The Immortals

Chapter 2

    A little while later at the bar, Vanessa slipped into the booth next to her friends. “Ok,” she started as soon as she sat down, “You will not believe the weird s**t that just happened to me.”

    Vanessa was sitting next to her best friend Kelsey. The two of them grew up together, living across the street from each other from the time they were 6. They spent all their time together, applied to the same colleges, picked the same school to attend, and were now roommates. Kelsey looked like your stereotypical cheerleader from the bad teen movies from the 90’s. She was tall and thin, but still had curves with natural blonde hair and ocean blue eyes. Kelsey wore no make-up, ever. She felt it was designed by the patriarchal system to keep women for knowing their true worth. Her skin was so pale, it was almost translucent and gave her an other-worldly look. Everyone always assumed she was a cheerleader growing up. But, Kelsey made it really clear she was not your typical blonde. Even now, while sitting at a bar with her best friends, Kelsey was only half paying attention while she read a Manga on her phone.

     “Hey, Nessa, nice to see you too. We’re doing great, thanks for asking,” her other roommate and other best friend Tiffany sarcastically replied while taking a sip of her beer. 

    Vanessa rolled her eyes while Tiffany’s boyfriend Ben chuckled. He was used to their banter and basically ignored it. Nessa and Kelsey met Tiffany when they were freshmen in college, they moved into their apartment with her during their sophomore year, and the three of them had lived together ever since. Even with being a newcomer, Tiffany fit right in. She was the tallest of the group and towered over 5’2 Nessa at nearly 5’9. Her milk chocolate skin was smooth, annoyingly so, and her round hazel eyes captivated any guy she met, and many women. But Tiffany was the only one of the trio in a serious relationship, having dated her boyfriend Ben for over two years now.

     “Sorry Tiff,” Nessa replied with the same amount of sarcasm dripping through her voice, “Hi Tiffany, Ben, Kelsey. How are you? How’s your day going?”

    Ben chuckled again and wrapped his arm around his girlfriend. “We’re good Ness, don’t worry about her,” he said while playfully nudging Tiffany, “She’s been in a mood all day. What’s going on?”

    Nessa looked over at Kelsey who still hadn’t looked up from her phone, and sighed, “Alright, at least one of you care,” she grabbed the beer that was just placed in front of her as the girls had ordered for her already, knowing exactly what she would want, and took a big slug, “Ok, so for the past week I’ve been having these crazy dreams.”

    Vanessa then proceeded to tell her friends everything, from the weird dreams, to the budget cut at her internship, and then finally the experience with the softball. Finally Kelsey looked up, “Wait? You what?”

    Tiffany rolled her eyes. Her friend was going insane. “Yeah, I know, I sound crazy,” Vanessa replied, “I probably am. And the kid didn’t see anything, so maybe the ball just stopped before it hit me, but I swear it was floating there for about two or three seconds before it crashed.

    “C’mon, Nessa,” Tiffany replied, “You’re insanely smart, are you really telling me you have, what is it called, telekinesis? Since when? And if you do, can you make something float now?”

    Vanessa sighed and ran her hands through her hair. She was starting to regret mentioning it. Kelsey had this fanatical look on her face like she wanted to throw her best friend into a lab and run all kinds of tests on her. Tiffany just thought she was losing her mind, and Ben had a thoughtful, but also doubtful look on his face. She knew he probably also thought she was imagining it, but he was too sweet to say it out loud.

     “No, I don’t know. It was probably nothing. I doubt I’m telekinetic or whatever. And I can’t do it now. I tried. If it really did happen, I think it was basically an instinct. I wanted to protect my face and it just, I don’t know, happened.”

     “Alright, girl, you sure you weren’t already drinking?” Tiff joked, “But seriously Nessa, you probably just need some sleep. I wouldn’t stress about that now. But,” her eyes lit up, “tell me more about this sexy dream man.”

    Ben gave his girlfriend a dirty look, “Really, Tiff, I’m sitting right here you know.”

     Tiffany shrugged, “I know babe, and I love you. But Nessa needs to get laid, probably part of the reason why she’s having dreams about sexy mystery men and imagining baseballs floating in the air. So if there’s any chance this guy is real, I’m here for it.”

    Ben rolled his eyes and drank his beer. He was resigned to listening to this girl talk. He really needed more guy friends.

     “Do you really think he might be real,” Kelsey asked after finally putting her phone away. She didn’t drink and was only here for the half off appetizers and her friends, “Maybe there’s a connection to the dreams and the telekinesis?”

     “Kels, I don’t have telekinesis, but I do think the dreams feel real at least. It’s not a normal dream. And I don’t know but I feel like this guy has to exist. I feel such a connection to him and I don’t know why.”

