Protecting Your Own

Chapter 14

   Unfortunately I made the team. When I got out of practice they said they would let us know later that night when they sent out a massive text.

    I got home, thoroughly annoyed and headed into the kitchen. "School I bullshit, why cant I be home-schooled." I asked my mom as she laughed.

    "We gave you that option, you said no remember." That was true. "Anyways since you are home so late, dinner is almost ready and dont forget training tonight. Also your dad wants to speak to you." She said and I groaned again. Today was just not my day.

   "Why this time."

   "Something about school I imagine. And dont forget after training is Russian lessons so dont run late okay." She said. My schedule was always this busy, i was lucky to have gotten yesterday off.

    I headed down to HQ where I knew Laken would be along with my father. I pushed open the doors to the bee hive and scanned the room. Laken was sitting in a desk chair talking to Wren as they  both laughed, of course he would be here.

   I headed down towards them and Wren locked eyes with me. "Hey, what are you doing?"

   "Came to see dad." I responded.

   "He is in his office." Laken said like I didnt know where he would be. I grimaced at them and headed towards his room. "What is up with her?" 

   "Probably me." Wren said with a smirk. 

    I knocked once before opening the door and heading in. Dad was sitting behind a computer with a stack of papers on his lap.

   "Hey daddy." I said as I sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk. I crossed my arms and folded my legs so I fit perfectly in the chair. 

   "Cheerleading huh?" He asked without even looking up.

  "You wanted me to have a normal life. Dylan is trying to be friends, thought why the hell not." I said with a dead expression.

   "Dylan as in Lakens Girl?" He asked and I looked as he looked up at me. "And you want to do this. You know you dont have to right. With lessons and training on top of school I dont want you overdoing it." To be honest, as much of a hard ass as my dad was, he made sure i stayed stable. Didnt loose my marbles over being to busy.

   "I can handle it daddy." I promised. It was true about Dylan. I might as well try to make a friend.

   "Laken said you pushed Wren away."

   "New plan."

  "You havent forgiven him huh?" He asked and I shrugged.

   "I have. I Just have other ideas. He was sent to protect me against high school girls, what better way to do that then date the high school girl that is bothering me." My plan actually wasnt half bad, I thought my dad would be proud. 

   "And you are okay with that? Laken seemed to think you liked this boy."

  "Overrated. If I am going to convince you to let me be an agent one day, i cant let my guard down, I cant date. Gotta stay focused, eyes on the prize and all that." I said with a smirk at my own little joke.

   "I just want you to think things through Bev. Live a normal life, you dont have to push so hard to be an agent. Laken would kill to have the opportunities you have you know that right?" Laken wanted to be an agent, it was all he ever talked about. 

  "yeah right."

  "No really, he would love to be able to stay in school. He likes his job and everything but he still wants to be a teenager, go to college, actually date." I didnt believe it. Laken loved his life, its what made me want to be an agent so badly.

   "Can I go now?" I asked and he nodded. I stood up and left the room, not bothering to talk to  anyone today, just making my way home for dinner.

~~

   Wren stayed for dinner. It made things awkward because my mom asked him all about school and Nadine. 

  "So do you actually like her?" My mom asked. Laken choked on his food when she asked the question. Probably not prepared to deal with the damage he caused by letting Wren stay for dinner. 

   "Of course not its a ploy my love." My father answered before Wren had a chance to say anything.

   "Oh hush dear, I want to hear it from him." My mother said as she leaned in. I sat quietly and ate my pork chop as I watched the drama unfold before me. I could feel Wren looking at me but I didnt lift my eyes off my plate. 

   "No, shes nice and everything, has a few bad habits but its mostly just part of the job I guess." 

   "But Laken said something about homecoming, thats no part of it is it?"

   "Sort of. High school is weird, its all about the cliches now and who is dating who, so Im maintaining my cover.  Homecoming is just a formality." He was good, I had to give him that. Didn't make me like him anymore but boy was he good. 

   "Well thats nice of you. Beverly dear are you going to homecoming, Now that you are a cheer leader Im sure someone has asked you by now?" She said as I scoffed.

   "I havent gone before why start now?" I responded with a cold tone.

   "beverly, dont be so cross." My father piped up. "Homecoming sounds like a good idea, why dont you go."

   "Because I dont want to. End of story." I cut the conversation off. "I am going to excuse myself if you dont mind. I will be in my room getting ready for training." 

   I didnt give them the chance to tell me no. I got up and headed upstairs to put on workout clothes that I could use to spar. I set out an outfit for tomorrow as well seeing as I was going to be dead exhausted. i had to make sure I showered tonight after lessons so I could sleep in a bit tomorrow.

    Today couldn't end fast enough.