Despite the atmosphere all over the world, I'm enjoying myself. You have to find something to keep your mind off of possible impending doom. I'm heading to a club with a few college buddies, friends for life all of them. They claimed it was to help me finally find a girl, but I know they were needing a relaxer just as much as me.We are approaching finals week for our spring semester and they were planning on spending this summer relaxing.
Anyway as we enter the front door of this new club called “The Pond” one of the girls immediately tries to drag Brice to the bar. He tries to rein in her eagerness but he's smiling like a doofus all the while. The rest of us decide unanimously that we may as well join them.
We’re college students, not party-people.
I drink along with everyone while they stare at me strangely for not seeming drunk in the slightest. I just say “genetics” and smile like that explains it all. They shrug because, well, it doesn't matter that much. We came here to unwind so that's what we’re gonna do.
A different girl from our little circle, Micah, began to rouse my pal Rajeet to come with her to the dance floor. Did I not mention there was a dance floor? Not important, because now all the other gals are getting the same idea and dragging their drunken boys to their feet for some Dosey-doe. Being the good friends they are I’m included in their attempt, even the guys are trying to tempt me but...I can't let go completely...not yet. Just like always I keep my barrier up and decline lamely. Upset but also not wanting to be pushy they relent and go have their fun while I stick to the bar.
----------------------------------------
In front of me stands Tephil, a family friend before we had to flee.
Tephil: “Hey Lucifer why don't you try to connect with any of the women?”
L: “What do you mean? I talk to everybody to make sure-
Tephil: “I mean intimately.”
L: “...”
Tephil: “If being a Fallen Angel bothers-
L: “It’s not that”
Tephil: “What? Speak up.”
L: “I don’t want any distractions if what I fear is to be upon us soon.”
Tephil: “Is that what we are to you...distractions?”
L: “Yes…”
Tephil: “You know we’re willing to die for you after you saved us all and continue to protect us but why can’t you let us closer to you?”
L: “Because then I wouldn't stand to see anyone else die for me...I'd shield you all and take on the corrupted myself”
Tephil: “You know we wouldn’t stand by as you sacrificed yourself-
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
L: “ Exactly”
I walk away before she can gather a better argument, but manage to catch her calling my name.
Tephil: “Luci-
----------------------------------------
???: “-fer?”
I take my eyes off the bar counter to land on the bartender who somehow knew my name.
L: “How do you know my name?”
Bartender: “I heard one of your friends call you that when he ordered your drink. Sorry if that was intrusive.”
L: “No it's fine, that makes sense that you would hear a lot of names being called.”
Bartender: “you were so unresponsive for a while I thought I might need to call your friends to take ya home haha!”
L: “huhu sorry to worry you, just lost in memories.”
Bartender: “I get it, I won’t pry. But uh some girl came to hit on you and you didn't even acknowledge her so she walked away.”
L: “humph probably for the best…
Bartender: “your at a club, don’t act so dow-”
It was at that moment that both Paul and Jeni slipped their drunken arms around my shoulders(or tried).
Paul: “Heeeeyyyyy mishta never drunk what time is it?
I look down to my watch,
L: “Oh damn, it’s almost-
Jeni: “It’s time you found a girlfriend!”
L: “No it’s eleven o’clock
Jeni: “Sooooo, whyss thach important?”
L: “ We agreed to study tomorrow for the finals?”
Paul: “...”
Jeni: “...”
Paul & Jeni: “Shieeeeeeet!”
Most people within earshot started busting their guts laughing, I at least managed to suppress my laughter to a chuckle. Oh boy tomorrow is gonna be fun for them!
L: “You guys ready to leave?”
Rajeet: “Stop wassssting time talking and let's goooo!”
Rajeet pulls the two chimps from my back and tries to pull me. I say tries because he's drunk and can't find his strength.
Finally up and ushering my five friends to the exit I catch the bartender shout “take care of yourselves!” but I just not my head. Pouring into Brice’s car took a Herculean effort on my part because not only are my friends drunk, their clinically lazy too! A few of them are falling asleep on their feet so I slap them awake before letting them nap in a seat. By the time I sit down and start up the car, everyone's asleep or getting there.
Brice: “Had some fun tonight man?”
That caught me by surprise so I sat there thinking for a second, before replying,
L: “Not much after you guys went dancing.”
I try to be as honest as I can with anyone I talk to, I've got a great dislike for deceit after all that's happened.
Brice: “I told them the club was a bad idea, we could've done mini-golf or summthin!”
L: “It's alright, you guys shouldn't have to try to include me in everything. I'm a big boy too.”
Brice: “Juss don't want you disappearing on us, with your loner tendencies.”
That got me thinking, how did I let myself get so involved with these people? I gave my own kind the cold shoulder only to turn around and get so close to a group of humans. I don't deserve this nor do I need this...this...distraction.
I've got to make some drastic changes. Failure at this juncture would be cataclysmic.