CHAPTER 42: How about lesson number one in Rebel 101?

"Are you gonna thank me or just stare at me?"

"I would not stare at you even if you were shirtless."

"I can prove that theory wrong."

I smile and smack his chest, feeling his hard washboard abs underneath the shirt just for a fraction of a second.

"Great party." I muse, still looking around in awe at the fancy décor. The golden and white ribbons on the ceiling act as a canopy to the entire place, matching with the centerpieces on the small round tables in another room, next to this one. I figure it as the main dining room but brush it off and focus on the eye-candy in front of me.

"Want to make it even better?" He leans in ever so slightly but my heart yet picks up its pace and orders my head to nod at his question. In a swift motion, I'm pulled by my wrist towards the open bar at the end of the room. Caleb claps his hand twice and an array of champagne flutes appear in front of us. The two waiters set the two trays down and walk away, leaving me puzzled and amused at the same time.

"So, Richie rich, what surprises do you have for me here?" I pick up one of the flutes with the rose champagne, sipping and swirling while staring at Caleb from the corner of my eye.

"It's a boring soiree. What do you expect here?" His loud laugh echoes around the room but it's like I'm the only one who pays attention to him.

"Well, what about some good wine and good food?" I down my entire glass and place it down, picking up another one with white wine.

"Okay..." he says before snatching my champagne flute and, once again, dragging me to the other room which seems to be the main area of dining.

Five minutes later, we are near the balcony, sipping on some of the best wine I've ever had.

I think I'm the one who burned a hole in Jason's pocket by buying a heap load of wine.

"So...you liked the dress, eh?" He smirks at me and I feel my insides clench with bursting excitement. His previously hot gaze on me lingers around in my head but I decide to ignore it as nothing. I swallow and put on a neutral expression.

"You're lucky I didn't break your nose. Speaking of, since when did you become so gentleman-y by writing me notes?"

He places a hand on his chest and scoffs, "You don't think I'm a gentleman? Tsk tsk. Impressing you sure is a task."

"And why do you have to impress me, Mr. I've-got-it-all?" I smirk at him and pour myself some more wine.

Man, I'm never turning down any kind of invitation involving wine.

He snorts but chooses not to answer me. He swirls the liquid in his glass and looks right ahead. The moonlight makes his eyes sparkle with something I have never seen before and highlight his high cheekbones and sharp jawline. His jaw remains tight but his shoulders remain calm – a state I rarely see him in.

"Where's your sister?"

"Off at one of her friends' houses. My father prefers her away from all this especially tonight since it's all about business." I nod at his words and continue sipping on my wine.

"What's her name?"

"Lucy." A smile adorns his lips as he says her name and I find myself grinning at him like an idiot, seconds later.

"Tell me about her." I lean against the railing and look at him.

"Well, for starters, she is loud and wild and absolutely reckless." He looks at me and shakes his head while smiling. "Like you."

"Mm. I already like her. What an angel." I grin and push back the loose strands from my face.

"You wore the earrings." I nod and shake my head, showing off the earrings adorning my ears. As soon as I open my eyes, Caleb is a few inches away from my face, his eyes only on me.

"Did I tell you...you look absolutely stunning tonight?" His soft whisper feels like music to my ears and I gulp at the decreasing distance between us. His minty breath mixed with the Chardonnay we were sipping on, intrudes my senses and knocks them dead. His arms trap me between himself and the railing, nonetheless emanating some warmth in contrast to this cold night.

"You're blushing." I widen my eyes while his soft chuckle fills the dense air around us, making me wish I was underground right now. I look down at my feet but a second later, his index finger tilts my chin upwards. My eyes meet his and I stare at him for god knows how long.

"You have beautiful eyes..." My stomach somersaults like a thousand times at his words and I feel my heart threatening to pop out any second now. His fingers trail from my chin to my cheek and he cups my face gently. His touch is soft, like when my face rests on my plush pillows – but way better than that. As if a reflex, I relax under his touch and lean into it. His breath lands on my lips and judging from the exact same feeling I got when I saw the dress and earrings, I know that this is what I want.

