Dragon Soul

Chapter 9

9

I didn’t waste a moment to clock out of work and hurried to the bus stop. On every corner, I contemplated turning around and shooting him a message saying I had an emergency. On every corner, the thought of meeting him won out and so I ended up early in Dragon Soul. Now I could worry about him cancelling on me. Great.

The pretty girl from last time wiped the patch of bar where I sat and smiled. “JJ. Right?”

“Hi.” I racked my brains. What was her name again? It was something uncommon, something with a Z. Zaila? Zana? “Zara?”

“What can I get you?”

“Umm… Just water?” I fiddled with my phone, half-expecting a message of his cancellation to pop up any minute. “Actually, can I get something stronger?”

Zara chuckled. “What’s your poison of choice?”

“Excuse me?” My cheeks heated up in embarrassment. I didn’t go out nearly enough to pick up a taste for a particular alcohol. Not with the strict curfew my parents placed me under.

“Not a big drinker, huh?” Zara turned to grab a small glass. “Are you meeting one or three?”

“I’m sorry… One or three?” What was she on about? Why was talking to people so hard in real life? Online, I always had a witty response ready at my fingertips, but out here, I just stumbled over all my thoughts and words.

“Are you meeting one person or three?” Zara repeated kindly.

“Oh. One. How did you know I was meeting someone?”

She pointed at me. “You’ve grabbed a seat at the bar instead of a table, so I’m guessing you’re meeting someone new. You seem on edge, constantly checking your phone and looking over your shoulder, so you’re clearly nervous. Oh, and you picked Dragon Soul to meet this particular person. I’m guessing he or she is important.” She conjured a bottle from under the bar and shook the green concoction before pouring it into my glass. “Try this. You might like that.”

“Cheers.” I swirled the drink around, a little suspicious about the colour. That was very vibrant for a drink. But it was green and I liked that. I wanted to know what it was, but she seemed very certain about herself and if I didn’t like it, I rather knew it after I drank it.

The strong taste of peppermint hit my tongue and I licked my lips. Oh, that was tasty. “I like that. What is it?”

“Crème de menthe. It’s an earth dragon favourite.”

I stared at the bartender. “How did you know?”

“Ahaaa, that’s where my clever deducting skills came in play. I figured you weren’t a water dragon because I haven’t seen you before and you don’t vibe like me. Air dragons are so rare, you can almost smell them from a mile away. So, either you were a fire or earth type and well… You were meeting one person instead of three, so you’re not looking for your harem then.” She leaned down on the bar and snapped her fingers. “So, you’re an earth dragon. Am I right?”

“You are.” I couldn’t tell if I should be amused or violated by her just guessing my nature, but then what was the harm? In here, it didn’t matter.

“Yes!” Zara cheered. “I always wanted to do that.”

Her enthusiasm was contagious and I cracked my first smile. “What? Play a detective?”

“No, be the all-knowing bartender.”

“You did well.” I checked my phone again, wondering why time was ticking away so slowly. Or why Pete wasn’t here yet. Had he run into unexpected trouble? Did he just decide not to come? Why did I think this was a good idea again?

I held out my glass. “I’ll have another.”

“Of course.” Zara poured more of the drink. “Glad you like it. Oh, and I think you might want to look behind you.”

Behind me? Could she mean...

I swallowed hard and turned to take in the man I was sure was Pete. The smell of warm earth on a summer's day hit my senses and I took a deep breath in. Could this mean he was an Earth Dragon? If he was the same kind as me, what would that mean?

I shook my head, trying to rid myself of the thoughts. This was nothing more than a friendly drink between two gaming buddies. Nothing more.

"JJ?" His voice rumbled through me like the aftershocks of an earthquake. Oh no. I was well and truly gone for him.

"Pete?" My question came out squeakier than I'd intended.

"That's just my screen name," he replied with a smile. "I go by Porter."

He held out his hand and at a loss for what to do, I took it, giving it a firm shake. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach at his touch. I couldn't have explained it if I tried but his skin against mine was one of the nicest feelings I'd ever encountered.

"Here you go," Zara announced, putting two more drinks on the bar with a clunk. "They're on the house. There's a booth over there you can use." I imagined she pointed but I didn't know for sure. I couldn't take my eyes off Pe...Porter.

The name suited him.

"Thank you," he told Zara, letting go of my hand and picking up the drinks. "Shall we?" he asked me.

I nodded, both too nervous and too excited to find the words I needed. He made his way over to the booth with me trailing behind not knowing what to do or say. Why hadn't I researched what to do on a first date? There must be thousands of articles on the subject.

Sliding into the booth, I tried to steady my shaking hands but failed.

"Hi," I muttered.

