Chapter 738: Beaulieu Manor
Wednesday, March 22nd, Afternoon
It became her new hobby to wander around the East Range of Beaulieu Manor. This could only be done after dinner and homework. Surprisingly, Brooke was a stickler for homework and family meals. So, once homework was finished, she would pick a floor and wander about. She was surprised at the types and variety of rooms in the East Range.
Callie pushed the door open to the room and flipped on the lights. Her eyes went wide with what she saw. The room's walls were paneled with rich dark wood and red wallpaper of some type. Three large pool tables dominated the room. The green felt of the table contracted with the rest of the room. Over each table was a light fixture Callie only saw in a movie pool hall.
"I see you've found the billard room," Keni said. Callie turned to see Keni sitting on a bench. The young brunette closed the book she was reading and stood up.
"I was exploring the place," Callie said.
Keni nodded, "I see; I'm still finding new rooms myself," she said and walked over to a rack of pool sticks.
"It's quite amazing what is here," Callie said.
"Yeah, there's a lot," Keni said, and pulled a stick off the rack, looked at Callie, then pointed the stick at her, "Grab a stick, and we'll shoot a game."
"What?" Callie asked.
"Shoot a game of pool. We're here, and that's what you do in this room," Keni said.
"Oh, yeah, right," Callie said, shuffling her feet.
"What's wrong, Callie?" Keni asked.
"I've never played pool before," Callie said.
Keni laughed, "Shoot pool, and are you serious?" she asked.
"Yes," Callie said, nodding, "My parents considered it a game of chance and a sin."
"I see," Keni said, "So, how do you think you could be a Davis without knowing how to shoot pool?"
"But I'm not a Davis," Callie said.
"You're here, so you're a Davis," Keni said.
"Sawyer isn't a Davis," Callie said.
"She's the closest thing you could be to being a Davis, but she's not a Davis by birth," Keni said.
"What about me?" Callie asked.
"My sister became a Davis," Keni said.
"How?" Callie said.
"Being herself," Keni said.
"Did she learn to play pool?" Callie asked and nervously chewed on her bottom lip.
"It's shooting pool," Keni said dryly.
"Yeah, um, whatever," Callie said.
"So, pick a stick, and I'll show you how to play," Keni said.
"Are you sure?" Callie asked.
"I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't serious," Keni said.
Callie nodded, walked over to the rack, and picked a stick. Keni nodded, walked over to a table, and pulled the balls out of the pockets. Callie noticed what Keni was doing and started pulling the balls out of the pockets as well. Once they were finished, Keni showed Callie how to rack the balls. They were ready to play after showing Callie how to work the pool stick and letting her get a few practice shots against the still-racked balls.
"Ready?" Keni asked.
Callie nodded, "Yeah," she said.
Keni took her shot and broke the rack of balls. The balls bounced around the table, and finally, a solid one, the four-ball, dropped into a pocket.
"Okay, I'm the solid-colored balls; you're the stripped balls. If you sink the black one before your other ones, you lose," Keni said.
"Okay," Callie said.
"I go again," Keni said, lining up her next shot.
"Okay," Callie said.
Keni took her shot and sank the seven-ball. She looked over to Callie and smiled. "So, have you thought about your swimsuit?" Keni asked.
"No, but that's the second time it was brought up this week," Callie said.
Keni nodded, "You know my mom designs new swimsuits for us every year," she said.
"I don't want to look or dress like what you and Sawyer dress in," Callie said.
"First things first, they aren't identical; they're made for the individual person. Second, you're under sixteen; it won't be a bikini; you might beagle to talk my mom into making you a tankini," Keni said.
"Okay," Callie said, "Is there a third?"
"There might be, but I don't remember," Keni said and lined up her next shot.
"Sawyer doesn't seem to be herself," Callie said.
Keni nodded and took her shot but didn't sink a ball. Keni stood up, shook her head, and sighed. "I did notice that. I talked with Uncle Lucas about that," she said.
"What is Mr. Scott's and your mom's relationship?" Callie asked.
"Sawyer's mom was my mom's best friend," Keni said.
"Oh," Callie said.
"Yeah, Sawyer and I were raised together, so we're practically sisters," Keni said.
Callie nodded, "I've seen one or two of your sisters, but why are you so different from them?" she asked.
Keni shrugged, "When you're the newest star in a bright constellation, you have to find ways to stand out," she said.
"I see," Callie said.
"It's your shot," Keni said.
"Thanks," Callie said and tried to line up a shot.
Keni nodded, "Take your time and remember to follow through," she said.
Callie took her shot, and the ball gently rolled across the table. It clicked against one of the balls lightly. Callie shook her head and looked at Keni.
"See, I suck," Callie said.
"It would've been a good shot if you put a little more behind it," Keni said.
Callie nodded, "So, what do we do with Sawyer?" she asked.
Keni shrugged, "We help any way we can, but don't push Sawyer, " she said, "She'll shut down if we push too hard."
Callie nodded, and Keni lined up her shot. In an example of unintended consequences, one of the balls knocks the eight ball into a pocket. Keni shook her head.
"Shit!" Keni said.
"I guess I win," Callie said.
"Yes, you win," Keni said, shaking her head, "Don't get cocky."