Together again

And so, after about seven years, we were all together again. Our whole gang of five. It was pleasant. The last time we were here like this was when we were all around 17 and the youngest of us had just finished school. For tons of years here we finish at 16 or 17, those in our social position, and then we have to look for a job. Those who have money or a lot of talent can try to study further. That was for Arno. And so our group stopped meeting altogether. Well, not really because of that.

So we were sitting on the old crumbling couch, drinking alcohol from a bottle, talking. And we also played cards while drinking it. With the presence of smoke from Jasper's cigarettes and green all around from Mali's flowers. What a nice time we had.

"You're really in charge of the garage?" Jasper couldn't believe it, and I glared at him. I didn't understand what he was trying to achieve. That it wouldn't be possible for a girl? Probably not. Maybe he just wanted to make fun of me. That would be a lot like him. If one of us had to be in charge of anything... it would be me over him. For sure.

I showed him my middle finger and took a sip from the dark bottle that Mali handed me with a laugh. I raised an eyebrow at her in a silent question. I wanted to laugh too, so she should share with me. Unless she was laughing at what Jasper said. That bullshit wasn´t very funny.

When it was my turn, I examined the cards on the table and my own. Then I leaned my elbows on my legs. I was thinking about possible ways to get rid of all the cards at the best. The whole time I was kind of creating ways in my head, but Arno made a little chaos in those cards lying on the table. As always.

"Um..."

I smiled a little as I got an idea and stood up. I always did that when I needed to focus on something. Just take a good look from above. Just like now, when I subsequently left card after card on the table with the other ones. I got rid of them all.

"You're playing cards in some bars and the garage is just a cover! Right?"

I looked up at Mali, who was looking at the table a little embarrassed, a little offended. I gave her the sweetest smile I could: "Exactly. And you don't even know that I fly out for holidays."

Mali just shook her head at my words and began to focus again on the cards in her hands. I had already finished and she lacked a clean line to start laying out the cards. Life was sometimes a little unfair.

I had the day off today and tomorrow, too, so I decided to enjoy it with my friends and go for some fun in the evening at some club that Dami suggested. We were supposed to go there together, but it was clear to me that, as always, we would split up and go our separate ways.

When I had the bottle of some alcohol back in my hand while looking out of that familiar broken window, I kind of forgot about my friends who were sitting next to me. I just focused on the beauty through all the greenery here. So relaxing.

"What are y'all gonna do in the evening?" Mali suddenly asked and I looked at her:

"I already have something planned."

Mali gave me a look that maybe she was trying to ask me to say something more, but she didn't succeed. Then she looked expectantly at the others who seemed to be thinking. That is, except for Yuki, who looked at her a little apologetically:

"I have work."

I rolled my eyes not understanding what Ander's bodyguard was for at night. Unless he was going somewhere to have fun. So I could only hope that I wouldn't meet him anywhere. Or at least not when he's with that Damien guy.

Arno and Jasper finally said they didn't have anything to do, which got Mali excited and she immediately started suggesting they could go to watch a movie or something when the other two of us couldn't.

In my room, I changed into my new shirt and pants of the black color and decent shoes. It occurred to me that I might buy some more fancy clothes in the future. Unless, of course, I won´t have the money. It would just be better to have some in a stock of course.

Dami used to lend me her clothes, but now I had the ones given to me by Zayd, and it would be silly to keep borrowing from her. But the money problem was still relevant. And as I mentioned before, shopping was not my hobby.

I grabbed a chocolate bar from a grey bowl with sweets in the kitchen before heading out into the beautiful night. Of course, I had to lock the floor and the garage behind me so that I could leave with a peace in my mind.

I walked through a few dark aisles and up the stairs to the familiar stop and after buying the ticket I waited for the train together with a few other people who probably also decided to enjoy the weekend evening in a bar, club, cinema or something like that.

After a while, the expected train arrived and I could finally get on and sit with a view of the enlightened buildings around. I really enjoyed watching it while I didn't have to think about anything. However, the train was quite fast and all I could mostly see were just lines of the city lights. Still quite beautiful, I must say.

As soon as we arrived at the center of the layer after a few minutes, I got out of the train and walked sideways so as not to oblige people. Well, rather that someone doesn't bump into me which would be pretty annoying.

I decided to find out how Dami was doing, but before I could take any action, her voice came from not too far away, calling my name: "Rayne!"

Turning behind me to the way from where I heard her voice I saw her and gave her a small smile as I walked towards her. She also followed me and made that annoying gesture. She hugged me. I returned the hug a little, but only with a light pat on the back. I didn't like it and I don't know why. I mean just that gesture. Maybe because I don't understand why girls hug each other even if they haven't seen each other only for a week and sometimes not even that. I would understand if it was after a year or more. I must say that I don´t remember me and Mali, for example, actually hugging. Ever.

"Can we go then?" Dami asked when she finally let me go to which I nodded in agreement.

We set off in an unknown direction to a club that Dami spoke quite enthusiastically about, so I had enough expectations. All I needed was that they didn't play terrible music and there was something good to drink.

It didn't take long before there was a lighted establishment with a security guard checking the visitors. Thankfully it didn't take a long time, and we were inside soon enough and the fun could gradually begin.