No Games
Benjamin was just about to go through the door when Deidre intercepted his exit, asking if he was busy tomorrow night. He asked, "Won't you be working, still?" She replied, "I can take off for you." He declined and she asked again with a "please?", this time drawing an eye-roll for a response.
For the past few weeks they had become pseudo-friends. Benjamin came to the café regularly and Deidre happened to be the only waitress he could stand. As a misogynist it was unusual, but the truth was that it wasn't as if he hated women; he just didn't want to be bothered by them, much more so than by other males. However, even here the waiters were intolerable. He preferred Deidre because she was the quiet one.
She mentioned once that Benjamin always came by not long after she began her shift. They made an agreement in which she would pick him up on the days he would be coming by (it was more often than not) so they could arrive at the same time, and then they would leave separately.
"Please, Benjamin? Please," Deidre tugged at his sleeve gently, and ducked when he nearly slapped her by reflex. "God!"
"Ah shite," Benjamin stuck the offending hand in his pocket and ran the other through his hair, looking around to see if anyone was watching. One table displayed either shocked or angry faces. Benjamin thought to look away but he wasn't ashamed, so he stared at them until they returned to their meal. He sighed and looked back at Deidre. "M'sorry, I didn't mean to try and hit'y."
Deidre had her hand over her chest, collecting herself slowly. "God!"
"I said m'sorry!"
"You--you have to come to dinner with me tomorrow."
"Still?"
"Just wait for me. Okay? You're coming. You have to." Deidre smoothed the stray hairs back into her ponytail. "You're going to compensate for this."
"I didn't even hit'y. Don't tell me what t'do."
"If not for this, then--then please just do it because you owe me a favor. Okay? Are you fair enough to do that for me, Ben?"
"What d'you mean--" Benjamin placed his palm on his face. "What d'you mean 'fair enough'? Y'think I'm some no-good feckin' sleaze out t'feck over the next nicest person? Don't think y'know me that way."
"So you'll do it?"
"Why?"
"My--" She took a quick glance outside, speaking quickly because she had to get back to work. "My ex has been stalking me for for the past week. I didn't--" She held up her hands as Benjamin began to complain, "I didn't even know, okay? I had no idea. But he's already seen me with you, and--"
"And let me guess, y'told him we were dating 'cause he wants t'get back with'y but y'don't feel the same?"
"No, but I did tell him that I liked you."
"Now I feel bad."
"So you'll come with me tomorrow night?"
"I meant I feel bad 'cause you can't find anybody else better t'like," Benjamin began to turn away but Deidre grasped his sleeve again. "Get off me. M'gonna see you tomorrow night so let me get to my meeting."
"You.. You're coming?"
"I didn't say no, did I?"
"But you didn't say yes."
"Yes then," Benjamin hissed, "if you hav'te be so mistrusting. Question though, s'he really stalking you so much that he's gonna watch us have dinner together?"
"He watches me when I'm grocery shopping. I think yes."
"S'he watching us right now?"
"I didn't see him outside."
"S'he got a name?"
Deidre pouted and looked off to the side, shifting all her weight onto one leg. "I'm trying to get him away without causing as much pain as possible, Ben."
"Bullshite, I'll be the one doing it anyway."
"Benjamin!"
"Feck," Benjamin growled and rolled his eyes, flicking his wrist to check his watch. Already late. "Just give me a name, Deidre."
"Cody Bikofsky." Deidre averted her eyes again. "He has blue eyes and this weird mix of like, brown and blond hair. He looks like a douchebag."
"Now see, y'just want trouble to happen upon'im. Y'never had to tell me what he looked like."
"I thought that you would ask anyway."
"Eh, yeah." Pause. "Why the feck would you date a douchebag? Oh wait." Benjamin blinked. "I got it already, never mind. Figures. Don't try t'get drunk tomorrow night because m'not taking you home."
"What are you talking about?"
