Chapter thirteen: Tumble down with the moon cycle

O L I V I A

There wasn't a lot for me to pack since I hadn't unpacked much. I was done quickly. I made a quick sweep of the room to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything essential like my phone charger, or my underwear. It had happened before. I was still mortified by the memory.

When I was done, I nibbled on the fresh chocolates I now had while I scrolled through my social media on the phone. I had a few new follow requests on my IG account, but one of them stuck out. I paused eating as I read it again.

k_e.jennings

It was a private account. One I distinctly remembered removing from my followers a few years back, and even if I didn't, the initials were a dead giveaway.

Kaison Eric Jennings.

I wondered what to do with it. On one hand, I wanted nothing more than to accept that request. On the other . . . I didn't think I was ready. Since I couldn't decide, I gave up and left it for later. I switched apps. I had other texts from Griffin telling me that they had spread the word to the entire batch and that most of them would be there.

At nine twenty-five, I locked my phone and walked out with my keys. I had decided to give those chocolates a rest. I had eaten a big bar and a half in approximately twelve hours. That was more than freaking enough.

I skipped towards the game room, following the directions Sam had texted me. I was feeling better than I had been in the morning. Breakfast had definitely helped. And of course, the ibuprofen.

Kai fell into step with me. "Where are ya going?"

"Where do you think?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Back to Angeltown?" He suggested.

I laughed. "That was lame."

"It did its job, though," he smirked. "How're you feeling?"

"Good." I nodded. "Better than yesterday."

"That's nice." He smiled. "Can I finally have your number?"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm pretty sure you still have it."

"You told me to delete it," he countered.

"Like you did exactly that," I scoffed. "You forget that I know you well, Jennings."

He laughed shamelessly. "Fair enough."

"So, you have my number?" I asked.

"I do," he confirmed brazenly.

"Bastard." I shook my head, amused.

"All is fair in love and war," he stated, shrugging.

"And what's this?" The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.

"We'll see." He winked, opening the door to the game room. That was fast.

I blinked, walking in. "Thanks."

Most of the party was there already. Funnily enough, they had cleared space some space for a table of food and drinks again even though we had just had breakfast. The place had pool tables, table tennis, foosball, and other stations of entertainment. No wonder that resort was so sought after in the area. It had excellent service and entertaining activities along with a beautiful scenic view.

"Liv!" Sam bounded up to me with a grin. "We have to play foosball!"

"Okay!" I giggled, watching Josh migrate over to us, his eyes fixed on Sam.

"Yes! Same teams as always. Just like high school!" She clapped her hands like a toddler. Josh put his arm around her shoulder with a smile. She seemed to have forgotten that Kai couldn't play but none of us corrected her. She seemed too invested.

"Are we seriously the same age?" Kai muttered under his breath.

I remembered Griffin saying something along the same lines a few years ago and it made me smile.

"Yup," I murmured back with a grin. "Twenty-fucking-four."

"More like four-fucking-teen," he mumbled. I chuckled.

"Where's Griffin?" I asked, looking around.

"He's talking to George," Sam answered. "They're coordinating some things for Chicago." 

"Oh." I nodded. "We have to wait for him. And Carter?"

"We don't know," Josh replied. I smiled and nodded at him so he knew I heard it.

"We can warm up," Samantha proposed. "I'm sure we're all rusty."

"Um-hmm. Works for me."

And that's what we did. For the next half an hour, we roasted each other on our poor skills. We laughed at our inability to play well and ate popcorn while we awaited our turns to engage. It was entertaining.

"See, I'm the best!" Josh laughed.

"No, you're not," Sam disputed.

"I am." He grinned smugly. I finished the last of my ice cream and hopped up to my feet.

"No, you're not." I backed Sam up.

"I'm pretty sure I'm better than you," he challenged.

Ah, we'll see.

"We'll see," I simpered. "I challenge you. One on one. Seven points."

He shook his head. "Eleven," he stated.

"Okay," I lifted a shoulder in indifferent assent. "Let's go."

It was one of the best thirty minutes of my life. I creamed Mr. I-Am-Better-Than-You and it was awesome. He took it sportingly and demanded a rematch. I refused with a laugh and went back to more Ben & Jerry's.

