Barcode: Legend of Apollo (21 page)

“You have it down to the second?”

“No, hours. Two weeks, two days, and four hours. Do you have another girl now?” Hannah looks away, pouting. I’m used to the flirting. Normally, it’s the highlight of my day, but I’m a bit anxious to get away for the moment.

“Yeah. My workout.”

Hannah looks up and breathes on my neck. “Spencer Colt’s working out? Hot. Where’s this coming from? You’re not going to actually try this year for finals, I’m sure. You enjoy having the fixed fight look as fake as possible.”

“I may have something more important this year,” I mumble before squeezing her into a quick hug. Pulling away, I say, “I have to get somewhere today. Let’s catch up tomorrow, love.” But things don’t go as planned. Hannah yanks my arm, and I nearly fall down the stairs. To avoid knocking her over, I clutch her waist tightly and grab the rail. Now, we’re hip to hip. I twist my lips and stare into her eyes.

We’ve been this close before, but she’s never needed to use such drastic measures to steal my attention.

“I said, you haven’t asked me out in weeks.”

“That’s because I’ve been busy. Besides, you always turn me down.”

Now, we’re leaning over the rail, and she’s caressing my face. “Maybe because you only want to go out after school.”

“Let’s go out this weekend,” I say, trying to end the teasing.

“Kay. We’ll meet at one. I have an early curfew.”

That melody should cause my heart and mind to tango. I hardly care.

“Okay,” I say as I pull away from her. If I lean in, she’ll kiss me, but it doesn’t feel right. There are already enough people staring.

With a warm hug, Hannah departs. She journeys down a mysterious path towards the back of the campus, waving at our friends as they pass by. She is one of the only students that isn’t escorted by military personnel. I’ve always wanted to ask where she goes, but I figure she’ll tell me when she’s ready.

I venture through the hallways to Casey’s room. I’m not even sure she’ll be there, but Michelle’s never canceled on me before.

I enter the class room to see two cupcakes sitting on our desks, and two very primitive birthday hats.

“What’s this?”

Michelle throws her sweat towel at my chest. Her voice is angry, “I knew you’d forget about my birthday, so I’m making you celebrate with me.”

Rolling my eyes, I grab both treats from the desks and hold them in my palm. I reach for her hand. Still upset, she resists by saying, “You didn’t even bring me anything. Jerk.” She sticks her tongue out at me.

I gesture for her to follow me with my extended hand. She bites her bottom lip, and interlaces her fingers with mine. I pull her outside the classroom and toss the cupcakes in the trashcan. She gasps, offended, but I ignore it.

We run down the halls, cross the street between speeding cars, and dash into the elevator in Dennis’ skyscraper, out of breath and laughing.

“What are we doing?” She’s becoming more anxious because I haven’t said a word since leaving the classroom. “Where are we going?” I look around with my eyes widened and puffing air from my nose. “I know we’re in your father’s building, but where are we going? What are we doing?”

The elevator lets us off on the forty-second floor, and Michelle impatiently follows me like a pet nearly circling my every step. I open a swinging brown door, which leads to a kitchen.

Damn. Hayley and my uncle Vincent standing over some food.

I didn’t know that Hayley still used this space. This is the only room that resembles anything near a normal kitchen in our building. All of the other rooms look like dining halls.

Leo and I found this two weeks ago after chasing the mysterious creature that lived in his apartment. The rabbit looking monkey dashed up the stairs and into this room. Then, he slipped under my legs and disappeared.

We pulled a few things from the refrigerator and made two pastas to see who could throw down the best. It seems that being gods means you’re left alone a lot to fend for yourself. We had both hung out with our household chefs as kids. Cooking’s just one of those things that we picked up along the way.

After tasting Leo’s pasta, I was sure I lost. Then, I saw him in tears over mine. We agreed to a draw. For him being such a nerd, I surely have a very difficult time beating him.

He and I had marveled at the simplicity of the room. Unlike the decor in the penthouse, this room has a simple dining table made of real mahogany. Real wood is one of those things that are rare, like the granite counters and stainless steel appliances this room is filled with.

At Leo’s request, Antonio did some digging and we discovered that Hayley has a fixation with the twenty-first century. She spent quite a lot of money importing the furniture and fixing up this place.