"I know what kinda girl you are. Y'date douchebags because they are douchebags. Makes sense why you took a liking t'me 'cause I seem like a sleaze." Benjamin checked his pockets for a cigarette, and then remembered he was trying to quit smoking. "Y're about as lewd as I am. I refuse t'feck'y, s'the difference. Anyhow, get back t'work." He left before she could let in another word.
Outside, he did see a blue-eyed young man with mixed hair. Benjamin went over, trying to hide his limp. "Cody?"
Cody looked at him as if he was surprised. "You know who I am?"
"Save it. If I see you anywhere this girl named Deidre after this, I'm drilling all yer teeth out and making y'suck my cock. I think y're gonna like it, too, since y'look like a poof."
Cody reached out to grab Benjamin by his shirt collar and raised his other fist, suddenly red. "What the fuck did you just say?"
"Piss off, wanker!" Benjamin jerked his knee up and smashed it against Cody's groin.
-
By the time Benjamin had finally gotten to the building where the meeting was going to be taking place, Anthaniel had just arrived as well. They stared at each other, waiting for a greeting from the other man first.
Just to keep cordial, Benjamin let go of his impassivity and waved. When Anthaniel made no move back, he felt awkward and slightly upset, then wondered if this was how it felt to be everyone else who tried to do the same with himself. Benjamin wondered briefly if he should change that reaction.
"Ugh, sorry." Anthaniel shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Didn't mean to be rude. So how's everything going for you, Benny?" He opened the door for him, making a gesture that meant 'after you'.
Benjamin stepped through and glanced back to make sure Anthaniel was following. "Eh, s'just going." He was about to stop talking but then recalled that good conversation meant showing interest in the other person. "And you?"
Anthaniel made a so-so movement with his hand. "I got threatened just before I got here, so I'm a little bit on edge."
"That explains it." Pause. "Threatened by who?"
"Have you ever heard of this guy named Dima Swedlow?"
"Uh no. Should I know about him?"
"Sort of. He's not a significant figure when it comes to the big picture of our 'wonderful' working world, but he's famous for his bullfuckery so anyone who has no more room for stress usually tries to avoid him." Anthaniel took Benjamin's arm lightly to lead him down a hallway. "This way."
"Slow down," Benjamin pulled his arm back to let it swing by his side. "I hurt my knee. What're my chances of meeting this wanker?"
"Not very since he's stationed in South Africa, but since I ran into him this morning I guess anything can happen. The city is magical like that, I tell you. What happened with your knee?"
"Nothing important. What'd he threaten'y fer?"
"He thinks I'm an "arrogant, two-faced, cock-sucking piece of shit who was born out of his mother's asshole and whose next armful should be just a tube of air if not some high-grade heroin for your brother so he won't cry or throw up the next time you fuck him". And okay, he may be right about a lot of that, but the incest detail went too far."
Benjamin furrowed his eyebrows, still trying to wrap his head around the strange insult. "..That was creative."
"Yeah. I told him he should write a book about me."
Benjamin snorted. "We all know y're a badass, Anthaniel; no need to tell me what yer retort was."
"Actually, no." Anthaniel drew his shades down and leaned in to show Benjamin a fresh black eye. "Moral: take the high road."
Benjamin wrinkled his nose at the bruise. "Got'che." Then he thought about his encounter with Cody.
"Good."
Anthaniel took Benjamin's arm again and led him into the stairwell, one flight down into another hallway. One right turn, and towards the first door on the left. As soon as Anthaniel turned the knob, Ju Cai pushed the door open and accidentally hit Benjamin in the face. "Oops! Who was that?"
Benjamin rubbed his forehead and stepped back. "That was me."
"I'm so sorry! Come on in," Ju Cai quickly ushered Benjamin in so he could pull the door shut on Anthaniel. "You're late, my little freak!"
