Finally time for game night.

Chapter 2 – So it’s real, now what? (continued)

Jason wasn’t the first to arrive at Kyle’s apartment. Though seeing Manny getting set up made him feel momentarily awkward, remembering the info he’d read about him on the app. But he put that out of his mind as he met Kyle in the kitchen, a bag with the 2-litres in one hand. “These are still cool, but should go in the fridge right away.” He advised.

Once the drinks were taken care of, they went into the living room to set up. Kyle had most of his things in place, and he moved around doing some last minute cleaning while Jason arranged his spot at the table.

Chloe arrived next, barely remembering to knock before storming in like she owned the place. She took her own snacks into the kitchen and returned, sitting next to Jason and giving him an unexpected hug.

“Hey, why does Jason get a hug?” Manny asked, startling them both.

“Because Jason needs one.” Chloe said, rolling her eyes. “Things have been rough for him lately, isn’t that right?”

“What if I need one too?” Manny whined.

“Hey knock it off.” Jason told him then turned to Chloe. “While I appreciate you looking after me, we should probably keep the PDA to a minimum.”

Chloe laughed, “Alright, I see your point. Sorry if we made you uncomfortable, Manny.” She emphasized their friend’s name right as Kyle came back into the room.

“Hey no fighting. Save it for the orc hordes.”

“Long live the Alliance!” Chloe whooped in response.

“Not that Horde.” Kyle said with a grin.

“Are we finally going to fight the chief tonight?” Jason asked.

“You’ll just have to wait to find out.”

There then came a knock at the door, and Kyle moved to answer it, admitting Gabe into the house. He and Kyle went to the kitchen for a few minutes, and came back with bowls of chips and smaller bowls with the dip. They deposited them on the table next to the jerky Chloe had brought, and both sat down. Kyle gave Gabe a minute to get mostly set up before launching into his recap of the previous month’s session. They were about an hour into sneaking through the orcish territories when the doorbell rang. Chloe and Jason were closest to the door, so they got up to meet a food delivery guy. They offered a tip, but he said the tip was already covered, so all they had to do was take the boxes off his hands, and bring the food into the kitchen.

At that point, Kyle called a break so they could all serve themselves plates, each of them deciding what they wanted out of the amazing aroma’s still steaming out of the open a la carte boxes.

They had moved back to the living room, and were halfway through the meal when V knocked and was let in to the room. He was still in his suit, though it looked a little rumpled. He really had just come from the airport.

He helped himself to some of the food he’d paid for, and came back to get himself set up to join in. The rest of the night went well, although Chloe’s ranger almost died. They didn’t run into the orcish chieftain who had been uniting all the disparate clans, but they did take out a few patrols, and stole an old relic from one of the camps. Jason was proud of that part, as a good strategy and some lucky rolls from his rogue were responsible for that feat, and then V’s sorcerer managed to cover his retreat with some illusions. The moment was so tense and exciting that Chloe gave him a high five accompanied by a shrill cheer when they finally made it out.

By then it was getting quite late, and Kyle decided to wrap things up, making notes on the state of the game before giving them a descriptive epilogue to end the night, and set the tone for the next session.

They all said their goodbyes, and V bummed a ride with Gabe since he’d been dropped off by a taxi and didn’t have a car to get home. Then after a few minutes it was just Kyle, Jason and Chloe, who wanted to talk to him on their way out. So they said goodbye to Kyle, and thanked him for his hospitality, and walked outside into the cool night together.

“So.” Chloe began as they walked. “I know we’ll have more time to talk tomorrow. But I thought maybe you’d want to give me a heads-up what all is on your mind?” She kept her black eyes on him, her long dark hair tied back in a nearly knee-length braid to keep it out of her face. In the dim light she looked kind of exotic, but she was at least tall enough that she didn’t have to crane her neck too badly to look up at him, no more than two or three inches shorter than Kate, and certainly not as fit. She was slender, but with wide shoulders for her frame, and not much of a curve to her waist, though she had strong legs at least, and if he was noticing (which he was, possibly for the first time) a great ass that filled out her jeans quite nicely. Top that with a print t-shirt with a metal band logo on it under a denim jacket that hid what little chest she had, and a feather and bead necklace which was the only acknowledgment of her Navajo heritage.

She quirked her head to one side when he didn’t answer right away, instead taking a moment to examine her. But finally he turned to face forward, composing his thoughts. “I said things with Stephani were complicated.”

“You did.” She nodded. “You feeling frustrated with the long distance thing again?”

“Yeah.” He agreed, “Though it’s not just that. What if… what if Stephani isn’t really Stephani?”

“What, you mean like… someone stole her identity?”

“Or maybe her identity was never real to begin with.”

“What?!” Chloe stopped walking, and Jason was two paces further on before he stopped as well, and turned back to face her. “Where is this coming from?”

