Chapter 13

"No change can come if those who are impacted the most by discrimination are not willing to stand up for themselves." -Zainab Salbi

I stiffly walked through the kitchen and into the pantry, approaching the large steel door of the freezer with Alexander trailing lazily behind me.

Quickly, I yanked the door open, blinking as the lights switched on and scanned the room before walking in and picking up a few boxes. I handed them to Alexander without a word and then picked up two more before heading out.

We re-entered the kitchen and Lianne took the boxes from me as Alexander set his down.

"What do you want me to do next, mom?" He asked her in the nicest voice I had heard since meeting him.

The others had gone off to set up for the barbecue-leaving me, Lianne, and Serena to the food.

"You can go set the music or help with the grill," She replied in her sweet motherly tone.

Alexander walked out of the kitchen without another word as I watched his retreating back.

"I see the way the two of you look at each other you know," Lianne said casually.

Serena nodded in support of Lianne's claim and said, "Right? I swear they are destined for each other."

"What do you mean?" I asked feigning ignorance at the fact that I just got caught staring at Alexander's retreating back.

"The two of you look at each other like you're about to kill each other and then like you're going to devour each other whole," She said. "Where I am from, those are the beginning signs of lo-"

"Where are you from, Lianne?" I asked, cutting her off before she could finish.

"Me? I was born in Hawaii but my mother is Vietnamese," She replied.

She turned towards me with her hands on her hips. "Give him a chance, he's not as bad as he seems," She said with a smile. "Now, how about we get to work?"

"Right," I muttered.

I'll give him a chance the day he gives me one.

About two hours later we finished prepping the meat for the grill and prepared a large range of dishes and snacks.

The three of us set up the table outside while the men started up the grill and speakers.

"Why don't the two of you go change while I get the food started on the grill?" Lianne said.

"Sure thing!" Serena exclaimed, grabbing me by the arm and dragging me back into the house.

"He likes you, you know," She said. "And I can tell you like him too."

"I don't," I muttered. "At least, not that way."

"Not yet you mean," She smiled wickedly.

"Tell me something, why are you trying to set me up with your brother?"

"Because for the first time in three years there is a light in his eyes and it's because of you. You bring him back to life."

She calls him verbally tearing into me with his harsh words "bringing him to life?"

"Can we just...not talk about this, please?" I begged her.

"Fine, meet me outside in ten," Serena said with a determined smile.

"Sure," I replied.

We took our time getting up the stairs and into our respective rooms to change. I quickly pulled on a green two piece and walked out of my room and down the stairs.

I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a tray full of drinks and headed outside into the blazing sun, the loud bass of music reverberating through the air.

Quickly, I set down the tray but before I could take a seat on one of the lounge chairs somebody said, "Casey, bring the girls soda and a glass of wine for me."

I slowly peeked out of the corner of my eyes to find Kierra and Terra laying underneath umbrellas on two lounge chairs. Brooklyn was sitting on the edge of the pool a blank stare on her face.

"Yeah, Casey," Terra taunted. "Bring us some drinks. I want diet coke, what do you want Brook?"

"Nothing," Brooklyn said. "Except for you to shut up," She mumbled under her breath, lifting her eyes to connect with mine.

She quickly dropped them back to the pool as I stood there, completely still.

"Hello, are you deaf or something? We gave you an order."

I didn't move. I'm not sure what it was that prompted me to stay where I was-whether it was my own decision or the verbal assault Alexander had given me earlier that morning-but for once in my life I completely ignored her.

I was tired of always being treated like a footstool and in listening and obeying them, all I was doing was giving them power over me.

Alexander was right no matter how harshly he had put it. I was letting them treat me like their b***h, but it was going to end.

"Casey, now! That is an order!" Kierra snapped.

I snapped out of my thoughts as I glanced over at them. Kierra raised an eyebrow at me as I slowly walked the short few inches towards the lounge chairs as a smirk formed on Terra's face. Then, I did the impossible.

I turned and sat down at the side of the pool with my legs in the water and turned my head to face Kierra, and for the first time I looked her dead in the eyes and said "My name is not Casey, Kierra. It's Callista, so please get that right."

I felt a thrill shoot through me, heart pumping with fear and adrenaline as I stared her down. Both their faces morphed into ones of shock as the last words left my lips.

Dead silence enveloped us as they sat there gawking, and then it was broken abruptly by Brooklyn's sudden burst of wild, manic laughter.

All eyes fell on her as she cackled where she sat at the edge of the pool, hands clutching at her sides as she gasped for breath.

Kierra shot out of her seat and stomped towards me with a face full of rage and eyes full of mirth.

"How dare you speak against me?" She snarled. I inched away from her as she got closer.

Fingers gently dug themselves into my waist and a quick glance forward revealed Alexander, water dripping from his hair down his face and onto his chiseled chest.

Kierra now stood beside me and I watched stiffly, bracing myself as she pulled her arm back, ready to slap me for defying her. A hand shot out and grabbed hers midair, wrenching it down before she could try to make contact with my face.

"Enough! Kierra, leave her alone," Jaxon said as his hand enclosed her arm.

"Excuse me? Did you hear what she just said to me?"

"You set yourself up for it. It's about time she stood up to you," Jaxon replied cooly.

"You're defending her? I am your wife!"

"And she is my daughter," He replied.

"Argh!" Kierra screamed. "You will pay for this," She snarled at me before ripping her arm out of Jaxon's grasp. "Both of you! Terra, come!"

Terra jumped up and quickly scrambled after her mother. Lianne walked out of the house just as they barreled past her, a confused look on her face.

"Did I miss something?" She asked, walking over to her husband who promptly wrapped an arm around her.

"Tell you later," He replied, casually flipping a steak on the grill.

My heart was still hammering in my chest from adrenaline and I swallowed thickly as Jaxon turned to face me.

"Good job, Callista. You've made me proud," He said, placing a hand on top of my head before turning and walking back to Hunter's side.

Fingers squeezed my waist slightly, and startled I turned to face the owner.

Alexander looked up at me as the sun shined on his chiseled face. He looked me in the eyes and said "Are you okay?"

I swallowed hard.

"Y-yeah I'm fine," I replied ducking my head so he couldn't see how shaken up I really was.

His left hand reached up and cupped the side of my face forcing me to look at him.

"It's okay. You don't have to hide from me," He softly murmured.

Alexander gripped my waist and carefully lifted me into the water. He rubbed soft circles on my skin as I looked up at him.

Why was he being so nice to me? Better yet, why was I letting him touch me?

"Just relax. I've got you," He said before pulling away, his strong fingers entwined with mine.

I slowly felt myself relax as he lead me through the water-all the while the eyes of Lianne and Serena followed us, but I couldn't find it in me to care.