Someone Moved
It took several moments before the group was reseated around the table once more, eyes flashing with more anger than before. Henry and Casey were put on opposite ends of the table where they could shoot their threatening glances at one another but not act on them as easily. Riva remained where she was, having not moved during the whole ordeal except for flinching and trembling.
Zeke waited until everyone was under control before he set down his tray filled with large mugs brimming with java. "Anymore fights like that," he said with deliberate looks at Henry and Casey, "and my boss will throw you guys all out and all deals will be off." He gave the group a stare that dared anyone to object to his demand, but they all remained silent.
"Everyone grab a cup. Start drinking it, or my manager will be pissed. She already is about the fight." He began to hand the brightly colored mugs around, before taking a seat in-between the Atlantians and humans. The Atlantians all eyed their drinks apprehensively before Marian finally asked, "What is that stuff?"
"Coffee. Java. Elixir of caffeine. It's a popular human drink," he replied nonchalantly, taking a gulp of the brew, "made out of mostly water." Marian narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "Did you do something to the drinks?"
Zeke rolled his eyes in reply, taking the mug from her and taking a taste from it. "See? Nothing wrong with me. Cheers."
Zeke gave a hard look at his human companions, silently ordering them to drink from their glasses as well to ease the mind of the aliens. Stokely and Casey exchanged uncertain looks, was this Zeke's brilliant plan? Make them all hyper on coffee? "Cheers," Casey murmured, clinking his mug against Stoke's. They both lifted the drinks and took several sips. The warm liquid did have somewhat of a calming effect on the two, and the caffeine would heighten their senses somewhat.
"Riva, drink up," Zeke called to the other alien. Riva lifted her head wearily, her face contorted in pain from the struggle. Casey's eyes shot over to Miss Levinson's accusingly. "Come on," he prodded, pressing the warm cup in the girl's hand, "drink some."
Riva made no attempt against it, resigning to defeat as she took a long drink from it. She grimaced from the bitter taste, pushing the cup quickly away. Marian leaned forward, carefully observing the other alien's reaction. Riva dropped her head once more, returning to her trance and battle against the creature in her head. Zeke glanced sideways at the Atlantians, "It's getting cold."
Why did he care if they drank the stupid java? Casey mused. They had more important things to worry about, like getting Delilah back. At last, Marian raised her cup hesitantly, staring into the brown liquid before taking a small sip. Miss Levinson recoiled uncertainly from her companion as if she expected her to explode, but no such thing happened. "It tastes," she paused, taking another swallow, "good."
After that, the other two Atlantians followed suit, drinking at their own mugs. They gulped the stuff down rapidly after the first taste, as if they couldn't get more. Zeke left the table momentarily to retrieve a fresh pot of joe and refilled all the cups, but no longer gave Stokes and Casey the same looks to keep drinking. He returned then and sat at the table, more at ease then before, but no one seemed to notice his slight change in demeanor besides Stokely.
"Alright, let's get focused again. Where is Delilah? Let's make this a clean, easy trade, shall we?" Zeke said as he eyed his enemy. Marian glanced coldly at him, setting her cup down as Miss Levinson and Henry continued to drink. "Where's Mary Beth?"
Zeke nodded to Casey who hesitated before withdrawing the glass tube from his pocket, clutching it tightly in his hand as he raised it up for them to see. Marian's eyes softened suddenly as she surveyed the pod, one had reaching for it as she began to make a strange clicking noise. Casey glanced uncertainly at Zeke, pulling his hand away before Marian could reach it.
Marian turned to Henry then, and continued to make the same odd noises. "They're talking to one another," Casey accused worriedly, while looking at his human companions. Zeke had sat up as well, no longer at ease as he exchanged glances with Stokely. He tensed, what where they saying? What where they planning?
Riva's head shot up then, "No!" Her eyes shone brilliantly, her face no longer pale but alive and strong. Casey stared at her in shock from the sudden transformation that had overcome Riva, pleasantly surprised. Miss Levinson, though, did not look quite so pleased.
"They're planning an attack," Riva snarled while glaring at Marian who returned the look. In an instant, everyone was on their feet. No one moved, no one even dared breath. Stokely glanced around the table, at the faces filled with rage and accusation, eager for any movement, any excuse to attack. Then someone moved.
A.N.: Gah! This chapter is so short, and I'm so sorry! If you hate me, I don't blame you. If you don't want me to even bother continuing this story, I don't blame you. If you don't review, I don't blame you! I'm a horrible person for not writing longer chapters or updating! sob I've been gone at a special honors program for professional writing, trying to better myself (and writing) for you guys, but what's the point if I don't even update?! Sigh I'm sorry......sorry......sorry.....um....ok....I'll stop now.....
