Swept

Chapter Two

Water. Everywhere. I jolted up, sputtering.

    “What was that for?

    Sorry Ann, guess my hand slipped.

    George Fidus, I am going to kill you!” he only laughed.

    “No you won’t. You love me.

    You are the worst friend ever! Such an idiot.

    Not an idiot, genius mastermind, whose intelligence is so great, your pitiful little mind can’t comprehend it.

    Go away!

    No can do, we have work and you slept in.

    No way!” My eyes widened. Slept in was a synonym for fired. My situation was grim.

    Thank god for the new kid. The mass his arrival caused allowed me to slip in unnoticed. My bright hair was tied up in a high ponytail and I was in my normal work clothes. Ripped, stained jeans and a flannel shirt.  It was easy, simple. Though some girls disagreed. A new boy. A new hot boy.  They were much more excited. I wasn’t. I mean he was a boy.

    A whisper rippled through the crowd. He had just stepped out of the car. Also he had a car. Plus all the girls thought he was really hot. The crowd parted and I finally caaught sight of him. His hair was groomed well and he was wearing a suit. Nobody wore a suit around here.  Except for Jameson on rare occasions. It was laughable. My laughter caused his eyes to meet mine.

    “I must ask, why are you laughing?” Not expecting the question I fumbled for an answer. He smirked as he watched me. My anger flared.

    “Just the fact you came in a car and are wearing a rich boy suit.

    What makes you think I’m not a rich boy?” He was drawing closer smirk still present on his lips.

    “You got a job working on a farm. You’ll be planting seeds, working in the sun. Doesn’t sound very rich. He’d drawn closer and kept his smug look.

    “Is that why you’re wearing those ratty clothes.” Evert worker was quiet. It seemes like it was only me upset by his comments. I allowed my mouth to drop as I strode over to him. He looked down at me when I got close enough.

    “You little-

    Ann Kelley!” a voice cut through the still air.  I turned to see Jameson with a stern snarl on his face.

    “ Sorry, Jameson,” I mumbled at the ground. I looked up to see the new kid with a triumphant smile.

    “Did you hear what he said Jameson.

    What do you not understand about enough, Ann. Get away from Mr.Peters before you provoke each other.” His eyes moved between us, daring us to start again. I shrank back towards George and Kate. I crossed my arms, hoping Jameson would see my defiance. If he did he didn’t say anything. He became stoic and spoke in a voice that dared anyone else to challenge him.No one was foolish enough to.

    All of us decided the new kid needed new clothes. His neatly tailored suit obviously wouldn’t be effective. Jameson turned and addressed him.

    “So Charmont, who would you like to be your mentor?” A collective gasp spread through group which was still crowded around the untrained amateur. We only new one person named Charmont. Charmont just so happened to be the name of the prince. I saw Charmont’s eyes deep cobalt eyes twinkle with mischief before he uttered the sentence I feared most.

    “I choose the girl with red hair.

    Ann?” Jameson seemed bewildered by the choice and scratched his balding head.

    “Yeah, her.

    I refuse.” I blurted. The sentence filled the silence. It quieted the other workers around me. Charmont squinted in confusion and shot the look straight at me. It seemed like he always got what he wanted.

    “Oh pretty please, love.” I finally realized his accent. It was faint and sounded vaguely like what they used to sound like where the United Kingdom used to belong. I learned about that country in the old textbook I found in my mom’s closet. It sounded nice, but I would never tell him that.

    “Don’t call me that!” his ever present smirk had returned.

    “Whatever you want, darling.

    Stop it!

    Can’t help it, baby.

    Will you stop!” Jameson’s words once again cut the morning air. “Ann, please just work with him!” I let out a groan, but wanted to keep the job so reluctantly stepped down.

    “So, you’re name after the prince.

    Oh, goood job, you’re very smart to figure that out.

    I’m the one digging through this bin of old clothes for you, so if you want to do it yourself I would advise you to keep talking.

    Awww, baby, that’s not fair.

    Charmont, please.

    Fine.” He looked at me and I finally noticed his strong jaw line. He seemed fit enough to work here which was a good sign. When I first started I was absolutely exhausted after just planting one row. Now I coould fit in a bout three sometimes 2.

    “Are you checking me out?” I scoffed.

    “Don’t flatter yourself,pretty boy.” He feigned offense.

    “I’m just so hurt by this.” He looked like he would continue so when he opened his mouth again I through a sweat stained shirt half-way in.

    “Get to work.”