Save Me

Chapter 4

Caleb

Ding Dong.Ding Dong

Ugh, it's HIM.

I heard the door open and HIS voice.

By HIM, I mean Jackson Freeman; aka Gold Digger, aka Huge Loser, aka....my Mom's Loser Fiance'.

I have to have lunch with him and his freaky daughter, so he can ask me weird questions like how much money i have saved up and what i plan on doing with the Hotel in the future. I know this guy just wants our money, but when I try to tell my mom she won't even listen. I know for a fact that if for some reason we went suddenly bankrupt, Freeman would be out faster than the speed of life. Adios! Then he would move on to the next single widowed millionaire.

"Caleb! Come on, honey!." Ugh. Maybe if i stay quiet, she'll think I died. I close my eyes.................

"Caleb!" Nope. I sigh and get up. I grab my sunglasses and jog downstairs. Mind as well get this over with.

"Ah, there he is. How's it goin, son!" I sneer at the nickname. I hate when he calls me son. My mom hasn't married that loser yet. He has no right whatsoever. 

"It's so nice of you to take the kids out, it'll be a chance to get to no each other." My mom gushes. I rolled my eyes. I already know everything i need to know about this loser. One: he's a LOSER, Two: He's  a con-artist, and Three: I hate him. There.

"Yeah, I figured since we'lll be living together soon, we should learn how to live together. Ha ha."He and my mom laughed. Wow, i really hate this guy. Man, i should add ' Tells Corny Jokes' to my list of why i hate him." We should get going, Zebrina's waiting in the car." I sigh. Great, i get to see the freak. Woohoo. We said our goodbyes and walked out to his silver porshe. I immediately headed for the front seat, but when i opened the door i saw it was occupied. Zebrina looked up at me, eyebrow raised.

"Er, taken." She said, her voice monotone. She shifted and turned her back to me.

"Why don't you scoot over to the back, Zebrina." Freeman said. For a moment she looked like she was about to protest, but she held it back and climbed over the seat and buckled in. I smirked, and climbed in, as Freeman started the car.

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"So, Caleb, yo been thinking about your future lately?"

See? There it is! This is the question i usually shrug off, but i'm in a pretty bad mood now. This lunch cost me my girlfriend and i wasn't in the mood for making small talk.

"Yeah, i'm planning on selling the hotel and gamble all the money off. I'm thinking maybe I'll get lucky and lose all my money," I smirked, looking down," Saves me from writing a huge Will, you know? I heard a snort and looked up to see Zebrina looking down, smiling also. Oh look, she actually has a sense of humor. But when i look at Freeman, he's got an annoyed look on his face.

"Very funny, Caleb. But let's be serious, would you really know how to handle a hotel?" He said, eyebrows raised. I frowned. His questions are really staring to annoy me.

"Of course i can. What's it to you, anyway. It's not your business." I glared at him. His expression changed like three times. Appalled, angry, annoyed.

"I just wanted to know-" He was cut off by the waitress approaching us.

"Welcome to Ruby Tuesdays. I'm Jessica and  I'll be your server today. Can i start you off with some drinks?" She looked around, pencil poised.

"Err, yes" Jackson answered, his polite act back on," I'll have a Bud, and you Zebrina?"

Looking thoroughly annoyed, Zebrina turned her head quickly, murmured "Pepsi", and turn her head toward the window. I ordered a Coke and she left.

After that , all signs of the previous conversation continued had vanished. We sat in silence, until our drinks had arrived. Suddenly, Freeman turned toward Zebrina.

"You know, Zebrina's been working on a new sketch for a Art critid guy. Aren't you, Zebrina?"

She didn't answer right away, for she had choked up on her drink a bit when he mentioned her painting. Her eyebrows creased, and she silently nodded her head. I cocked my head in confusion. I didn't know she was an artist. i used to draw, too. But just for fun, my work had never left my room. I wonder if he brought it up because he knew i drew. My mom probably told him. Ugh.

"You draw, too, don't you Caleb?"Yep, she told. Pretty soon, I Zebrina and I were in a big conversation. She wasn't so bad after all. Maybe the reason I didn't like her was because Freeman always talked for her. She was actually pretty cool once you got her to speak up.

We were still talking, 20 minutes later, but this time about movies and music basically. Turns out we have a lot in common in that are too. Freeman had gotten a business call and slipped out, so it was just us, but that was alright.We were discussing a CD that she said she would let me borrow, when i heard the front door of the restaurant jingle. I instinctively glanced back and caught a glimpse of the person walking through the door. I did a double-take. Oh, crap! Mandy just walked in. My eyes widened as i watched her hold the door open for someone behind her. Then she walked in. The most hottest girl i'd ever seen. But she looked familiar. I've definitely seen her somewhere. I watched as they crossed the room and sat at the booth across the room form us. Mandy turned her head in my general direction and i quickly looked back at Zebrina. She seemed to be looking at them, too, because when she turned to look at me again, she asked:

"Isn't that Avis Tudor with grilfriend?" I creased my eyebrows and looked again. And it was, indeed, the Avis Tudor.