The Urban Princesses: Pocahontas

Chapter 11

"Ten percent goes to the government."

I groaned and buried my head in my hands, all of these numbers hurting my head.

"This is why there is school." Kobe said as he punched numbers into his calculator.

My dad had set us up to the task of doing paperwork and bills, which was probably the worst part of owning a business. "Since you seem to be understanding this, I'll go get us some sodas and clean up the beach." I slid out of my chair and was about to leave when Kobe stopped me.

"Nope, you're staying here. I don't own this place, you do. I could ditch you at any time so it's good to learn this stuff now."

I frowned, crossing my arms. "I'll hire someone-"

He shoved a calculator in my face. "Not with this gross profit. There is barely any room for hiring dockhands."

I sighed, looking at the papers sprawled in front of us. "Please don't ditch me."

He chuckled. "I won't."

He did most of the work while I organized papers and punched numbers into the calculator for him.

"You haven't heard anything from the Deluxury guys since... Last time. Right?"

I shook my head. "We haven't had anymore offers."

"No," He started. "I mean at all."

I scoffed. "Of course I have. I go to school with them."

He muttered something under his breath.

"What was that?" I crossed my arms. "Tell me."

He looked over at me. "Listen, this guy approached me the other day and was all friendly with me and I didn't see it as anything but a good guy, but he was trying to get the resort out from under me. I know I've said it before but you seriously can't trust them."

I knew arguing wouldn't help, and telling him about John would just add to the issue, so I tried to say silent, which didn't work. "Maybe he wasn't, maybe you're just being paranoid." I would be surprised if John was the only good hearted, trust worthy guy among the construction workers, there have got to be more. I mean, his friend Thomas seemed prettying trusting. They can't all be bad.

"Sure," He threw his hands up in the air. "I'm being paranoid. But at least I'm not being reckless."

"But you're being rude, and judgy."

His face started to get red. "I'll finish this up," He said in a quiet voice on the brink of anger.

I pushed out my chair with indignance and stomped out of the house, making my way down to the lake.

Kobe is so insufferable sometimes it makes me want to explode. Once he gets an impression of someone, it's hard to break. I just wish that he would lighten up because at some point he was going to have to give seconds chances, but that day wasn't today. He was allowed to be a rigid and paranoid, but he couldn't make me.

I got into my kayak and paddled furiously down the lake, stopping at John and I's usual place, not expecting him to be there.

I was fifteen minutes early, so I climbed up in a hollow tree trunk, the hole just big enough that I could fit if my knees were pulled to my chest, and I sat.

I buried my face in my knees and took a deep breath, the smell of damp bark calming my senses.

After a few minutes (and almost falling asleep), I heard a crunching of leaves and my senses sharpened. Did Kocuom follow me? They sounded like heavy steps so it wasn't an animal.