Leaning in, Maggie grabs Dan’s face, kissing him deeply. When they pull away, Dan sits back dazed for a moment.
“You know I was gonna ask if I could kiss you, and here you go and beat me to it! It’s gonna be hard being a man when your woman is stronger and more aggressive than you!”
Giggling softly, “If Codi has taught me anything, patriarchy is for pussies. Women are the ones who really rule the world.” Standing up, she kicks off her heels, pulling Dan toward one of Anaar’s guest rooms. He stops her, looking at her questioningly.
“You sure you wanna do this?”
Standing on her tiptoes, she leans up, kissing him again. “Dan, shut up. Don’t question, just do.”
Not needing any more motivation, he scoops her up off her feet into his arms. “Yes ma’am!” They disappear into the bedroom to finish their night, and begin something they had both been wanting for a long time.
30
Though Codi had chided Maggie and Anaar for their use of numerous weapons, she could not deny that for them it was quite effective. Unfortunately for her, it was not something that she thought would help her in any way with her own growth. Unlike Maggie, her powers were not solely dependent on her environment and things at her disposal. She also did not have the martial prowess, strength, or sheer resilience Anaar seemed to have, so she could not find the benefit of adding another weapon to her arsenal. Even firearms were only practiced due to the requirement that she be proficient in their use.
Focusing on something that she knew for sure would help, she worked on her daily routine of channeling electrical energy into the baseball sized metal sphere she had spent so much money on. Though she was never exactly excited about her family’s business ventures, the whims of the market did always intrigue her. She had spent almost two million dollars on something seemingly insignificant that was useless in the hands of most people in the world. For an Electrokinetic like herself, it provided an extremely potent and compact source of electrical energy to use, at least once charged, which negated one of her biggest weaknesses of her powers, which was the need to gather ionic charge for powerful effects.
She had been told that with enough practice, she could release the energy in pockets, reducing the need to spend so long charging it back up when it had been used. For now, she was not concerned with moderating the output, as she was rather skilled already. If she needed to utilize the sphere, there was no doubt that she needed all the juice she could get.
As she continued charging the sphere, holding it aloft with just arcs of current, her mind returned to such niche items like her sphere that managed to have an extremely low demand, and an extremely high demand at the same time. She considered herself lucky, as a million or so dollars was nothing compared to the suits True Quintessences wore. To her, she could not understand why they would care about being naked to use their elemental forms, but she postulated people who could spontaneously generate their own resources would have similar sentiments about her orb.
Cutting the charge from the orb, allowing it to drop into her cupped hands, she stands from her seated position under one of the many blossoming trees on campus, finding that her stomach was rumbling. Setting a course for the Cafeteria, she decided to forego taking a shuttle, instead enjoying a leisurely stroll through the verdant campus. By the time she had gotten inside, chosen her food, and taken a seat, she was almost immediately disturbed by the loudest, most grating voice she ever had the displeasure of hearing.
Turning to look behind her, she sees Efren Chang, campus gossip extraordinaire and generally detestable person. Efren was walking ball of offensive behavior with practically no redeeming qualities. Though he was Filipino and Chinese, and also an Air Affinity, he was known for appropriating others’ cultures with no care as to their true meaning or significance. He became known to be the campus gossip as a result of him being without a doubt the most powerful audial Synestate on campus. Though he was only a lesser Synestate, his hearing was so acute he could even pierce the veil of protections in Tempest Tower, which were designed specifically with people like him in mind. As such, there was very little he did not hear, whether you wanted him to or not, and he traded that information like currency.
Adding to his offensive personality, he was oddly rotund for someone of Asian heritage and also Air attuned. He tanned far too much, and his acne pockmarked face was the least of his issues as his overly large head, puffy cheeks, yellowed crooked teeth and bad breath were often the thing of nightmares for most of the people he imposed himself upon. His face also took on an even odder image thanks to the extremely thick glasses he often wore to help him balance out the adverse effects of his ability, since it stole a good portion of his sight in exchange. Thinking he was cool by wearing sagging jeans and oversized shirts, most people did their best to stay away from him.
Even though he was not liked by most people, he was always found inserting himself into the affairs of others, often seeing himself as the life of the party. So shameless was his meddling, that people finally stopped pretending to be nice or civil around him, saying things they knew he could clearly hear even though he should not be in earshot. Even then that did not deter him, earning him the title of one of the most reviled people on campus. As such, in every Melee anyone who came into contact with him made sure to eliminate him with extreme prejudice. Worst of all, his catcalling and bothering of anything with a vagina, made Codi herself seem like she had taken a vow of chastity. Closing her eyes tight, wishing with all her might he would not see her, Codi’s wish was not answered on this particular day.
“Damn Codi! You looking fine as wine as usual! When you gonna let me show you what you have been missing?!”
“I fucking swear if you come one step closer to me with that sewage you call breath, I’ll fry you where you stand.”
“Why you always gotta act like that?! I know you in the top five and all now, but that don’t mean you haven’t always been my number 1.”
