The Game

I was planning to allow at least a week to pass between updates so that others can read and review at their leisure...but not this time. My midterm has been dragged out and now I have finals next week. And then, I start my final semster the first full week of March before I graduate.

But, do not dispair, the next chappie is in progress; thanks to a vicious and twisted plot dust bunny. That little bugger left one hell of a scar and that's what happened with this chapter. I guess I need to check under the bed now before I go to sleep 'cause that was when he got me. Hugs, snuggles and an A/N at the end...
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Another day passed, uneventfully for me. Red, Diane, George and I sat at our usual Spades table. George had finally plucked up the courage and asked Diane out. They both appeared very happy with their current arrangement. I was happy for them. Life had settled into normal routine once again and I was able to relax. Red dealt out another round of cards. As I sorted the cards out by suit, I felt more confident in my abilities in the game. Red grinned as I told him what I had in my hands.

“Whatever Col is teaching you, it seems to be working. You haven’t pulled any sand bags and your bids are right on the money,” Red declared as he wrote down our bid.

Diane chimed in, “Yeah…now you seem to be acting more like your old self. Looks like time to yourself has paid off.” I smiled.

“Are you taking your usual course load this semester?” George asked; he smiled at Diane and gave her a sly wink.

I laughed, “Yes, Mr. Nosey Parker. Why are you so concerned about my schedule? Don’t you have something more important on your mind?”

We continued to play Spades for a good part of the morning. At one point or another, one of us would leave and went to class. We sat, gossiped about people we knew and bitched about professors who had given us a hard time. Around noon, Red left campus and returned with subs for everyone. We sat and watched Diane as she pulled her sandwich apart and rebuild it. George was a nibbler; he ate around his sandwich. Red and I wolfed ours, just like always. Red belched and nodded his head off towards the Quad.

“Hey…isn’t that Col over there, talking to Ken?” he asked.

I looked over my shoulder and stared. Something clenched inside my chest but I replied in a bored sounding way, “Yeah…I wonder what’s up?”

Diane giggled as she looked from another direction; “Don’t look now but isn’t that Elton coming from the parking lot?” Elton’s parents had emigrated from Japan and he was the eldest of seven, first generation Japanese-Americans for his family. Our parents had met at the Buddhist temple in town and they had become fast friends. Elton was the same age as me and, naturally, our parents encouraged a strong friendship between us. Elton was soft-spoken, intelligent and we had a lot in common. I turned to face the parking lot and stood when Elton got to our table. We hugged each other warmly and I slid over to make room for him at the table. He unpacked his bento box that contained his lunch.

“Want some? Mom packed extra, just in case I saw you today. She was happy when she found out that we have a couple of classes together this semester,” he asked as he pulled a pair of chopsticks from his bag. I peeked into the bento box: sushi hand rolls with pickled ginger and radish, yakitori skewers, blanched spinach, salted pickled plums, inari hand rolls and other yummy goodies. I reached in and grabbed an inari roll; they had always been one of my personal favorites. I quickly consumed the delicate morsel. Elton used the chopsticks and grabbed some of the blanched spinach. He held the food up to my lips until I opened them and he slid the item into my mouth. The spinach had bonito shavings and soy sauce on top; I rolled my eyes at the sheer delight. I had to get over to my parents’ house soon; it had been a long time since I had mom’s home cooking. I reached for a yakitori skewer but Elton batted my hand away. He held one for me as I pulled a piece of succulent chicken into my mouth and he continued to hold the skewer until I had finished. I heard Red as he cleared his throat.

“Shit woman, why don’t you ever eat the stuff I bring you like that? That was pretty damn hot to watch,” Red grumbled. I reddened slightly at his comment. I opened my mouth to reply but Elton beat me to it.

“It’s because true Asian cuisine needs to be savored, like fine wine. We also value the sensual pleasure that comes from sharing food. When I say sensual, I mean the pleasure you get from all of the senses: sight, smell, texture and taste.”

I laughed at Red’s stunned expression. I watched as his face reddened at my laugh but he quickly smiled. Elton ate and continued to feed my choice pieces until everything had been eaten. He carefully laid his chopsticks in the bento box and stored it back into his bag. Red shuffled and dealt another hand. Elton watched, fascinated, and started asking me questions about the game. I explained how it was played and Red, for a change, didn’t lose his temper. George and Diane sent little looks at each other whenever they glanced in our direction. Finally, Diane spoke.

“Do you guys have any idea how cute you are together? I bet your babies would be absolute darlings…as long as they didn’t get their momma’s attitude.”

Elton and I looked at each other with a knowing look. Elton responded by saying, “Don’t let my mom ever hear you say that…both of our parents have been after us to settle down. And, we get the distinct impression that a union between the two of us would be highly regarded.”

I shook my head, “I’m surprised that our venerated mothers haven’t written out a marriage contract…” I looked over at Elton; he had a strange look on his face.

“Wait…that was supposed to be a joke.” I mumbled as I shoved the claimed books back to Red. Elton laughed and shook his head. He rubbed my across my shoulder and I relaxed.

“Don’t worry, I know that we both aren’t ready to settle down yet.” Elton looked down at his watch. “Hey, we need to get to class. Are you ready?”