Kai sat down on the chair beside me. "You've gotten good." 

I rolled my eyes. "I was always good."

"Right," he mocked.

"Hey," I puckered my lips, "I was good."

"Whatever you say, Livvy," he sang.

"Kai!"

"I'm agreeing with you!"

I narrowed my eyes at him and he grinned back at me playfully. I succumbed. 

"Okay, fine," I gave up. "My office has a foosball table in our lounge. I played with my colleagues."

"I knew it!" He laughed.

"Whatever," I sulked. He grabbed a spoon and stole a bite from my ice cream. "Kai!" I protested.

"Pistachio," he nodded. "Not bad."

"It's the next best thing to chocolate and butterscotch," I told him, taking a big bite.

"Maybe," he agreed, taking another scoop.

"Get your own," I whined, running my spoon along the corner of the large-sized cup and eating the melted goodness there.

"Nope." He scooped some more. I rolled my eyes.

I tried.

"Where is Griffin?" I asked Sam who was playing with Josh.

"I told you," she said, her gaze fixed on the ball.

"Yeah, but he should've been here by now." I sighed. "He can talk to George when he meets him tonight."

"Um-hmm." She hummed absent-mindedly, engrossed in the game. A yawn escaped my lips.

"Didn't you sleep well?" Kai asked.

"I did," I said when it passed. "It's the ibuprofen."

"Makes sense," Kai acknowledged. "Would you like some coffee?"

"Hmm, some cold coffee sounds wonderful." I licked my lips. "But no, I'm good."

Too many carbs spoil the brat.

"Sure?"

"A hundred percent," I told him.

"Do you have your boarding pass yet?" He asked.

"Yeah," I said. "It's in my backpack."

"Do you remember your seat number?"

"Not really." I shrugged. "Hey! It's my turn!" I called when I saw Sam and Josh toss for a new game after Sam's victory dance.

"You guys can talk." She laughed teasingly. "We're happy to play."

"Go ahead, then," Kaison told them.

"That's what I thought," Sam smirked.

"Fuck off." I flipped her the bird.

"Who pissed you off?" Carter asked as he walked over.

"And here I thought I'll have to leave without seeing you," I ridiculed him, offering him a one-armed hug.

He grinned. "Never." 

"Where were you?" I asked him.

"Out and about," he answered evasively.

"Did you see Griffin?" I inquired. "I can't track him down. He's not even answering his phone or returning any texts."

"Nah," he replied. "The beach was empty save for the employees arranging a barbeque for a family that's due to check-in today."

"Okay." I pursed my lips, pulling out my phone and redialing Griffin.

"I'm sure he's fine," Kai assured.

"I know," I fretted, removing the phone from my ear when it went into voicemail. "But I'm still worried. He didn't even tell anyone."

"He's an adult, Livvy," Kai pointed out. "How about a game of pool?"

"I don't know how to play pool," I said pointedly.

"I can teach you," he offered, his lips in a perfectly seductive curve.

"Wipe that look off your face," I laughed, "I'm not interested."

"It'll be fun," he tried to reason.

"Yeah, no."

"Why?"

"I really don't want to make a spectacle here," I said, wigging my spoon at him. "I know how a guy teaching a girl to play pool goes, alright? I've watched enough rom-coms to figure it out A to Z."

"Really?" He raised an eyebrow. "Tell me."

"I'm pretty sure you know enough to be a valedictorian on that course so I'll spare you." I rolled my eyes.

He chuckled good-naturedly. "Fair enough."

"I know." I winked.

I finished the ice cream. Kai took the empty container and wordlessly went and dumped it in the trashcan in the corner of the room along with our spoons. Then he walked back and sat down beside me.

"I'm bored," I said.

"Table tennis?" Kai suggested,

"Do you know how to play?"

"Not really."

I stood up. "Perfect. Me neither. Let's do it."

* * * * *

He beat me. Twice. He had better reflexes and he was more nimble. And that was after having restricted movements since one of his hands was in a sling.

Either I was pathetically bad or he was a fucking genius at playing every sport with insane perfection.

"I hate you." I scowled after the second defeat.

He tried not to laugh. "Third time's the charm?" 

I folded my hands across my chest. "That's what you said the second time, too."

