Chapter 21

Chapter22

MACKIE: I opened our bank app and looked at the balance. "We would

need to borrow 1,500 from Nana to get the car." I told her."And that will wipe us both out until we get our first paycheck from wherever we find a job." “Go ahead. Mackie, tell him you will take the car." Nana tells me.“I will buy it for Keska's birthday gift." We both just look at Nana.“Nana, that's too much." Keska says to her. "Nonsense, the twins' got more than that. I will do this for you. besides owning a car is more expensive than you think, you have to have insurance on it, and with both of you being students that will be expensive. plus the upkeep. oil changes.maintenance work. preventive care. it all cost money. So. I will buy the car."Both Keska and I jump up and hug her. "Send the message that we will have cash for him. and we will be there to get the car the weekend after next. As next weekend will be graduation." She telIs me. I send the message to him and give him just enough information so when we get

there, they know we are not rogues.or shady characters.

JESSIE: When I get home. I go to Dad's office, knock on the door, and wait for him to answer. "Come." I hear him say. So, I entered the office."Can we talk. Dad?" "Sur.e honey, what's up?”"Keska is ignoring me. I linked her today, and she totally ignored me." "Did she block you?” “No,just ignored me. walked away from me with no response whatsoever."I tell him. "Were you fighting again?" he asked. "No.”"What did you link her about?""I made my apology today, and I told her she could tell Beta Pierce that I did it, and she ignored me.""I will talk to her about ignoring you, but it is not up to her to tell Beta Pierce that you made your apology;that is up to you to do." He tells me. "Ok, daddy," I say to him, and I leave. I hope he gives her more punishment. the brat, it will teach her she can't ignore me.

DRAKE: *“Keska,where are you?"* I link her. *“At Nana's, “I need you to come home now.""Yes Father."*(When did she stop calling me dad?)I thought to myself.

KESKA: "I have to go home. Nana; Father wants me for something."“Alright. dear, I will see you tomorrow." I wonder what happened that he wants to see me for, probably to take on more of Jessie's responsibilities, so that she can go "PLAY."' I thought to myself. *"Mackie, we will go to the range and get some aikido work in tomorrow if I am not in trouble, that is.”* I link her as I am riding home. *"Ok."* I put my bike away, and I look around the garage with a new perspective of things. considering I will have a car now I will need someplace to park it, but there is no room, at least not right now. maybe if Jessie finds her mate, then she will take all three of her vehicles with her. I know, what does she need with 3 vehicles?One is off-roading, she and James compete with each other. Then her sports car, heaven forbid she does not have the latest sports car, and then her SUV, for every day, when she is not riding with James. I walk into the house. And link father. *“I'm here." “Come to my office."* Great, now what did I do to get called to his office? I trudge up the stairs to his office and knock.

DRAKE:“Come." I call out when I hear Keska knock, I know her scent."Take a seat." I tell her and watch as she walks over to the chairs in front of my desk and takes the one closest to the garden window, which is mostly obscured by my computer monitor. "Why are you ignoring your sister Jessie?" I ask her. "I'm not." “Then why was she in my office telling me that you completely ignored her link this afternoon?" I ask her.“Because she's Jessie and she will do whatever she can to get me in trouble or blame me for whatever she can blame me for." She deadpans. "She said she linked you, and you ignored her." “If she truly did link me, I did not get it, and no, I was not blocking, because James linked me at lunch, and I

answered himn. I got his link." She says. *"Jessie, link your sister, be nice about it. asI am going to keep this link open. just ask her to bring you one of my pens." "Yes. daddy.""Keska, are you with Dad? Could you bring me one of his pens?"* I watch Keska closely; she doesn't seem to have heard her sister's request. "I am going to link with you. Kes,and I want you to link Jessie." I open a link with her. *"Now link your sister."“Hey Jessie. do you want to join me and Mackie on the archery range tomorrow?"* Nothing from either one of them to the other. "Keska, care to tell me how it is that you can't link your sister?" I ask. “Ask Jessie."“I'm asking you." "The only thing that makes any sense to me is because I accepted Jessie's rejection of me." “**WHAT?**" I roared. shaking the whole house."**WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU ACCEPTED JESSIE'S REJECTION!"**“About a month ago, she was telling her friends how your mother rejected me at Adrian's ceremony, and that she slapped me, her friend commented that they didn't blame her, who would want to be related to me anyway. Jessie said, not me, that's for sure. So. I accepted her rejection, and as per her request. we are no longer sisters." She deadpans,again as if it were an everyday occurrence. I am shocked and stunned to say the least. **Carla dear, we have a problem with our children,can you come to my office." "Of course, dear, but what sort of problem do we have with the kids?""I will fill you in when you get here."*

KESKA: "May I go now?""NO!”"May I ask what my punishment is?"Father looks at me like I have two heads when I ask him that. Then there is a knock on the door. I can sense Mom. "Come in. dear." Mom comes into the office and kisses my father. I am just sitting there, waiting for whatever he decides to give me as punishment for accepting Jessie's rejection,ignoring Jessie's mind link, telling on her, and who knows what other offences he will tack on. "What's going on, dear?" Mom asked Father."Care to tell your mother what you told me, Keska?" Father says. “Not really.""Why?”“Because you wilI believe whatever Jessie tells you anyway.

so why should I bother?" I say to them both. "Just give me whatever punishment you deem fit for me, ignoring her, and send me on my way so that I can get it done." I say. "Keska! Drake, what is going on?" “Sorry,Mom, but you need to talk to Father and Jessie. I just came here to get whatever punishment Father deems fit for me, because I ignored Jessie.and she told on me."