- Four's pov -
Zeke rushes to my room, woken up by my shouting. "What's the problem?" he asks and I just sit on my bed, trying to make sense what happened, what was a dream, what's real and where I am, with who. I start to rub my calf and explain "Oh, there was just a pain full cramp at my calf, sorry to wake you up." I can feel blood flowing to my cheeks and hope that Zeke doesn't see it. "It sounded like something completely different, more like somebody was either having a really good time or killing you. Had to come see that it isn't the later one, the reason for shouting." he says, shrugs and yawns. "I'm going back to bed. Night!" When Zeke leaves I drop my hands and laugh silently, his first guess had been close to truth. It had been a good, little weird, but a damn good dream. I just wish that it would have been true and not just a dream, the beginning had been so promising...
It takes a while to get back to sleep again and morning comes way too soon after that. When alarm goes on I head to shower, then shave, put on jeans and black t-shirt, get some breakfast. The Big Weeks program has nothing for me in this days program, they are just giving walking rounds to Government buildings and then there are real estate agents introducing housing options, rental and ownership. No need to buy or rent anything before the election but a possibility to make a preliminary-agreement which doesn't obligate on buying or renting if you loose in election. And on the evening there is a dinner party, held by some charity group, they are collecting money for children health care. I have two tickets to there, they were sold on pairs. Well I have tickets to all charity events, it's good publicity to attend those, or so Johanna had said when she convinced me for buying those. Sure they are and costly, I wouldn't have needed two tickets but had to get. So did Johanna get two tickets to every party so there is three excessive ones now when Johanna is at hospital in Chicago. I gave two extra tickets to Andrew, he is coming to dinners with his girlfriend Ann, honored by this change to meet and mingle. Well, he has done so good job here in Providence and now he's helping me out when I had to stand as Johanna's replacement, he deserves this. Maybe one day Andrew will be next Government member from Chicago?
And same thing tomorrow, more about children education, general health care arrangements for government members and their families and that golf tournament. I don't play golf, I know that maybe I should but for me it has always seemed more like waste of time, I enjoy more about other sports. Johanna had planned to participate to golf tournament but now she's at hospital and Andrew promised to take care of golf on her behalf. And the charity dinner is for homeless people, we had called them factionless or at least I think it's about the same thing. I don't know what they can do to help them with the money they will get from dinner party, it remains to be seen. Most of these events are for mingling and meeting new people, the charity is just an excuse to get money out from this, I think.
On Thursday I have few meetings with press, one is marked to be hold with Caleb, dinner party is for women's health organizations. For Friday there is just program for those that haven't been in Providence before, some city tours and free access to museums, workshops everywhere and that big fair begins, at evening, once again, a dinner party for men's health organizations. I think that I will skip the last one, because I have to make myself ready for next days sporting event, get to bed early and so on. Saturday will be spend with marathon. I haven't ever run a marathon, this will be first one and I'm little scared. Just hoping that I haven't taken too big bite to shew. I check the running program that Amar made for me, read parts about resting and meals. There is a lot to take care, it's not just get sneakers to feet and run. I need to take easy these last days before running and get my carbohydrate levels high and no more running before Saturday. So I have a lot of spare time then, spare time to hang around, I have seen most of this city, know places but I can get to know my future colleagues. And I have a lot of time for finding Alexa!
I take my leather jacket and head to Governments main building. When I'm walking there, it's about a 20 minutes walk from my apartment, I call to ICU, hoping to hear from Johanna. It takes a while, first I speak with her nurse Laura. Johanna is doing well, getting back to herself and there have not been any more swelling on her brain. She still needs some medication but Laura mentions that they are trying today to get Johanna up, sitting and maybe standing. She has problems with her short term memory and will have that for a long time but on other ways she is doing really well. Then I get to speak with her, she instantly know who I am but she's little confused what I'm doing in Providence and is it already the Big week, it cannot be. I promise to take care everything here if she just continues to get better and promise to meet her on Monday afternoon.
It's a lovely day, sun is shining and there are lots of people gathered in front of Government building, so I hang there. I take my jacket of, t-shirt is enough. Most of other people wears suits but I don't think that this is that kind of situation that needs a suit. I meet some my team members, just spending their time like myself and chat with some new candidates from various cities. After an half hour chatting with some Illinois candidates I spot a silver shaded car approaching the government building. My heartbeat quickens and I cannot fully concentrate what other candidate is saying. I smile briefly, attention on what is happening around the car.
