Exile

B-Jack Swag

After spending a few more hours alone with Emily, we head over to Gameworks to meet up with the rest of the B-Jacks. I am terrified of what will go down. I suppose in my heart, I knew that things would be okay with Emily, and by extension, with Andrew. I didn't know things would be with Benji and Kenzo. For all I know, they might carry a grudge over what happened – they lost Mike after all. While they weren't exactly fond of him, guys can be thick as thieves, even when circumstances dictate that they shouldn't be.

I'll get through this, somehow. I'll get through this as best as I can.

I hope.

I take a deep breath, and slip out of my car. Okay, here we go.

Tube, Berger, and Chrissie Hynde jumpstart my heart with an infectious beat. The front counter is clear for anyone wanting to buy a game card. The restaurant is full, and so is the bar. Saturday is always a popular night here at Gameworks. Families crowd the amusement games, and overzealous tots compete to win prizes. Groups of eight strangers race furiously down a virtual track, and only one will be the winner. Crowds of young men are gathered around a fighting game cabinet, and each one thinks they can handle a joystick better than the others.

I'm half tempted to join in on the fun, but then I remember how long it's been since I'm played. No need to embarrass myself.

So much has changed, and yet, nothing did. This place is as I remembered, and it fills me with an energy I can't find anywhere else.

"They guys are upstairs, by the pool tables," Emily tells me. "Apparently, it's the first time they've tried playing pool, and they wanted to see what the buzz was about."

"Seriously? It's not the first time. We've played pool before."

"Yeah, I know, but since I don't have photographic evidence, according to the guys, it doesn't count."

I roll my eyes. "Lord. Forget I asked."

"I know. Anyway, I think it's better this way. If they got anywhere near the other games, we might as well go home. They may be grown-ups, but deep inside, they're still guys."

I nod. "Can't argue with you there."

"Emily! Over here!"

I look over to see a figure in the distance, waving us over. I recognize the voice – it belongs to Andrew. When we get closer, I finally recognize him. The shaggy hair has been replaced with much more professional cut, and it looks like he's lost some weight as well. But everything else remained the same. He's still tall but not quite six feet tall, he's still blessed with beautiful androgynous due to his Korean heritage, and he's still got that thousand watt smile.

"You made it!" His voice is jovial as he wraps Emily into his arms. His eyes, however, are squarely on me. "Holy crap, is this Elodie? When the hell did you become a fox?"

"I know, right?" Emily squealed. "That's what I said!"

"Ah…" I scratch my head, as all this talk about hotness is humiliating. "I really don't know how to answer that."

"Guys, get over here, El's arrived!"

Kenzo and Benji hesitate before looking up at us. It took them a moment to recognize me, and once they did, all I could see was the whites of their eyes. Now, I'm mortified.

"Holy shit, is that really Elodie?" Benji towers over me, scrutinizing me through his thick, tortoise-shell frames. "What the hell happened to you?"

"Eh?" I'm puzzled.

"You look like some of the models I photograph," Kenzo added. "You didn't have any work done, did you?"

"Kenzo?" Emily swats at him. He parries just in time. "That's a horrible thing to say!"