"Did I?" His lips quirked up humorously. I shook my head in defeat.

"I need more ice cream to deal with this," I said.

"Liv," he began grimly, "What have you eaten since last night?"

"Chocolates, eggs, hashbrowns, and ice creams," I listed.

"Mostly ice creams and chocolates," he pointed out.

I donned an innocent look. "Your point being . . . ?"

"You'll get an upset stomach if you keep this going," he chided. "Eat something substantial."

"Like what?" I rolled my eyes.

"Like . . . I don't know," he groaned in frustration. "Omelets? Toast? Pasta?"

"Okay," I smirked, drinking water. "Maybe later."

He gave me a disappointed look and I shirked it off. I didn't want to think about healthy eating right then. I saw a familiar silhouette make his way towards us and turned in his direction.

"I'm here," Griffin announced his presence.

"About time!" I exaggerated, low-key relieved.

He shrugged unapologetically. "Sorry." 

"No problem," I said saccharinely. "Where were you?"

"I went out in town to get a souvenir," he replied.

"Oo nice!" I commented, wishing I had thought of that too. It was too late now. Almost eleven-thirty, in fact. "How's George?"

"Ho-" He paused, looking at our company and I chuckled. "He's doing great," he improvised.

"Sure." I snickered.

He glanced around the room, swiftly looking for a topic. "What are you guys up to?"

"Planning a wedding," I replied.

His head whipped to me. "What?"

"We're playing like we're teens again." I rolled my eyes. "What else does it look like?" 

"I hate that time of the month," he muttered. "You're always more savage than normal."

"Oh, right," Kaison chuckled. "That explains a lot. And guess what? This is after she took her medicine."

"Fuck," Griff groaned.

"Aww," I cooed, opening my arms for him. They're bonding!

"I don't know you." Griffin stepped away.

"I hate you." I dropped my hands. "What did you buy me?"

He scratched his neck nervously. "Umm, was I supposed to buy you something?"

"Of course!" I pouted.

"Right. I was." He fumbled, searching his pockets. " . . . bubble gum?"

"You mean that thing that looks like an elephant stepped all over it?"

"Yeah."

I scrunched up my nose. "You know what? Nevermind."

"Good." He grinned, tossing it into the trash.

"You were going to give me something you planned to throw away like that?" I asked incredulously.

"Yup."

"I'm telling George," I whined. George always scolded Griffin whenever Griff would play with me like that. If Griffin was the tough, scary, overprotective brother then George was definitely the sweet, caring, and cute one.

"Don't." His smug look dropped in nanoseconds. "What do you want?"

I'll take it.

It was my turn to grin. "Aha! Now that's more like it."

* * * * *

I saw Lena talking to Lily, Jane, and Archer near the door and I excused myself to go and talk to her.

"Hey," I forced out of my mouth when I reached them. They were laughing about something one of them had said and I was feeling incredibly awkward walking up to them like that.

"Hey, Liv!" Lena was quick to embrace me. Jane and Archer smiled at me before they stepped away. Make that double awkward for me. "I'm so sorry you couldn't enjoy the trip!"

"Oh, no!" I smile, already overwhelmed. "It was amazing! I mean, the location, the rooms, the itinerary. Everything."

"Really?" She grabbed my shoulders. "You're not saying that just to make me feel better?"

"Yes," I confirmed. "I enjoyed it a lot in my own way, though I would've preferred to enjoy it with you guys. Too bad I fell ill. But, it's okay. You know I'm not one much for partying."

"True." She chuckled, letting her hands drop. "It was lovely having you here. I hope you're feeling better."

"I am honored to be here." I smiled at her. "Thanks for inviting me. And yeah, I am."

"Oh, it was really nothing!" She waved her hand dismissively. "I love throwing parties. This was just an extended one."

"And better than all the ones we've had before," I talked her up.

"You're making me blush." She laughed.

And I am done.

"It was great talking to you," I hinted.

"And you." She flashed me her pearly whites and I took my cue to leave. I made my way back to Kai and Griff, fighting a moe.

"What is it?" Griffin asked tiredly, eyeing me warily.

"I want to get out of here," I grumbled.

