The Academy (The Academy Saga Book 1)

by CJ Daly

  you? Doesn’t seem like you can take a simple drink order without flubbing it.”

  It took all I had in me to look Ranger in the eyes; felt like I might melt

  from the hate emanating from them like twin beams of radiation.

  “We’ve been sitting in this hell-hole for fifteen freakin’ minutes, and we’re

  choking on”—his face contorted into a grimace—“something that tastes

  worse than . . .” He seemed to struggle for words.

  “Buzzard puss ?” Baseball Cap offered up humorously.

  Well he seemed to be in a better mood.

  “Buzzard puss,” Ranger conceded before continuing on. “And there are

  clearly no other customers dumb enough to be here, so I can’t imagine what

  the excuse for such subpar service could be.” His voice was succinct and

  • 21 •

  polished, and coupled with his incredible physical stature, turned his little tirade from scathing to scary.

  But I was too heated to feel the chill, my temper flaring right along

  with the patches of pink skin along my neckline. “Oh, I’m sorrrrry,” I

  drawled out, sweet and thick as molaases. “There must’ve been some kinda

  misunderstandin’ earlier . . .” —sparks shot from my own blue eyes—“you

  see, we don’t speak asshole here.”

  Dead quiet.

  . . . Until Baseball Cap snorted. Then he threw back his head, laughing

  out loud like my little outburst was the funniest thing he’d ever heard. I

  couldn’t help marveling at the way it transformed his face. For once, Ranger

  seemed momentarily speechless. Meanwhile, regret slowly settled over me

  like a thick blanket of snow. Shoot! I’m likely gonna get fired for popping off, all because of these two jerks.

  Suddenly Ranger came back to life, shoving the offending drink at me.

  It went shooting across the Formica like a whiskey in a bad western. A split-

  second before it slipped over the edge, I righted it with my hand so that only

  a fraction of liquid sloshed out.

  “Nice save,” Baseball Cap commented with a smile. He also seemed to

  have come to life all of a sudden.

  Ranger seemed unimpressed. In fact, he looked unequivocally madder

  that I’d foiled his plan. He probably wasn’t used to being spoken to like that,

  and it was highly likely he didn’t enjoy being laughed at either. He slid closer,

  anger coloring his handsome face a less appealing shade. I instinctually slid

  away, prey retreating from predator.

  “Get your ass back there and dump this garbage down the drain!” he

  snarled, flashing teeth the same brilliant white of his shirt. “When you return,

  you better have plain, unsweetened iced tea and a plate of lemons in your

  hands. And bring some real sugar, too.” He flicked a couple of pink and blue

  artificial sweeteners at me. “Think you can manage that, Glasses?”

  “Yes, sir.” I choked out.

  I’d just spun on one heel when Ranger stage-whispered, “I wonder what

  she’s got hiding beneath that get-up?”

  “You’re such an ass,” Baseball Cap replied wearily, sounding like he’d

  like nothing better than to escape out that window he’d been staring out of.

  Not sure why, but I felt a mysterious pang shoot through me that Baseball

  Cap wasn’t even interested enough to look. To my absolute horror, tears

  started smearing my eyesight as I headed back to the galley. I absolutely must

  get this under control before I returned to the battlefield. Could not let my

  • 22 •

  enemies see me cry. Show no weakness. Daddy’s motto played in a continuous loop in my mind as I plowed into the ice with their cups.

  Norma came bustling around the corner then, always surprising me by

  moving so quickly for such a large woman. “Katie, what in Sam hell is takin’

  so long with their order?” She stopped to size up my face. Tears trickled down

  my cheeks, traitors in my war against losing control. “Oh, honey! What’s the

  matter?” she instantly cooed.

  I knew I didn’t deserve her sympathy, and the knowledge that I let her

  down made me cry. While she burped me over her shoulder, I choked out a

  mini version of the story.

  “Hmmmph! We’ll just see what those two . . . two . . . high-falootin’ boys

  have to say for themselves!” With that, she snatched the drinks from my hands

  and marched to their booth.

  I couldn’t help but peek around the corner to see what would transpire.

  Both guys sat up in anticipation of the freight train headed their way. Loaded

  glances were exchanged as she set their drinks down purposefully before

  confronting them. Oh man. What had I got Ms. Norma into? They would surely make mincemeat out of her. I could practically hear the jokes before

  they were told, and closed my eyes against the slaughter I was about to witness.

  Before I could step from behind my lookout post to rescue her, Ms.

  Norma began to lay into them, her chins wobbling with the force of her words.

  I felt irritated because I couldn’t hear what they were saying. Baseball Cap and

  Ranger seemed to be murmuring politely back to Ms. Norma and turning the

  full force of their abundant male charms on her.

  Ugh. I could see she was going to buy whatever they were selling her by the way she leaned over, offering up a view of her mountainous peaks. Oh brother.

  “Why thank you, boys!” Her coarse voice suddenly went up a few obvious

  octaves. She patted Baseball Cap on the arm matronly before rubbing it like

  a fine cashmere sweater she longed to buy.

  Felt like throwing up in my mouth.

