RULE NUMBER SIX

Silence.

It’s crazy how silence can mean so much and so little at the same time. My mind cannot stop interpreting the silence from his end; maybe he had gotten bored of me, or sick and tired, maybe he was mad at me, I had broken the first rule he gave me after all. The biggest contender of all the maybes, me ignoring him was a step too far.

 Cradling my phone against my chest, I grind the insides of my cheek to stop myself from chewing on my nails, I had already started to bite them, a bad habit of mine I thought I had long lost. He was bringing out parts of me that were long lost.

 Or didn’t exist before.

“Seriously, you might wear me down with all of that sighing.” Ash whispers quickly, her eyes remain on the man giving the orientation lecture. Since we sat in the conference hall, those of us who succeeded in getting the job, Ash has been laser focused on the lecture, while I couldn’t hear a word being said.

 I refresh my messages, the last message was the same one he sent and I ignored yesterday. It felt good then, excitement running through my body, like a kid rebelling for the first time. The worry came shortly after. Wouldn’t he worry if I didn’t respond? I should let him know I am safe… He would be mad that I ignored him.

 He ignored you first, was the thought I used to quell all other thoughts and worry, yet I was not able to take more than a few sips of the cold beer Ash promised was delicious, it was, but I was only able to sit still, taking alcohol with all of those nerves would have been bad.

 My feet tap against the linoleum floors impatiently. I had worked in construction before, it was one of the many jobs I had back home, so I knew all of the basics.

 Shepherd’s Construction was by far better than the places I worked with in the past, it qualified to be number one. The buildings were like building block pieces, something I didn’t notice on my first day here. Each piece of the block tumbling in a different direction, like a playful child had scattered them from above. It was inviting, creative and confident. I genuinely liked it. I would trust them to construct anything if I were a client.

 The instructors took us around the facility, everyone, myself included, was awe struck at almost everything.

“This building, belongs to one of the two top teams in the firm, only the best belong to this team, and only the best of you will belong to this team.” The instructor-- Jayce, or Jake explains with a proud smile. I bite my lip down hard in anticipation, Christopher obviously belonged to this team.

 “They handle the really huge projects, international projects too, it is headed by Mr. Shepherd, and I cannot emphasize just how lucky you are to be placed on this team.”

 When he called his name, I felt a surge of pride pulse through me. The day I saw him at the resort, he looked important, he has always had the aura of someone super important, and being the leader of the top team… that was meant for him. Plus, he was out of town, it could be out of the country.

 “I really hope we get placed in this team, they are doing all the important work.” Ash cannot hide the swell of excitement in her voice. She grips my wrist so tight I fear it would break, but I don’t stop her, I feel the same way. I hope we were put on the number one team.

 We move to the team number two, the building is gray in color, unlike the team one’s white. They also have impressive stats, but I don’t listen, I was already hooked on team one. This team is headed by a Mr. Statham. A few other new recruits gasp and whistle, it seems he is well known in this industry, they whisper among themselves, talking about how working under Mr. Statham would look on their resume. I smile to myself, knowing the I was in the arms of the number one just a few days ago.

 Jayce or Jake leads us down a garden path that connected us to the next set of building blocks, these ones smaller, without any cue from Jayce/Jake, everyone knows they are the other teams.

 “This teams are the next three.”

A mild way of saying the bottom three. I don’t listen to the statistics, my eyes are instead drawn to my phone, he still hasn’t texted. My shoulders slump once more. He had to be here to receive the new members of his team right?

 “Excuse me sir.” Ash asks with her hand raised, making others turn to face us, including Jayce/Jake. I feel myself shrink, the tips of my ears reddening. I know it wasn’t me they were focused on, but she was attached to me, literally, and the last time I had the attention of more than one person at a time would be the interview.

 “Yes, Miss?”

“Ashley, please call me Ashley.” She paused, making Jayce/Jake gesture for her to continue.

“I was wondering, are the teams permanent? Like if I were on team five, is there a chance for me to move forward?”

 Jayce/Jake smiled at her question, the others turn to face him, making me deflate. It was an important question, but I wasn’t comfortable with the attention.

 “Usually, the team moves forward or goes backward together after their performance is reviewed once in three months, so a team might not be in the same spot for long.”

 This was new to me, every other company  worked with, there was room for personal growth, but this time, your team mates determine everything. I sucked at a lot of things, but it was even worse when it came to team work. Now I worried that I was going to make his team go back.

 “Now, I would have you know, the team one, two three  and four hand picked their members themselves, the rest were sent to five. Wherever you are, do your best and push your team forward.”

 My stomach dropped. Up until now, I was counting on my resume to go ahead of me, and it was very impressive if I was being modest, and unbeatable if I was not. I had brazenly assumed with that kind of unbeatable resume, surely I would be sent to the team one. But if the leaders had to pick, he most definitely wouldn’t pick me. He wanted me out of here, what better way to chase me away than to send me to another team?

 His big picture played in front of my eyes, he was out of town, he could breeze in and out without my knowledge, take his team with him, and I would be stuck here with a team I knew nothing about.

 Swallowing thickly, I feel my hands grow cold. Clasping them in front of me in form of a prayer, I wait impatiently as Jayce/Jake clicks something on his pad, scrolling and trying to find the names.

 Ash is whispering something beside me, she isn’t the only one, others are doing it too, this was a huge moment for everyone. Beads of sweat form at my temple, it wasn’t that hot, but I attribute it to the heat. Christopher wouldn’t sly me like that…

 Jayce/Jake’s mouth form the words, he started randomly from team three. My heart beats hard inside of my mouth, unable to swallow, lest I swallowed my heart and collapsed right before I heard my name.

 “Team four?” Ash asked breathlessly.

I had forgotten about her, and I didn’t hear her name being called. Both of us find the orange block with the large number 4 written on it. I felt bad for her, she had been so excited.

 “At least it’s still Shepherd’s Construction.” She says with false enthusiasm.

My tongue won’t work so the only comfort I am able to offer is patting her on the shoulders, she is stiff beneath my fingers. And my body grows even stiffer when I hear my name.

 “Alec… you’re in team five…”