Intrigue (15 page)

Delian gave me an amused look as he drawled, “Why, are you planning on stretching out across it?”

My stomach churned as he picked the perfect spot that would give us the best view of the city. “Did I mention there would be no flirting, or you will be swimming back to the city.”

Delian complained, “I am trying to be good, but you just don’t seem to be cooperating.”

I sat down on the very edge of the blanket as Delian started to pull various lunch meat, bread, fruit, and chips out of the picnic basket. He handed me a Mt. Dew as well. As I shook my head at him, I announced, “Fine. I will be on my very best behavior from now on—all business, that’s me. So, tell me, how much history do you know about the island, Delian?”

The rest of lunch became a bit of a competition on who could stump whom on Belle Isle trivia. I had some pretty good skills because of all the field trips and visits I spent here, but Delian seemed to have a historian’s knowledge of the island. He even knew that the first French colonist had named the place Hogs Island in the 18
^th
century until it became Island of Beauty. As we packed up and headed to the Aquarium, I thanked Delian for lunch and his history lesson. He could not help himself with a little razzing, “Well, anytime you would like to be taken to school on a subject, Calliope, let me know.”

I snorted, but gave him his due, “You seem to have a strong grasp of Detroit historical trivia, which is rare for a transplant.”

He shot me a challenging look as he opened my car door for me. “Who says I’m a transplant?”

I got in before I answered his question, “First, you are a UM student, which means you don’t live in Detroit, which makes you a transplant. There is also one sure fire test that will prove that you are a transplant.”

“Fine. What is the test?” Delian asked confidently.

I asked, “If you
are
from Michigan, show me where in Michigan.”

Delian tilted his head and gave me an odd look. When he parked in front of the Aquarium, he pulled out a map from his glove compartment. I laughed and said, “HA! Anyone that was truly a native would have raised your left hand and pointed to where you were from on your palm. Michigan is shaped like a hand and since birth we learned how to show tourists where we live on our hands.”

Delian threw his head back and laughed and said, “You caught me, you minx, very good. Now are you ready to work?”

“Absoflockinglutely. What exactly am I doing?” I asked.

“I am going to walk around the Aquarium taking pictures and assessing any plain sight structural damage. You are going to do a log of each picture. So, just write down what I say word-for-word,” Delian commanded.

“Yes, sir!” I mocked.

We walked around the gorgeous structure for over an hour taking pictures of even the smallest damage. When we were done, we had over 100 pictures logged, and I stated loudly that my hand was cramping up.

As we walked back to the car, he asked, “Are you always this whiny or is it just with me?”

I fired back as honestly as possible, “Just with you. Definitely, you are the only one that finds me whiny.”

Delian didn’t seem to believe me as he said; “I will have to check with Rafe on that one. He has only texted me 10 times while we were here. Is there a reason he might think we needed a chaperone?”

I laughed remembering my conversation with Rafe begging him for Delian’s schedule so I wouldn’t be alone with him. “He must know you a lot better than I. If he thinks we need a chaperone, I would definitely trust his judgment, so I foresee no more unsupervised visits with me in your future.”

Delian sighed in disappointment as he drove. I checked my phone, which had been off, and saw that I had several texts and messages from Thrace and my friends as well. Delian finally replied, “That is probably for the best—at least until you are old enough to make decisions for yourself.”

“What? I make decisions for myself all the time!” I sputtered.

Delian seemed to be ignoring my outburst as he asked, “Would you like me to drop you off at home or at the GAR?”

“The GAR is fine and just because I do not
chose
to throw myself at an older guy that hits on high school girls does
not
mean that I have the inability to make my own decisions,” I ground out between my clenched teeth.

As we pulled into the GAR and Delian parked, I was prepared to jump out, but he was too quick for me. He grabbed me by the chin and turned me to meet his penetrating gaze. “You misunderstood me, Calliope. You have wisdom far beyond your years, but sometimes experience has to be your true teacher. I did not mean to offend you. I am sorry.”