Driver stops car near pavement and from front seat jumps out young man in blue suit. He opens back door and I can see James Matthews stepping out and after him there comes the one and only that I have been waiting for, Alexa. They are chatting together, Alexa looking her father like wanting an approval. I cannot get my eyes away from her, she is wearing same light pink suede jacket that she had when she came to meet me. With that jacket she has white dress and dark pink high heeled shoes, her black hair in chignon. I want to go and greet her but her father leads her with quick pace to indoors. Man that opened cars door follows them, looking around alert. Alexa doesn't even briefly look to my direction, her focus is with her father, fully. After a short while I excuse myself and go to indoors myself. I'm bit nervous now when I know that she's near. Then I remind that her father is also near and he didn't want me to meet his daughter. He cannot make a scene, I think and look around.
There is only few people inside, weather is too beautiful out, but it takes time before I spot James Matthews talking with one real estate manager, his back turned towards me, so he doesn't notice that I saw them. Alexa isn't there, where she could have gone? I look around and spot that man that came with them standing near coat racks, it's where the entrance to toilets are. I guess that she had gone there and man is guarding her. I walk casually there, like going to men's room. Man standing there looks me from head to toe but doesn't do anything, he lets me pass without any questions, he doesn't even turn and make sure that I go to men's room. I hear some noise from women's room, someone is blow drying her hands and I wait at doorway. Then I spot her, coming out from women's room. She jumps a bit when she sees me standing there, looking to her intensive. It's sure that she wasn't expecting anyone to be there. She looks back to me, smiles briefly like I'm someone stranger, her smile doesn't meet her eyes. There isn't even slightest hint of recognition in her eyes. I'm stunned but before I get to say anything she has gone and the man who is standing in guard, waiting for her, turns when he hears the sound that her high heeled shoes make when she walks in haste. He sees me standing thereand frowns alerted. I turn, go to men's room.
Why she just smiled like that? Why didn't she say anything? Didn't she recognize me? My mind is buzzing, I wasn't waiting that sort of response from her. I take some time before I get out from men's room, Alexa and James Matthews are gone and so is that real estate manager. Only that bodyguard remains, he is obviously waiting for me. "Mr Matthews asked me to remind you on one thing. He had given strict orders for you to stay away from his daughter. Do that and no harms will follow.". He nods, turns and marches away. There's nothing for me to say, it's clear that I cannot talk to Alexa in public, I have to think some other way to meet her. James truly is overprotective when it comes to her!
I don't see any more Alexa on that day but I keep up mingling, meeting other candidates. At late afternoon, just before I leave to home I meet Caleb. He's deep in his thoughts, browsing some brochure about rental homes near Government buildings and when I tap to his shoulder he jumps, spins around and then smiles. "Penny from your thoughts." I offer but he just shrugs. "Nothing that valuable." is the reply and I have to accept it. "Cara isn't feeling any better?" I ask and he shrugs again "I guess that she isn't, not sure. She was taken yesterday to hospital for some medication and fluids.". I can see that Caleb is worried but not telling everything and I let it be, we are not so close friends after all. "I don't know if this is the right place for me to be, I don't think that I would be a good government member, you would do it much better. And with you as an opponent it's almost impossible for me to win." He confessed and I looked him worrying. Everything isn't well, he's depressed. "Do you think that you and Cara can talk about your issues to some counselor, together or alone?" I ask.
He thinks for a while, then looks to me and nods. "But I'm not sure can anyone or anything help me, help us." He says, and continues "I have said things to Cara that I regret and she has said thing that I didn't want to know. She has done things that I didn't want to know but..." He sighs. "You know, this isn't easy." He really makes me worry but I don't know what to do to help him out, I'm afraid if I say something wrong. "Would you like to come with me, I'm going to home to change my clothes before that charity dinner? I cannot say what to do to you but I can listen if you want to talk". He hesitates, then shakes his head "I'm going to hospital, Cara will be released soon, they have done some studies today and she's released soon. I'm just waiting for her call." I smile "But that's good new, that she will get out from hospital. And are you coming to dinner tonight?" He hesitates again, looking around, not able to look to me. "I'm not sure, but see you there, if I, if we come, I don't know if we can make it on time, I have tickets but..." He says and his phone rings. He looks who is ringing, then smiles briefly "Excuse me..." and walks further before answering. I shrug, there's nothing that I can do and I think it's better that way, that I won't involve more on this matter.
