Chapter 7
An hour and a half later, he knew he had been right.
The five of them, himself, Sparks, Niobe, Trinity and Neo were now seated around the table, everyone engaged in a discussion. Sparks would give them all a scenario, and then everyone would have to answer about how they would have acted if it had happened. Even Niobe, usually reserved, now seemed to enjoy herself and relaxed.
" Sparks, I would never do that and you know it, " Niobe said and Sparks just grunted out his loud sigh and shook his head.
" But just imagine that you would… Strip on top of the Empire State or live at the Sugar Bowl?" They all laughed, knowing that it was silly as hell just to be talking about it, but no one cared. They enjoyed themselves and that was all that mattered.
" Why do I have to answer first, anyway?" Niobe said and pointed her drink out to the table around herself where the other sat, but Sparks would have none of it.
" Because you're sitting the first to my left, plus, you're the oldest, " he explained and the others let out a sound, bellowing with laughter. Niobe smiled, and shook her head at her Operator. Had he said something likewise onboard the Logos, in duty, she would have kicked his ass here to next Saturday, but they were here to wind down and have some fun…
" Ok, " she began her answer, " I guess on top of the Empire State, then." Sparks nodded, and motioned to Trinity, sitting next to Niobe.
" Fair enough, " he said and looked at Trinity. " What about Ms. Black Thang then?" Trinity knew that had it been anywhere else, she would have had his head for that comment, but she was in a too good mood to care. Plus, the sensations Neo was giving her, rubbing his hands everywhere on the backside of her, was giving her a hard time to concentrate.
" I would pick the same as Niobe… But Sparks, what about yourself?" Everyone smiled and joined in, pressuring him to answer and Ghost and Neo were both happy to have gotten off the hook. " Me? The Sugar Bowl, without a doubt." All laughed and smiled, sipping some on their drinks, nodding in unison.
" That sounds just like you my friend, " Ghost said and patted him on the back, meeting his wide, smart alec, grin.
" Yeah, it does, " Sparks began as he stood up, " but right now their playing one of my favourite songs and I can see the brunette which I've been eyeing all night motioning for me to come over… so see ya later guys, " he said and they all waved their goodbye to him, knowing he wouldn't be back for a while now… or the rest of the evening, either.
" It's getting late guys, I should get back to my apartment and catch up on some well needed sleep…" Niobe declared as she stood up. " So, I'll probably see you during tomorrow, guys. Have a good night, sweet dreams, " she said and she left the table, leaving Ghost sitting there with Neo and Trinity.
Suddenly, Neo whispered something in Trinity's ear, and then he excused himself from the table, and walked away, leaving Trinity and Ghost alone at the table.
" St. John's?" Ghost asked and Trinity nodded as she leaned forward, sipping down the last of her drink. Ghost watched her doing so, watching her suck the last of the moisture off the glass with her lips and tongue and forced himself to avert his eyes and fix them into his own glass, as he felt stupid.
Why did she have to be so damn sexy now that he could never have her?
" What's the matter?" Trinity asked, catching him off guard. Desperately hoping she hadn't just seen him, Ghost looked at her, shrugging his shoulders. " What?" Trinity sat down her drink, and looked at him. " Don't play that card with me. I know you, and you have barely said sentences since we got here. What's up?" Ghost shrugged his shoulders again, playing with his fingers on the glass. Trinity awaited an answer, and straightened her top as she was doing so.
" I'm just tired, that's all, " he answered as she raised her eyebrows at him. But she also knew that it was of no use pressuring him into talking, she would just back him up against a wall in which he would hide if she tried. If he wouldn't tell her what was wrong, they would have to talk about something else instead.
" So Ghost, how's the love life going?" Ghost looked at her, wishing that she knew how much the question hurt. But she didn't, and he masked the surprise in his eyes well. Well, he had had a lot of training…
" I just can't seem to meet that special one…" he confessed and she smiled back at him, glad to see his lips curving into a smile. Perhaps she would be able to drag it out of him, after all…
But as Neo approached them, she would never know what bothered him.
" What have I missed?" he asked and Ghost shrugged his shoulders, as Neo kissed Trinity's cheek and sat down beside her again. She looked over to the dance floor, and saw Sparks dancing with the brunette he had mentioned before, and obviously she was liking his company, she could tell by the way she was grinding against him. Trinity wondered if that was what it looked like when she and Neo danced, like they did sometimes? Like only they could do?
She knew there would only be one way to find out, but she decided to save it for the next evening, when he had promised he would accompany her to the largest bar slash club in Zion, who according to her played the best music. It wasn't like a Matrix club, this was much simpler than that… but this was real.
And when she danced with Neo, tight, bodies pressed together, it sure as heck felt real as well.
" You know what, guys? I think I'm going to tie the knot and call it a night, as well, " Ghost said as he gathered everyone's glasses, except for Neo who hadn't finished his. Trinity nodded as she was yawning, and Neo extended his hand to Ghost, feeling Trinity resting her tired body into his.
" You do what's right, we'll see you tomorrow?" Ghost nodded and shook Neo's hand and Trinity waved goodbye as he left them.
Ghost walked through the dance floor, past Sparks who now was playing tongue hockey with the brunette, but stopped at the opening, looking back to where Neo and Trinity obviously remained sitting for another few moments.
He saw Neo placing his am around her, leaning down to kiss her, and she responded in a way he had only imagined her to do in some dreams of his.
And wishing he was sitting in Neo's position, he walked away with heavy steps…
… but he couldn't hear his own steps. The only thing he heard was the rhythm of the dancing feet behind him, clashing into the floor.
And as he let the sound of the rhythm fill the air as he walked away, he smiled. Even though his heart was breaking.
But life went on, right?