Retaliation

Chapter 6

"And that's game." Blake says triumphantly. I sit on my stool beside Logan, watching as Blake reset the pool table. We left an hour and a half ago, and ever since have been at this bar with Logan and his brother Landon. I have to admit, out of everyone I've met, Logan and Landon seem to be on top of things in this town.

"One more round?" Landon asks.

"Only if you can handle losing again." Blake teases, and I can't resist a slight smile.

"How bout we make things a little more interesting this round?" Landon asks.

"Ooh, how so?" Blake asks back.

Landon puts his hand on his chin, thinking, then snaps, "Loser has to go shirtless the rest of the night."

"Deal." Blake says, shaking Landon's hand.

Me and Logan exchange a look, "I wonder what goes through their heads." he says to me and I shrug, then we laugh. They begin their game and Logan tips up his beer, and then turns and stares at me.

"What?" I ask after a minute or so.

"I'm just trying to figure you out." he answers.

I laugh, "You could just ask me."

"That could be fun." he says with a smile.

"So what have you gathered so far?" I ask him.

"Well, a strong, young guy who is almost as hot as me." he says, and I laugh right along with him. "No, but you really are a cute kid. Let's see, umm, you remind me of myself alot, actually." he says.

"How's that?" I ask him, taking a sip of Blake's beer.

"It's kinda hard to explain, but I guess it's one of those been there done that kind of things, ya know. You just seem like a little brother to me." he tells me. I think about it for a second, and, in a nut sell, I guess we could be.

"I can see that a little." I say to him.

"But I want to know more about you." he says.

"Fire away." I tell him, watching Blake sink another ball into a pocket.

"Hmmm, favorite thing to do?" he says.

"Honestly I love to fight." I answer.

"That's the best!" Colby says.

"Finally, someone who gets it." I say back.

"Virgin?" he asks me.

"Sixteen years slut free." I answer, and he cracks up.

"But the real question is, do intend to be for much longer?" he asks, flicking his head in Blake's direction. I bite my lip. "I'm just kidding." he says, giving me a little push.

For a second everything seems to go unsteady, "C'mon, can't you take a joke, Daniel?" I hear a familiar voice say. I see him, only for a second, but he was there. Derek was standing over by the bar, watching me.

"Hello? Earth to Danny." Logan says, and I give my head a shake, "What?" I ask.

"Someoneone's not very good at holding their liquor." he says with a laugh.

I blink a few times, "Usually it's the other way around, and getting drunk is the problem." I say.

"Well, maybe tonight's just your lucky night." Landon says with a wink.

I'm not feeling tipsy, but I do feel something, and seeing Derek... Was it all just in my head? Something in the back of my head disagrees. "Why are you pretending to be happy?" Derek asks, leaned up against the pool table, right beside Blake. "I know you, there's no way you would pick this guy."