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  “I’m a pretty boring guy. I don’t do much, I guess.”

  Trevas finally got one of her checkers and studied her briefly. “Why are you so recalcitrant?” He asked, and then thought maybe he should have used a different word, thinking maybe she didn’t know what it meant as she twisted her lips and thought for a minute.

  “Recalcitrant is a pretty broad word. Do you mean why do I get kicked out of school for smoking? Or are you talking more about the promiscuous photos that I’m sure you have seen?”

  “All of the above,” he answered.

  “I hate that school,” she said and looked up to see his reaction.

  “Alley, you have a week left,” he expressed.

  “Do you want to lecture me or would you like for me to answer the question?”

  “I’m sorry, yes please continue.”

  “You shouldn’t believe everything you read in the tabloids, five percent of it might be true,” That was the end of her answer, and he moved a checker when he realized that she wasn’t saying any more about it.

  She got the next jump and stared at him with her mouth slightly twisted to the left.

  “Why would you want to be a body guard?” She asked.

  “No, Alley. That is not what you wanted to ask me. Ask me what was on your mind first,” he insisted.

  “What... What are you talking about?” She asked with a frown.

  “You do this thing with your lips when you are trying not to say what you really want to say, and you just did it again, so ask what you really wanted to ask,” he demanded, and she was shocked. She knew that she did exactly what he said, but no one had ever put it together with what the real purpose was. She had learned her little trick when she was just a little girl, and her parents would tell her that she couldn’t say what was on her mind because of who her parents were.

  She sighed. “You didn’t want to stay here did you?” She asked, what she had wanted to the first time.

  “No, I didn’t,” Trevas said honestly and quietly, “But I’m sure you can understand why?” He added.

  “Why?” She asked, and he snickered and wondered how in the hell he was supposed to answer that.

  “Because I’m a man and you are a beautiful, very young, attractive girl and I had no clue what to do with a teenage girl alone for this many weeks,” he answered as honest as he could and his answer took her by surprise.

  “How old are you?” She asked.

  “Uh-uh, it’s not your turn,” he replied, and she laughed. Trevas wasn’t sure up until that moment that the girl even had teeth because he had never seen her smile. He moved his checker and set it right up for her to jump him again.

  “How old are you?” She smirked.

  “Twenty five,” he answered and jumped her. “How old are you?”

  “Seventeen,” she answered.

  “When will you be eighteen?” He asked and wasn’t sure why and instantly wished that he could take it back.

  “November 16th. Why? And that is two questions,” she reminded him.

  Trevas shrugged his shoulders. “Curious,” he replied.

  Alley jumped him again. “Do you have a girlfriend?”

  Trevas knew this conversation had to end, and it was not going anywhere good. It was getting way to personal, and he was done.

  Alley sensed the uneasiness. “Answer my last question and we will quit,” she wagered.

  “No… I do not have a girlfriend,” he answered, and she smiled.

  Alley flipped off the game. “I can’t rinse my plate because the sink is over there,” she nodded. “And you have to turn around so that I can go upstairs.”

  Trevas smiled at her. “I will get your plate,” he told her and turned to face the pool outside.

  “Don’t turn around, don’t turn around, he repeated over and over in his head, knowing that she was scarcely wearing clothes.

  “Trevas,” she called down from halfway up the stairs.

  “Yeah,” he called back, still willing himself not to look at her.

  “Your supper was very good,” she told him and continued upstairs.

  “Thank you,” he replied and got up to rinse her plate. He stared up to the empty steps and shook his head trying to stop the forbidden thoughts that wanted to embed his mind.

  Chapter 2

  The next day was back to normal, and Alley stayed in her room most of the day and ignored Trevas altogether. She came down in the morning to get her habitual granola bar and bottle of water, and he didn’t see her again until around two. She did come down in the afternoon and went to the pool. He turned to lookout as she removed the white terrycloth cover and tossed it over the back of the lounge chair. She was wearing a white bikini and the bottoms tied with one thin string on her hips.

  “Holly shit,” he said out loud and got up to go to the kitchen, so that he didn’t have to look at her.

  He made two turkey sandwiches on croissants with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise and opened a fresh bag of plain potato chips, completing it with a deal pickle spear on the side.

  “Come in and eat lunch with me,” he called out to her and for a split second she shot him a dirty look, but controlled it almost immediately. She got up and sat at the table with him. He put his head down and rubbed his eyes with a deep sigh.

  “Do you make all of your food look like art?” She asked, looking down with the food meticulously placed on the plate.

  “Alley, you have to put your cover on or some clothes or something,” he told her not answering her question and not looking at her, trying his damnedest to keep his eyes from traveling to her breast.

  “Does this bother you?” She asked, with a smirk, looking down at her clothed less body.

  “Yes, it does,” he admitted, and then couldn’t help but watch her walk to the laundry room. Both of her butt cheeks peeked out, and he had to shake his head, to pull himself away from the wicked thoughts that wanted to implant his mind. She pulled on a white tank-top that didn’t help much but at least it covered her breast.