     “Ok, well give us every detail about this guy, has he spoken yet, everything you can possibly remember. If this dude exists, I’ll find him.”

     “How are you gonna find him, Tiff?” Vanessa asked, “I literally have a description of his face. I don’t have a name, address, age or anything. And he may not even be a real person.”

     “If he’s real I’ll find him. Now give me the info.” Realizing she wasn’t going to win this, and that also both her best friends were scary stalkers when it came to social media and the internet, she began describing the dreams and the man in detail.

     Over at the bar, the man with the gray eyes scowled into his whisky. His back was turned to the group, but his hearing was excellent, and he could hear every word. Why was she telling her friends all of this? It would just make the decision that much harder when the time came.

    For the hundredth time in the last week since he was given her name and came to New York, Caleb Black wondered why the Elders selected her. He knew that the Elders were never wrong, and stood by their decision even when Caleb questioned it, but he didn’t know why a girl with such close ties would be selected. How did they expect her to give up her friends and family? And for that matter her job? But, he reminded himself, his opinion didn’t matter, as the Elders had informed him many times. His job was just to watch her for now, and make sure she stayed safe until she was ready.

    And despite his annoyance, it was actually a fascinating assignment. This girl was unlike anybody else he ever met, or unlike anyone else selected before, he imagined. He enjoyed watching her. And it was not only for her looks, though she was beautiful, but she was actually an interesting person. She was very smart and her thoughts and contributions to her research project amazed Caleb. She thought outside of normal convention and had very fresh ideas. Maybe that was why the Elders selected her. It would be nice to bring a fresh perspective.

     Caleb found himself liking the girl despite himself. He still had his doubts about her being the right choice and if she would want to give up her current life, but that decision would be hers when she was ready. For now Caleb would just watch and drink his whisky. And apparently, listen to three college girls describe him in detail, adding their own fantasies on what Vanessa should do with him if “sexy dream man” as they were calling him, was real. He shook his head. Women’s imaginations had really expanded over the years. Caleb was not one to get embarrassed easily, yet he almost felt himself blush as the women talked, completely unaware that their subject was only a few feet away.

     “Alright ladies, I’m done with this conversation,” the only man at the table, Ben, Caleb remembered from his research, said, “I’ll be at the bar, please let me know when the conversation becomes PG again.” The girls all laughed, and his girlfriend, Tiffany, gave him a kiss.

     Caleb knew he should leave before Ben walked over to the bar. Vanessa apparently had a photographic memory, and if Ben was even remotely listening, he would recognize Caleb from the description, but he couldn’t help himself. He was curious.

     Caleb gestured to the bartender just as Ben sat on the empty stool next to him, “Can I have another one please, and one for this gentleman too. He looks like he could use it.”

    Ben laughed, and luckily for Caleb barely glanced over at the man who just paid for his drink, “Thanks man, I really could use one. Women are f*****g insane.”

    Caleb didn’t have too much experience in the matter, but after hearing the conversation, he couldn’t help but agree, “Girl troubles?”

    Ben smiled and glanced over his shoulder adoringly at his girl, “Nah man, she’s great, it’s just when she gets together with her friends, they are crazy. I love them all to death, but I really need more guy friends.”

    Caleb let out a deep laugh. He was finding himself enjoying the company of this young

American. It had been a while since Caleb spent time with anyone outside the council. There was nothing that stood out about Ben Ramos, and in normal circumstances, Caleb may not have even noticed him at all. He was about 5’10, his dark hair was shaved fairly low, but just long enough you could tell it was probably curly. His body was fit, but he didn’t look like he spent his life in the gym. All of the construction jobs he did with his dad in summers helped keep his body in shape, and his natural love for hiking and water sports kept the massive amounts of beer and pizza from catching up to him. He was tan, and looked like he was most likely Hispanic, at least mixed.

. 

    The bartender brought out the drinks and Caleb paid for them plus tip in cash. He quickly downed the whole glass. “Well I ought to be going, it was nice meeting you mate, good luck with your girlfriend.”

                “Thanks man, and thanks again for the drink.”

    The man gave Ben a quick nod of acknowledgement, grabbed his jacket from the back of the bar stool and headed out. Ben hadn’t been paying too much attention to the British man who bought him a whisky, but, as he was headed out they locked eyes for a second and he could’ve sworn they were grey, with little specks of blue. “Now you’re going insane too man. The girls are making you lose your damn mind.” Shaking his head, Ben finished his whisky and sat in comfortable silence watching the game on TV until his girl was ready to leave.