, so you better be persuasive,” I announced just as we arrived at school.

Flirting with Rafe definitely took my nerves away from the presentation. As we walked into school, we headed straight toward the conference room. Superintendant Torres and Principal Wakefield were already in the office, but they gave us time to set up. I pulled my handouts and laptop out of my borrowed briefcase. Rafe and I had sectioned out each portion of our presentation. I was going to start the pitch because our audience was more familiar with me than Rafe. Rafe then took over the explanation of the DUA and its mission and our potential partnership for a service-based learning class. I took over to explain the financing and fundraising needed to purchase and renovate the Grande Ballroom. Rafe finished up with the historic contribution and good press this would create for our school. Both Superintendent Torres and Principal Wakefield seemed impressed and said they would support our efforts tonight when we presented to the School Board. I think it helped that both were natives of Detroit and had been to the Grande Ballroom in its heyday.

I flew threw my classes on cloud nine. However, I definitely got some odd looks at my glasses and attire from more than a few guys as well as several snide remarks from Siena. Thrace noticed this as well as whom I got a ride from today. He chose to snap at me all day. I couldn’t figure out if it was more for the outfit or the ride. Jazz and Key were supportive and put Thrace in his place as needed. Rafe and I debriefed and prepped for the board meeting during study hall. As much as I could handle speaking to authority figures in a small group, I
hated
speaking in a large group, so my nerves were back in effect.

Rafe once again teased and flirted me out of most of my nerves by reminding me that all he had to do was charm the School Board and his private show was on. Luckily, we were first up on our School Board’s agenda that night. Dr. A, Sadie, my parents, Thrace, Jazz, and Key were all in the audience to show support as well. I had a moment of shear panic when Delian walked in the room with Dr. A and Sadie, but he sat in the back so I couldn’t really see him. Rafe just shook his head at me and shot Delian a look that said stay back.

Rafe and I had our spiel down as we presented the second time around to an audience of about 50 people. The School Board seemed impressed and asked us some tough questions about insurance, building upkeep, and maintenance. We had fairly strong estimates from the GAR and the Superintendent. Many of the board members were familiar with the Grande Ballroom and loved the idea of restoring it, but were practical about the business of buying and renovating it. I walked them through the fundraising, and I pulled Sadie up to verify my figures. Dr. A also jumped in with a discussion on the course he could offer us in conjunction with the renovation. It was a unanimous vote to proceed with the project, and several board members expressed interest in helping with the fundraising. The exhilaration that I felt in accomplishing this part of my quest was amazing. It was only tempered down by all the work that would have to follow to raise support and money for the project.

I celebrated with my family, Thrace, Jazz, and Key as Rafe went over to thank Dr. A, Sadie, and Delian for coming. I told my parents and Thrace that I had to run to the GAR to do a little more research for the PTA presentation. Thrace seemed reluctant to let me go with Rafe, but my parents’ presence cut short his sullen routine.

As we pulled into the GAR, Rafe turned to me and urged, “Time to pay up, Siren.”

I looked at him in surprise as I whispered, “In the car? I don’t think you will get quite the full effect in such a confined space.”

Rafe gave me one of his teasing smiles as he pondered, “You’re probably right. I am just afraid Delian will pounce as soon as we walk in the door, and I won’t get my show.”

I laughed and said, “Ok. It’s your loss.” As I reached for my glasses I captured his gaze and sternly commented, “You have been a very disobedient friend, Rafe Hermes.” I whipped my glasses off and released my hair from my clip and shook it down.

Rafe sat completely still and looked flabbergasted. I jumped out of the car and literally skipped to the building laughing all the way. Of course, Rafe was right. As soon as I entered the building, both Dr. A and Delian came out to congratulate me. They asked where Rafe was because he still had not entered the building, and I covered for him, “He must have got a call as I got out of the car.”

I headed up to Dr. A’s office because he had my handouts printed for the PTA meeting. As we entered, Delian finally managed to capture my gaze, which made me blurt out, “I’m sorry, Delian, did you need something?”

Dr. A snorted and asked, “Yes, Delian, is there something you needed? I think that I can give Calli her handouts without your assistance.”

Delian’s eyes never left mine as he remarked, “I was planning to carry the box down for Calli. Chivalry is not as dead as you might believe, Admetus.”

Dr. A laughed as I looked on suspiciously, “Ahhh. Chivalry. So seldom is that anyone’s true motivation since the days of Camelot that I did not recognize it. So sorry Delian.”

Rafe just laughed and said, “I can’t help it if I am charming, Delian. It’s my natural charisma, and you know I have neither the desire nor the drive to be King, but I will give you the number of my charm school if you want to call for lessons.”