Chasing Thunder

Chapter eighteen

I was still mulling over her words the next day and Jake had to say my name three times before I responded.

"What?" I asked, blinking back into reality as the sword jabbed into my stomach lightly.

"Wake up." He grumbled. "I don't have all day."

"Oh, sorry."

He sighed and put the weapon down.

"What's gotten into you today? You're not normally so...listless." He said, sitting opposite me.

I shrugged.

"It's the girl, isn't it?" He asked.

"Harper?" I asked, then internally cursed. Never give names. Names can be used. Even by Jake, who I trusted.

"The one from the other day. What's up?" He tilted his head to one side momentarily and for a moment looked almost...concerned.

I shrugged.

"Nothing, it's just something she said." I muttered.

He chuckled.

"They say a lot of things. Confusing things that we cannot understand."

"She knows I'll make the right decision. But how do I know what that is?"

He laughed out loud then, almost startling me. I watched the way his eyes lit up with a sparkle I seldom saw.

"Ah, the age long question." He said with another laugh. "But who's to say what the right decision is? The right decision will show itself when it's ready."

"Don't you start with the cryptic answers, I get enough of those from her." I muttered.

He chuckled and stood up again.

"Come on, stop sulking about an answer you can't find and train. Answers are always found when you stop looking for them." He said it as if speaking from experience.

He handed me my weapon and slid into position. Copying him, I watched his eyes and slid my hand over the the handle, allowing my mind to open to all possibilities.

If answers were only found when you stop looking for them, then maybe I could stop trying so hard to be perfect.

~*~

Once I was battered and bruised, Jake gave up and threw the sword down carelessly.

"Santiago, treat that with care. It's expensive." A reprimanding voice said softly from behind.

We turned towards Nick who strode into the room, a solemn expression on his face. He scrutinized the pair of us, as if he thought we were hatching a secret plan to overthrow him, which I wouldn't be stupid enough to put past Jake. He seemed desperate and indeed, dangerous enough to do something like that.

Jake didn't reply but he did pick the weapon up again and place it back on the shelf, earning a nod from his dad.

Nick's gaze swiveled towards me and he tilted his head, observing me for a minute before turning back to his son.

"What's with him?" Nick asked, as if I wasn't in the room.

"Distracted." Jake replied.

"What have you done to him?"

"Why do you always think it's me?" He asked, indignantly.

"Because I know what you're like." He chuckled.

Jake ignored that last comment and picked up a small knife to juggle with.

"Junior? What's wrong?" Nick asked impatiently.