I seemed to be unable to break his gaze as I replied, “I accept your apology, even though I have no idea what you
really
mean.”

Before Delian could explain, Rafe came to my rescue as usual. He opened my door just then and asked, “Everyone ok here?”

I unsnapped my seat belt and nearly collided with him as I dove out of the car.

Delian answered Rafe’s question in an irritated tone. “We are both fine, Rafe. We just had a slight misunderstanding that we were clearing up. No need for your supervision.” It was almost as if he issued a command because Rafe immediately stepped away from me and started heading back into the building ahead of me. However, I kept pace with Rafe so I would no longer be alone with ‘disturbing’ Delian.

When I was finally reunited with my friends, Jazz and Key had all the plans ready to go for tonight. We were meeting at Jazz’s house for “Flocked Up Movie Night.” Each one of us chose a movie. We would watch them all in one night and judge, which one was the most flocked up. Tonight’s contestants were Heathers, Donnie Darko, and The Virgin Suicides. As we judged the contestants that night, I told Jazz and Key about Delian and my disturbing chemical reaction to him. Jazz told us about her back up plan if Rafe didn’t work out. Key also filled us in on how Tre was stilling measuring up against her list. As usual by the end of the evening, we were all on a sugar high comparing the yumminess of Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Hartnett, and Christian Slater. Unfortunately, I got at least three drunken dials from Thrace that annoyed me so much that I turned off my phone. Of course, then I worried the rest of the night about him driving. On Sunday, I found out that Rafe gave Thrace a ride home when he insisted he was going to drive over to Jazz’s house to see me. Flocker!

Chapter 13: Sway

I was not one of those girls that liked surprises—not even good surprises. It might go back to that control freak thing. Jazz, Key, and Thrace had now been huddling together after karate practice and before lunch for a week now. They thought that my lack of control over the situation built character. Unfortunately, Rafe was now participating in the scheming and planning for the event. I started to become a little afraid towards the end of my birthday week because many of my classmates were starting to give me knowing glances and smiles. Luckily, my school work, karate, DUA research and fundraising were keeping me busy, so I didn’t resort to stalking the co-conspirators like I had in previous years.

Rafe approached me on Friday with a cryptic, “Your birthday celebration activities go beyond what I have seen for most major galas.”

I groaned, “Don’t tell me that. I am not real good at being the center of attention. Usually, they take that into consideration when planning these escapades. Please, tell me that is still true.”

Rafe hit me with his most devious smile, “Well, that was probably true before I got involved. You think a fashion runway show with you as the only model is too much?”

I sputtered, “Hilarious, funny guy. Sooooooo, what did
you
get me for my birthday?”

I swallowed, unable to look away from his gorgeous hazel eyes, “Who are you bringing as your date this time? You never do show up with the same girl twice.”

“I believe Jazz is my date for tomorrow, or at least that is what she told me.”

I laughed at that and commented, “You are still on her radar as her next ex-boy toy.”

Rafe smirked then remarked, “No, she made it clear that we were just going as friends. Although she warned me that she might ‘plant one on me’ for Siena’s benefit if she showed up. What is that about?”

“Siena is Thrace’s ex and my general tormentor since elementary. However, more important to Jazz, Siena stole one of Jazz’s boy toys away by promising him more than Jazz was willing to deliver. Jazz has never forgiven or forgotten. It got worse when you showed up at the dance with her, and she spread it around that you guys had done two person push-ups.”

Rafe laughed again, “I really hate being exploited for my body. It is really embarrassing. I feel so used.”

“So it was
true?
I didn’t bother even asking because it seemed like a stupid question.” I gaped at him.

Rafe smirked, “I’m sorry, Ms. I-Don’t-Share-Personal-Details. I misspoke. I should have said I really hate girls
trying
to use me for my body. I always wondered why Jazz sometimes sneezed, Skankbitchho. I always thought she meant me, but apparently I was wrong.”

