Chapter 33

"You can Invite your brothers too... it'll be fun." I offered, but Zai didn't seem convinced. Even so, he took out his phone and invited them after I sent him the address. The name of the Bar is White Rabbit... seems a bit fortuitous.

"You made it!" Lisa shouted while running over to hug me and then she grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me into a crowd of people. "This is Sarai and Adam, and over here is Derrick and Cliff." They all waved as she introduced them and I waved back.

"I'm Snowe," I said while looking around for Zai. He was standing at the bar alone, possibly ordering a drink.

"We've heard so much about you," Sarai stated enthusiastically. "Is it true you're engaged to Zaikel?!" I took my eyes off him to look at her and respond,

"Yeah..."

"Oh my God, no one has been talking about him lately but like two years ago he blew up! A lot of people were saying he was with Vanessa Porter, you know the actress in A Day to Remember?"

"I haven't seen many movies," I admitted... not any that are less than a century old, at least.

"Do you know if it's true?" She whispered.

"He... never talks about other relationships with me." Lisa and Sarai seemed excited by this,

"Okay enough gossiping," Derrick interjected.

"Wait! Is that your engagement ring? The ruby is so clear, this is the first time I've seen one up close. You didn't want a diamond?" Sarai investigated.

"Rubies are... more sentimental," I answered... I guess they're trying to get to know me, but it feels too much like an investigation.

"Oh I see, it must be nice dating someone who is kind of famous!" She added that's when Zai, Valin, and Raijian finally joined us. He handed me a drink, it was multiple colors with sugar and lime around the rim,

"Thank you..." I said while taking a sip. "Mmm! It's sweet." Zai kissed my cheek then leaned to my ear and whispered,

"Be careful, I added drops of Bane... you can get drunk." Usually, our bodies purify alcohol and toxins too fast for us to become intoxicated but Bane, a poison developed on Afaria weakens that ability greatly, so even though it was intended as a weapon it became very popular at Infaniyan parties.

"I appreciate the warning..." I replied while taking another sip.

"You're Raijian, right?" Sarai asked, and RJ nodded drinking directly from the bottle he had in his hand. "I didn't know you guys were close outside work too." She commented.

"Let's change the subject," RJ stated then he moved into the booth she was in and sat down beside her. "You already know my name but... what's yours?" She gulped, and her jaw dropped, seconds passed without her saying anything so Adam spoke for her saying,

"She's Sarai, and I'm Adam." RJ frowned.

"Did I ask you?" I forgot how prickly he can be,

"Oh, this is my brother-in-law Valin! He's a bit shy so... be nice." I said, facing Lisa since she was who I was most comfortable with.

"Aww he's cute, his face is like a girl's." Valin's face scrunched up at her comment so I moved from Zai to whisper to him,

"This is your chance to mingle, don't curse, don't yell... and don't bring up math yet." He pouted and looked at me then in a grumpy voice said,

"Hey..." She moved from her friends and said,

"Aww, even your voice is cute! How old are you?" Even though both Zai and I are technically 19 our earth IDs say 24, Valin's says 21,

"I'm 18." He told her his real age?! "You're... really pretty, thank you for talking to me." He added. Lisa blushed slightly, even though Valin's social awkwardness was showing.

"Can I hug you?" Lisa asked. Does she have a thing for younger guys?

"Yes Please." He replied with open arms, then she squeezed him tight.

"I like him, can I take him home with me?" She asked me, I looked at Zai, who was leaning against the table and drinking from a glass. He shrugged, indifferently, but I had some qualms. The song over the speakers changed and Lisa got really excited, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "I love this song! Snowe, come dance with me!" She stated while grabbing my hand, without waiting for my reply. Zai swiftly took hold of my drink before it spilled, as she and I moved into the middle of the bar, she began dancing and smiling at me, urging me to dance with her. It feels like so long since I danced at a place like this but I guess technically it's been less than 6 months for me. I got caught up in her spirit and started moving too, getting lost in the rhythm of the song. My body moved based on muscle memory without thinking and soon I heard the others cheering us on. After 3 songs she got tired and sat down, she was sweating but smiling like she just had the time of her life, when she sat down, Valin sat beside her. His face was flustered, I'm worried he might say something thoughtless to her but I can't hold his hand through all his social interactions. Zai replaced Lisa as my dance partner,

"Did you miss me?" I asked, looking into his eyes and wiggling to the beat in front of him, Zai smirked and, then held my waist, taking the lead,

"Of course I missed you, we've been apart for 10 whole minutes." He teased, he was matching my movements so perfectly, that I was surprised. I stared at his face

"You're good." I complimented. I know I was the one who started it but all this eye contact is wearing me down, I feel like my heart will beat out of my chest.