Glancing over at the sad wisps of hair on his face, a clearly failed attempt to grow a beard, Codi finds the few bites of food she had already taken were trying to force themselves back up from the wrongness that he embodied. “Look, I’m trying to have a nice lunch by myself, emphasis on by myself. If you don’t want to be on the floor in a puddle of your own piss, I suggest you move along fatass.”
Rubbing his stomach, he gives her a wide grin, displaying teeth the color that could rival lemons. “I just got all this to love baby. Plus, if you rub my stomach, it gives you good luck. Come on and give it a try.”
Before she can respond, she hears someone call her name, which causes her to look up to see Maggie headed in her direction beaming like the sun. Sitting her tray down opposite of Codi, she finds herself instantly in the sights of Efren.
“Damn! All your friends is fine Codi! Oh! I know this chick! She’s the one who got dumpstered on by Pryshka Apendu in the School Rankings Competition.” Turning to face her, “You healed yet sexy? I got something that will make you feel better for sure!”
Though Codi expected Maggie to be completely naïve, not recognizing what Efren was referencing, she was surprised when a look of disgust spread across her face as she looked the man up and down.
“Codi, who’s your friend? It seems he is trying to use a tool that’s not easy for him to locate. Maybe someone else can help him with that.”
Completely floored by such a witty and likely appropriate comeback, she almost failed to take note of Maggie’s choice of words. “This sack of shit is not my friend.”
Completely unfazed by the barbs coming his way, “Ladies, ladies! There’s enough of me to go around! Codi this is right up your alley, right? A little girl on girl action to get the juices going for me!”
Looking at her, wondering why she was still enduring such behavior, “Codi, I’m over this guy. I was having a really good day. Do you want the honors, or should I?”
“I have had to deal with him a lot longer, I think I’ll handle it.”
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Efren licks his lips suggestively at the two women, only to be met with an electric blast so potent is throws him a number of feet away, where he crashes by another groups table, twitching and spasming. When he comes to rest, seemingly unconscious, the immediate area erupts into applause. Standing, giving a few bows to her adoring fans, Codi retakes her seat, focusing on Maggie.
“God I fucking hate that guy. People think Merc is bad. At least Merc gives you a good time. He just shows up and ruins literally anything.”
“Who is he?”
“You haven’t heard of this douchebag? His name is Efren Chang. If he wasn’t such a piece of shit, he might actually be useful. His synesthesia is so powerful he can even hear through Tempest’s walls, or so they say. According to people, he doesn’t even need glasses, but he pretty much constantly keeps his powers activated, so he is blind as hell most of the time.”
“He’s kinda like a male you, with all the shameless throwing himself at people.”
Her mouth opening wide in shock, “I resent the fuck out of that comment! I am nothing like that assbag! I simply do the good work of saving beautiful maidens from cold nights without pleasure! It is quite a selfless mission!”
Taking a bite of an apple, “Right… Whatever lets you sleep at night.” Noticing the look on her face, “And I don’t mean an orgasm!”
Codi’s eyebrows immediately shoot up at the comment. “Something is off about you.” Hopping up, leaning across the table, she takes a deep breath of Maggie, only to be met with a swift smack atop the head. “The delicate and wonderous aroma of innocence isn’t wafting off you anymore! This is an outrage! Who was it! Who is the scummy bastard that took what was mine and deflowered you?! Is Anaar cheating on Phave?! That dirty mother…”
Doing her best to keep her face straight, “What are you even talking about? No one has-”
“Don’t deny it! The glow, the sudden recognition of previously incomprehensible innuendo, you will not lie to me! This is fresh too! It must have happened in the past day or so!”
“Oh my god! What are you, some kind of sex whisperer?!”
“Yes!”
Sighing, realizing it was no use hiding it from someone like Codi, Maggie decides to come clean. “Dan and I went on a date last night, and it was really magical. We are officially trying things as a couple.”
“Wait a damn minute! You give it up to Dan after one date, and I have been offering you splendor for months?! Tell me how that is fair?!”
“You make me sound like some kind of slut! It’s Dan! Sure it was our first official date, but this is something that has been building between us for some time now. Especially with all the work he did getting all dressed up and getting Anaar’s room set up…”
Gasping, pounding her fists on the table, “You didn’t… Tell me you did not get your cherry popped in your best friend’s bed!?”
“No! Not really. It wasn’t Anaar’s bed… It was one of the guest rooms!”
Codi begins crackling with electricity and squirming about. “This is too good! I thought I was a brazen bitch, but you, oh you are something else Ms. Osorio! First date fucking, and in your best friend’s bed! Oh you just scored so many points in my book!”
“It’s not like that at all I keep telling you! It’s not like Dan is some random guy! Plus it just kind of happened!”
“Have you told Anaar you fucked in his bed?!”
“It wasn’t his bed I keep telling you! No one knows about this! Don’t you dare go telling anyone! I swear I will kill you!”
“So you are ashamed?”
“No I’m not ashamed! I just… I don’t know what I think.”
Face suddenly becoming completely severe, “Ok, all joking aside, what is hillbilly Dan working with? Are you sore? Feeling stretched out? He always looked like he had a wild side to him!”
