Chapter 06: Hey Jelousy!
Cecile awoke to the sound of snoring. She rolled over and found Juan sitting in the chair, fast asleep. She sat straight up, hiding herself in the sheets. "Juan!" She yelled.
He sat up, startled awake. "Huh?"
"What are you doing in here?"
"Oh, uh. Just doin' my job." He smiled with his teeth.
"You're job is at the dojo!"
"Yeah, well. No one wants any lessons recently. I guess because it's getting cold out."
"It's rude to be in a lady's room."
"This isn't your room."
"So? This isn't your room!"
Juan stood up. "This is for you anyhow." He tossed an envelope on the bed. Cecile dropped the sheet in the excitement to grab for it, and then hid herself again. She looked up at Juan, apprehensive. He looked at her, blushing. He looked away from her, then at her again, then away. He walked toward the door, slowly breathing out.
"Hey Juan." Cecile called quietly.
"Uh, yeah?" Juan didn't look back at her.
"Thanks."
"You're Welcome." Juan pulled the door closed behind him.
Cecile tore open the envelope as soon as the door closed. She smiled to herself. Hooray! Another letter from Thomas!
Dear Cecile;
So far, it's been absolutely boring here. Nothing but endless meetings on my fathers death, lawyers arguing about his estate and his will, and lots of stuffy old councilmen sitting around a table arguing the same things over and over again. I haven't had much peace at all, except when I'm asleep.
I'm thinking of you all of the time. I wish you were here, but I know that you would be more anxious to leave than I am.
I thought maybe I would run into Chris or any of her men, but no luck. If I see them I'll tell them to come and visit us some time. Would that be all right with you?
Ah well. I finally have a chance to get out of this stuffy old room at my fathers' house and go walk around town for luncheon with Dextor. He's a little strange. He's not much of a talkative type, but I don't have much to say either. So we just end up staring at each other! But he's a good man.
Ah well, I suppose I should get going now. I hope you are feeling better now!
Sincerely, Thomas.
Cecile folded the paper back inside the envelope. What's with him? She thought. Why would he want to go out and have lunch with another guard? I'm the Captain! She fell back into her pillow. She put her hand up to her forehead. Her body ached a little, and her head was a little foggy, but her fever was gone and her stomach didn't hurt so much. She got out of bed. She felt gross again. She wanted to wash. And she wanted clean sheets.
Cecile looked at her self in the mirror. She liked the way she looked. She was modest, but still… Why did Juan look so embarrassed when all he saw was her bare shoulders and maybe part of her back? Like always, what a weirdo. Hasn't he ever had a girlfriend before? She stripped the bed of its sheets and tossed them in the corner. Then pulled Thomas' clean clothes out of the closet and put them on herself. Stupid Dextor. I should be the one having lunch with Thomas, not him. Grr. I bet he doesn't have anything to say because he… Dextor has a thing for Thomas!
Angrily, Cecile threw the sheets into the dirty laundry pile, and then went back inside to put new sheets on the bed. Irately, she went to the restroom to wash herself. Then, heatedly she went outside to her post. The scarecrow was still there. Her helmet was still on its head. She felt a little calmer. At least no one stole her helmet.
Cecile jumped at the touch of a hand on her shoulder. She turned around.
"Cecile, what are you so upset about? It's a beautiful day!" Piccolo smiled at her.
"Oh, ah. I'm just getting to feel better. I've been sick."
"So I've heard. And I've heard that Master Thomas sent you a letter, eh?" He smiled a knowing, old-man smile.
"I guess so." She turned back to the open fields.
"Awe, don't worry so much. He'll be back." He leaned over toward her and said quietly, but excitedly. "I see it in my crystal ball!" He grinned.
"Yeah, he'll come back soon."
After a moment, Piccolo hummed softly and walked away.
Cecile hopped on top of the wall. She watched the grass wave in the wind and thought about Thomas with a guard other than herself. It was an insult. It was cheating! Well, not really. She realized she was being ridiculously jealous. But still. It should have been her that went on that trip with Thomas. Shouldn't it have?