Initial Soulmates

Chapter 6

"Alright Angel-"

"Angel? Who the hell is Angel?" I interrupt confusedly.

Jayden rolls his eyes, "Forget it. You at least know the basics of beer pong, right?"

"Throw a ping pong ball in the cup. Be the first team to get the opposing team to empty all of their cups. Simple."

There's that smirk again, "Alright, good. Now in our game, we're not allowing bouncing off the table. You gotta throw it straight in, like so."

Jayden throws a ping pong ball without taking his eyes away from mine. I watch as the ball sinks into a cup. I widen my eyes and my jaw drops. How the hell? I look to Kaena and Chloe whose expressions match mine.

Jayden reaches up and closes my mouth, "You'll catch flies."

"How the hell?" I voice my thoughts.

"Like I said, I'm the king of beer pong."

I roll my eyes, "Let's just play, okay?" There's evident attitude in my tone.

He chuckles and resets the one cup he demonstrated on. "After you madam." He makes a show of bowing while gesturing for me to go ahead.

"What a gentleman." I say monotoned.

I take a breath and step up to the table. Kaena and Chloe look nervous for me. They're really supportive friends.

I throw the ball and it sails straight over all the red cups. Chloe and Kaena give me a sympathetic look which sort of irks me. I missed the first shot, big deal. Then I hear Jayden try to hold in his laughter behind me.

I turn towards him and give him a glare. "Big deal, I missed the first shot. Never played before, remember?"

He shakes his head while smiling a little and I turn back around to see Chloe make her first shot in one of our cups.

"I'll take the first drink." He goes to grab the cup, but I beat him to it and shoot the beer down. It's cold and and bubbly as it goes down my throat. I can taste the yeast and it reminds me a little of fresh baked bread, and I'm surprised to find that I don't hate it.

I look at Kaena, Chloe and Jayden who all have the same expression: shock. I mean, I would be too if I saw myself do that. It was an impulse, a need almost to show Jayden that I can throw a drink back like any other teenager here.

I shrug it off, "Jayden's turn?" I turn to him.

He stares at me for a second longer then shakes his head a little like he's coming out of a trance. "Uh, yeah. My turn." He takes a moment to take his spot to shoot. And when he does, he makes it in, of course.

Kaena's the first to take a drink on their side. She shoots it down and takes her place for her shot. She shoots, but it bounces so it doesn't count.

"Now Em," I roll my eyes as he uses my nickname, "I'm gonna help you this time." He motions for me to take my place to shoot and I do so.

He stands behind me, a little too close for comfort, and places a hand on my left hip.

I instinctively swat his hand away. "What do you think you're doing?" I turn to face him and we're nose to nose almost; well, really nose to chin seeing as he's 6'3 and I'm 5'7.

My breath hitches in my throat as I look up at him. He looks down at me and meets my gaze. His eyes darken with an emotion that I don't completely recognize. His bright emerald green eyes turn the shade of a heavily wooded forest with dark trees everywhere, and I'm lost in that forest.