Chapter 19 #2
I read the text message on his phone. “I haven’t taken either of those in Virginia, though.”
“Okay, I’ll call Alex.” He’s dialing before he finishes talking.
“Hi Seb,” a resonant, smooth voice says through the phone.
“Hey man, I got you on speaker with Summer. She can’t take psych or computer science. What else can she do?”
“Hi Summer,” he says. “Nice to meet you. I’m Alex.” The velvet honeyed tone is intoxicating. He has a southern drawl like the locals here. “What courses were you taking in Virginia?”
“Hi Alex. Um, AP History, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP English, and gym.”
“The school tries to limit the number of AP classes students take to three a year. The school schedules AP History and AP Biology at the same time for that reason. I would suggest you request an AP Seminar class and use that for independent study to finish your AP History class in Virginia. You will need Zander’s signature and the guidance counselor to approve it. ”
“Okay, thank you, Alex.” Damn. I’ve never heard a voice like his before. I could listen to him talk for hours.
“You are welcome, Summer. Anything else Seb? I am about to leave for the airport.”
“No, man, we’re good. Thanks and enjoy your trip to the islands.” He ends the call, dropping his phone on the seat behind him. “Alex and his stepmom fly to the Caribbean every spring break. His dad owns a resort down there. So, what are you choosing for your extracurriculars?”
“Wow, that’s amazing, and I wasn’t planning on doing any extracurriculars.”
“His dad is a nice guy but works 24/7 and isn’t around a lot, but he meets Alex and his stepmom down there every spring break. The stepmom is a bitch. And you have to choose an extracurricular; it’s mandatory.”
Sorting through all that information, I take the clipboard back and flip to the list of extracurriculars.
Most are sports. There’s photography, journalism, drama, yearbook, and computer club.
Track is the only thing on the list I have experience with.
I haven’t even thought about track since the accident.
I’m completely out of shape too, since I haven’t run in over a year.
A new beginning, I remind myself. I used to love running, and I was pretty good at it. Could I run again?
“Hey Sunshine, where did you go?” Seb’s furrowed brows watch me closely.
“Sorry, thinking about the extracurriculars.”
“What did you choose? Elijah and I play on the basketball team. Alex and Bay are into diving. Nick got permission to use his martial arts classes as his extracurricular, and Gabs cheers.”
That’s a very athletic group of people. We had hockey players, runners, and a small soccer team back home, with hockey being the big sport. “I was thinking track.”
“No way! That’s awesome.” Seb’s bright white smile reappears. “The guys and I all run a lot. Did you run track at your old school?”
“I used to,” I say, looking down at the clipboard.
“Hey now,” Seb bends over to catch my eyes. He stares at me, and his eyes are somehow darker with, is that compassion? “The guys and I know you were in an accident a while ago and you lost your family.”
My eyes widen in shock. How would they know that already? We arrived only a few days ago.
“It’s okay, Sunshine. When Troy told us Z found out he had a daughter, Nick looked you up. He found the articles about it. None of us will bug you about that, I promise. If you want to tell me about it someday, you can, but that’s your business. Troy also told me not to touch you,” he smiles sadly.
I take a deep breath and nod, unprepared for my history to be known. In a way, them being aware means I don’t have to explain. If they truly won’t ask a million questions, it will be easier.
“So you know, the guys and I all have demons too,” he whispers. “You’re not alone there if you ever need to talk. Now,” his voice rises to a normal volume, “tell me what your plans are for the rest of the week, Sunshine. All of us are stuck here for spring break, except Alex.”
“Later, Seb,” Troy interrupts. “We need to get to the meeting. You can bug Summer another time.”
Seb gently takes my phone from my hands without touching me and starts typing.
“Just a minute, bro. Gotta give Sunshine my number.” His fingers fly across the screen for a minute.
“All our numbers are in there now.” He passes me back my phone, then jumps up and walks to a cabinet on the left wall.
It’s a mini-fridge disguised as a regular cabinet.
He grabs two water bottles and chucks one to Troy.
“Later, Sunshine,” he salutes and walks out the door.
Troy shakes his head and looks at me. “That’s why I call him Hurricane Seb, Summer. I’d apologize, but he grows on you after a while,” he shrugs and follows Seb out the door.
