SHINE, The Knowing Ones

Chapters Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen and Twenty

Chapter Sixteen

The autumn night closed in around them with the first rain of the season. A light sprinkle floated down from the darkened sky misting the trees and grass.

“Eeeeek! Hurry, Vig!” Anna shrieked, squeezing him from behind, burrowing into his back as he pulled his motorcycle into the student housing parking lot. He had barely shut off the ignition when she scrambled off the bike and scampered to the door, still wearing his passenger helmet.

“Geez Anna, It’s only water,” he said, pulling off his helmet.

“It’s pouring, Vig. Hurry, you have my key!”

He held out an upturned palm barely catching a drizzle. “Check the storm, bro.”

Trin glanced over his shoulder and laughed as he rounded the front of the truck. As he pulled Sam’s door open, she too darted underneath his arm running for the entrance, squealing. Trin shot a confused look at Vig who climbed off his bike and said, “We better get out of this monsoon before it washes us away.”

“Viggo!” Anna stomped her foot on the porch.

He pulled her things out of the saddle bag with a taunting half smile. “Did you seriously just stomp your foot?”

“Ugh!”

Sam laughed as Anna snatched her bag from her hands and began digging through it, still wearing Vig’s helmet.

“Anna, I gave you my key earlier,” Sam said, shielding her eyes from the rain. “The key Vig has is mine.”

Anna stopped digging, glaring at Sam through the visor of the oversized helmet.

Sam smiled, patting the round plastic top. “You have a hat…”

If looks could kill, Sam would have fallen over dead.

Vig sauntered past the girls with a big grin on his face, inserted the key and pushed the door open. Anna stomped through and jetted down the hall toward the apartment. Vig pulled the key from the knob. “I’m in trouble.”

Sam patted his shoulder. “It’s okay, honey. You’re always in trouble.” She grabbed Trin’s hand and pulled him inside.

∞∞∞

The warmth of the apartment settled on Sam’s chilled skin as she walked inside and rubbed her arms to get the blood flowing. She glanced at Trin only to find him watching her. With a flush to her cheeks she lowered her head and led him to the couch. Vig sat down on the adjacent love seat and began searching On Demand f on demand or the movie they wanted. 

“Does anyone want a water bottle or anything?” Anna asked.

“I’ll have a beer,” Vig announced with enthusiasm.

“We don’t have beer in this house.”

“Freakin’ athletes,” he mumbled as he messed with the TV.

“Hey,” Sam said, kicking him in the leg.

“I know,” Vig said. “I’m surrounded.”

“Just find the show, movie boy.”

Vig looked at Trin. “See what I mean?” he said. “I get no respect.”

“That’s wrong, bro.”

Anna waltzed through the room with a water bottle for herself and sat down next to Vig. “Stop whining. You know I love you.”

Vig shook his head, finished the set up and pressed play. Anna curled up into him. Sam pulled her legs up underneath her and leaned against Trin. He put an arm around her and pulled her close. A euphoric thrill zipped through her and she snuggled more deeply into his sculpted chest.