Divinity: The Gathering: Book One (37 page)

“Damn Star
, you do need more diversity in your social calendar. Are you going to that concert tomorrow night with China?” She then asked while pinching a piece of sushi between her own chop sticks.

“No, I—ah, actually have a date tomorrow night.” I smiled
, though unsure if I should have even mentioned it since I hadn’t even told China yet.

Too late to take that back now.

Jenna instantly sat up and beamed broadly, “No shit! Who? Anyone we know? Who is he?” She rattled off excitedly.

I hesitated not wanting to say too much.

There was no way my friends wouldn’t eventually know or see us together.

“He’s
—a cop.” I then said wanting to bite my own tongue, and shut myself up now.

Her mouth hung agape and her dark eyes widened in surprise
, and then her expression turned mischievous.

“Oh my God,
seriously? I didn’t know you were into the whole uniform thing, but I figured if you did you’d start with military first. When and where did you manage to pick up a cop? I bet he’s hot too, right? Young I hope, cause that’d be really gross and wrong otherwise, especially if he’s married….unless he’s rich, which as IMPD, I doubt and you probably shouldn’t invite him along for our happy hours either.” She laughed.

I couldn’t help but shake my head and laugh too
, as she babbled on without taking a single breath or skipping a beat, like only Jenna could do.

Well, he had a really nice car
, but she may have a point too though, after all —he was gonna ticket me for driving with an injured ankle. Somehow I think he was kidding though. It seemed like his personality, and I smiled again thinking of him, our conversations, and our upcoming date.

              The music cued up loud and sharp, some heavy drum and guitar synthesized melody. Apparently the guy onstage had made his selection finally, and it was a tune I didn’t recognize at all. The dining audience perked up and began to clap with cat calls, and words of encouragement. The guy did some sort of jig and waited for his own cue to start singing, as if he were a seasoned rock star of some sort.

He was a show all his own and entertaining a
lready with fans in the making apparently, I’d give him that.

Once I had tossed back the rest of my first drink I instantly began to feel its warming effects cascade throughout my limbs and body. It wouldn’t be long b
efore I got wasted at this rate so I’d better pace myself. I liked it though, it helped me to not think about everything else, but I don’t think I wanted to become an alcoholic in order to live and get through each day…or did I?

I chuckled to myself internally.

This stuff was already working on me, I’d better eat something.

I poured some soy sauce into the small sauce bowl
, and selected a salmon cucumber roll.

“When do we get to meet him?” Jenna smiled.

I shrugged again, “I don’t know, I guess you guys will, eventually. He recently just got assigned to the campus and…you can’t miss him.” I then said taking another sip of my second Sake and finishing it.

Her mouth dropped again followed by a wide smile, “Really? He’s that good looking huh? Damn, I definitely can’t wait now.” She co
mmented with an even bigger smile.

I blushed. Yes, yes he is.

“So how is Joel taking that? I thought you and he had the friends with benefits thing going.” She then asked.

I shook my head no thinking of Cam at that exact moment.

I was beginning to feel really good now.

“Uh no, we’re just good friends.” I told her before dipping my sushi roll into the soy sauce cup I had poured
, and eating it whole.

The salty flavor with a hint of spiciness hit my tongue as I chewed.

Though it was the ‘in’ thing here around campus, hooking up and ‘friends with benefits’ were not my style or interest. I respected myself too much for that. Pleasure without love and respect was empty and pointless to me.

China was the only one who knew I
that was still a virgin, and she kept it to herself just like a best friend should. It was something I didn’t feel the need to go around wearing a t-shirt to display, or printing on business cards.

It wasn’t that I intentionally set out to wait for marriage or anything.

It was just that, between my experiences with visions and seeing scary, otherworldly things, surviving one of the most deadliest hurricane disasters in history that took the lives of both of my parents, and almost myself and then the death of my grandmother — who I loved more than anything, I never once had the thought or desire to sleep around, or have sex just to fill the voids. I simply kept to myself, and stayed busy with projects and volunteer work.

It was never
something I glossed over until I got to college, but even now, I didn’t take it lightly or frivolously just because most everyone else I knew did. Until seeing Officer Cam, I had never really paid attention to those hormones and desires that came to life and overwhelmed me in his presence, and it was extremely strong around him. It was strange though, not really knowing either one of them; that as gorgeous as Drake was and as much as I enjoyed his company…I didn’t have any of those physical feelings about him at all whatsoever.

             
Speaking of, Joel was heading our way with another platter of something that looked like pot-stickers and another bottle of sake in his uniform of black slacks, a white button down shirt and red waist apron. He instantly smiled when he saw me, and I could see China and Vanessa weaving their way back to our table in his wake.

“Well good evening, you’re looking…wow,” He raised his brows with a wink and smil
ed at me after setting the platter of pot-stickers down, once Jenna moved the sushi platter aside.

“Thanks, this sake is just what the doctor ordered, it
’s good.” I commented, finishing up what I had in my cup.

“Not too much, the doctor doesn’t want you ge
tting wasted or sick. In fact, I’m cutting you off in particular after this one. I don’t think I could sneak you guys another one even if I wanted to anyway,” He continued with emphasis towards me, after setting the new bottle of sake down.

He bent and squatted on his haunches so that he was face level with us
, and he began to massage my shoulder.

