The Unexpected Visit

Chapter 12

This field is much bigger than Dad's field, and it was made just for us. When my mom heard that I, like my father when he was younger, was interested in soccer, she wasn't happy. She likes basketball and was hoping that I would follow in her footsteps. I have a feeling that Brooke is following in mom's footsteps, playing basketball, but I could be wrong. From the stories I've heard of her, she seems more like a softball girl anyway.

"Hey Rebecca, get your head out of the clouds and play!" Anna shouts as a soccer ball flies at me in the goalie position.

I barely catch the ball. "Nice try, Jackson. By the way, have you two secured the golf cart, money, extra gas, and backpacks for us? I know that Anna and I have to get the food, the soccer equipment, and the clothes that we need. Jackson, you have the keys to dad's extra hidden boat right? And you remember where it is? Owen, you remembered to ask my mom if we can go for a two night hike without followers, right?" I ask before I kick the ball toward midfield, where Anna is waiting.

"Yes, we have secured everything. And yes, I have the keys to dad's boat. And yes, of course I remember where it is," Jackson replies impatiently while running after Anna.

"Yeah, I got permission for the hike but they are sending two followers after us 1-2 miles behind just to make sure we're safe," Owen says into his earpiece that allows us to talk to each other on the field or anywhere

"Hey Rebecca, we have everything, but are you ready to let go of our parents? I mean, eventually we will come back but not for a while and they will both be very mad at us," Anna asks, successfully keeping the ball away from Jackson and then scoring on Owen's post.

"Yes, I'm ready," I respond, walking off the field, "Now come on, we should get showers and a good night's rest before heading off tomorrow. I have a feeling that those will be hard to come by on a boat in the middle of the ocean."

"You sound just like a regular mom would, is that supposed to irony or something?" Jackson asks.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Anyway, Rebecca is right. We do need to get showers and plenty of sleep. After all, we have to out run two followers, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem. And even if we do run into them, you boys have been practicing karate or whatever it is," Anna says lightly.

"We have been practicing self defense, not karate, and I was talking to Rebecca, not you," Jackson says, quickly running to the compound. Owen quickly races after him.

"If you were going to talk specifically to her, you should've pulled her aside, not talk to her through the earpieces," Owen says, starting to overtake Jackson.

"Whatever, you guys just get over it. Anyway, if you keep chatting, you won't beat me to the compound," I say, swiftly surpassing both of them.

"Hey, when did you start running?" Anna asks, surprised.

"I'm almost there! Whoa," I start then suddenly stop in front of mom, who came out of nowhere.

I hear Anna, Jackson, and Owen stop just inches behind me. The look on mom's face makes me think that who she wanted to talk to isn't here. I really hope she doesn't have anyone spying on us because then she could send her fastest followers after us. I'm sure I can't outrun them, not with the state of my ankle.

"Childre, you can't go on your hike tomorrow. Your father is coming for negotiations tomorrow and requested that all of you be there. Eric will be there too. I better not catch you all sneaking out tonight," She states matter-of-factly.

"Aw, no fair! Why does he have to come tomorrow? He can't, it won't work. Tell him that the negotiations can happen after our hike whether he likes it or not. We aren't backing down on this, we will even tell him ourselves if we have to," I argue confidently.

"Very well, I will tell him. You can go on your hike but, because of this, I'm sending five followers 1 mile behind you instead," She says then leaves.

"Well, we barely made it out of that one alive," Jackson says quietly.