Anthaniel knocked on the door although he knew Ju Cai wouldn't respond to it. "Benny was late too, you know." He sighed. "I had a bad day, I don't want any games, alright? Let me in."
Ju Cai opened the door quickly. "What bad day? What happened to you?" He pushed Benjamin to take a seat next to Deep, who was watching wordlessly with a small smile. "Come on, vampire, talk to me. Are you alright? What's the story?" He stepped outside with him and shut the door quietly.
"Look at what that Dima fucker did to me," Anthaniel took his shades off. "Alright, not that bad, but it's fucking Dima."
"What's that asshole doing in the country?" Ju Cai shook his head. "What'd he hit you for?"
"He doesn't like me."
"That's it?"
Anthaniel made an incredulous face, wide-eyed, and held a shrug. "I fucking guess so, man. You can ask Benny what he said to me."
"Benny was there?"
"No, no. I told him."
Ju Cai folded his arms, shaking his head. "That fucking Dima is a punk. What's that asshole doing in the country, seriously.."
"Anyway, how are you doing?"
Ju Cai made the same so-so gesture that Anthaniel made earlier. "I've been wanting to visit Taylor's grave but they sent her somewhere I wasn't allowed to know."
Anthaniel returned the sunglasses back onto his face. "Who's they?"
Ju Cai shrugged. "I'm not allowed to know that either. Way to be a fag and wear Perry Ellis, by the way."
Anthaniel looked down at his suit and brushed some dust off the lapels. "So what, you're telling me I don't look good? Fuck you."
"No, it's because you look fine, you fairy." Ju Cai opened the door and shoved Anthaniel in. "Sit down, sit down. Did Deep tell you guys about what happened to Lionel?"
"No," Anthaniel said, taking a seat. "What happened?"
"He was just about to tell me," Benjamin pointed his thumb at Deep.
"Then tell us now." Anthaniel raised his arm at Deep while Ju Cai sat down at the table. "What happened?"
"He jumped out the fifth story of a building." Deep made a surprised face, opening his mouth wide. Anthaniel and Benjamin shared a "what?" reaction and Ju Cai laughed. "But the best part is that he can still walk."
"Fuck you! No goddamn way," Anthaniel laughed out of relief, having just thought that Lionel had died or was in a vegetative state. "There's just no goddamn way."
"Hold on, hold on." Benjamin held a hand up. "Don't tell me. He's bionic, isn't he?"
"Ooh, check out who's been reading the dictionary!" Ju Cai punched Benjamin's arm lightly.
Benjamin looked back at him curiously. "How do y'know about that?"
"He's not bionic," Deep laughed. "It would have been so much easier to believe, but no, he isn't. He's fractured a lot of things but he's still walking; at least, forcing himself to walk. He doesn't want any sort of help it seems."
"I can't call him lightning rod anymore. He's Bionic Man," Anthaniel snorted and shook his head. "Just how the fuck does one get up just fine after a fall like that? Did he, like, do a fucking dance or something? Say 'ta-da' and do that jazz hand shit? Tell me he at least punched someone in the face."
"Better yet, scream 'yippee ki-yay, motherfucker'?" Ju Cai asked.
Deep started laughing hard, putting his head down on the table to keep himself from squirming around too much. Benjamin snorted and covered his face. He muffled out, "Drop him from a place twice that height; that would be even better."
"Oh god," Ju Cai shut his eyes. "You just killed it for us."
"What're y'talking about? I didn't kill shite. Wasn't giving Lionel a standard'r anything."
Anthaniel laughed briefly, the dimples appearing and disappearing. There were two people in the room who had them--unfortunately they were self-conscious. "You should say that to his face and see what he does."
Benjamin stopped to think about it. "I can't tell if he'd be passive enough t'agree or insulted enough t'punch me through a wall."
"He probably would do the former," Deep said. "It's actually quite strange. He seems to be very annoyed by all of the attention."
"Dude." Anthaniel deadpanned. "So why the fuck did you tell us?"
