Present day...
As soon as Soap got out of the shower, he simply walked back to his bedroom and flopped on the bed.
Not bothering to look for anything to wear, he just lay there, staring at the ceiling. His hand moved across the sheets until it landed on his mobile.
He pressed a couple buttons and watched the screen light up then go off again then sighed. He was surprised that Price had not been able to track him down after such a long time then again he must have been so caught up with Lola that he couldn't remember his own name.
Besides, he couldn't possibly explain this one to his friend. The first thing to come out of his mouth would be "Are you sure about this one, son?"
Then again, knowing Price, he must already know or at least suspect something and was waiting for him to come clean.
During his shower he had a sufficient amount of time alone with his thoughts.
Thoughts that was so deep that he didn't hear his front door open.
I wonder what's going on with her?... he thought. How is she-?
"What's going on in here mate!"
Soap bristled slightly as Zak's obnoxious, cockney-accented voice shattered his train of thought. He looked up, slightly annoyed as the short, fast-talking curly haired man popped into his bedroom doorway.
"If I hadn't known better I would have thought you were in here having a wank. With a bouncer like that you could surely put someone's daughter in the hospital, eh." he continued as he poked his head further into the doorway and looked at Soap with a stupid grin on his face. "I wonder which lady got you so high strung huh?"
Soap looked down and saw exactly what he was talking about.
"Oh...right" he mumbled.
Can't a man be naked in peace in his own house? He thought angrily as he pulled his blanket over himself.
Soap shot him a warning look.
"Oye, no shame between mates. If I were down with the fellas I would do you, yes I would. If you know what I mean." Zak rambled on.
"How did you get in, Zak?" he growled as he sat up and wrapped the blanket around him tighter.
"Oh, I nabbed your spare key, man. Hope you don't mind. Never know when I might need to pop on over here when needed." Zak replied at the same pace he came in with. The man was like a freight train.
Soap on the other hand did not have a clue why he kept him around but he guessed it seemed right at the time because he really needed some sort of company.
He got off the bed and walked over to the dresser and pulled the first thing his hand landed on, jeans and a polo shirt.
"So, what are you doing here? It's ten in the morning." He said gruffly as he pulled his shirt over his head, messing up his now grown out Mohawk.
Even he had to admit, seeing himself with shaggy hair was not normal at all but it was fun while it lasted. He intended to get his hair cut that day.
"Woah, slow it down Mr. Hot-Stuff, or should I just call you Big Boy?" Zak started, laughing at his own shitty joke.
"Anyway, I came over here to inform you of our plans for tonight. Let's just say it includes two hot young babes." He said as he rubbed his hands together.
Soap narrowed his eyes at him as he raked his fingers through his hair to get it out of his face. Zak was practically salivating all over his bedroom floor.
"And besides, you look like you haven't been laid in ages, mate, so uptight." he rambled on.
If having another wild night on the town with Zak meant that it would numb what he felt inside then so be it.
"I'm in." He said without much deliberation.
Zak leapt up like an excited cheerleader and gave Soap a bear hug. "Alright! That's my boy, John!"
This man had no limits...Soap coughed slightly and nodded. "Yeah..."
Zak pulled back and slapped his chest, "We are so on tonight! Two dogs on the prowl, eh?"
Bree sat in her designated 'reading' chair, taking a crack at The Vampire Huntress Series by L.A. Banks. She was a sucker for a good vampire story, inclusive of all the gory details and thrills.
Unfortunately for her, the love between Carlos and Damali only drove her to think about what she once had...with Yuri.
In a sudden fit of anguish and rage she violently threw the book across the room.
"Dammit Yuri!" she yelled into the air as she began to sob. What else would it take for her to cope with this?
I guess nobody knows...
Soap gave himself the once over in the full length mirror, situated in his bathroom. He prided himself on giving a damn about how he looks and obsessed over every wrinkle like he did with every scratch on Price's pistol all the while he thought he was dead.
Tonight, he wore a black and gray, argyle vest and a white shirt underneath along with a pair of black slacks. Ever so often he liked to get his nerd on, but it always ended up being the ladies' kryptonite.
It's not every day you see a well toned nerd with a Mohawk and abs that could split bricks.
"There's my boy!" Zak said, announcing his presence in a way only he could. "Well look at you... No tartan for me Scots mate, eh?"
"Cheeky bastard..." Soap muttered as he pounded his fist. "You ready?"
Minutes later they jumped into Soap's black Maserati and backed out of the driveway.
He really had to remember to haggle Zak for his share of gas money. Apparently he thought it came out of his ass by the gallon.
As they sped through the streets on the way to a club called 'The Alcove', Zak's choice, Soap looked around at the passersby as the various night crawlers emerged for some fun.