"Only you would say that." Carter joined us with a laugh. "Live a little, Olivia."

"Live, Liv," Griffin tested out.

"Eww, stop." I shuddered. "That's creepy."

"Well, he's right," he got back on topic. "Enjoy. Breathe."

I inhaled deliberately.

"There," I said.

"You know what I meant." Griffin rolled his eyes.

"Bleh." I stuck my tongue out.

"Are you seriously so eager to get rid of me?" Carter teased.

"You know, considering your annoying personality it shouldn't come as a surprise." I shrugged.

He blinked, startled at my brazen tone. I sipped my water calmly, unaffected.

Kai was the first to recover. "She doesn't mean that."

"Umm, I think she did," he muttered, eyeing me up. I chuckled.

"I didn't. You know I like you, Cart." I nudged his shoulder with mine.

"Honestly? With you it's kinda hard to tell," he replied.

"Not really," Griffin said. "But maybe this is the reason you guys weren't good together. You two are great friends but romantically, and often generally, you guys don't understand each other at all."

"Maybe," Carter hedged.

"Definitely," I agreed with Griff.

"So you're going back to NYC," Carter changed the topic. "Do you plan to keep in touch or is it going to be the same as the post-breakup MIA Liv all over again?"

I chuckled.

"I will keep in touch," I told him.

"Good," he said, nodding in approval. "Don't ignore my calls and reply to my texts, okay?"

"Yes sir." I did a mock salute.

"Guys!" Sam and Josh joined our circle. I looked behind them to see Lena and Caine team up against Georgia and Maya at the table. "What are you talking about?"

"Were you kicked off it or did you come peacefully?" Griffin laughed.

Sam shot him a nasty look. "Peacefully." 

"What's up?" Josh asked.

"The ceiling?" I offered flatly.

"Ignore her," Griffin suggested. "We were just talking randomly and passing time. We're supposed to take leave soon."

"Ah, yes." Josh nodded sagely.

I looked around the room and I realized that most of the room was vacant at that point. A lot of them had left already. I had interacted with most of them once Griffin had come back. With him, I'd managed to talk to everyone and reminisced the memories we shared together. Exactly the rebonding we were supposed to do on this trip, but only in a nutshell given my circumstances.

The days had flown by so fast.

Talking to all of them had made me realize exactly how different things had been in high school. I had forgotten how social I had been forced to be as a cheerleader. That scholarship had gotten me ahead in life but it had also leeched a lot of energy out of me. I wondered how I had survived that.

My thoughts drifted to my job and I wanted to cry. There was so much to do. My boss was a bitch. And if Brian and Jane were telling the truth without exaggerating it, she was not happy that I had finally cashed in my leaves despite the month's notice I had given her. The thought of facing her wrath made me want to go and flung myself into the ocean.

"I can't believe I have to go back to work again on Monday," I practically keened.

Sam groaned with me. "Fuck, I forgot about that." 

"Make the most of the time you have now, then." Kai laughed.

"Shut up," I fussed.

"He's not wrong," Josh supported him.

I looked at Kai carefully. I noticed how he stiffened and I also noticed how he avoided looking at Josh. There was no exchange of friendly smiles or any fistbumps at the agreement. I also noticed the tangible dampener on Josh's smile at that.

What have I missed between the two of them?

Sam glanced at the time on her phone and jumped up. "Guys, let's go. We have to check out. And call the cabs." 

"Yeah, the airport is approximately forty minutes away," Griffin added.

I sighed. "Okay. I'll just go thank Lena and Caine again for hosting us."

"I'll come with," Kai offered. "If that's alright with you."

Thank God. I so didn't want to do that alone.

"Sure," I said nonchalantly, biting a smile. He grinned at me and a new kaleidoscope birthed in my belly.

That guy was taking me back to my teens and, surprise, surprise, I was loving it.

I blame the periods.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A/N:-

Urgghh I'm exhausted! I want to sleep but I just made myself some coffee. How brilliant.

Tell me you're doing better. I'mma live vicariously through you.

QOTD: Talking about books, which series do you prefer/like better? TMI or TVD?
[TMI = The Mortal Instruments; TVD = The Vampire Diaries]

I'll see you tomorrow. Take care.

All my love,
xoxo.