I look what time it is, just the right time for me to head home. I cut my hair, shave, and go to shower. When I'm toweling my hair to dry at my bedroom I hear Zeke going to shower. I search my cufflinks from drawer, finally finding them. When I turn I see Zeke standing there by the bedroom door. He has changed his outfit for more suitable to dinner; because I had two tickets for myself Zeke promised to join for at least to this dinner and tomorrows, food will be good and it would be waste of money if we don't use them. And Zeke has gotten a really nice suit for himself, looking handsome. If only Shauna could see him like that! "Zeke, one thing... smile!" I take my phone and snap a picture of him and then send it quickly to Shauna before he takes my phone from my hand and wants to erase it, he doesn't like to model for photos. She replies almost instantly "Tell to Zeke to have fun but behave nicely, don't let him drink too much!". I show the message to Zeke and he frowns a bit, then laughs. "Oh, she doesn't need to worry. I'm not after you, even you look neat, Four. That suit really suits you." He smirks.
People are gathering to winter gardens, there is one great hall surrounded with exotic flowers that has enough room for events like this. Smaller greenhouses surround this hall, creating unique worlds, escape places from ordinary life. I haven't been in any place like this before, neither have Zeke. I look around, stunned by flowers and arboretum, then I spot table chart. I take my tickets and look from those which table we are looking up; the Banana Tree. I smile a bit, all tables are named after some flower or tree that grows here. We walk around and then there it is, table "the Banana Tree", center piece big bowl filled with bananas. I try hard for not to laugh and hear Zeke snigger. I give him another ticket "you have seat number eight and I seem to have seat number four". Zeke's shoulders are shaking from silent laughter before he manages to state that "of course Four, you seat number is four, on the Banana Tree." I roll my eyes and know that Zeke will bring this up many times in future. Us two, going to dinner, being seated to banana tree... When we walk to table I spot Andrew and from other corner of great hall I spot, but I'm not sure, Caleb. I cannot say which woman sitting at Andrew's table is Ann but I'm sure I'm going to meet her later. More than that I hope that I saw Caleb there, accompanied with Cara, that would be great for those two.
I introduce us to other diners already seated to table "I'm Tobias Eaton and this is close personal friend of mine, Zeke Pedrad. And we are from Chicago." They nod, introduce themselves and I note that they are from all over States, this is a good time to mix and mingle, get to know new people. We get some looks and Zeke hurries to explain that my date couldn't make for this dinner so he's my friend and just a replacement, we are not a couple together. There is some bit nervous laughs and then chatting continues like it had been before our arrival. There are two seats empty on our table and dinner is about to begin. Then I spot one man that I know far too well coming towards the table and he's accompanied with a beautiful girl, his daughter. She's wearing really sparkling evening dress that changes color from silver on top to dark blue on hem. She is absolutely stunning and I see that other men is looking after her too. James seems to be proud, escorting her towards our table. She looks to dinner tickets shes holding and smiles "Your seat is number one, because you are the best, daddy and I seem to have seat number five.". She looks around and spots her seat and I note that then James sees me and realizes that I'm going to be seated next to his daughter. He frowns, opens his mouth like wanting to say something but he doesn't want to make a scene. He cannot do anything, waitresses are approaching with starters. I help a chair for her first and then sit down myself. I cannot believe in my luck!
When we have gotten starters I see that Alexa turns towards me, smiles a bit. She extends her hand to me, I take it. "I'm Erica Matthews, from Milwaukee. Nice to meet you, sir...". There is a question and I wonder what game she is playing but reply "I'm Tobias Eaton, from Chicago, really nice to meet you again, Alexa.". She looks surprised, eyes wide open and her mouth in shape of o. I would like to place a kiss on those beautiful rose colored lips. "How did you know that name mr Eaton? No one calls me Alexa anymore, that was the name my brother used to call me years ago." I look across the table, see Zeke smirking, trying really hard for not to laugh aloud. He surely knows who is seated next to me and what she is to me. And then I see her father, glaring to me, looking angry, annoyed but when hearing Alexa's answers he smiles self-satisfied. What this is? What is this game that she is playing or is it a game. If not then something has happened to her, something has done to her and I need to know what and by whom.