The Baron and his Lady

Ten: Conflicted

  When I woke up it was half past five. Emma would be calling me soon for dinner. Oggy glanced up and went towards the bed. I stroked his ears absently, he licked my hand sat back on the floor.

I was still feeling nostalgic about the dream. It didn't include Lucian but it felt real too. The water, the wind and the murder that I've witnessed. I closed my eyes, I kept seeing her lifeless body staring at the sky. I saw she had brown eyes, like me. That's probably why Lucian came to me, I reminded her of his dead lover.

My cellphone rang, no caller ID. "Hello?"

"Have you thought about my offer?"

"Uhhh.. who is this?"

"Its Enzo," I could picture him smiling while his arms are around another girl, "Look, I know you're not in school so you can't use the swimming practice as an excuse not to talk to me."

I groaned inwardly. The jerk! "I don't need excuses Enzo, I already said no. In case you forgot."

"Hey, so far as I know we didn't finish our conversation. I had to get you to Mrs. Kirkland."

"And thank you for making me late." He's totally getting on my nerves.

"I'll make it up to you. Say, do you prefer we talk in private? I know a good café—"

"—bugger off Enzo. I said no!" I snapped the phone shut and hoped it rang painfully on his end, gosh... I wished he called on the landline so I could slam the shit out of him.

Oggy watched me with his beautiful eyes, wonder what he'll say about my dating choices. A campus heartprob and a plain looking swimmer. Not a very good combination. But hey, I don't want to grovel at his feet for actually asking me out. He obviously didn't mean it. I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. Yeah, like I should know. Everyone knows I never went out with anybody before, Oggy would probably tell Enzo the same thing.

"You would, wouldn't you buddy?" Oggy thumped his tail as if he understood me.

My cell rang again, still no caller ID. "Stop calling me Enzo."

"Krista? Its Tristane.."

I almost choked with my own saliva. "Hey, um... what's up?"

"Nothing much," he paused before adding, "who's Enzo?"

I rolled my eyes twice. Is this the national guy-hits-on-random-girl day? Why am I suddenly getting involved in guys? Literally more than one in a span of one week?

"A schoolmate." Less is better. Besides, I don't really owe Tristane an explanation.

"I see.." but his voice sounded the opposite. "Listen, I uh, I think I found something about the Baron's case. I plan to bring it over to your Dad but he and Louie are in town for several days. I think I'll just wait till you come back."

Whatever did Tristane find? I was dying to know, but if its something he needs to show us, it'll be better if we can all speak in person.

"I think I can make it there friday afternoon." I went over to my table and checked the calendar, my friday afternoons usually are free. Teachers let us go at 3, then I join the practice for an hour and head home. "Scratch that, I might be there at nightfall."

"Busy at school?" He sounded so casual, it should  have been cute. Like he actually cared about what I do. But I was annoyed somewhat.

"Yeah.. gotta spend more time at practice, but coach never holds us more than an hour. I can catch a 5 o'clock flight."

"Sounds great! I guess I'll see you then."

"Yeah, okay.." whatever, "we'll call you once we're back at the house."