Hey there, readers!!!
Gah. Hopefully, my updates aren't TOO far apart :S
Next chappie was written because I'm waiting for a show to come on here in the Philippines. Here's to hoping that I'll suddenly get a massive inspiration meteoroid in my part of the world so I'll just write all day....
Jkjk.
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Chapter 4
Sighing, I turned around and let my eyes meet Jace's.
"How did you figure out I was here?" I asked. Truly, I was curious. Who would expect a seventeen year old girl to be in the fitness center of some hotel?
"You're clearly my responsibility when you're father is too busy. You're actually the whole security team's responsibility. I know almost everything about you. Almost. Look around. Try and spot more than five people here who are not a part of your security team. I'm wayyy smarter that you give me credit for," he said.
Taking on his suggestion, I let my eyes wander around the room. I gasped when I realized that he was right. I could only spot three people here who were not a part of the usual mob that followed me around everyday-as inconspicuously as they could. When they saw my gaze upon them, the all stood to attention, hands clasped in front of them and legs spread slightly apart, along the perimeter of the room. All of them slightly bowed their heads as if stating that they were under Jace's and my command.
"Continue as you were. Keep watch of all who enter and exit the room. Remember the drill," Jace reminded them. Nodding, all the men went back to the work-out machinery that I'm guessing they were stationed at.
"I know that you we're stressed at your room. I know that you didn't want to talk to me. I activated the portable security system in the suite and ordered the security team down here. We just waited here. Plus, it was time for our daily workout anyway. You, Kay, have got to learn to trust me and my determination to keep you safe," he said, his voice showing exactly how serious he really was.
"Look, I wouldn't mind if my best guy friend was suddenly assigned to be my bodyguard because he would know everything-all my secrets and actions. You, on the other hand, have no idea about some of the things I've done. You don't know the reasoning behind them. Therefore, when you tell my dad about it, he would draw conclusions and you will be the reason why I'm suddenly found dead. This isn't about me trusting you. It's about me keeping my life under control along with your safety...Sometimes, it isn't all about me," I told him. I was really getting worked up about this whole"new-head-of-security" deal.
He sighed. "How about we make a compromise?" he asked.
"I'm listening."
"I'll let you do whatever you usually do that you keep secret from your usual security team...as long as I get to tag along."
"No."
"I'm not finished," he growled.
"Fine," I said, crossing my arms across my chest.
"I won't tell your father. I won't let any of the security team find out about where we're going. I won't let any of them tag along. You don't even have to tell me the reasoning behind all the shit you do. All that you have to do is let me come along with you and keep you safe."
I thought it over. Yeah, there sure could be problems with this plan. But there's also so much that I'm not losing by agreeing to it.
"Deal?" Jace asked, holding out his right hand.
Giving the plan one last once-over, I took his hand and shook it. "Deal."
"But, I 'll let you know some ground rules as they come up based on our destination," I added.
"Good enough for me," he said with a smile and a slight shake of his head.
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Two Days Later...
I sat in a seat of my dad's private jet waiting for the corporate world that my dad lived in to suddenly crash down on me. My mind played over the secret futures that different beings wanted from me. My mind wanted to be a doctor, my father wanted me to be the next person to hold all his shares from various companies, my mother wanted me to be just like her: some guy's submissive wife, and, perhaps most unlikely to actually happen, my heart wanted me to be an actress. I could feel tears forming in my eyes.
Why must everything rush at me with no warning?
Not too long ago, these "training sessions" we're thrown at me. Now, as I go through high school, my future suddenly seems closer than ever. A sword that will eventually determine what I'll become in the future is hanging over my head and I can't focus on anything completely because of the prospect that one day, I'll have to make a decision. Why am I so scared of disappointing everyone but myself?
I shrunk into my seat. My head was really starting to hurt and I couldn't possibly be held accountable for my next few actions. Without completely grasping what I was doing, I found myself unbuckling my seatbelt and walking across the aisle to where he sat. Jace, though he had earphones on, saw my approach and watched me sit in the empty seat next to him.
"I'm really confused," he said, taking his earphones off and dangling them on the armrest.
"Join the club," I told him. I shrunk into the seat, not even bothering to buckle the seatbelt. I put my elbows on either armrest and held my head in my arms.
"UGHHHHHH!" I groaned.
"Okayyyy, what's wrong? First, you come over here and sit next to me. Now, you look like your having a headache that might possibly kill you," he said, his eyes dancing with curiosity.
"You said you wanted to be friends, right?" I asked, waiting for assurance.
He nodded slowly.
"Well, let's try it out right now. I have got way too much in my head and I'm scared I might get an aneurysm from all this assuring myself that I'll figure things out then doubting my own thoughts," I said.
I'm pretty sure I was barely understandable.
"Care to elaborate on what you need help clearing up with?"
"I need to know whether I should put myself and my happiness first in front of everybody and everything else."
"I'm only nineteen, Kay."
"Give me the best advice you've got, Jace."
"I think that you should do both what you want to do the most and what you think is right. It shouldn't hurt people that don't need to be hurt, but don't expect it to be a decision that's completely selfless either."
"Okay. I'm still listening."
"You shouldn't think too much about what everyone else wants of you. Do what you think is right."
"There's a problem with that though, Jace."
"What?" he asked. His body was now completely angled towards me.
"What if what I want most is to make everyone happy? To make sure that I fulfill what everyone wants of me?"
"If that's what you really want, then I say that you have a lot of work ahead of you," he said chuckling.
"Right, that's what I thought," I said sighing.
"You've still got time to think. Lots of it. No matter how much your father tells you to focus on business
and business only, never forget to live in the moment because, sometimes, time is the one thing you can't get back," he said, looking me straight in the eyes. His words made me smile.
Yawning, I decided to take a chance, "Can I stay in this seat? I'm scared that I'll start getting myself jumbled up again if I'm left to my own thoughts..."
"Sure," he replied, grinning.
"Thanks," I said, drifting away into a peaceful sleep.