Jason sighed. “Like I said, it’s complicated, but I’m not just having doubts out of nowhere. I’ve learned some things, but…” He paused. He couldn’t show her the app. If he was going to explain it to her, he’d need time to convince her. But of all his friends, she was the one who actually encouraged his interest in wiccan magic and such. So maybe she would believe this. “I don’t know yet how trustworthy this information is. I was hoping you would help me sort it out.

“Wow.” Chloe started walking again, and he turned to follow her. This was her way of hiding her expression so she could think without him interrupting, and he let her take the lead to where their vehicles were parked. “When you said you wanted a casual date, I wasn’t expecting something this heavy.”

“You were the one who brought up dating.” He reminded her.

“Trying to have a serious moment here.” Chloe complained.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be, just stop being a dork for a few minutes.” She set her backpack on the trunk of his Accord then turned back around and leaned against the passenger-side window. “Well, when we meet tomorrow, make sure you bring whatever information you’ve dug up. And I promise I’ll do my best to help you sort through it all. I’ll reserve all judgment until after, but I swear if Steph is actually some catfisher, I’m gonna find out where she lives, drive up there and wreck her stupid face. It’ll be up to you to hold me back if you want to keep me out of prison.”

“Yeah, you wouldn’t last too long in prison.” Jason was only half joking.

“I said we’re being serious.” She growled at him.

“I am being serious. I don’t want you to go to prison, though I appreciate the sentiment at least.”

She smirked, “Well, since you brought it up, I’d just have to find the biggest baddest dyke in the joint and make myself her bitch, that’s how I’d survive.”

“Chloe!” Jason blushed, but also couldn’t help grinning. “But, I didn’t think you even like girls…?”

She shrugged, “I don’t. But that’s not the point. If I gotta munch some rug to stay alive in prison, then I’ll learn not to let pubes in my teeth bother me.”

Jason just shook his head, and moved to lean against the car next to her. “If you’re trying to make me not want to think of you in any sort of sexual situation ever again, you’re doing a good job of it.” He leaned back and looked up at the night sky, not that they could see many stars in the city.

“So… how often do you do that?”

“Huh? Do what?” He glanced back down at her, now a little closer to her eye level since they were both leaning against the car, with her feet still on the curb while one of his was on street level next to it.

She nudged his shoulder with hers, “Think of me doin’ sexy shit?”

It was hard to tell with her darker skin, and the poor lighting, but he thought he could detect a blush on her cheeks. “You want an honest answer to that one?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Promise not to hold it against me?”

“Never. Best friends, remember? You’re not getting rid of me that easy.”

“The truth is… kinda never.”

Whatever Chloe had expected him to say, that wasn’t it. She looked shocked, and stood up from the car to turn and face him directly, though she still wasn’t quite at eye level with him even then. “Should I be offended by that?” She asked.

“You promised.”

“Yeah, but that was when I thought you were gonna say something perverted.”

He shrugged, “Well, when I said never, I guess that wasn’t one hundred percent true either.”

“Then what? You were just jerking me around, even after I said I wanted the truth?”

“No. It’s true. Just… right up until tonight.”

“What do you mean?”

“I checked you out tonight.” He told her. “After we texted about the date thing, I realized I’d never even considered you as much of anything but my best friend. Probably even closer than me and Kyle. But you’re maybe more than that. Especially if things fall apart between me and Stephani. So yeah. Never, until tonight. Is the full truth.”

She frowned, looking a bit annoyed still, but then she crooked a smile and turned her face away shyly, before turning back to look him in the eye. “Okay, so how did I rate?” She asked, catching him off guard again.

“Rate what?”

“You said you checked me out, so how did I rate?” She asked, striking a pose with one hand on her hip. “Or did you maybe want a better look?”

“Uh…” Jason looked her up and down again, but swiftly, not really sure how to answer.

“Oh come on, gotta give me something.” She insisted, moving to take off her jacket and lay it on the hood of his car, before coming back to stand in front of him, then did a much more elaborate pose with her body half turned to the side with her shoulders back, her chest pushed forward and her beautiful butt on full display.

“So how do I look? Do I get your engine running at all?”

She seemed to sincerely want him to look, so who was he to say no? This time he let his eyes linger, scanning all the way down to her cowboy boots, up her shapely legs to that toned firm ass straining against the fabric of her jeans. The sleeves of her top were short enough to show off the bottom edge of her tribal tattoos on her upper arms. And in this position he could make out the subtle swell of her breasts against the loose shirt. Finally there was her smile. Her teeth were a little on the big side, but perfectly straight and almost unnaturally white. It was probably her best feature, next to her backside.

