"In Which Reality is the Calm Before a Clusterf*ck Storm"

(Pt. 1)

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"No trouble ever got fixed late at night," he said. "Midnight is for regrets."

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Holly Black, Red Glove

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(Still) The Arm Bar (gym), Behind The Garage

9:32PM-ish 

"So that's what it feels like to meet the Pokémon Evolution* of yourself," Deck says in quiet contemplation, his chin propped on one hand with his pinky finger wedged between his lips.

I shoot him a wry, disbelieving look. "I don't see it, Carrot Top."

Deck ignores it, his eyes are still busy drinking in the bedeviled sight of the shop's latest ultimate eye candy.*

Of course, said eye candy just had to flex and expose the rippling sinewy muscles in his arms while he tested some of the weights lying around under Pops's and Jack's encouragement, causing more side-drool to drop from Deck's mouth.

It didn't help that he kept glancing in our direction every once in a while and making us look like a trio of worn-out nosey ass pervs, either. What's worse was the cold piercing look he kept aiming directly at me in a silent warning, distracting me from fully enjoying (moaning at) Dax's magical healing hands on my back.

Whatever, I shut my eyes, swallowing another deep guttural groan as I lean back towards Dax's knee. "Harder."

As if on cue, I could feel Ciaran's arctic gaze snap in my direction like a blast freezer* in the middle of summer.

Dax, who's been perfectly silent and resting his chin on top of my head, hovers his face above mine and effectively cuts the blonde giant from my line of sight.

"So-o-o-o," Dax starts slowly, his large meaty palms kneading the knots between my shoulder blades. "Whaddya think?"*

I grudgingly crack one eye open. "What do I think about 'what'?"

His brown eyes dart back and forth between the muscle show and me. "Do you"— his eyes resemble two crescent moons as he makes a weird pervy smile — "'wike' him?"

I snort, repositioning my jacket to drape all over my torso and lap. "Do I like him? Get real! A six-pack doesn't count as a personality."

Dax simply grins wider, pressing his knuckles down my spine. "I was referring to the dog, but since you're single-mindedly fixated on the guy-y-y"— he trails off as I give him the eye.

"No," I say sternly.

He sighs, dropping his head back on top of mine. "Well, I guess he'll just settle as Pops' new protege then."

I grimace, my eyes wandering over the blonde giant's powerful well-knit back. "Is he even that good?"

Dax shakes his head. "Georgie, sweetheart, when you see him tune up a six-cylinder for a Rolls Royce 70 in an hour, you might want to get an extra pair of underwear — Jack's words, not mine," he adds, briefly jabbing his thumb at Jack's recognizable dark weather-worn cut.*

"Am I supposed to have a cargasm* like you all had?" I ask without batting an eyelash.

Dax hums a non-committal sound. "If it helps, you do like 'em pretty. And, he does"— his voice raises a pitch — "look and feel like a catch."

I scoff, closing my eyes again. "You say that now but he seems to be the kind of guy who would take your girl out for dinner then casually bring you along and eat on your plate while you pay for the entire thing."

I can feel Dax rolling his eyes from behind my head. "Joke's on you, I don't have a girlfriend!"

He sounds like it's something he's proud of. "And probably never will!"

"You laugh but sooner or later, you'll warm up to him anyway," he says a bit too smugly.

I throw my head back with a dry laugh. "Hah! What makes you so sure of that?"

He tips my head back down and resumes his massage. "Because Pops wouldn't pair you up together unless he knows you wouldn't kill each other forever."

I wrinkle my nose. "North Korea and South Korea have better chances of unification.* USA and Russia have better chances of being BFFs. What was Pops even thinking?"

Dax trails his fingers at the hollow between my neck and shoulder and presses down. "Probably the same thing when he first saw me, Deck, and you."

I groan, squaring my shoulders to brace from the cringe. "Please don't say something cheesy and melodramatic."

Dax lowers his mouth next to my ear and dramatically whispers, "A second chance."

I throw my hands up. "And, there it is!"— I swivel towards him, glaring — "Seriously, you still wonder why your exes say you're a shitty listener?"

"Aw, shucks!"— his hands fly towards his chest — "Love you too, sis! You know I'd give anything to see that guilty 'Oh, Shit' look on your face every time you realize you made a prejudiced statement over someone. Yup-p!"— he finger-frames, focusing on my scowl — "definitely worth it."

I growl under my breath.

"And, that"— he points at my murderous expression — "is my cue to leave!"

Dax jumps up to join the barbel-lifting trio a few meters from us, though not before adding, "Don't forget to leave a tip! Non-monetary gifts are not allowed!"

"I'll leave you a tip alright," I grumble, digging into the pocket of my jacket for a roll of chump change I hot-glued together out of boredom a week ago when my hand grazed against a flimsy piece of paper.

I pull it out, and upon seeing its unmistakable deep blue hue and the white-inked words written on it, crumple it into a ball and quickly stuff it back into my pocket.

RUSTLE! I hear the low whisper of denim sliding across the floor.

Deck sidles up behind me and takes over the massage.

I swallow the urge to moan again. Deck might not possess the god-hands of massage, but he had a decent idea on how to apply the right amount of pressure on my back.

He lowers his head beside me and, with the side of his mouth, whispers, "Mind giving me a heads up when you suddenly tell Pops that the guy he plans to officially appoint as your boyfriend-slash-babysitter is the same guy who screwed you over and dumped you like a used condom last Saturday? I wanna be on leave when that shit hits the ceiling fan."

My jaw drops. "How did"— my eyes fly towards Ciaran, my sight tinged with red — "you know what? Don't answer that."— I make a move to get up — "That tattletale!"