"I thought you would have liked to know. Wouldn't you?"
"Well, yeah. But some confidentiality might benefit his anti-attention thing, right?"
"Which is why I only told you three." Deep smiled.
"Fine, fine."
"And to think that for all the inactivity he's been sitting out, this is the most action that he may get yet." Deep sighed. "Of course, perhaps it may be good that he doesn't get involved in too much. Leo's a nice guy. Do you know that he set up a video for me?"
"What video?" Ju Cai asked. "How would we have known?"
"He recorded everyone at work telling me about themselves. It was very sweet."
"That sounds nice," Ju Cai looked at Anthaniel and Benjamin. "Doesn't it?" Benjamin shrugged.
"Sure it does," Anthaniel touched the back of his neck. "Is this was the meeting was for?"
Deep shook his head and shrugged. "Oh, no. I didn't call this. I think Ju Cai did."
"Huh? Oh! Yes, that's correct." Ju Cai nodded. "Sorry, I get caught off-track with side conversations so easily.."
"Well, out with it now." Benjamin made a motion.
"Without getting into an unnecessarily long-winded story.. Avner woke me up to apologize."
Deep leaned back suddenly in his chair, as though he had been knocked back by someone's fist. Anthaniel let out a low whistle and raised his eyebrows, looking down. He was about to say, 'I can't believe he listened to me' but that was insignificant. "That must have been an interesting conversation."
"In truth, it was the shortest conversation of my life. He called, I get pulled out of a dream, he said he was sorry, and then I hit the button that makes the phone hang up. What's the story, Benjamin? You look like you want to say something."
"Uh, yeah," The Irishman rubbed his eyes. "I know we're all mad at Avner, but I just wanted t'ask why. No one ever explained t'me what the feck happened."
The other three looked between each other. "I thought you were going to do it," Anthaniel said to Deep. "I thought you already did it," Deep said back to Anthaniel. "I left it to you two," Ju Cai said to both. "Well--" they all started.
"someone's going to have to tell him now."
note: yes, this was posted late too. this happened a bit after 12:30 in the afternoon.
For the past few weeks they had become pseudo-friends. Benjamin came to the café regularly and Deidre happened to be the only waitress he could stand. As a misogynist it was unusual, but the truth was that it wasn't as if he hated women; he just didn't want to be bothered by them, much more so than by other males. However, even here the waiters were intolerable. He preferred Deidre because she was the quiet one.
She mentioned once that Benjamin always came by not long after she began her shift. They made an agreement in which she would pick him up on the days he would be coming by (it was more often than not) so they could arrive at the same time, and then they would leave separately.
"Please, Benjamin? Please," Deidre tugged at his sleeve gently, and ducked when he nearly slapped her by reflex. "God!"
"Ah shite," Benjamin stuck the offending hand in his pocket and ran the other through his hair, looking around to see if anyone was watching. One table displayed either shocked or angry faces. Benjamin thought to look away but he wasn't ashamed, so he stared at them until they returned to their meal. He sighed and looked back at Deidre. "M'sorry, I didn't mean to try and hit'y."
Deidre had her hand over her chest, collecting herself slowly. "God!"
"I said m'sorry!"
"You--you have to come to dinner with me tomorrow."
"Still?"
"Just wait for me. Okay? You're coming. You have to." Deidre smoothed the stray hairs back into her ponytail. "You're going to compensate for this."
"I didn't even hit'y. Don't tell me what t'do."
"If not for this, then--then please just do it because you owe me a favor. Okay? Are you fair enough to do that for me, Ben?"
"What d'you mean--" Benjamin placed his palm on his face. "What d'you mean 'fair enough'? Y'think I'm some no-good feckin' sleaze out t'feck over the next nicest person? Don't think y'know me that way."
"So you'll do it?"
"Why?"