It took several moments before the group was reseated around the table once more, eyes flashing with more anger than before. Henry and Casey were put on opposite ends of the table where they could shoot their threatening glances at one another but not act on them as easily. Riva remained where she was, having not moved during the whole ordeal except for flinching and trembling.
Zeke waited until everyone was under control before he set down his tray filled with large mugs brimming with java. "Anymore fights like that," he said with deliberate looks at Henry and Casey, "and my boss will throw you guys all out and all deals will be off." He gave the group a stare that dared anyone to object to his demand, but they all remained silent.
"Everyone grab a cup. Start drinking it, or my manager will be pissed. She already is about the fight." He began to hand the brightly colored mugs around, before taking a seat in-between the Atlantians and humans. The Atlantians all eyed their drinks apprehensively before Marian finally asked, "What is that stuff?"
"Coffee. Java. Elixir of caffeine. It's a popular human drink," he replied nonchalantly, taking a gulp of the brew, "made out of mostly water." Marian narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "Did you do something to the drinks?"
Zeke rolled his eyes in reply, taking the mug from her and taking a taste from it. "See? Nothing wrong with me. Cheers."
Zeke gave a hard look at his human companions, silently ordering them to drink from their glasses as well to ease the mind of the aliens. Stokely and Casey exchanged uncertain looks, was this Zeke's brilliant plan? Make them all hyper on coffee? "Cheers," Casey murmured, clinking his mug against Stoke's. They both lifted the drinks and took several sips. The warm liquid did have somewhat of a calming effect on the two, and the caffeine would heighten their senses somewhat.
"Riva, drink up," Zeke called to the other alien. Riva lifted her head wearily, her face contorted in pain from the struggle. Casey's eyes shot over to Miss Levinson's accusingly. "Come on," he prodded, pressing the warm cup in the girl's hand, "drink some."
Riva made no attempt against it, resigning to defeat as she took a long drink from it. She grimaced from the bitter taste, pushing the cup quickly away. Marian leaned forward, carefully observing the other alien's reaction. Riva dropped her head once more, returning to her trance and battle against the creature in her head. Zeke glanced sideways at the Atlantians, "It's getting cold."
Why did he care if they drank the stupid java? Casey mused. They had more important things to worry about, like getting Delilah back. At last, Marian raised her cup hesitantly, staring into the brown liquid before taking a small sip. Miss Levinson recoiled uncertainly from her companion as if she expected her to explode, but no such thing happened. "It tastes," she paused, taking another swallow, "good."
After that, the other two Atlantians followed suit, drinking at their own mugs. They gulped the stuff down rapidly after the first taste, as if they couldn't get more. Zeke left the table momentarily to retrieve a fresh pot of joe and refilled all the cups, but no longer gave Stokes and Casey the same looks to keep drinking. He returned then and sat at the table, more at ease then before, but no one seemed to notice his slight change in demeanor besides Stokely.
"Alright, let's get focused again. Where is Delilah? Let's make this a clean, easy trade, shall we?" Zeke said as he eyed his enemy. Marian glanced coldly at him, setting her cup down as Miss Levinson and Henry continued to drink. "Where's Mary Beth?"
Zeke nodded to Casey who hesitated before withdrawing the glass tube from his pocket, clutching it tightly in his hand as he raised it up for them to see. Marian's eyes softened suddenly as she surveyed the pod, one had reaching for it as she began to make a strange clicking noise. Casey glanced uncertainly at Zeke, pulling his hand away before Marian could reach it.
Marian turned to Henry then, and continued to make the same odd noises. "They're talking to one another," Casey accused worriedly, while looking at his human companions. Zeke had sat up as well, no longer at ease as he exchanged glances with Stokely. He tensed, what where they saying? What where they planning?
Riva's head shot up then, "No!" Her eyes shone brilliantly, her face no longer pale but alive and strong. Casey stared at her in shock from the sudden transformation that had overcome Riva, pleasantly surprised. Miss Levinson, though, did not look quite so pleased.
"They're planning an attack," Riva snarled while glaring at Marian who returned the look. In an instant, everyone was on their feet. No one moved, no one even dared breath. Stokely glanced around the table, at the faces filled with rage and accusation, eager for any movement, any excuse to attack. Then someone moved.
A.N.: Gah! This chapter is so short, and I'm so sorry! If you hate me, I don't blame you. If you don't want me to even bother continuing this story, I don't blame you. If you don't review, I don't blame you! I'm a horrible person for not writing longer chapters or updating! sob I've been gone at a special honors program for professional writing, trying to better myself (and writing) for you guys, but what's the point if I don't even update?! Sigh I'm sorry......sorry......sorry.....um....ok....I'll stop now.....