  “Better?” She asked.

  “A little,” he answered, and she laughed.

  Lunch was rather awkward, and neither of them knew quite what to say to each other, but he was happy for the company and glad that she had joined him.

  “You never answered my question,” she said, breaking the silence.

  “I think food is an art,” he stated, and she raised her eyebrows.

  “I don’t know about it being an art, but it sure is good.”

  “Thank you. How’s the Socrates paper coming?” He asked and then realized that the only way he could have known about that was by snooping through her computer. He looked up waiting for the explosion and was surprised when he didn’t get one.

  “It’s done, computer hacker,” she said light heartily, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Sorry about that,” he apologized.

  “It’s okay. They all do it, but at least you fixed it for me. Thanks for that. It’s a lot better now.”

  “Well… if it is any consolation, I’m pleased to say that I found nothing that would cause any concern.”

  “I knew you wouldn’t, why do you think I don’t have it password protected?”

  Trevas smiled at her. “It wouldn’t matter if you did. I’m trained to get around that.”

  She smiled a crooked smile.

  “Socrates? Did you pick that subject, or was it given to you?” He asked, getting back to the paper.

  “I had four philosophers to choose from. I don’t know why I chose Socrates. I guess because he was the only one that I had heard of from the list.”

  “You’ve never heard of Judith Baudrillard?” He asked.

  “Yes, but she wasn’t on the list,” she answered with a sarcastic tone that made him laugh.

  They small talked about unimportant topics, and Trevas had to look out to the pool again when she got up to take her plate to the kitchen, and he was forced to look at her butt, hips and midsection as s
he walked away.

  “I’m going back to the pool. You can come and swim if you want,” she added.

  “I can’t get in the pool with you Alley,” he claimed.

  “Why? Nobody comes around here unless they are fishing for a story, and as far as I know, nothing is going on right now for a story.”

  “I have seen pictures of you, right out there by that pool” he explained.

  “Whatever,” she stated with her attitude back as she walked out. He watched her pull the shirt over her head, put the lounge chair down and lay on her stomach. She took her e-reader and got lost in a book.

  She never talked to him again for the rest of the day, and when he called her to come down for spaghetti she declined, telling him that she was fine.

  He came out of his room again around midnight to her warming up her plate that he had left for her wrapped in saran wrap in the refrigerator.

  “What, do you have like bionic ears or something?” She asked, standing behind the island.

  “I kind of do, it comes from being eighteen, scared shitless in Afghanistan for twelve months,” he answered and pulled the stool out to sit down.

  She rolled her eyes and took the plate out when the microwave dinged.

  “Why do you wait until you think I’m asleep before you come down to eat?

  She shrugged her shoulders. “I have always done this, but you are the only one that has ever given a shit.”

  “I’m sure your parents care.”

  “My parents care about me staying out of the press and not ruining their precious reputations.”

  “I’m sure that is not true,” he said, defending her parents. “Are you dressed?” He asked.

  “Not really, and if you will turn around I will go to my room,” she requested.

  Trevas looked at her briefly and decided that it was best that she went to her room. “We are leaving here around nine in the morning,” he told her and turned around.

  “To go where?” She wanted to know, and he turned back to her.

  “I have a few things that I have to do tomorrow.”

  “I’m fine here. I don’t need to go,” she tried, even though she was sure it wouldn’t work. The last lady that stayed with her even made her go to a gynecology appointment with her. She hated sitting in the waiting room with all of the pregnant women. She also knew that it was ordered from her dad that, she go with him.

  “You are going with me. I have orders from your dad.”

  “Of course you do,” she said smartly. “Turn around.”

  Trevas turned, and she left.

  *****

  Trevas had to go up and knock on her door the following morning. “Let’s go Alley,” he called.

  She opened the door with more force than necessary. “I told you. I don’t need to go with you,” she said through gritted teeth, and of course she had to be half naked, standing in front of him in skimpy panties, and the usual white tank-top.

  “Get dressed, we are leaving in twenty minutes,” he told her and turned to leave, hoping that she would come, and he didn’t have to go back up.

  Twenty minutes later she emerged, wearing short jean shorts that were too short but at least her black t-shirt covered her midsection. She messed with the MP3 player, and before she could insert the ear-buds he took it out of her hand and laid it on the island.

  “Leave that here today,” he beckoned with a soft look, and as much as she wanted to snap at him, she didn’t, and walked toward the garage. He stopped her before she got to the car door and opened the passenger door for her. “Sit up front with me,” he requested.

  “Why?” She asked annoyed.

  “Because I want you to,” he stated and gestured for her to get in.

  “Where are we going?” She wanted to know before they were out of the long drive.

  “Arvin,” he replied.

  “Arvin?” She asked.

  “Yes Arvin.”

  “Where is that and why are we going there?”

  “It is about an hour and a half from here, and I told you, I have something I have to do today. You wouldn’t have had to come if you were in school today,” he told her, letting her know that it was her fault that she had to come along.

  “An hour and a half and you wouldn’t let me bring my MP3 player?”