It was too chilly to really get aroused, but he did find her sexy, in her own way, and made a show of adjusting himself in his slacks. Her eyes went wide watching him do that then flew to his face. She was definitely blushing now. “I’m not going to lie to you, and tell you you’re the sexiest girl I’ve ever seen…” He started.

She laughed, “As if I’d even believe that from someone living with Heather effing Chase.”

It was his turn to blush, but he didn’t deny it, though he did continue after a moment, “But… you’re far sexier than I would have imagined before I’d thought to really look.”

Her grin was at once shy and elated at the same time. And she dropped her silly pose in order to step closer to him, standing in the space between his knees. Somehow, even though they weren’t touching, this felt more intimate even than when she hugged him, which she did quite frequently.

“Jason…” She began, sounding suddenly uncertain, but then giving herself a little shake and leaning just a little closer. “Look, I’m not going to kiss you, because we need to figure out this thing between you and Steph, and I’m not going to get in between that before we know for sure where you stand.”

“Alright, but…”

“No, shut up and let me finish. You don’t get to talk, or I’mma chicken out.”

Jason closed his mouth and nodded.

“I’m going to lean into you, and I’m going to hug you.” She said, and again Jason nodded. “Then I’m going to nuzzle your neck as you wrap your arms around me. I’m gonna press myself right up into you, understand?”

Again, Jason nodded, his mouth going dry.

“You’re gonna rub my back, and if you really do think I’m sexy, you are gonna rub down far enough to put a hand on my butt, but only for a moment, cause it has to be an accident or I’d consider it cheating. And I’m not that kind of girl.”

He started to nod, but she was already moving. True to her word, she fit herself right up against him, her slim hips notching into place just below his own, her arms sliding around his broad torso just under his arms, and her face angling right into his neck. Her hair smelled both sweet and spicy, like some combination of herbs, and a hint of cinnamon. When his hands landed on her back she flinched just a little, before relaxing back into his embrace. Even with the added height of the curb her head fit under his chin as he stroked up and down through her shirt a few times, feeling the strap of her bra through the polyester as her braid brushed against his knuckles. He let his palms go up and down, gradually going a little lower, before letting his right hand smooth over her belt while the left settled right in the curve of her spine. He rested his hand gently over one firm cheek, and flexed his fingers subtly without squeezing, then took his hand away.

Chloe pulled back enough to look him in the eye, pretending to be shocked at where his hand had just been. But her black eyes shimmered with unshed tears, forcing him to stammer out an apology, “Sorry… I…”

“It’s fine.” She said, hurriedly. “Just got a little carried away, right?”

He nodded, swallowing around the dryness in his mouth. She was still pressed against him, and the cold temperature was no longer sufficient to dampen his arousal. He saw the exact moment that she felt him, as her eyes widened, and she jerked back to her feet as if she’d been burned.

“Well, uh… I guess I’m flattered, but we really should get going, I guess.” She stuttered, sticking to her ‘accident’ narrative, though her hungry gaze lingering on his crotch told a different story. She finally tore herself away and moved to put her jacket back on, and buckle her backpack back into place.

“Maybe this will go nowhere.” She began, lifting her helmet from her bike’s seat, “But I’m glad we had this moment at least. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She wrapped her braid into a makeshift bun before stuffing it and her head into her visored helmet, and started the engine on her neon-green Kawasaki, saluted him, and drove off with a loud roar of her bike’s non-mufflered engine.

Jason sighed, looked down at the tent in his slacks, and shook his head as he unlocked his car, stashed his books and dice in the back seat, and started his car to drive home, but before putting it in drive, he unlocked his phone, and checked his messages. He had a couple notifications from Skype, and he’d get to those later. But first, he needed to look at the app.

Chloe Yazzie

Relationship: Best Friend, Gaming Buddy

Prominent Attitudes (out of 100): Loyalty 86 (+1), Friendship 68, Affection 64, Trust 46 (+4), Playfulness 41 (-1), Protectiveness 41 (+2), Love 28 (+14), Lust 11 (+11, Awakened)

Special Traits: Confidante (Awakened), Partner in Crime

Temporary Traits: Confused Lust

Well… those were some major changes. He’d really done a number on his best friend, hopefully nothing bad would come of it. He was still aroused himself, and he could understand and sympathize with her temporary trait of confused lust. Hopefully they’d be able to make better sense of the new direction in their relationship tomorrow.

There didn’t seem to be any changes to Kyle’s profile, or Gabe’s or V’s for that matter. But there was a minor difference with Manny.

Manfred Carson

Relationship: Gaming Buddy, Rival

Prominent Attitudes (out of 100): Friendship 19, Jealousy 5 (+1)

He couldn’t think what he could have done to make Manny more jealous of him? He’d have to figure out what exactly he was jealous about. In the meantime, he needed to get home before it got too much later.