The Book of Gemma VOL. 2

23: OLD FLAME

Aries had given me an address on where he thought Deecon could be, I scratch my head as I see it land on the other side of the planet. Why would Deecon be so far from town?

The weather on this side of the planet was rough, I landed a mile or so out from the coordinates, the wind slicing my face and the cold freezing my chest. I keep walking west and notice the same posts Leo made outside of the city. The weather begins to warm and the slight breeze tickles my ears. The dust cloud clears and I can see two smaller buildings smooshed together, like two puzzle pieces forced together.

My jaw drops as I see one of the buildings' names lit up on the side.

Cosmic Cocktails.

My favorite bar.. Did Deecon save it before tearing down the buildings?

I grab onto the handle and walk into the dark room. The paintings Scorpz made of the stars glow on the ceiling.

It was my bar.

I snap my fingers and turn on the lights, it was the exact same except the wall lines with dormouse. He didn't destroy it all, he took it here.

I slowly step further in and take a seat at my favorite stool. Floating a bottle of dormouse and a glass cup before me. I pour myself a glass and close my eyes as I take a sip. Remembering all those nights I spent here, the nights I spent with Deecon here, the nights I spent with Edna here, the nights I spent drinking while Albi read his articles from the end of the bar.

I look to my right and imagine Leo next to me, mocking Scorpz that she made his drink wrong. Virgo drunk trying to step behind the bar as Scropz pushes him back, "I will get to you in a second, you dildo!"

I look to my left and picture Edna next to me, other humans trying to get her attention or to buy her a drink. "Why do you like this place again?" She would ask and I would laugh, wishing I could tell her the history of this place without revealing I was a God at the time.

I hear the door open, the bell above it dings.

Deecon.

He stands under the bell and debates leaving me be.

"Did Aries tell you where this was?" He stares at the wall behind me. Both of us not knowing how to interact with each other anymore.

I slowly nod.

He scratches the back of his head, "I'll um.. I'll leave you to it then." He goes to walk out the door but I blurt out, "Wait!"

He stops in the doorway, the door only cracked open a foot as he stares outside.

I remember that night I met Franco. How I wished for the sight of Deecon walking through that door.. Chasing after me.

Now he couldn't wait to leave and let my eyes see the void of night behind that glass door.

He sighs, finally looking back at me, "What?" His eyes fall to the floor again.

"I want to.. Yell." I admit, I want to fight with him. These small exchanges in words have brought me nothing but emptiness when he was the person to keep me full.

He lets go of the handle, closing it behind him. "You.. want to fight?"

I nod, drinking the last of what's in my cup and slamming it down on the counter.

"Yes, I want to scream at you.. And I want you to scream at me." I ordered. He presses his tongue to the inside of his cheek, "I don't want to fight anymore." He mutters.

I hop off the stool, "Fight me! Yell at me! Tell me how horrible I have been and I'll tell you how crazy you've been making me!"

He crosses his arms, "I'm not going to put you down."