I inhale the enticing wooden smell as Michelle retreats behind me, trying to hide her face. The obvious motion makes Hayley snicker under her breath.

Hayley’s red hair whips roughly as she jabs my uncle in the stomach.  He stops snacking on the food I asked the chef to prepare. Then, he stands up straight and smiles at us, waving.

“So imagine my surprise,” Hayley says while walking swiftly towards us, “when I heard you’d brought a guest to get fitted for some armor. Then, you order food in the family room.”

“We have a family room?”

Vincent repeats, “You have a family room? Where’s that?” Then, he pulls another piece of goat cheese from the platter.

She shouts, “You’re in it! Ugh. I had the room made, but no one’s eaten in it with me.”

“This is my second time seeing it. I just found it recently.”

“This is my first time seeing it,” Vincent adds. “And I helped build the place.” By help build he means he pointed out everything he didn’t like on the blueprint while eating a pie. Dennis always corrects him on that argument.

“Well this is the family room, and you’re all sitting down to eat dinner.”

Michelle nervously says, “I’m just visiting and I’m not a part of the family so I’ll see you later Spence.”

Before she can shine her speedy tattoos and dash off, I grab her wrist. Activating my barcode, I make sure she understands.
If I’m staying, you’re staying.

Hayley’s shaking her head and barking, “Oh no, honey. I’ve never met one of his girlfriends so you’re staying. You are a part of the family until one of you gets older and bumps heads over taking the left or right vanity. Then you get into an argument about cleaning after the dog and break up.”

“Uh, I’m not—” I squeeze Michelle’s wrist to stop her. She’s so angered by the pain she slaps my hand. Little does she know the more we talk, the more Hayley will ask. Eventually, I’ll have to explain my date with Hannah. Hayley’s an interrogator. Our best option’s to choose the right to remain silent.

“Geez Hayley, stop telling these kids why you can’t keep a decent relationship. That’s not even his girlfriend,” Vincent interjects. “She’s a friend. His girlfriend’s a cute blonde, I think. They’re just training buddies.”

Michelle raises an eyebrow.

“Oh,” Hayley says, obviously taken aback. “Well, you’re still staying. I made the food myself and it’s for seven.”

“There’s only four of us,” Michelle adds while peeking in the room, hoping no one else pops out.

“Four are for me,” Vincent says happily. “But if you leave, I can surely handle five.” Instead of rubbing his belly, Vincent smacks his bald head. He wasn’t blessed with his father’s genetics when it comes to hair.

Vincent says that when he was a kid, Dennis always gave him the brotherly talk about how he was adopted because his hair and skin looked so different. In reality, his mother was Egyptian and Spanish. Though he grew old enough to realize he wasn’t adopted, Dennis never let up on his inability to grow hair.

“No. Everyone. Sit.” Hayley says, walking to the table. I push Michelle right behind her.

Vincent hugs me tightly. This is our first time hanging out since he’s returned. I’ve only seen him in passing or in meetings with Dennis so far. He’s dropped by my apartment a few times to squeeze me to death. Unfortunately for him, I’ve grown accustomed to Arnold’s death grips so Vincent’s seem like light hugs.

While holding me tightly, he says, “You owe me one.”

“How’d you know she was my training partner?”

“What?” He says it loudly enough that the women look up at him cautiously. Aware of his booming voice, he whispers, “I was right? Man, I took a shot in the dark. I was just trying to save you from Hayley’s claws.”

“Nice. The girl I like’s a blonde too.”

He shakes his head, “Oh. I was pretty sure of that. Your dad always had a thing for blondes.” He slaps me on the shoulder. Even that feels like a light tap.

Hayley and I pass out the food. Before we can dive into the meal, my uncle reads the prayer he wrote on his napkin. “Thanks for the food dude.” He’s more like Casey than Dennis. My uncle claims to have a personal relationship with The Writer, but I don’t imagine it being a positive one.

“I’m sorry sweetheart,” Hayley says to Michelle. “He’s so stupid there’s no way he could write something worthy of reading. It’s your birthday anyway. Why don’t you read yours?”

“No. No. That’s not necessary.”

“I wasn’t really asking.”

“Oh.” Michelle scrambles for her napkin. “Umm. Thank you for the food and love.” While she’s reading, I glance over to see the part she skipped.
I couldn’t ask for a better birthday.

“That’s much better. Now, dig in.”