"My--" She took a quick glance outside, speaking quickly because she had to get back to work. "My ex has been stalking me for for the past week. I didn't--" She held up her hands as Benjamin began to complain, "I didn't even know, okay? I had no idea. But he's already seen me with you, and--"
"And let me guess, y'told him we were dating 'cause he wants t'get back with'y but y'don't feel the same?"
"No, but I did tell him that I liked you."
"Now I feel bad."
"So you'll come with me tomorrow night?"
"I meant I feel bad 'cause you can't find anybody else better t'like," Benjamin began to turn away but Deidre grasped his sleeve again. "Get off me. M'gonna see you tomorrow night so let me get to my meeting."
"You.. You're coming?"
"I didn't say no, did I?"
"But you didn't say yes."
"Yes then," Benjamin hissed, "if you hav'te be so mistrusting. Question though, s'he really stalking you so much that he's gonna watch us have dinner together?"
"He watches me when I'm grocery shopping. I think yes."
"S'he watching us right now?"
"I didn't see him outside."
"S'he got a name?"
Deidre pouted and looked off to the side, shifting all her weight onto one leg. "I'm trying to get him away without causing as much pain as possible, Ben."
"Bullshite, I'll be the one doing it anyway."
"Benjamin!"
"Feck," Benjamin growled and rolled his eyes, flicking his wrist to check his watch. Already late. "Just give me a name, Deidre."
"Cody Bikofsky." Deidre averted her eyes again. "He has blue eyes and this weird mix of like, brown and blond hair. He looks like a douchebag."
"Now see, y'just want trouble to happen upon'im. Y'never had to tell me what he looked like."
"I thought that you would ask anyway."
"Eh, yeah." Pause. "Why the feck would you date a douchebag? Oh wait." Benjamin blinked. "I got it already, never mind. Figures. Don't try t'get drunk tomorrow night because m'not taking you home."
"What are you talking about?"
"I know what kinda girl you are. Y'date douchebags because they are douchebags. Makes sense why you took a liking t'me 'cause I seem like a sleaze." Benjamin checked his pockets for a cigarette, and then remembered he was trying to quit smoking. "Y're about as lewd as I am. I refuse t'feck'y, s'the difference. Anyhow, get back t'work." He left before she could let in another word.
Outside, he did see a blue-eyed young man with mixed hair. Benjamin went over, trying to hide his limp. "Cody?"
Cody looked at him as if he was surprised. "You know who I am?"
"Save it. If I see you anywhere this girl named Deidre after this, I'm drilling all yer teeth out and making y'suck my cock. I think y're gonna like it, too, since y'look like a poof."
Cody reached out to grab Benjamin by his shirt collar and raised his other fist, suddenly red. "What the fuck did you just say?"
"Piss off, wanker!" Benjamin jerked his knee up and smashed it against Cody's groin.
-
By the time Benjamin had finally gotten to the building where the meeting was going to be taking place, Anthaniel had just arrived as well. They stared at each other, waiting for a greeting from the other man first.
Just to keep cordial, Benjamin let go of his impassivity and waved. When Anthaniel made no move back, he felt awkward and slightly upset, then wondered if this was how it felt to be everyone else who tried to do the same with himself. Benjamin wondered briefly if he should change that reaction.
"Ugh, sorry." Anthaniel shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Didn't mean to be rude. So how's everything going for you, Benny?" He opened the door for him, making a gesture that meant 'after you'.
Benjamin stepped through and glanced back to make sure Anthaniel was following. "Eh, s'just going." He was about to stop talking but then recalled that good conversation meant showing interest in the other person. "And you?"
Anthaniel made a so-so movement with his hand. "I got threatened just before I got here, so I'm a little bit on edge."
"That explains it." Pause. "Threatened by who?"
"Have you ever heard of this guy named Dima Swedlow?"
"Uh no. Should I know about him?"