I shook my head, “Flock. Siena wants to get under Jazz’s skin and every time Jazz reacts like that she is giving Siena exactly what she wants.”

Rafe looked skeptical, “She wants to be called Skankbitchho?”

I shook my head and explained, “Every time we react we just give Siena power over us. The best way to annoy people like that is to sit back and smile at them. Let them know without saying a word that you have something they don’t--in this case it’s class.”

I hastily added, “Although what she said wasn’t true, right?”

“Correct. You have an interesting position on personal conflict,” Rafe commented.

“Hey. Bullies are bullies whether they are on the playground or online. I have seen some evil stuff posted, and it is usually girls doing the backstabbing—school has been was pretty rough for me sometimes. I have learned not to let this stuff get to me, and not to dish it out either if I can help it.”

Rafe raised one eyebrow at me, “You should write a column in the newspaper, Ms. Manners.”

I laughed, “I just see it as practice for real life. There is always going to be some eyas trying to get under your skin. How you handle it is what matters.”

Rafe laughed and said, “Indeed, Siren.”

I changed the subject. “Now, about where they are going to have my birthday party….” Unfortunately, the bell rang for the end of study hall.

Journalism was next, and I had a extremely boring chess club story due, so I wouldn’t be able to turn the screws to Thrace until our date tonight. Sometimes you just had to do things to get them done, so you could move on to something far more exciting like my Mystery Date Night with Thrace. Since Thrace had not clued me in to where we were going, I had to make sure I layered my clothes with both my favorite black cami with a cute short-waisted grey and black tweed jacket. My parents made a minimum of fuss as Thrace came and picked me up, and we were off to destination unknown.

Thrace shocked me by taking me to The Ford Drive-In Movie Theatre to see—wait for it—
Jane Austen’s Book Club
. I was not usually into the typical chic flicks, which this movie practically screamed, but I was into Jane Austen. She was a total rebel of her day, and Elizabeth Bennett still rocked no matter how many times I read
Pride and Prejudice.
Although Thrace did look like he was in physical pain watching the movie, I appreciated the sacrifice. It was a perfect crisp fall night as we snuggled up in my back seat—he insisted we bring my car because it was less cramped although he drove. We were now on Step 6, so we could actually French kiss, but not make out—which I was pretty sure was Step 7.

He did whisper to me during the movie, “I’m sooooo glad your birthday comes only once a year, Calli!”

I kissed him on the cheek and replied, “So am I.”

We ate all manner of junk food. I literally thought I was going to be on a popcorn high by the time the movie had ended. There was method to his madness of taking us to a 7:00 clock movie. He drove to the next screen within the complex for the 9:00 showing of
Into the Wild
. Now, this movie was much more to Thrace’s liking. The whole man vs. wild, making your own way in life despite the standards that your parents set, was much more up Thrace’s alley. However, he did miss part of that movie because I was much more inclined to kiss him during his movie. A good night was had by all—proving once again that compromise was important in all relationships, as is Step 6.

Thrace walked me to my door as usual and kissed me good night, which ended with a promise, “You are gonna love tomorrow night, I swear!”

I pulled him in the door and told him to stay in the entryway. I ran upstairs and came down with three balloons for him. “I’m an Eyas. I’m a Flocker. I’m Not Worthy.”

I handed him the balloons and kissed his cheek. He just shook his head at me and said, “You chose these because I have to walk home, right?”

I laughed and hugged him as I said, “I saw there was a theme going with these three, and I just love to watch you skip home with balloons in your hands.”

“I
never
skip!” Thrace growled.

As my parents walked in, my father deadpanned, “Nice balloons, kid, now skip on home before I get Calli to tell me why you gave them to her.”

Thrace turned white and replied, “Yes, sir,” as he bolted out of the house.

“
Dad
, that was just not nice,” I complained.

“Hey, at some point Thrace stopped being as afraid of me. I’m just making sure that he errs on the side of caution when it comes to you, Red.”