She's going to call.
Bullshit, yeah she likes the idea but nobody is that stupid.
Greed and envy my friend, greed and envy.
I'll keep wrath for the win every time because at least I get shit done.
And he has a plan for that too but you need to pull it back and not rush it, remember the rules.
It's a beautiful Thursday at school and I'm not the center of attention wherever I go but I'm not passed over in the least. Been about a week since I put the early points of my plan in motion and I haven't heard anything from Lupe but I have plenty of options and her bit can be interesting if she calls but if not then we move on. Bethany and the cheer squad make it a point to sit with me at lunch almost daily, I say almost because I'm alone as Brandon is making his way towards me minus his varsity jacket.
"We need to have words," he states sitting down across from me.
"Animal, Vegetable or Mineral," I ask and he looks confused," You said words so I'm wondering which category it falls under if we're playing a guessing game."
"No I mean talk, I need you to speak with Brett and get me back on the team, we got two games left and I'm almost out of options. Coach won't let me play because he's scared of losing the rest of the offense and none of them will talk to me," Brandon explains and I knew it was bad, I spoke with Brett previously.
"You need? I could spend a week going over how I don't care and how it's not my job to fix your problems and you still wouldn't understand so I'm just going to say no," I reply and Brandon doesn't look too happy.
"Yeah it's not your job but you can, you got the inside track and you know it wasn't any one of us that did that to you," He says it and I clench my jaw and sigh.
Both barrels, locked on and ready.
"And I know how? And which time are we talking about because of all the times I remember recently you got away with it," I state and now I see some embarrassment," Is that guilt or just some embarrassment over the fact that we both know the truth and you need me?"
"Whatever you want man, I can get it," he offers and I laugh.
"I have cheerleaders at my beck and call if needed, money to do whatever I want and probably the one thing that you can't give me," I state and he looks curious," I'm smarter than you."
"Okay you're smarter but with scouts watching this is my last shot these two games, I need your help," Brandon is truly desperate and I can almost taste it.
Now make the offer.
"You are going to owe me a boon," I begin and he stops me.
"What is that, like a favor," he asks and I shake my head.
"Something like that but bigger, a favor would be you just doing something when convenient. What I want is more. One time you will be required to show up somewhere and do something that I tell you to its completion regardless of the consequences," I explain as I pull a piece of paper out of my briefcase, it replaced my backpack," just sign here and date."
"Wait, is this a contract," he asks and I nod," what the hell does it mean 'under pain and bodily harm'?"
"It means that if you refuse or back out once I've completed my half of the bargain then I am permitted to send people after you to extract what is mine from you," I explain and he begins to laugh before seeing my face and realizing I'm not joking.
"Why not just threaten to sue me," Brandon asks and I laugh.
"Again I have money, what do you actually have? Never mind, don't answer that. That is the deal, sign and date or leave," I remark waiting.
HA HA, he signed it!
Of course he did, you doubt him.
Sometimes yes but he takes forever.
And with a few pen strokes I return my contract to my briefcase and message Bethany asking for Brett's location. It comes back quickly as she's at some cheer practice and I leave Brandon where he is to find Brett who is talking with some of his friends on the team.
"Brett I need a word with you," I ask and the teammates look like they want to stay," You can stay, I just need Brett's attention."
"Guys it's cool. We all know Guy is cool so relax," Brett calms his teammates down and I smirk.
"I don't start fights but I'm looking to stop one. Brandon needs to play the next two games," I get the words out and all of them look at me like I'm deranged.
"After the shit he pulled with you? What did he do," Brett asks and I see a couple large football players flexing their aggression muscles.
Can we use them to hurt him?
"Nothing actually, well nothing bad. We simply have an accord and I'd like to see the team win out my final year here and that means we need the best people on the team. You can't throw all the time and they're beginning to catch on when you play," I've been listening in on game talks; football is big here in Texas.
Brett isn't sure about this but he doesn't need to be. He did this to bring himself closer to Bethany and he did, now it serves my purpose to have him bring Brandon back in. The team talks about their chances now that they have their star running back and I leave to prepare for more interesting tasks.
School finishes out for the day and I head to my side place. I got myself a little apartment and storage area for three months just for planning and staging of a few things I really want to get done and it's here that I keep my rental car and my changes of clothing outside of my new suits and sportier wear. I change and head into town in a hoodie and jeans with a baseball cap and sunglasses. I make the rounds checking on a few spots and people watch for now. I see the who and where for the next steps but still I'm waiting on one thing to come my way and everything will be set. I finish my surveillance and return to my side spot to change after a couple hours and then return home. The rest of the family is already there and I get a hug from Mom before heading up to my room to change again, this time into something comfortable and talk with Mom and Rosa before dinner. Family dinners are good and for the first time in weeks everyone isn't looking at me like I grew a horn out of my forehead. I get to my room and find my phone, my secondary line, has a message on it.
-Hi this is Lupe calling about the paid auditions. I'm interested and was hoping to set up a time soon. Please call me back.
YES!
Patience is rewarded, believe me now?
Just get this shit started I'm aching for some action.
I call back the number and it gets four rings when I barely catch the pick up on the other end.
"Hello," I hear the familiar female voice ask.
"Is this Lupe," I ask patiently but pacing.
"This is Lupe, who is this," she asks back.
"This is Jeff," it's a fake name but she doesn't know that," I'm going to assume you are calling about the paid audition?"
"Yeah, I'm interested in one question. How much is the audition," Lupe asks and I smile.
"Just the audition is one hundred dollars," I post the amount and I can hear her thinking.
"Okay well do we meet at a hotel or something," Lupe asks and I chuckle a little.
"Hotels are very informal, the company uses an apartment so that you can sit down and relax," I explain.
"Okay well how soon can we do the interview," she's eager and I'm happy to advance things properly.