I smiled as I stood to gather my things, “Yup…let’s go. We’ll be back.” He held his hand out for me and I grabbed it. We walked towards the building; we laughed and started a conversation in Japanese. Unknown to me, Col watched as we walked away.

Since we had back-to-back classes, several hours passed before we returned to the Spades table. Diane was still there but George had gone; so was Red. She sighed when she saw that we still held hands.

“I meant what I said earlier…you both look absolutely adorable together.” I dropped my bags on the bench and reached for my cigarettes. I lit one and passed it to Elton; I then lit one for myself. Elton sighed as he exhaled.

“I wish my mom were more laid back like yours. She’d have a shit fit if she knew I smoked.” I snickered.

“What makes you think that my mom even knows?” I asked.

“Oh please…I’ve heard how you talk to your mom sometimes. Especially, when she gets on her soapbox about the whole marriage and kids rant. Other than that, you have a healthy relationship with both of your parents.”

I punched him lightly on the shoulder, “Shut up…your parents brag and complain as much as mine do. What’s the difference?”

“The difference lies within our genders. As the eldest male, I am required by tradition to honor my parents’ wishes. If they say ‘Jump”, I should instinctively know how high without being told.”

I snorted, “Yeah…right. You’re too Americanized.”

Diane giggled. She shook her head as she said, “Well, maybe your parents are right. Would it be so bad if you were married to each other?” We laughed together before Elton responded.

“Enough…you sound as bad as mom. We just like being around each other. And, speaking of being around each other, what are you doing tonight?”

I thought for a moment before I replied, “Nothing…what’s up?”

“Wanna catch a movie and have dinner? The new horror movie is out…you know, the one you have been dying to see? I managed to score a couple of tickets.”

“SHUT UP…that show has been sold out for days. I know because I’ve been trying like hell to get tickets.”

He pulled them out of his back pocket and waved them in my face. “Our usual arrangement? I get dinner and you buy the movie snacks?”

“Oh hell yeah! What time are you picking me up?”

Col walked up. “What time is who picking whom up?”

I flinched at his tone but strived to act normal, “Elton, this is Col. He’s a friend of mine from here…and he’s been my occasional partner when we play cards. Col, this is Elton. Our families have known each other for years.” I watched as they shook hands in greeting. Elton arched an eyebrow as Col reached into my purse and grabbed a cigarette from the pack. He lit it with my lighter and dropped it back into my purse. Diane must have felt the tension because she had started to fidget. She practically threw herself at George when he walked up.

“Oh wow…look at the time. Honey, are you ready to go?” she pleaded. George looked confused but nodded. Diane hustled him to the parking lot as she whispered heatedly about what happened before he walked up. George looked over his shoulder at me and sent me a look of sympathy.

Col cleared his throat and got my attention. He pulled me by my elbow away from where Elton stood. His hissed at me, “Who the fuck is that and why do I find him with his hands all over you?”

I jerked my elbow away from his grasp and hissed back, “What fucking difference is it to you? Elton has been my friend for years before I ever met you. It’s the same way with Ken but I saw you talking to him hours ago as if you were old buddies.”

“Ken is not a threat to me…I know his history. But, I don’t know jack shit about this guy and I find him holding you as if you belonged to him.”

“Quit being stupid…we are just friends.”

”Friends…with benefits?”

“You son of a bitch. You wouldn’t say that if you knew him…or me for that fucking matter. I can have friends without sex, thank you very much.”

“I forbid you to go out with him tonight or to even see him anymore.”

I reared my head back. “Please tell me that you did not just go there. You forbid me? Since when did I become your personal property?”

“Since I slid that damned ring on to your finger. You belong to me body and soul, for the next six weeks. According to my calendar, I still ‘own’ you for five more weeks.”

“Don’t do this…you said the game involved sex with no one but each other. You never said that we couldn’t see other people. But, this is totally different. Elton is my friend and we like spending time with each other. For you information, our evenings out never end up with us in a sweaty, horizontal wrestling match. I like to be treated like a woman with feelings.”

“I haven’t heard you complain about the way you were ‘feeling’ when I fucked you good and hard. You love sex and need it desperately. It helps you feel like a normal…” he stopped when I slapped him across the face, hard.

“I suggest you leave me alone for a little while or I will kill you. If you want to know about me, ask me. Or, better yet, ask people who know me and have been there when my world had gone to hell.” I said before I turned back to Elton.

“Come let’s go…we’re leaving. You can pick me up whenever you’re ready. I’m going home to finish some homework and to get ready.” I told Elton.

I glared at Col and said, before I turned for the parking lot, “Call me when you know me better…”
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A/N: For those of you who don't know, a bento box is a beautifully lacquered lunch box. It usually contains 3,5, or 7 layers and is held together by tying a large, silk scarf around it. It is an old fashioned Japanese lunch box and the foods described within are typical for a bento box lunch.

Meadows...honey, this was for you. You inspired me (well, you and the plot dust bunny) to make this more interesting. I needed a tad more drama. All I can say is that it came to me in a dream about another secret crush of mine.

KPRESS...thank you for your review. I hope to hear from you again soon.