"Sort of. He's not a significant figure when it comes to the big picture of our 'wonderful' working world, but he's famous for his bullfuckery so anyone who has no more room for stress usually tries to avoid him." Anthaniel took Benjamin's arm lightly to lead him down a hallway. "This way."
"Slow down," Benjamin pulled his arm back to let it swing by his side. "I hurt my knee. What're my chances of meeting this wanker?"
"Not very since he's stationed in South Africa, but since I ran into him this morning I guess anything can happen. The city is magical like that, I tell you. What happened with your knee?"
"Nothing important. What'd he threaten'y fer?"
"He thinks I'm an "arrogant, two-faced, cock-sucking piece of shit who was born out of his mother's asshole and whose next armful should be just a tube of air if not some high-grade heroin for your brother so he won't cry or throw up the next time you fuck him". And okay, he may be right about a lot of that, but the incest detail went too far."
Benjamin furrowed his eyebrows, still trying to wrap his head around the strange insult. "..That was creative."
"Yeah. I told him he should write a book about me."
Benjamin snorted. "We all know y're a badass, Anthaniel; no need to tell me what yer retort was."
"Actually, no." Anthaniel drew his shades down and leaned in to show Benjamin a fresh black eye. "Moral: take the high road."
Benjamin wrinkled his nose at the bruise. "Got'che." Then he thought about his encounter with Cody.
"Good."
Anthaniel took Benjamin's arm again and led him into the stairwell, one flight down into another hallway. One right turn, and towards the first door on the left. As soon as Anthaniel turned the knob, Ju Cai pushed the door open and accidentally hit Benjamin in the face. "Oops! Who was that?"
Benjamin rubbed his forehead and stepped back. "That was me."
"I'm so sorry! Come on in," Ju Cai quickly ushered Benjamin in so he could pull the door shut on Anthaniel. "You're late, my little freak!"
Anthaniel knocked on the door although he knew Ju Cai wouldn't respond to it. "Benny was late too, you know." He sighed. "I had a bad day, I don't want any games, alright? Let me in."
Ju Cai opened the door quickly. "What bad day? What happened to you?" He pushed Benjamin to take a seat next to Deep, who was watching wordlessly with a small smile. "Come on, vampire, talk to me. Are you alright? What's the story?" He stepped outside with him and shut the door quietly.
"Look at what that Dima fucker did to me," Anthaniel took his shades off. "Alright, not that bad, but it's fucking Dima."
"What's that asshole doing in the country?" Ju Cai shook his head. "What'd he hit you for?"
"He doesn't like me."
"That's it?"
Anthaniel made an incredulous face, wide-eyed, and held a shrug. "I fucking guess so, man. You can ask Benny what he said to me."
"Benny was there?"
"No, no. I told him."
Ju Cai folded his arms, shaking his head. "That fucking Dima is a punk. What's that asshole doing in the country, seriously.."
"Anyway, how are you doing?"
Ju Cai made the same so-so gesture that Anthaniel made earlier. "I've been wanting to visit Taylor's grave but they sent her somewhere I wasn't allowed to know."
Anthaniel returned the sunglasses back onto his face. "Who's they?"
Ju Cai shrugged. "I'm not allowed to know that either. Way to be a fag and wear Perry Ellis, by the way."
Anthaniel looked down at his suit and brushed some dust off the lapels. "So what, you're telling me I don't look good? Fuck you."
"No, it's because you look fine, you fairy." Ju Cai opened the door and shoved Anthaniel in. "Sit down, sit down. Did Deep tell you guys about what happened to Lionel?"
"No," Anthaniel said, taking a seat. "What happened?"
"He was just about to tell me," Benjamin pointed his thumb at Deep.
"Then tell us now." Anthaniel raised his arm at Deep while Ju Cai sat down at the table. "What happened?"
"He jumped out the fifth story of a building." Deep made a surprised face, opening his mouth wide. Anthaniel and Benjamin shared a "what?" reaction and Ju Cai laughed. "But the best part is that he can still walk."
