INTO THE VOID

CHAPTER 11: THE EYE OPENER

“Broo… I’m so glad you could make it.” A guy at the door said. He was one of Logan’s teammates and he was the one who answered the doorbell. “This party’s lit as hell. Come on; let’s turn up.” He said.

“We gon’ get wasted tonight.” The guy who drove the car said.

“No can do for me. You know what coach said about the whole regulations and stuff.” Logan responded.

Xaviere was surprised. It was unlike Logan to refuse alcohol; and free alcohol for that matter, this was strange.

“Suit yourself big boy.” The driver finally said.

Xaviere and Petrichor walked behind the two guys. Just like she did in the ice rink, she held his hand but this time, interlocking their fingers. The party took place in a house; a four-bedroom bungalow. The living room was dimly lighted with glowing blue bulbs. There was heavy music playing loudly and people dancing in the center. Others were sitting some standing at corners; just talking.

“Hey Logan” A skimpily dressed girl said flirtatiously waving at Xaviere’s roommate. The girl was Jennifer Morgan, the head cheerleader for the school football team. She grabbed Logan by his jacket and said, “Let’s dance.”

“Hey, I would see you around bro. Try and have some fun.” Logan said as he was pulled away by Jennifer.

Xaviere was shocked. He had no prior experience about parties. What was the code of Conduct? How was he to act? He looked at Logan in a way that was meant to say, “Save me”. But Logan was far gone now; further in the dimly lit room caressing the succulence of Jennifer.

“Someone has forgotten his gentlemanly ways.” Petrichor said.

“I am so sorry. The thing is I have never actually been to a party. I suddenly feel like this is a bad idea. I am so sorry. We can leave if you want to.”

“C’mon Xaviere, can you for once not over think everything and just have fun. Xaviere you don’t have to impress me. I love the fact that you do this. I love the fact that you put in time and effort. I love it a lot.” Petrichor said, after which she gave Xaviere a peck on the cheek. “C’mon let’s get some drinks.” She said pulling Xaviere by the hand towards a table that hand different drinks on it.

Xaviere and Petrichor had some drinks; non-alcoholic ones of course. The only reason they even met non-alcoholic drinks at this party was because many of the active players were in attendance. So the host had made provisions for them. The party was really fun. There was a lot of dancing; not just the “Throw your hands in the air and jump up” thing white kids do. No, no; far from that. This was Canada and here there was a diverse group of people in attendance of the party. For the first time, Xaviere saw twerking up front and personal. The ease with which these females moved their buttocks to the rhythm was baffling and at the same time arousing. Xaviere was mesmerized. Petrichor noticed this and to his greatest surprise, popped out some moves of her own.

Petrichor reached over and took the red Styrofoam cup from Xaviere’s hand. She set it down on a table and put both her hands on his neck and started slow dancing to the rhythm of the song playing over the speakers. Xaviere just stood there barely moving. He was surprised at the fact that she could dance and dance in such a feminine way. It was almost as if he forgot that she did competitive ice dancing as a hobby.

She slowly moved both her hands from his shoulders down to his wrist and then placed his hands on her hips. She moved her hips from side to side and Xaviere simply had to match her rhythm. Drake and Wizkid’s Come Closer played as they danced together. Gently she placed her hands on his chest and pushed him towards a wall. Once his back was against the wall, she turned around and did something Xaviere never expected.

Petrichor backed up to him and put her backside directly on his genital area and in an almost immediate response Xaviere’s erectile organ gradually engorged. For the first time that night, he finally noticed how short the gown she wore was. She was bent over with her hands placed on her knees as she moved her waist to the beat brushing her butt cheeks on Xaviere’s delicate parts.

At first he was shocked, staring blankly at her shaking behind. But after a while he got more comfortable and grabbed her waist with both hands thrusting his forwards to meet her halfway. His eyes were fixed to her body but his mind strayed; it strayed far away from the room, from the music and all he could think about was the crevices of her body. Those baggy clothes she wore behind the big jackets really did her curves a great disservice. He thought back to the dressing room. He pictured her naked breasts and dark areolas.

“Someone’s excited…” Petrichor said as the turned around to face Xaviere. He gently rubbed the fingers of her left hand over the area of the now fully erect Xaviere. She then touched his lower lip with the middle finger of her right hand and then whispered in his ear saying, “I’d be right back.” She walked away slowly as his hands dropped off her waist. Xaviere bit his lower lip as he moved his fingers through his hair. He watched her walk away, his eyes intently fixed on her figure as she slowly disappeared into the darkness. He looked down at his pants and saw the mass causing the warmth he felt on his left thigh. He pushed is head backwards towards the wall; his hair serving as a cushion. He laughed. The night was going better than he could ever imagine.

