Ephemeral: An Apocalyptic Novel

Chapter 6

Elijah

Reya took another huge swig of her fourth beer and then cried out, "That felt great!"

"Reya, I think that's been enough drinks," I suggested, although I was already on my own third bottle. "Don't you need to be clean to be on the team?"

She rolled her eyes. "Please, tonight will make up for the shitty week I've had."

I couldn't deny her that right.

I motioned my own bottle to her. "Amen to that."

We clinked bottles and I smiled at her. She truly was a pretty—no, beautiful girl.

Both of us were sitting on the couch, surrounded by chatter and drinks. I kicked my feet up onto the coffee table that was filled with spilt snacks and papers.

"So what kind of wide receiver would you describe yourself as, Ms. Reya?"

Reya motioned her head towards me with sarcastic astonishment.

"I'm surprised you actually remembered my name!"

I laughed. "Hey! That's just a little rude, don't you think?"

"Well why would you ask me to describe myself as a wide receiver? That's like if I asked you to describe yourself as a douche."

I jokingly threw my hands to my chest. "Why do you have to be so mean?"

She chortled and grinned. "Well, tell me what else I can talk to you about yourself. I only know that you're a douche and...yeah, that's all!"

"My name's Elijah. I'm the captain of the basketball team—"

"Of course you are."

"—and I'm notorious for hitting on teachers."

"Psh. Would you hit on Coach Tuck?"

"Not into guys but if I did try, I couldn't even get 2 feet near him without him blowing a whistle and saying 'step back Greenwich or you'll regret it' with his fists up."

We laughed and then Reya rested her chin on her hands.

"I don't want to talk about sports tonight. Who are you besides a flirty basketball captain?" she said, her tone serious.

"Um well...my favorite color's green."

"Isn't it everyone's?"

Out of pure habit, my mouth had opened and the next words I spoke were ones I quickly regretted.

"Not Michelle Visage's."

Reya looked taken aback. "What? You watch Rupaul's Drag Race?"

Crap.

"Um...well, y'know, one of my exes made me watch a season with her and I guess I got hooked."

Rule one: Don't talk about anything that would decrease my manhood. Rule two: Don't bring up exes.

I honestly wanted to slap myself silly for speaking like a sweaty-palmed idiot.

Reya laughed. "Awesome! Dulce actually got me hooked on it. Looks like we got something in common."

Rule three: Abandon all past rules and just do whatever the fuck you want.

I sighed in relief. "If this interests you, I play WoW every now and then."

That was a lie. I played World of Warcraft any second that I was available.

Reya nodded, peering hard at me. I felt as though I should've kept on talking but I decided to let her finish staring. She took a sip of beer and shook her head.