CASSANDRA
I avoid Trey after that. I hurry to shower and get dressed with Brittney waiting for me. She grabs my arm. "I am so happy that you got the spot. You are going to make a good captain."
"I'll do my best. That's all I can do. The Coach really wants to do this regional thing. I think we can do it. It's going to take work though."
She jumps a little. "This is so cool."
When we get to the car Bret and Calab are there. Calab hugs me. "Good job sis. I knew you would knock them dead."
Bret highfives me. "That's my sister. Boss at all she does."
I just laugh and climb in the car. I can see Trey watching me as he walks past my truck. He winks and makes a kissy face. I just roll my eyes and shake my head. He is a damn goofball.
Once everyone is in I start driving home. Everyone is really chatty today. All about their own thing. It's weird but still a conversation. Calab is talking about something that he and Willow were talking about. Some new book that's coming out. Brittney is talking about some girl in her class, I guess she is cool. Bret is talking about football practice. We all make it home in one piece and in a good mood. There isn't a brawl on the front lawn so that is good.
Uncle Jared left us a list of chores to get done while he is gone. Mom and dad are at the new restaurant. At least that is what the note said. I divide us up to handle the chores and we get to work. I can't say that I hate it, but it's not bad. I mean so when you work at a restaurant you always have to deal with customers. They can be a pain in the ass. Plus there is cleaning the bathroom. People are gross in public restrooms, just thought I would point that out. Right now I am cleaning out stalls and that is cleaner than the bathrooms at our last restaurant. I took this job because I knew the others wouldn't want to do it.
After I am half done I see Calab leaning against the barn door. He nods over to me. "You know you don't always have to do that."
"Do what?" I say as I lift a rake full of hay and grossness.
"Protect us so much. I know it was hard before. I don't know what it is, but being here feels right. Like we can finally be ourselves. City life just wasn't for us. We haven't been picked on once since we got here. Not one of us feels out of place. I think it might be time that you stop trying to protect us all the time."
I lean against the rake. "What did I over step on this time?"
"You took the hardest thing on the list because you knew we wouldn't want to do it. You always make things harder on yourself. Stop it. Brittney could have challenged for captain. You didn't have to do it. I'm only saying this because I love you. Stop protecting us."
I look him over. He looks confident as hell right now. Since when did that happen? I sigh. "Alright. I'll back off." I keep shoveling. "Help me out here." I smile over at him.
He comes taking another rake from the rack at the front of the barn. He takes the stall next to me. He laughs for no apparent reason. "What's so funny?"
He catches his breath. "I was just thinking. We are a bunch of wolves with a bunch of horses. Don't wolves kind of eat other creatures like that?"
"That they do. I am pretty sure we aren't eating our horses though." I chuckle a little too.
"How are you handling it?"
"As well as I can. It's a lot to take in. It's strange though. It was like when I found out it made sense. After I tried to kill Uncle Jared."
"Me too. It doesn't make sense, but it does too."
I decided to change the subject. "So, what's up with you and Willow?"
"She's cool. I like her. I am going to take her to a movie this weekend. As long as I can use the truck."
"My truck?" I add in mock indignation.
He laughs. "Yeah,"
"Alright, I guess you can."
"Cool, I want you to hang out with us at lunch tomorrow too. I think you'll like her."
"I'm sure I will." I know I will. She makes my brother happier than I have seen him in a long time. It almost seemed like he liked her at first sight.