Zander chuckles and looks over at me. “I promise, Seb is the most rambunctious of the group. The rest are all good guys, though.”
“How do you know his friends?” I inquire.
“The guys work for us in security when we need extra bodies. It gives them some cash, and we’re flexible with their school and sports schedules. Nick’s amazing with computers and tech, so he helps with that too, when we need him. Were you able to pick out your classes?”
“Most of them. There’s a conflict between AP Biology and AP History. Alex suggested an AP Seminar class where he thinks I can do independent study and finish my AP History that way. You and the guidance counselor need to sign off on it, though.”
“That’s fine with me,” he nods. “Alex would probably know best. That kid is bordering on genius level, I swear. If you want to email the school and request the seminar along with your other choices, I’ll order lunch. Should I ask what you want or pick something?” He winks.
I smile. “Surprise me.” I email my list of classes and my extracurricular choice to the school, requesting an appointment with the guidance counsellor.
The food gets delivered about 20 minutes later, right to Zander’s office.
I sit on a chair across from the desk and bring it closer to use as a counter.
He ordered two cheeseburgers, two fries, and two chocolate shakes.
We dig in as Zander tells me about the big wedding they’re providing security for this weekend.
Zander’s team will cover the entrance and grounds, be stationed around the property, and patrol the air to prevent paparazzi from flying overhead.
It sounds like a big deal. Some celebrity is getting married at a house on the Isle of Palms. The boys are going to be helping, minus Alex, who is away.
“Would you be interested in going up in the helicopter with me, Summer?” Zander asks after swallowing a huge bite of his burger.
“You should definitely take him up on that, Sunshine,” Seb answers before I can, coming back into the room. He sits in the chair beside me, grabs my chocolate shake, and takes a drink. “I love flying. Unless you get motion sickness?”
I glance over at him, pointedly staring at my milkshake. “Sharing is caring, Sunshine.” He sets the shake back on the desk and grabs some fries, eyebrows raised.
“No, no motion sickness.” I look over at Zander. “That sounds fun. If you don’t think I’ll be in the way?”
“You won’t be. It’ll just be you and me in the chopper up in the skies,” he replies excitedly.
“Okay.” Looking back at Seb, I ask, “aren’t you supposed to be in a meeting?”
“Yeah, but it’s stuff I already know about, so I snuck out,” he waves.
We finish eating lunch with the help of Seb.
Zander goes back to his paperwork as Seb fills me in on the high school.
It’s a newer school built only 5 years ago to replace two older high schools.
Sports are a big deal, with basketball being really popular.
I thought football would be the big sport since we are in the South, but Seb informs me there’s a big high school in Charleston with a good football team.
There’s a mix of students from lower income to ultra-rich that attend.
It sounds like there are the typical cliques you find everywhere.
Troy joins us a while later, flopping down on one of the side chairs. “This family is going to be the death of me,” he groans. “I’ve had five messages already today from them.”
Zander laughs. “That’s why you get paid the big bucks, brother.”
“I think you need to call these people Z. They keep changing their minds on everything.” He rubs his hands down his face, looking frustrated.
Zander looks over at me. “I was only planning on being here for an hour or two this morning, Troy. Summer and I are going home.”
That’s not right. We don’t have any pressing plans. After he was so gracious with his time coming to Virginia, his work should be a priority. “I don’t want to interrupt your job, Zander,” I tell him. “Do what you have to do.”
He looks between me and Troy. Troy is begging silently with his hands, which causes Zander to roll his eyes. “Grab what you need and follow us back to the house. We can work from the office there.”
“Yes!” Seb pumps his fist in the air. “I get to spend the day with Sunshine.”
“Seb,” Troy reprimands, trying to rein him in, “you weren’t invited.”
“Sunshine wants to hang out with me today. I know she does.” Seb vehemently nods his head.
Zander looks over at me. “Your choice, Summer.”
I see how excited Seb is, and I can’t say no. Having a friend at school will be good. I honestly miss having friends my age. I was never someone who had a large group of friends, choosing only a few to let close. “Sure, I guess.”
“Alright Sunshine. See you in a few. I’ve gotta get my stuff.” Seb rushes back out the door. He reminds me of the cartoon Tasmanian Devil. I can’t help but grin internally. Seb is going to keep me on my toes for sure.