  Then she turned her attention back to Ranger and declared the drinks

  were on her. He smiled broadly, all brilliant teeth and charm, and thanked her

  for her southern hospitality. My eyes blinked at the sudden transformation. A

  real life Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was sitting in that booth. And just like magic, he’d hoodwinked her into a free dinner.

  Are you kiddin’ me? I felt totally betrayed, by both parties really. Them, for not being the arrogant asses they were two minutes ago, and her for not seeing

  through their little act. Although I had to admit, they were very convincing.

  Maybe they real y were movie stars?

  • 23 •

  That’s just like life, I thought bitterly. The rich just kept on gettin’ richer.

  Ms. Norma was heading back all pink-cheeked and perky now that she’d

  basked in the glow of the royal highn- asses. I ducked back around the corner and began wiping down clean counters.

  “Katie!”—I braced for it. “Now I just talked to those two nice young

  men out there.”

  Oh, so now it’s “two nice young men.”

  “And I want you to know the type of behavior you displayed today is

  completely unacceptable.”

  That’s what I call a one-eighty.

  “Those two gentlemen informed me they nicely explained their dietary

  restrictions to both you girls. That Beatrice . . .”—she arched one penciled-in eyebrow—“was more willin’ to accommodate them than you were! And

  the one with dark hair said you were just plain rude when he requested you

  remake his drink to order.”

  “B-but that’s not—”

  “But nothin’. Now I don’t care your feathers got ruffled cause you messed

  up their drinks. That’s your problem.” I began spluttering outrage
when she

  sealed my lips with a bedazzled fingertip. She leaned in so close I could smell

  the stale cigarette and peppermint gum on her breath. “What I do care about, however, is the way you treated them. They’re payin’ customers. If they weren’t

  just passin’ through, I would likely fire you!” Now she wilted me with a look.

  “That is never, ever gonna happen again. Do you understand?”

  I ducked my head in defeat. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Now get back out there and show those two hunky visitors the kind of

  hospitality that Norma’s is known for!” And she said the words without one

  iota of irony, too.

  My stomach felt queasy at the thought of facing them again. To tell you

  the truth, I’d rather wait on a couple of rattlesnakes . If she likes them so much, why doesn’t she do the honors?

  As if reading my mind she said, “And the dark one, with killer-blue eyes,

  specifically asked for you to be given a second chance. Pretty damn big of

  ‘im, if you ask me.”

  Dark. Kil er. Big. I wondered how inadvertently perceptive her Ranger

  adjectives were, and my feet stood in protest.

  She double-fisted her wide hips. “You’re testin’ my patience, Katie.”

  After a booty-scoot from Ms. Norma, I slunk back out there, dreading

  it like a soldier returning to the battlefield. Maybe I just need thicker skin?

  They’re just a couple of regular customers hassling me and nothing more, I tried

  • 24 •

  convincing myself. I dared a quick peek at them. Yeah right—Batman and Superman couldn’t be more conspicuous sitting in that booth.

  Okay, fine . So they weren’t exactly regular customers, but maybe they’d just ignore me now that they’d accomplished getting me into trouble and

  received a free meal to boot. No such luck. For as soon as I approached their table, they both vied for my attention. It was weird and confusing, kind of

  like trying to focus on a split screen TV.

  Ranger was definitely gloating now, twirling his fingers and smirking.

  Baseball Cap gave me an apologetic smile, sympathy softening his dark eyes

  before he returned them to his phone, leaving me nowhere to face but enemy

  number one. Gah! . . . Baseball Cap was dangerously good-looking. I had to remind myself he was dining with the enemy.

  “Good to see you back again, Glasses!” Ranger gleefully greeted me.

  “Hope we didn’t get you in too much trouble.” His tone indicated the opposite.

  I shrugged through the place where words should’ve been. Ranger was

  extremely good-looking, too, I had to concede. And dangerous. It positively

  oozed from his pores. I would have to tread carefully and turn the other

  cheek—no matter what .

  “I was afraid we’d be stuck with good ole Norma,” Ranger continued,

  aiming his sarcasm at Baseball Cap now. “Kind of like going from bad to

  worse, if you know what I mean. And I definitely don’t like getting the short

  straw. Or in this case—the fat one.” He paused to grimace. “Looking at all

  those rolls would’ve probably killed my appetite. And we can’t have that, right,

  Glasses?” He swung back my way. “Seeing as how dinner’s on the house.”

  I looked blankly at him, waiting for him to finish.

  “Oh, geez. I see I’ve confused you now. I don’t literally mean dinner is on

  the house. What I mean is, thanks to you, it’s gratis.”

  I just continued to take it, my face turning different shades of pink the

  only evidence I was listening.

  “You know gratis?”

  I quietly seethed, allowing his insults free reign.

  “Maybe I should try Spanish seeing as how we’re in New Mexico? ” Ranger

  tried getting Baseball Cap into the game again, but as far as I could see, the

  only game he was playing was the one on his phone.

  “No comprende? Gratis, as in libre?” Ranger enunciated loudly.

  I was sure my face was a primary shade by now. But I remained silent,

  except for my foot, which began an angry staccato tap.