"Sir?" My eyes shoot open to spot Caleb's annoyed gaze and he moves away from me.

"Your father called for you."

"Come on." He takes my hand in his and we both abandon the balcony and the little moment. I sigh quietly, trying to relax from the torture of my senses Caleb just put me through. His hand tightens around my own and I notice his tense posture from his quiet growl at the sight of a man standing right in the middle of the hall. Dressed in a suit similar to Caleb's, the dark-haired man exudes an authoritative and dominating aura with his chin poised up and his hands behind his back. Caleb is an exact replica of him – I notice as we step nearer to him – and if I saw him years back, he would have undoubtedly passed off as Caleb himself.

"Ah, Caleb. I want you to meet Mr. Philips. He owns Philips and Sons law firm. We've had good business over the years, haven't we?" The two men laugh and pat each other's backs. Just as I notice Caleb sporting a bored expression, a beautiful woman catches my eye and I have to do a double-take in order to confirm she actually is real. Dressed in a pristine white gown and priceless pearls, her sharp gaze sweeps my figure in a matter of seconds. Contrary to what I felt when Caleb looked at me, I struggle to not squirm under Ella Anderson's burning gaze. It's like she is trying to assess me and my behavior. My eyes mistakably meet hers and I give her a tight smile but she shrugs it off, returning to her hushed conversation with another woman who seemed to be Mr. Philips' wife.

"Probably in a few weeks. He doesn't mind, right, Caleb?" I look at Caleb who looked a little green at the conversation he was currently in the middle of, probably wishing he would be in hell but not here.

"I will surely think about it and contact you as soon as possible, Mr. Philips." His diplomatic tone makes my cheeks flush for an unknown reason and I toy around with the charm bracelet until I hear my name from his lips.

Oh.

"And who would this lady with you be, if I may ask?" Jacob Anderson's tone was imperceptibly sharp, but nonetheless I catch it and gulp, moderately afraid of his attitude.

"I'm Summer Jones. Nice to meet you." I put on my best smile and put forward my hand to shake his own which is already forward. His eyes darken and his jaw tightens as he shakes my hand rather too tight for my comfort.

"You're...you're William Jones' daughter?" He murmurs and I blink at the surprise that caught me off guard.

"You know my father?"

He sharply nods, his wife coming at his side in a few seconds. "Of course, we knew him. He was a lawyer. Too bad he left the world a little too early. I get it, your mother left too?"

If it were not for her being Caleb's mother and twice my age, I would have not minded creating a violent and bloody scene here. I force on a slight smile and nod at her. I swear I just saw a smirk on Jacob Anderson's face.

"If you would excuse me for a while," I say while looking down to my feet and scurrying off to anywhere my feet take me, ultimately ignoring the two times Caleb utters my name. I return to the balcony we were previously standing on. My knuckles turn white at how tightly I grip the railing and my chest heaves up and down at my quiet anger. I close my eyes, the burning words still lingering in my mind.

Veronica.

Jacob and Ella Anderson.

If – only if – I could have a drop of normalcy in my life without the torturous mentioning of my dad's death or the apparent runaway who I don't know whether or not to refer as to a mother. It was hard enough to handle all the gossip and whispers back in elementary school and now in high school, it just got worse. I punch the railing with both my fists and hiss as a string of curses tumble out of my colorful mouth. I spot the two empty wine glasses and the three-quarter filled bottle.

Caleb.

God, I just left him with his parents and ran out here. Calming down and smiling ever-so-slightly at his thoughts, I take the wine bottle and chug it halfway. I sigh contently and leave it on the table, walking back in with a new ounce of confidence.

But my happy thoughts are thrown out of the window as I see Caleb running up the stairs furiously. Not a minute later, Jacob Anderson also emerges from the opposite side of the room, his fists clenched as well. I climb the stairs, wary of anyone spotting me, but I still do it, my mind racing with concerned thoughts of Caleb.