Everything was going alright. Xaviere was standing by the wall where Petrichor left him while he sipped from the cup she earlier dropped on the table. He bopped his head to the rhythm of the music while he watched the others dance.

“I said leave me alone.” A girl yelled after which there was the sound on shattering glass.

“I am just trying to talk.” A staggering young man replied. The music was suddenly cut off and everyone’s attention was directed towards the loud duo. Xaviere also moved towards the sound pushing through the crowd. To his astonishment, the girl that yelled was Petrichor. He had never seen her angry and here she was; his sweet, caring, ice dancing Petrichor enraged.

“Chill babe… you got a fat ass and I'm just tryna hit that.” the guy said to the amusement of the crowd. He had a school football jacket on and from the response of the crowd, he was popular. While the other guys laughed, Xaviere was not having it. Who did this arrogant bastard think he was to talk to Xaviere’s date like that. Xaviere would not tolerate such effrontery.

“She said you should leave her alone.” Xaviere said. The other guy turned around and looked towards the direction of the voice.

“What did you say to me?” the guy said walking slowly towards Xaviere. He had a sinister look in his eyes and a violent spring in his steps. This did nothing to deter Xaviere.

“She said… you should let her be.”

“Who is this British prick? I'm gon’ smack you so hard you’d end up in Heathrow airport.”

“I’d like to see you try.” Xaviere responded. At this point, the two guys were squared-off, just a few feet away from each other from each other. Xaviere could perceive the alcohol reeking from the other guy’s mouth. He must have been drinking all night.

“You better watch it freshman. Amma rough you up real bad.” Xaviere did not flinch. Suddenly, the guy slapped Xaviere’s glasses right off his face. To this, Xaviere pushed the guy back with both arms. The guy threw a left hook which somehow Xaviere dodged. He then threw a right which Xaviere caught. He grabbed the guy’s right arm with his right hand and then threw it down. The crowd was riled up.

“Fight, fight, fight…” the people chanted. The guy ran up towards Xaviere and immediately Xaviere stomped him right in the chest with his right foot send him flying into the drink-table. The tipsy young man struggled back to his feet. He grabbed an empty glass bottle and charged once again towards Xaviere. He raised it high in the air with intents to shatter in on Xaviere’s head but in an instance, Xaviere threw a roundhouse kick shattering the glass in midair instead. After regaining his stance, Xaviere kicked the guy in the gut. The guy bent over and Xaviere used his knee to break his nose. There was blood all over the place and the crowd was wild with murmurs and chants.

“What the hell is going on here? Who are you? Get out of my house.” Another guy said. He was the host of the party.

“We were just leaving.” Petrichor said. She walked over the bleeding guy and grabbed Xaviere by the hand. They both walked out the house. At the time of the struggle, Logan was busy in a room with Jennifer. He ran out after he heard the host shouting. Apparently, the host was the team captain and the guy Xaviere had beaten up was also a player. Logan then ran after his roommate. By the time he got to the door, they were already gone.

The time was 11:36pm. Xaviere and Petrichor were both seated on the bed of his dorm room. There was no exact law against bringing females into the dorm and Xaviere was feeling very unruly at the moment so they somehow found themselves in the room. They had gotten into a cab and during the drive to the room; they both said nothing, the two of them stunned from the event that just occurred.

“I never knew you could fight like that.” Petrichor said finally breaking the ice.

“Me neither.” Xaviere responded with a look of shock in his face.

“I really just want to say thank you for standing up for me like that back then. I really appreciate it.

“I’d do anything for you… I mean it. You’re so beautiful and smart and kind and all these many amazing things I'm afraid my vocabulary might fail me to describe. I really care about you and you’re the most amazing thing that has happened to me.” Petrichor was stunned. She felt guilty. It was not suppose to go this way. It is only a simple agent activation mission. She was supposed to trigger his memories not his feelings and worst of all she may have triggered has too.

“Xaviere there’s something I need to tell you… I am not what…” he cut her short before she could finish.

“Let’s not ruin this moment with words.” Xaviere said as he leaned over and placed a kiss on her neck. He grabbed her head in his hand and placed another kiss on her cheek. He pulled back his head, looked in her eyes and then moved closer kissing her on her lips.

For a moment, it seemed as though time had stopped. Were all kisses supposed to feel like this? If there were, then people have done awfully poor job in relaying their experiences. everything suddenly began to make sense. Those dreams he had he could not fully remember. It looked like events from his life were flashing through his eyes; events that prior felt like a distant memory.

The kiss was the final trigger. Agent X has been activated.