"I'm good at a lot of things." He replied, full of confidence. That's true... I've yet to find something he's not good at. We stayed together for 2 more songs until Lisa called me back over to the table. Zai looked disappointed but I was glad she stopped us because my mind was going into a land of untold dirtiness and I was with friends so I must behave.

"Do you know how to play poker?" She asked. After I said no she went over the basic rules to me and pulled out a deck of cards. We played a few rounds of that, RJ stayed close to Sarai who was suddenly speechless, but giggled every time he spoke. Valin somehow won every game, but he gave all the cash won to Lisa,

"For me? Are you sure?" She asked and he nodded but held his tongue. I'm sure whatever he wanted to say would be so crazy that his common sense is telling him to shush. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and he stood up abruptly and ran outside. Even though he left and the music was loud we all heard him screaming,

"YES!" She seemed pleased. I got up to get another drink, Zai walked with me, and when we came back RJ and Sarai were gone. Valin was back and Lisa was rubbing his head like he was a puppy and asking questions,

"I think I should go," Adam said suddenly, he hadn't spoken much but got extra quiet after RJ arrived.

"So Snowe, how do you like working with Lisa?" Derrick asked,

"I like it, she's talented and fun to work with." Zai held my hand under the table, now drinking only water and playing a game on his phone with his free hand.

"Your hair is so soft! Do you always cut it like this?" Lisa asked Valin

"It used to be a lot longer but I got tired of everyone mistaking me for a girl." He answered. She giggled at his answer, as they were chatting Adam escaped with an annoyed look on his face.

"I can see that, personally I think you're very handsome." His face turned as red as his hair, "Sooo, how are you so good at Poker? Do you gamble often?" Valin's eyes lit up when she asked this so I'm sure it has something to do with math, but he remembered my advice and refrained from explaining and instead bit his lip, struggling to stay silent.

"Yeah she can't sing but she's always been good at writing music... we're old friends," Derrick stated while eyeing the obviously drunk Lisa, who was fawning over my little brother

"Ooh! Do you have diamonds tattooed on your neck?" She asked then Valin, proudly stood up and removed his shirt, because even though he's sober he doesn't understand how inappropriate it is to undress in public. he was well-built like his brothers but his muscles were thicker, maybe because he's shorter. I think this was the first time I saw him and realized he was a man, not a kid.

"They're overlapping Kepler-Poinsot polyhedrons!" There were a series of 3-dimensional looking shapes, made of triangles and stars running up his right arm, and stopping right below his jawline, the shapes were also scattered across his back, resembling an explosion or splash. I don't know if I've ever seen Valin so excited.

"Wow..." Lisa exclaimed with her eyes locked on his chest, and she was practically drooling so I'm sure she didn't even hear what he had said at that point. Her eyes were going down his body and then she chugged down the rest of her drink.

"Val! Shirt!" I called, that seemed to be enough of a clue for him to get back dressed.

"It's getting late," Derrick said, I could tell he was getting ready to say bye but Lisa wasn't listening,

"Is it hot in here to anyone else?" She asked, while looking around, the table and fanning herself. "I need to cool off."

"It's actually cold, you're probably sick. You should go home," Valin said, he sounded sad to say this. She's better off not being subtle at all with him. Derrick got up without saying anything else and left.

"Can I come home with you?" She asked while smiling at Val. He leaned towards her with a mischievous grin,

"Only on one condition," That's when I hit him and dragged him out by his ear.

"Believe me you don't want to hear what he says next, we're leaving! Good night!" Valin complained loudly and Zai followed us out. Lisa is human and my friend I can't let her get preyed on, there's no telling what would happen to her if I left her alone with Valin, I've grown fond of the 3 I stay with but I know, to an Afarion, humans are just an easy meal. So I'm just looking out for her.