I'm met with two corridors and I bite my lip, wondering where he could have gone. A loud bang to my left diminishes my confusion and I hurriedly follow the sound, my feet stopping at the last door of the corridor. I sigh and push it open gently, my eyes meeting with pitch-black darkness. My fingers brush over the side, ultimately finding the switch and I push it.

His neat hair is now in messy locks, covering his forehead with his hands supporting his head. I close the door behind me and walk slowly towards his bed.

"Caleb..." He looks up at my mumbling words and scoots over. I take a seat warily, not sure of what to do or what to say. Am I supposed to hold him or even touch him? Will he push me away angrily? What if he-

"I'm sorry you had to see that." His hoarse whisper breaks my bizarre chain of thoughts and I look at him through my lashes, noticing his dark eyes and scowling expression.

"Can I ask what happened?"

He stays quiet for a few seconds but then sighs, turning his body towards me and looking at me straight in the eye. "I just had an argument with...with my father. He wants me to do an internship at that stupid law firm belonging to his friend."

"Why?"

"Because he wants me to be a goddamn lawyer!" He angrily stands up and paces around his room. My eyes widen but I swallow and stand in front of him. He stops abruptly but doesn't meet my eye.

"And I take it you don't want to do that?" I bend slightly and ask him, earning a gentle shake of his head. I cross my arms over my chest and go back to sitting on the edge of his comfortable bed.

"So tell him no." At this, I receive an incredulous look but I still don't flinch at the way his jaw tightens.

"As if I haven't said that a fucking thousand times! What do you want me to do? Print it on my forehead? He doesn't give a fuck about what I say or do. He only wants his own fucking way." Caleb hisses and continues to pace around the room with balled-up fists.

"Hey, mister. Don't take out your goddamn anger on me."

He stops walking back and forth again but this time his expression softens. He takes a step forward and sits next to me with his head hung low and eyes closed.

"Sorry..."

"That's okay. So, what are you going to do about it?"

"I-I-I...I don't know."

"Now, don't give me that bullshit. Come on, you locked horns with a person like me. What kind is your father?" I smirk and nudge his elbow, earning half a smile from him.

At least.

"He's still stubborn, Summer. He won't listen to me."

"So become twice as stubborn." He looks at me and I shrug before continuing. "Just be a damn rebel for once. Like me." I grin and he smiles at me.

"I don't know what you are on to but I'm damn sure he will kick me out of the house if I become a rebel." He rolls his eyes at the word and I put my hands on my waist, standing up.

"You idiot. Take it from me. The more stubborn you are, the angrier he'll get. You are going to drive him crazy, Caleb. Trust me. And then one day, he is just going to give up on this whole lawyer thing."

He looks at me as if I just told him we can go to Jupiter tonight, his eyebrows furrowed and his lip between his teeth – an expression I've become familiar to when he is usually thinking.

"As weird you are...this may be what I need to do." He drawls out, rubbing his forehead.

"See, Summer Jones always has a good solution to all problems." I grin and pat my shoulder.

"More like you're the problem." He snickers and I glare at him, hitting his chest and pushing him on the bed.

"You know...if you wanted to go kinky, you just have to ask for-

I kick his leg before he completes the sentence, satisfied at the groan he lets out.

"That ought to teach you to not spew nonsense out of that mouth."

"And here I thought – ow – that I'll have a non-violent night with you today." He sits up and rubs his leg.

"Well, you thought wrong. Now, get up, wuss." I pull him up to his feet and he limps dramatically.

"Hey, don't call me wuss. You have a pretty heavy blow despite being so tiny."

"I am not tiny." I glare at him and put my hands on my hips.

"See, when you do that, you look like a tiny mug." He guffaws but instead of getting angry at him like I usually do, a smile makes its way to my lips as I observe how happy and loud he actually sounds.

"Shut up." I murmur and look down at my feet, trying my best to hide my obviously rosy cheeks. Since when do I start staring at Caleb freaking Anderson?

"Hey, blondie?" I groan at the name but he shrugs it off and instead smirks. "How about lesson number one in Rebel 101?"

"And what would that be?"

He takes my hand in his and pulls me out of his room before I could even process what is going on.

"You should always escape boring parties."