Seemed to him the war had no major effect on this part of Europe. Although it had been four months since the ending of the war, he never revealed to Zak what he did for a living. He still thought Soap was an Accountant.
"Let me see ya jump in the line, shake ya body don't mind baby!" Soap sang along to Shake Senora as he bobbed his head and tapped the steering wheel.
"I could make some money off of your arse with that pretty boy voice you got" Zak said. He had been saying that ever since he heard Soap singing the chorus to 'Bed' by J Holiday in the shower one day.
"Can't let you keep all that goodness to yourself." He continued as he picked his teeth with his over grown pinkie nail.
"Oye, who's this lady ya keep singing to man? She's not even there to hear ya. Or is it a man? I promise I won't judge ya mate."
Soap shot him a look then turned back to the road.
When they arrived at the club, some fifteen minutes later, it was already packed with partygoers.
The music was pumping; the lights were dimmed and colourful as bands of teenaged looking attendees gathered around a keg of beer like flies on syrup.
The whole atmosphere reminded Soap of his wild teenage years. The late nights, sneaking out of his foster parent's house at 10pm even though it was a school night, pulling stupid pranks and pressuring each other into life altering dares...
Thank God I grew up... he thought as he observed as one of the boys passed out on the floor in a pool of vomit. Good thing it was his own brand.
Zak craned his neck as his beady eyes darted about, looking around like a meerkat scanning for the predators which would be his lady friends.
As they approached the bar, Zak tapped Soap on the shoulder. "Spot me a drink, mate? I swear, the next one's on me." He said as he disappeared before Soap could answer.
Soap shook his head, "Cheap bastard..." he muttered; he really didn't have the energy for opposition. If only he were up to his full mental capacity, Zak would have had to remain in check.
He slid onto a bar stool and placed his order as he lit a cigar. Shortly afterwards, a woman came and sat on the stool next to his.
"Can I get a rum and coke? Easy on the coke, hard on the rum." She said.
Soap looked across at her. "That's a pretty stiff mix for a lady." He said; smiling as he took a swig of his beer.
She looked back at him with a smirk, "You could have just asked for my name instead of insulting my feminine resilience."
He blinked and shook his head, "Okay, so what is your name then?"
"Anita."
"John" he said. He set his drink on the polished mahogany bar top and extended his hand to her. She took it firmly and turned her head to the side.
"You're not from around here are you?" she said as she began to scrutinize him.
He gave her a half cocked smile as he watched her from head to toe. If this was one of Zak's friends then he definitely had great taste in women.
Just as he was about to answer, Zak showed up already halfway smashed, with a lady in tow. He looked at Soap and Anita who seemed to be engrossed in conversation.
"Oh good, I see you two have met." He said, with a silly grin on his face. "Let's do this!"
The next thing Soap knew it was four beers, three shots, one bottle of whiskey, some wacky concoction of spirits and some forty five minutes later.
As for Anita, she already had him high strung and ready to go. She was seated in his lap in her tighter than skin dress and ankle breaking, man killing pumps, playing with his hair, touching his biceps and palming his abs; Just what he needed.
He sat in his own little world for a moment while the other three chatted. The colours from the spot light seemed to swim around like small disco fish in Soap's head.
"Soap!"
He whipped his head around to see who had called him. To make things worse, the person sounded like …
"Bree?" he muttered. Then he remembered that no one here knew who he really was.
Shaking the thought out of his head, he returned to the party. Anita had just finished chugging two beers in one go while Zak and his lady friend chanted "Go go go!"
When she was finished, she turned to face him. She took his face in her perfectly manicured hands and kissed him.
"Come back to my place?" she breathed after a full five minutes of tongue fencing.
He nodded slowly, still dazed from the kiss and stood up. As they made their exit, Zak slipped him a packet of condoms under the bar.
"For the road mate…" he said, as he gave him a knowing smile.
Soap took Anita's hand and headed for the door. When they got to the parking lot, he opened the passenger's side for her.
He rounded the car to driver's side and got in. He looked over at her, lookin' all fine with her smooth pale skin and red coated, bee-stung lips.
She looked back at him and pouted. "I don't do shotgun" she said, flirtatiously sucking on her lower lip.
Damn… he thought as tapped his leg a little.
"Then do me instead" Soap replied giving her those bedroom eyes. He was surprised at how deep his voice sounded but one thing he knew for sure; he was horny as fuck. Amazing what a little alcohol and tons of free time could do to a man.
Anita reached between his legs and pushed his seat back then sat in his lap right on spot. He drew in a sharp breath and sat back, this ride was definitely about to get hot and heavy.
"Let's go." She said.
