Our Sick Inheritance (editing)

Chapter 21 - Kiss Of Fate

"Hi, I'm Jake, and you are?"

"I'm Anna." She said softly and shook his hand. His fingers were long and strong. A blush was developing over the one she already had. She didn't know what in the hell had gotten into her. Maybe because she wasn't wearing a wig to give her confidence, Anna thought.

Jake gave a brilliant gentle smile that was incredibly beautiful. He was honestly friendly, and obviously comfortable in his own skin. Anna remained leery but gave him her own impressive smile.

"Would you like to get a drink?" Jake asked as he stuck his hands into his pockets. She smiled at his slight moment of insecurity, and at this she could breathe.

"Sure." Anna hesitated before glancing back at her friends, but they were too interested in talking to others to pay attention to what was happening to her right behind them. Anna could hear Harmony telling everyone about their island. She mentioned something about a grand opening and huge party.

Anna turned back to Jake and decided to leave the two monkeys gripping each other. She was only too happy to follow Jake to one of the wet bars catered professionally. Even though they were at a catered party, there were still jerks like Harmony that drugged drinks when you turned your back, so Anna always made sure she got her drinks straight from the person that poured it and never left it unattended once she received it.

One of the corners of the room they stepped into served candy red apple martinis with the glasses dipped in white and gold crystal sugars. Along the walls were a few members of the staff that stood at the ends of long tables beautifully decorated with ice blocks holding plates full of sweet truffles, cakes and breads covered in various frosting as well as a bunch of colorful delights to attract the senses. After getting their drinks, Jake ushered Anna along the tables to fill up two plates each for them to try everything. Having survived seeing Bryce again, Anna felt the worst was behind her as she finally relaxed and stared to enjoy the evening.

Instead of faces crossing her vision she instead focused on bodies attached to hands full of plates and drinks in a balancing act of trying to avoid each other. Anna followed Jake down hallways of people playing in open game rooms, watching movies on big couches in lounge rooms and the more inebriated danced to music videos on giant screens.

The party was too tastefully done to have been designed by Bryce's hand, so Anna wondered if his mother was involved. Being a decorator as well, Anna mused as she took in the expensive arrangements and decorations that represented the New Year season in colors of red, gold, black, and white, then the royal colors of Christmas. However, twinkle lights cast glows of the solid colors in different rooms that reminded Anna of her lights at home on the trees in her garden. A sudden wave of loss punched her heart into her stomach. Anna bit her lip to change her mood, so nothing showed on her face. She concentrated on looking at everything in appreciation to cover her feelings.

Through the doors to the back balcony, Jake stepped aside and allowed her to choose where she sat outside on one of the private decks. Below them on the main level was a heated pool party almost as bright as the view of the town stretched out in lights across the mountain. There were houses and trees of the town that were still lit up with Christmas lights which gave the night a more magical quality. The sun had showed up during the day, so the air on the balcony didn't feel as cool as it felt when she first arrived. Anna also could feel hot hair blowing onto their feet from paneled heaters that lined the balcony. It truly gave a whole new level to heating up the outside.

"His electric bill must be atrocious." Jake said. Anna laughed, she hadn't even thought of that.

Jake sat across from her and chose to keep his back against the view of the pool, so he could see the spray of frozen bright stars sprinkled across the sky instead. Anna wondered if he also thought the stars seemed brighter and much closer than usual. They could hear the pool party from the balcony, but neither turned in interest.