"Fuck you! No goddamn way," Anthaniel laughed out of relief, having just thought that Lionel had died or was in a vegetative state. "There's just no goddamn way."
"Hold on, hold on." Benjamin held a hand up. "Don't tell me. He's bionic, isn't he?"
"Ooh, check out who's been reading the dictionary!" Ju Cai punched Benjamin's arm lightly.
Benjamin looked back at him curiously. "How do y'know about that?"
"He's not bionic," Deep laughed. "It would have been so much easier to believe, but no, he isn't. He's fractured a lot of things but he's still walking; at least, forcing himself to walk. He doesn't want any sort of help it seems."
"I can't call him lightning rod anymore. He's Bionic Man," Anthaniel snorted and shook his head. "Just how the fuck does one get up just fine after a fall like that? Did he, like, do a fucking dance or something? Say 'ta-da' and do that jazz hand shit? Tell me he at least punched someone in the face."
"Better yet, scream 'yippee ki-yay, motherfucker'?" Ju Cai asked.
Deep started laughing hard, putting his head down on the table to keep himself from squirming around too much. Benjamin snorted and covered his face. He muffled out, "Drop him from a place twice that height; that would be even better."
"Oh god," Ju Cai shut his eyes. "You just killed it for us."
"What're y'talking about? I didn't kill shite. Wasn't giving Lionel a standard'r anything."
Anthaniel laughed briefly, the dimples appearing and disappearing. There were two people in the room who had them--unfortunately they were self-conscious. "You should say that to his face and see what he does."
Benjamin stopped to think about it. "I can't tell if he'd be passive enough t'agree or insulted enough t'punch me through a wall."
"He probably would do the former," Deep said. "It's actually quite strange. He seems to be very annoyed by all of the attention."
"Dude." Anthaniel deadpanned. "So why the fuck did you tell us?"
"I thought you would have liked to know. Wouldn't you?"
"Well, yeah. But some confidentiality might benefit his anti-attention thing, right?"
"Which is why I only told you three." Deep smiled.
"Fine, fine."
"And to think that for all the inactivity he's been sitting out, this is the most action that he may get yet." Deep sighed. "Of course, perhaps it may be good that he doesn't get involved in too much. Leo's a nice guy. Do you know that he set up a video for me?"
"What video?" Ju Cai asked. "How would we have known?"
"He recorded everyone at work telling me about themselves. It was very sweet."
"That sounds nice," Ju Cai looked at Anthaniel and Benjamin. "Doesn't it?" Benjamin shrugged.
"Sure it does," Anthaniel touched the back of his neck. "Is this was the meeting was for?"
Deep shook his head and shrugged. "Oh, no. I didn't call this. I think Ju Cai did."
"Huh? Oh! Yes, that's correct." Ju Cai nodded. "Sorry, I get caught off-track with side conversations so easily.."
"Well, out with it now." Benjamin made a motion.
"Without getting into an unnecessarily long-winded story.. Avner woke me up to apologize."
Deep leaned back suddenly in his chair, as though he had been knocked back by someone's fist. Anthaniel let out a low whistle and raised his eyebrows, looking down. He was about to say, 'I can't believe he listened to me' but that was insignificant. "That must have been an interesting conversation."
"In truth, it was the shortest conversation of my life. He called, I get pulled out of a dream, he said he was sorry, and then I hit the button that makes the phone hang up. What's the story, Benjamin? You look like you want to say something."
"Uh, yeah," The Irishman rubbed his eyes. "I know we're all mad at Avner, but I just wanted t'ask why. No one ever explained t'me what the feck happened."
The other three looked between each other. "I thought you were going to do it," Anthaniel said to Deep. "I thought you already did it," Deep said back to Anthaniel. "I left it to you two," Ju Cai said to both. "Well--" they all started.
"someone's going to have to tell him now."
note: yes, this was posted late too. this happened a bit after 12:30 in the afternoon.