"Hi." He flashed me a killer smile that did at least something to reassure me.

"So... erm..."

"Nervous?"

"Yes," I admitted.

"Me too. It’s one thing knowing you click with someone online but another to have to work it out in person." His voice wavered slightly, the nervousness in there calling to my own feelings in a way I hadn't expected.

"Quite."

We stayed silent for a moment and I found my gaze straying to his hand. Should I take it? Was that appropriate? I had a lot of questions and just about the only one I had an answer for was that I did think this was indeed a date. There was no denying it given the way I was feeling around him.

His eyes studied me intently and I had to admit I liked his attention.

"How was shopping with your Mum? You never really told me anything about it," he tried.

"It was fine. Not exactly my idea of fun though." I shrugged and took a sip of my drink. I didn't want to get drunk or anything but the alcohol was definitely helping me feel more at ease. I'd have to thank Zara for that one before I left.

"Were you shopping for anything in particular?" he asked.

I glanced down at my hands and wrung my fingers together. That was an awkward one. how was I meant to tell him I'd been trying on my wedding dress? Well, trying to find it at least. That wasn't the kind of thing I should be telling a date. Even I knew that.

"Just something to wear for a party next week," I half-lied.

"Isn't that what internet shopping is for?" He c****d his head to the side as he waited for me to answer.

"You'd have thought so. But Mum likes to do things in person."

"Mine's like that too. I needed a new suit and she insisted on taking me. For some reason she thinks that at twenty-six I'm not capable of getting myself fitted."

I giggled. "It sounds like she'd get on well with mine. Maybe we should introduce them some time."

"We might be able to game in peace if we do that."

"That sounds better and better by the moment." I took another drink, relaxing a little more around him. It was reassuring knowing we had something so fundamental in common. Excluding Realms&Rebels that was.

"Have you tried out the player versus player section yet?"

I shook my head. "I haven't had time yet." And I'd been avoiding logging on so he didn't change his mind and back out of our date. Being left heartbroken in my room wasn't my idea of a good time.

"Me neither. It wouldn't be the same without my partner in crime."

I flashed him a weak smile before turning my attention back to my drink. "No, it wouldn't be."

"I've heard they have a Realms&Rebels room here."

"They do?" I perked up, looking around the room.

"I know it isn't quite what we said we'd do but we could have a game if you want. I've heard it's better in person anyway."

"I'd like that," I replied. "If that's okay with you."

"I wouldn't have offered if it wasn't. I can tell you're nervous, JJ." He frowned. "Is JJ your name?"

"Yes, you can call me JJ. Everyone but my parents does."

"What's your real name?"

I gave a sharp laugh. "There's no way I'm telling you. Mum had very little imagination when she named me."

"JJ it is, then. It suits you."

"Thank you." I blushed, unsure how to take the compliment.

I downed the rest of my drink. "Game?"

"Sure." He followed suit and rose to his feet.

I was already halfway to the bar when Zara noticed me. "Everything okay?" She eyed the man behind me as if trying to work out whether she needed to kick his ass or not. I bet she could if she needed to.

"Yes, all good," I replied as chirpily as I could. "We've heard there's a Realms&Rebels room..."

"Say no more, though room is probably pushing it. There's a handful of stations over there." She gestured towards the other end of the bar where a couple of computer screens lit up the area with their glow.

"There's no one there." I spoke mostly to myself but she caught the words too if the smile on her face was anything to go by.

"It’s a Monday night. No one will be here for that until later."

"Do we need to...?" I pulled out my wallet and went to get cash out.

"Not for the stations, no. But if you want to put a tenner behind the bar, I can keep bringing you drinks," she offered.

"That would be great, thanks."

"No problem, JJ." She leaned across the bar and gestured for me to come closer.

Confused, I leaned in so she could whisper to me.

"If he gives you any trouble, order a Tibetan Earthquake and I'll send someone over to get you out of there."

"Thanks," I mumbled. Was this really the kind of bar where they needed code name drinks?

I joined Porter at the computer booths and wondered where to sit. Did I take the computer opposite him or dare I sit next to him?

“I booted up for you.” Pete patted the seat next to him and indicated to the screen flashing on.

“Oookay.” Next to him it was then. I rummaged around, trying to figure out the set-up. The keyboard clacked, the mouse clicked. Nice. All set, apart from sound. I pulled the Dragon Soul headphones out of the jack and fished my own out of my bag. I didn’t want to use a headset that’d been used by other people before and I carried my own wherever I went.

“You brought your own as well, huh?” Pete asked.

“Always.”

“I like that.” The Realms&Rebels buzzed on and the jingle played.

I cleared my throat. “So…”

Pete coughed. “So…”