Deck snorts and sits my ass back down. "Georgie, please. I've graduated from the Arousal State University* as a Summa 'cum Loud.* I think I know post-coital chemistry when I see one. And you two are still glowing like a pair of Christmas trees — was he that good?"

My hand shoots out and grabs his collar, leveling his face to mine until only a couple of inches of empty air separate us. "I said, don't answer that. Let's get some facts straight here, Summa 'cum Loud. I left him after I used him as a human dildo. That's what really happened, got it?"

"I get it," he bats my hands away before straightening out the collars of his shirt. "Yeesh, cara.* You're about to sign my death note if your face was any closer. But, you didn't answer my question though."

I bite my lip, pulling away first. "My answer's probably never. Well, until somebody" — I eye him with a dark silent threat — "tells him."

Deck puts his hand up, clearly offended. "Don't look at me. Tell William Wallace*  over there " — he swings his head at the blonde giant who just happens to be staring intensely at the two of us — "to lay off the goo-goo eyes* next time you're around. And, to lay off with the death glare he's sending my way, too. Not that, you're any conspicuous yourself" — he wags his brows at me — "Yup-p," — he swiftly turns me around and resumes the massage — "Pops will never know unless I tell him. That was sarcasm, by the way."

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https://youtu.be/npPzFIbTNsg

It was raining — exactly like that night.

September rains were not so rare in towns like Averill.

It was a different night and a far different time. Yet, their chasmic symphony always played the same tune like a broken record that keeps on repeating.

Thunders roar, chasing each lightning that paints its ephemeral strokes in the sky and drowning every sound into a deafening quiet hush.

The din of water and earth, clashing on the cold slabs of pavement as they pelt at each cobbled stone until tiny fragments erode from their cruel deluge and are swept away in the swirling pools of water.

Cold and unforgiving to anyone who dares to brave their torrential fury.

Rivulets of ice thread down my skin, and my body is frozen stiff like a marble statue. Ears pressed to the ground, still ringing from a not-so-distant memory.

My left shoulder was pinned to the ground as if a thousand pieces of shrapnel were nailed deep into my skin, leaving my arm and hand limp and immovable like slabs of broken stones. 

The smell of damp earth, rust, and burnt rubber cloy around my nostrils.

Drops of crimson rain stream down my face.

My vision is rendered like frosted glass, each fragment of light forming fractals when they explode into a thousand pieces.

Yet, in my blind disorientation and the ringing in my ears, an ear-splitting cry pervasively cuts through the numbing haze.

I force myself to turn on my right side, my hand sliding across mud and shattered glass — desperately searching until they land on icy-cold ashen skin.

Another flash of lightning strokes the skies in a long thin streak, its dim light illuminating a pair of cold lifeless blue eyes. 

PANG! The thunder roars, followed by short sharp claps.

Like a banshee, the weeping voice continues to wail in sorrow and despair.

My instincts told me to move, to regain reasoning and find help, but agony attempts to take over.

Scalding hot tears running down my face, I slowly realized the voice was... mine.

"Help us—hic—please," I sob, biting my lip until the taste of rust floods my mouth.

An unknown force viciously drags my weak and beaten body across the broken shards of glass and into the dark embrace of the moonless night.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

Ave!

(To be Cont.)

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What the heck just happened with Ave?

And, who's the one calling Ave?

Also, who here ever had a Deck in their lives?

Ngl, I've been looking forward to introducing Deck since last year. 

Anyhoo, feel free to comment what you think about the recent scene or maybe the chapter in general (?) Who knows, you might even toss in a vote and a share for this story (?)

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PLAYLIST

Tragic — Tommee Profitt ft. Fleurie

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*[ F/N ]*

Pokémon Evolution — (Pokémon Term) a process in which a Pokémon changes into a different species of Pokémon. With respect to real-world phenomena, Pokémon evolution is more similar to metamorphosis than evolution.

Eye Candy — (Slang) something superficially attractive to look at.

Blast Freezer — a very cold freezer. Blast Freezers are sometimes referred to as shock freezers. The idea of this type of freezer is to very rapidly bring down the temperature of (usually) foodstuffs or fresh produce, freezing them very quickly.

Whaddya Think? — (Slang) a contraction of "what do you."

Cut — (Biker Slang) a denim jacket with the sleeves cut off. The fabric is usually frayed around the armhole. A biker's cut frequently serves as a canvas for patches and logos. It is usually worn as the outside layer of clothing, often worn over a leather jacket.

Cargasm — (Slang) an intense excitement or pleasure caused by looking at, sitting in, or driving a car.

North Korea and South Korea have better chances of unification — unification is the belief that, through growing inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation, the two Koreas will be able to overcome their outstanding differences and move to create, over time, a unified nation.

Arousal State University — (Pun) plays on numerous US universities with names ending with "... State University". In Deck's case, however, he combines "arousal" (a state in which you feel excited or very alert, for example as a result of fear, stress, or anger — but commonly associated with sex or horniness) with "university" to imply that he is a seasoned practitioner in terms of sex.

Summa 'cum Loud — (Pun) plays on the Latin phrase, "Summa cum Laude" which means "with the highest distinction." This is also a title for someone denoting or holding a university degree achieved with the highest distinction. In Deck's case, however, it's also a contraction for "Someone who comes  loud."

Cara — (Italian Endearment) equivalent of the English word "dear" often used among friends in speech and as a form of address in letters. Some speakers consider "cara" and "caro" quite intimate and save them for their closest friends only, others use them with almost everyone they know.

William Wallace — was a Scottish knight who became one of the main leaders during the First War of Scottish Independence. He became an icon in pop culture due to Mel Gibson's portrayal of him in the film, Braveheart.

Goo-Goo Eyes — (US Slang)  to look at (someone) in a sentimental and embarrassing way.

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Copyright © 2017 Lei André