Cevic

Chapter 4

Deep within the lungs of Earth

Where no Earthling seeks

 But for gold

Oblivious to the treasures held

And a cure to a Cevic illness

Ready to be taken under the full moon of the twenty-first hour

In exchange for a gift that means life or death

Teach thyself to play a game with one 

Who seeks retaliation and answers

 

 

-“Treasure” Cevic song-

 

 

Riddle

 

During lunchtime, I was introduced to a few of Isha’s friends, and Isha’s friends’ friends. Remembering the numerous, odd human names and matching them to the faces of the owners was the least of my concerns. Talking to many people wasn’t really my strongest trait, and I was afraid that I would let something stupid slip and make Isha be embarrassed of me.

  Fortunate I was that seemingly gregarious Rezia was there with me, but she could prevent slips from my lips forever.

  We had joined at least two tables together to eat.

Isha had pulled up her brown waves into a high ponytail, and had pulled on a white overall over her sweater and jeans, and due to the small tables and the lack of space, she had set down her lunch, sandwich, on her laps.

  There was her close girl friend, Lisa, whose hair was flaming red, let down in loose waves, wearing a top that I learned from Rezia was called turtleneck, and a skirt that revealed too much skin and seemed inappropriate for this cold weather. Lisa linked arms with a male human, whom I learned was her boyfriend who was called John or Jack, who wore enormous boots, had large square shoulders and a big chest.

 He had freckles across his nose, and he spoke in a low, intimidating voice, but he seemed very delicate and gentle for a fellow of his size.  

  Patricia was there too with Regina. Patricia had olive-colored enviably smooth skin, a small laugh, and black hair pulled into a no-nonsense sleek ponytail. She talked smart, fast, and was frighteningly aggressive, like Rezia was.

 An Asian human I had met from my History class, called James, was seated next to me. He was quiet, liked History probably as much as John/Jack liked Lisa, and was clearly artistic. Apparently he had won a couple of competitions, but his parents were against him drawing, so he had put down a pencil ever since.

  Both James and I weren’t much of talkers and we knew nearly nothing about each other.

  I plunged into endless small talk with Isha, who threw me questions to lead me in conversations easily.

  Lisa good-naturedly joined me in her conversations with her boyfriend, Jack/John, who tightened her arm around her, eyeing my every move with hard eyes, only loosening up when he heard from one of the conversations that I was going for a movie with Isha tomorrow.

  “Aren’t you going to eat anything, Eric?” asked Patricia, biting into her burger. “Do you have any specific…diet- like are you vegetarian or-“