Michelle stares at the eagle breast, macaroni, and green beans with wide eyes.

“Is there something wrong?”

“It actually looks better than daddy’s. I want to take a picture and keep it forever.”

“Your father cooks?”

“It’s all he does. All the time. He doesn’t hire chefs because he hasn’t met any that can cook better than him. Supposedly, he tried to get Hayley Keller before I was born, but it didn’t work out.”

I choke on my food and stare at Hayley. She places her napkin in her lap and bites her bottom lip. “I’m sorry. I guess we didn’t introduce ourselves. He’s Vincent Colt, but you obviously know that as a gladiator. And I’m Hayley Keller.”

Michelle unleashes a burst of laughter before taking a huge bite of the eagle breast.

I’m still trying to add things together. “Hayley, you were a chef?”

“It’s one of my many hats. Why did you think your food was always so good when I made it?”

“It’s not that much better than mine,” I tease.

Michelle continues marveling at the taste of the food and praising it between bites. I can hardly understand her with her mouth full, but she definitely said something similar to, “He lied. It is better.”
 

Hayley takes a small bite of food before asking, “Who is your father anyway?”

“You two really don’t recognize each other?” I say while Michelle wipes her mouth. “I mean it’s only been like six or seven years since the last time she was here.”

Hayley squints her eyes before blurting, “Little Michelle?”

Michelle reverts to the shy kid and bobs her head quickly. I still don’t think she remembers Hayley because she always avoided eye contact with everyone when she came over.

“You grew hips and you’re so full. No offense, but you always looked like a scrawny little boy and now...” After she trails off, Vincent grabs Hayley’s eagle thigh and shoves it in her mouth.

“Stop offending the poor little girl and eat.”

At the end of the dinner, Hayley and I take the plates to the kitchen and my uncle begins his standard fight. “Are you going to make something like this on our first date?”

“When hell freezes over.”

“I don’t believe in hell.”

“Exactly,” she says, bringing three wrapped gifts from the pantry. “What are you still asking me out for anyway? How many wives do you have by now? You should feel ashamed of yourself. I heard the last girl you married is younger than your damn daughter. Poor girl doesn’t know the idiot she has.” Hayley was originally promoted to Dennis’ full-time assistant because of her many skills, but Dennis also likes to add that she’s the only person capable of making Vincent realize how stupid he is.

As the fiery redhead places the gifts on the table, Michelle’s eyes shine before she blurts, “What are these?”

Hayley doesn’t say a word, but runs back into the kitchen to bring out a birthday cake much more elaborate than the one I had ordered from the chef. It’s smaller, but adorable.

The pan cake is called a golden fleece. There are three layers of chocolate that have gold food coloring. I know Hayley’s cake from the signature swirls in the cream cheese frosting. Now, I feel like it’s my birthday because her golden fleece are delicious.

I turn off the lights, and we sing happy birthday to Michelle. She reaches for my hand under the table, and gives a gentle squeeze of excitement. Once she blows out the candles, she wipes a tear from her eye and hugs Hayley. Sometimes Michelle forgets her ridiculous strength, so Hayley fights for air. After catching her breath, she returns the affection with a motherly hug and kiss on Michelle’s forehead.

Hayley passes out the gifts one-by-one while explaining that she and Vincent shopped for presents at the mall on the first floor.

Vincent’s gift isn’t too shabby, a weapons holster for a small gun or knife. Hayley got her a few girlie things, some skirts and blouses. Smart enough to stop Michelle’s bear hug, Hayley wraps her arms around the insanely strong woman before she can stand up. The two fit together so well. Michelle opens the third box, which, to my surprise, comes from me.

When she sees the armor, Michelle’s eyes light with excitement. Vincent tries to take advantage of the moment by resting his arm on Hayley’s shoulder, but she brushes it away without taking her eyes off of Michelle.

“That’s from me,” I say as her eyes search the room.

“I know, but how did all of you know my size? The skirts are dead on and this gear’s right up my alley. Man. Hips and everything.”

Hayley raises her hand, “I used an app to steal the measurements from the armor.”

“And Antonio got the measurements from the old man.” Michelle twists her face with a bewildered expression. “Don’t ask,” I say while holding up my hand. Turning to Hayley I blurt, “How’d you get her measurements if it were already inside the box?”