  “. . . Or free in English. You outta know all about the free—I bet you’ve

  • 25 •

  been the beneficiary of many free lunches in your lifetime. Am I right,

  Glasses?”

  My eyes blazed, but I resolutely kept my lips sealed.

  “I think she may be slightly retarded,” Ranger slid across the booth to

  Baseball Cap, who finally registered he was listening by shaking his head.

  (The same staccato tap was happening on his phone.) This elicited a smirk

  from Ranger before he returned to tormenting me. “I mean—we weren’t

  actually going to order any food in this dump. However, now that I know it’s all free, I just might have a change of heart.”

  Instead of rising to the bait, I turned the other cheek so that I was facing

  the very quiet guy in the baseball cap. “What would you like to order?”

  He glanced up with an impenetrable look upon his gorgeous face. “I’ll

  just have some whole wheat toast.”

  Oh gah! Baseball Cap’s eyes were so dark they were almost black, and just

  peering into their fathomless depths made me catch my breath. I couldn’t even

  manage to look at him for two seconds without blushing all over.

  “W-would you care for some eggs with that?” There was a beat of silence,

  so I hurriedly explained, “We serve breakfast all day long.”

  “No thanks,” he said. “Just the toast.”

  “How ‘bout some butter or jelly?” I pressed, cringing as I asked. He

  obviously dismissed me, but I didn’t want to get a single solitary thing wrong.

  Plus, I had to admit my eyes wanted an excuse to see him again.

  But he didn’t even bother looking up from his phone. “Nope. Just the

  toast.”

  Ranger barked out a laugh. “Told you she might be mentally handicapped.”

  Sheesh! What was with these guys? They could be competing for world’s biggest asses and both would medal in it—gold and silver, respectively.

  After a distinct throat clearing, Ranger startled me by throwing some

  bills on the table. I flinched back like he’d thrown battery acid. “Here’s what

  I’m going to do, Glasses.” He stopped and prefaced by saying, “I’m basically a decent guy—”

  I raised my eyebrows. His words matched his actions about as well as

  black socks and brown shoes.

  “—and I’m into second chances, so you can earn this ten bucks, if you do

  a good job.” He indicated the pile of ones on the table. “I think all you need

  is a little training; let’s start at the beginning, shall we? Restaurant 101. The

  first rule in business is . . .” Ranger arched one black brow at me, waiting.

  I folded my arms, unwilling to play his game.

  “Come on, Glasses, I know even you know this one . . . and I’m not

  • 26 •

  ordering until you answer.” Ranger began drumming his fingers on the table while I debated how much I wanted that money. “Times up!” he declared

  before removing a dollar from the stack with a whungh, whungh, whungh like

  I’d just lost round one.

  I’d already lost the moment he walked through the door.

  “The customer is always . . . ?” he prompted again. We both knew I knew

  the answer. He just wanted to make me say it, force me into his humiliating

  game. But I was feeling more stubborn than smart at the moment so refused


  to indulge him.

  “Oh come on, Glasses! You can do it.” He spoke using the same cadence

  one would when trying to coax a kid into crossing the monkey bars. This

  made me think of my two little brothers sitting at home in their tattered

  T-shirts and worn sneakers, and the fact that they were very much counting

  on their big sister. I would not let them down to spite this worthless blowhard.

  I really needed those nine bucks, and he knew it.

  What would it cost me?—just my pride.

  “Right,” I finally coughed up.

  He cupped a hand to his ear. “Sorry, can’t hear you. Speak up. The

  customer’s always . . .”

  A shot of fear coursed through my veins, causing my intuition to kick in.

  This guy really had it in for me. Surely it wasn’t just because I’d stood up to

  him earlier. Aren’t I way too over-classed for him to be pushing me down to take my lunch money?

  Although it was obvious Ranger was a Type-A, macho-guy, I couldn’t

  help feel that something more was going on. Two things I was pretty sure of:

  There was something sinister about him, and there was something about me

  that was drawing this from him. I just couldn’t fathom what it was.

  And then something else hit me—déjà vu.

  It took a few seconds for the vertigo feeling to desist, and when it did, I

  hissed, “Right!”

  “Uh-uh, uh-uh.” Ranger waggled his finger back and forth. “Temper,

  temper . . . That’s going to cost you another dollar!”

  In a flash, Baseball Cap’s hand shot out and caught Ranger’s before he

  could remove another one. We both whipped our heads to stare at him in

  shock.

  “What the hell, dude!” Ranger tried to wrench free. I could hardly believe

  Baseball Cap was able to keep his grip on him—Ranger definitely looked

  like the steroid type. “Drop that hand if you want to keep it!” Ranger hissed.

  • 27 •

  Baseball Cap clenched his jaw before letting go as reluctantly as Ranger had paid his bet earlier. “Why don’t you grow up, man?”

  Ranger snorted and gave him a condescending look. “You’re one to talk.”

  Baseball Cap shook his head, muttered something unintelligible, and

  returned to tapping on his phone with a vengeance.

  Guess I’m on my own again. Aren’t I always?

  “Alrighty then. Ready to take my order?” Ranger tried capturing my gaze,