Jenna wagg
led her brows at us as she drank her Sake.

China and Vanessa moved to slide back into our booth once again.

“Oh come on Joel let’s not play good cop, she needs this and you know that. Besides, I’m driving.” China replied giving him a playful shove.

“You’re drivi
ng? Okay then I stand corrected, I’m cutting you off now too.” He then said teasingly taking the bottle of Sake he had just set down, back.

“I can handle my liquor thank you. Don’t play Joel, especially when your tip is on the line,” China
kidded as she reached for the Sake he commandeered.

“Speaking of cop,” Jenna smiled big and glanced from me to China, Vanessa and
then Joel.

Oh please Jenna not now.

I regretted telling her at all, but it was too late. I flushed with a pleading look but she ignored it.

Damn, everyone followed suit and their eyes went f
rom her to me in anticipation of finding out what she meant by that —may as well get it out now I supposed.

I sighed and shifted not wanting to meet Joel’s eyes
, yet.

“Star here has a date with one tomorrow.” Jenna
then grinned.

Everyone’s mouth dropped.

I didn’t want to look at Joel at first, not sure why but I did anyway.

“You plan on breaking the law?” He joked with a chuckle.

“Wait, why is this the first time I’m hearing this? What cop?” China then asked affronted with an accusing stare at me.

“That’s what I’m saying.” Vanessa added.

“I just met him. I was gonna tell you, I mean —it wasn’t like you weren’t gonna meet him when he picked me up anyway.” I told China.

“Yeah and he’s working the campus too so we’l
l all get to see him.” Jenna rubbed her hands together with a grin.

             
Joel stood back up with hands on hips, and though he was smiling I could tell by the look on his face he seemed…bothered by the news.

“So you have an actual date-date huh? Is h
e taking you to the show?” He asked.

“No.” I simply said.

“You’re not going? I thought you were?” Vanessa whined.

“So did I but wait, I’m still stuck on being the second to know this,” China held her hands out to halt further conversation.

I sighed looking at Joel.

“Well, I wanna meet him too. He’s gonna have to pass my standards too, cop or no cop. What time is he picking you up?” He then asked.

“Look, for all I know this may end up being just one date so no need to get all crazy.” I replied speaking to all of them.

“What’s his name?” Vanessa wanted to know, a
gleam in her eyes too.

I didn’t want to say it.

“A cop huh? Yeah, what’s his name?” China insisted crossing her arms over her chest now.

I hesitated and finally sighed in defeat.

“Cam.” I finally replied.

“Cam?” They all repeated in near unison.

“Yes.” I said.

“What, like short for Cameron or something?” China asked.

“I suppose, I don’t know.” I shrugged one shoulder.

“You don’t know?” Joel raised his brows.

“Maybe it’s just Cam!” I blurted in exasperation, as I poured more Sake and tossed it back.

The alcohol was getting to me now
, and I was tired of twenty questions.

“Alright, calm down girl.” Vanessa giggled.

“Yeah, well I’ll let you guys get back to your…therapy of spirits. Hey, you guys should go up and do a song or two before you leave, I beg you. Cause after all this…that I’d wanna see. Don’t let her black out.” Joel then said making a circular motion around the Sake, and then to China, referring to me with a smile and a wink. He stood up and moved down two tables behind ours to take their order.

“That was an utter look of hurt and jealousy if I ever saw it.” Jenna then commented.

“Yep,” Vanessa agreed as she sorted through the pot-stickers.

I shook my head
, even though I knew they might be right.

“Alright spill, I want details.” China then d
emanded.

             
                            ~~~***~~~

After a few more cups of S
ake, my confession to China about Cam, and three, horrid, out of tune old school songs, I was done. I had to be up early in the morning anyway to head to the YMCA. What kind of role model would I be to the kids, coming in hung over, puking, off balance and possibly breaking my own neck, while teaching a whip back or even a round off back handspring for that matter?

I was getting sleepy anyway
, but I knew that Jenna, Vanessa and China were nowhere near done hanging out yet. Someone had suggested going dancing, and I heard something about a party that one of the fraternities was hosting, but I declined.

             
The cold blast of air conditioning bathing my face was like heaven, taking away the still lingering effects of my second puke session. I would have rolled down the window and stuck my head out for some fresh cold air, but possibly being beheaded by a road sign wasn’t the way I wanted to go.

We were in China’s Range Rover. I lay back in the passenger seat with a plastic grocery bag China so thoughtfully tucked into the front of m
y shirt like a catch all bib — just in case I felt the twinge again.

I should have known I couldn’t handle my liquor
, but after the buzzing overtook me, I couldn’t stop, especially after we convinced Joel to bring us one last bottle before cutting us off completely. I had managed to nearly finish off that whole bottle all by myself too.

             
I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the steady bump and rocking that didn’t help the churning and warming of my already souring stomach.

“Man, you are such a lightweight Star. We’re gonna have to wait until the night of partying is almost over before you start drinking next time, I wanted to go dancing.” China said
, as she changed the radio station from some alternative rock to hip-hop.

“You can still go.
Vanessa told you where they’d be,” I grumbled in a half whisper half groan of the ill and dying.

She sighed, “No, I’m kind of tired anyway…oh shit!” She then hissed.

My eyes snapped open just then, and I turned to look over at her.

She was glancing in the rearview mirror.