  “You can turn on the radio,” he suggested.

  Alley rolled her eyes, leaned over and turned on the radio. He wasn’t surprised by her choice of music when she stopped on a song by Cristina Aguilera. She stared out the window, and they never spoke the entire trip. Trevas noticed that she perked up a little and was looking out the window at the different stores and shops as they came into town. Arvin was a lot smaller than what she was used to. He noticed her turn her head back as they passed a store called ‘Arvin Thrift and Junk-Shun.’

  “We can stop there on the way back if you want,” he offered.

  “Yeah right, that’s all I need, to have my picture taken in a place like that. I can see it now,” she said putting both hands up, forming headlines in the air. “Alley Fletcher, daughter of Peyton Paxton and Nicholas Fletcher forced to shop in thrift stores after parents give up on her and throw her to the streets.”

  Trevas laughed. “Nobody is going to take your picture here.”

  “Do you really think it would be okay?” She asked, intrigued by what she might find.

  “I think it would be perfectly okay. We’ll stop on the way back.”

  Trevas pulled into a parking lot a few minutes later, and she wanted to know where they were going when she saw the square brick building.

  “My grandparents live here,” he explained as he parked and scoped the area.

  “What are you doing? I thought you said nobody would take my picture here.”

  “Sorry, they won’t. It’s a habit, and I still have to do my job.”

  They entered the building, and a nurse behind the desk said hi to him and called him by his first name.

  “Hi, Julie,” he said back. “How are they today?”

  “It is a good day,” she told him with a smile, pushing a button. The door buzzed, letting them in through the double doors.

  They walked down the long hallway, and Alley was a little nervous at the site of the elders. She looked in the doors as they passed. Some were in bed, some were watching TV, some were in the hall, and some of the beds were empty.

  “Right here,” he pointed to the door on the left.

  “I’m not going first,” she stated, and he laughed and they both turned away quickly when their eyes locked.

  “Hi grandma,” he said kissing the little old lady, sitting in a rocking chair with her husband reclined beside of her sleeping.

  “Jack,” she called, shaking him. “Get up, Trevas is here.”

  “This is my friend Alley, grandma.” He said, and she was surprised that he called her his friend.

  “This is my grandma May,” he told Alley.

  She took her hand, and Alley felt a little uncomfortable when she didn’t shake it and let it go. She held onto her hand, rubbing the top of it. Alley looked down at her frail, wrinkled, soft and arthritic hands. His grandpa Jack sat up, and that too made her nervous.

  “Is this the doctor?” He asked, looking at Trevas.

  “No grandpa, it’s me, Trevas, and this is my friend Alley,” he talked louder to him than he did to his grandmother.

  “He’s confused, give him a minute to wake up,” his grandma said smiling.

  “Hi Trevas,” his grandfather said, realizing all of a sudden who he was. “Is this the same wife that you had last week?” He asked.

  “No grandpa, I don’t have a wife. This is my friend Alley,” Trevas replied almost yelling.

  “Are you going to marry this one? She sure is a pretty little thing,” he added, and Alley blushed.

  “No grandpa, we’re not getting married,” he laughed and glanced at Alley’s rosy cheeks.

  Alley sat on a vinyl chair by the door, and Trevas sat on
one of the twin sized beds. His grandparents talked to him about his sister and his mother. They also included Alley, telling her stories of Trevas, when he was a little boy, and before she knew it, she was laughing so hard her stomach muscles hurt.

  Her grandpa told her about a time when he was a little boy, about three, and they took him to an art museum, and he saw a peeing statue. His grandmother turned around to find him standing on the ledge peeing into the water. He told her about taking him to church, and he thought he was sitting beside of him and looked up to find him on the stage behind the preacher, waving his arms around and stomping like the preacher had been doing.

  The time past quickly with his grandparents and Alley was surprised at how much she liked them. She never really had grandparents. Her mom’s dad lived in Florida but she only saw him a few times in her life and his wife had passed when Alley was just little. She didn’t remember her grandma at all. Her dad’s parents came around once or twice a year, but she was never close with either of them. A nurse came in and told them that it was time for them to go to the dining room for lunch. She asked Trevas and Alley if they would like to have lunch with them.

  Trevas looked to Alley for the answer, and she shrugged both her shoulders. “It’s okay with me,” she offered.

  They ate creamed turkey over biscuits, and it was not the best food in the world, neither of them finished their plates.

  Alley was confused again by her grandpa when he leaned over and asked her if she was the new nurse.

  “No, grandpa, this is my friend Alley,” Trevas explained to him again.

  Trevas and Alley left after lunch and met his sister Anna at the door, coming to visit.

  “How are they today?” She asked.

  “Good, grandpa is a little confused today but not too bad. They are both in pretty good spirits.

  Anna this is my friend Alley,” he said, introducing her to his sister.

  “Hello Alley,” Anna said looking at her in a peculiar manner.

  Alley smiled and nodded.

  “Call me later Trevas, we have to meet the auctioneer at the house Saturday, you are still coming, aren’t you?”