“Codi!”
“Ok, ok, I’ll stop. I’m serious this time. Are you alright? I’m not saying you should go shouting it from the rooftops, but I don’t know how I feel about you trying to keep this all under wraps. Especially from your best friend and the person whose room you christened.”
“How am I supposed to tell him? What am I supposed to tell him?”
“It’s super simple. You just call him and tell him that he might want to wash the sheets.”
“Codi!”
“You asked! Look, I’m worried about you. It isn’t uncommon to feel some pangs of regret after your first time. Should you have done it, was it the right time, was it with the right person, all of these are perfectly normal to be feeling. You sound like you are ashamed to tell the person closest to you. I know that you might still have feelings somewhere for Anaar, but do you think that he would let you two use his room if he wasn’t giving you his blessing?”
“What if he thinks less of me though?”
“I highly doubt that. For him to be as closed off as he is, that kid cares more about the people in his life than anyone I have ever met. He and Phave bone all the time! I mean like all the time. I’m pretty sure they had sex when they first got together too. If he puts some double standard on you, then maybe he isn’t as good of a guy, or friend as we thought. He is supposed to be your best friend, you should be talking about stuff like this. It might be a little awkward for him since Dan will probably talk to him too, so either way the cat is coming out of the bag.”
Sitting in silence for a moment, Maggie finally murmurs something.
Leaning in, putting her hand to her ear, “What was that? I couldn’t hear you.” Peering over to see Efren had been cleaned up by someone, “That fat fuck isn’t here either, so you are safe.”
“Thank you. I never expected you would be the first person I would talk to about this.”
“What is so wrong with me?”
“You’re a sex addict. And kind of a sexual predator.”
Putting her hand to her mouth, “That is the nicest thing you have ever said to me!”
“You are seriously the worst!”
“That’s not what women usually say about me!” she says with a boastful look. “So… You and Hillbilly Dan, you really think is going to work out?”
“Stop calling him that! Yes I do, thank you very much. Dan is so sweet, and he really does work hard. We need to clean up his room, but that should be easy.”
“You and Anaar are so more alike than you think. You start relationships by banging, and the moment you are official, you turn into the damn dirt police, making people clean their rooms.”
“You haven’t seen Dan’s room.”
“I’ve seen Phave’s. It can’t be much worse.”
“I’m really happy that Dan and I are together. Not only will it be good for me, but I think it will be really good for him.”
“Why is that?”
“I think this will be the first thing in a long time that he is doing because he wants to, and not out of obligation. He loves his brother, and he has come to love going to this school, but at the end of the day he still does it because if he doesn’t, his brother won’t have the life he deserves.”
“What about what you deserve?”
“I think I deserve to have someone who can love me the way that I love them and be happy. Nothing in this world would make me trade Anaar, but the fact of the matter is, it was never meant to be for us. Dan on the other hand, we had been right there under each other’s noses the entire time, but were too blinded by the sun to really see one another.”
“Well I deserved to be the one to deflower you, but I suppose we can’t all get our just desserts.”
Making a mocking gesture, “Oh no, poor you!”
“Yes, poor me! Really though, I am just happy this isn’t an experience that has left you potentially scarred. I know lots of girls this happens to. If you like being with a hillbilly-”
“Codi…”
“Fine. If Dan makes you happy, then I can only hope for the best with you two.”
Smiling happily at her maturity, “Thank
s.”
“What does he think of his girlfriend being way more powerful than he is? I mean you are like number 2 in your class and number 7 in the school. Does that make his dick shrivel?”
“I don’t know! We haven’t really discussed any of that.”
“So you don’t know what you would do if you ended up having to fight him? You could be like Anaar and let him win to save his ego.”
“I guess Anaar is a better partner than I am, because there is no way I’m letting him win.”
“Ouch! Poor Dan! I guess he is just going to be stuck being the bottom bitch forever!”
The two laugh at the thought of Dan always being relegated to second best as they continue their meal. All while Maggie is talking, Codi sits in awe, extremely proud of the little girl she knew, growing up into a beautiful, responsible woman. With all her friends finding themselves partners, she begins to wonder if maybe she should look to opening herself up to that type of commitment as well. Contemplating the thought of putting someone else’s needs and feelings above her own, she immediately puts it out of her head as an impossibility, as she listens to more musings from Maggie’s new situation.
31
Languishing in bed, Phavian watches the naked divine creature brushing his teeth in preparation to leave for the day’s events. Somehow, despite it being the first week of their break, Anaar had managed to have a full schedule. Every other Freshman and Junior he knew was taking the time to catch up on sleep, have fun, or simply slow down if they remained on campus, which was the vast majority of people. Instead, Anaar had chosen to take on more responsibilities with both of his jobs on campus, moved to practicing his music even more, and kicked up his training schedule. It was easy to think that Anaar was simply talented at everything he did, but when looking at his schedule, it was clear just how much effort he put into bettering himself.
Divulgence (Song of Sophangence Book 2) Page 37