For the dream #7
“You like to cook for me?” Ata asked.
Zed said, “I…Yes?”
“I’ve mostly eaten custard.”
“That’s not cooking?”
“No.”
“I use the cooker for it, so it’s cooking.”
“Someone makes your food, so the other non-custard things were just reheated.”
He frowned. “You want me to make food from scratch for you? I didn’t think you wanted to die but I can try.”
She giggled. “That’s not the point!”
“What is?” Laughter danced in his eyes.
“You must not like cooking if you pay someone to cook for you.”
“I hate cooking.”
“But you like doing it for me.”
“Yes, I don’t hate cooking and reheating food for you.”
Ata said, “You’re mocking me, I can see it in your eyes…maybe I should just move in with Ori.”
“She has a roommate.”
“Her sister likes me.”
“You don’t like people around you.”
Ata said, “Neither do you.”
“Are you asking if I like you in my space because I don’t hate cooking for you?”
She laughed. “You’re an ass.” Someone knocked. “Who’s it?”
“Dan.”
“It’s open.” Zed stood. “Let me wash my hands.”
Dan came in looking harassed, t shirt stained with makeup and tears. “Hey—what’s on your face?” he asked Ata.
“Gunk for black eye.”
“Okay.” He sat opposite her. “I messed up right?”
“A little bit.”
“You almost broke your neck and you say a little? You’re generous. When my shit pile of a situationship goes down in flames and whatever’s between you and Zed dies, we should think about a you and I.”
“I didn’t know there was a thing between Zed and I.”
Dan said, “You and Ori were talking about it.”
“Or, we were talking about the crowd around you guys.”
“Oh please, my radar for such things is undefeated.” Dan scooped some meat from her plate. “Unlike my demon radar these days.” He chewed. “Ori said she’s reporting my ass and I can’t even be mad.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s my own fault. I’m got with a nympho.”
Zed strolled out. “Nothing like bat juice to make one see the truth.” He sat next to Ata.
“I invited someone who was throwing charms and attempted a building fling, I see the truth very well” Dan rubbed his face. “I love it.”
Ata scowled. “Don’t put that image in my head…you can always get married and you know, make the banging right.”
Zed bit her shoulder. “You’re such a romantic.”
“He said he loves it, that’s a reason to be married…for some.”
Zed said, “We’re in University.”
“So you won’t marry me if hot flames of passion decided to overtake us?” Some type of emotion flashed his face. “What was that just now?”
Zed blinked. “That’s not a reason to—what kind of strange question is that?”
“A legit one. So?”
“Do you want to get married at this point in your life?”
“I might. You turn the AC up so much I might have considered some body warmth.”
Zed shifted. “Huh…I’ll turn—I like the cold and you said you didn’t mind it.”
“Stop changing the subject. Do you not find me marriageable?”
“Stop that. Umm, Dan…”
“Zed,” Dan said, “answer her. She’s a fine girl, why won’t you marry her?”
Ata giggled. “Yes Zed, why won’t you marry me?”
“Anyway!” Zed said, “Dan, so what now?”
“Wuss.” Dan chuckled. “Now, I’m so screwed.”
Zed dropped meat from Ata’s plate into his mouth. “Are you pissed that I recruited you?”
“Hell no. Demonic oppression is the worst…I knew purity and all was required from me for this assembly life. Little guy down there just got side-tracked.”
“What will you do now?”
“I need to go into consecration,” Dan said.
Ata frowned. “What’s Celine’s issue with me?”
“Bad vibes.” Dan shook his head. “She has lovely sides but doesn’t understand the concept of not getting her way.”
“She knew me before now and was all friendly, why the bad vibes now?”
“You weren’t friendly back…at least that’s what I think. She’s protective of Zed just like I am.”
“Is Cowries protective of you and yours too?” Ata asked. “All I did was give Celine a light punch cause she poured her drink on me and Cowries tried to throw me off a building. I get the other lady punching me, but the building fling?”
“She’s friends with Cel not really me, I guess she’s protective of Cel.”
Zed raised a brow. “That makes more sense.”
Dan stood. “Anyway, sorry for…the whole mess.”
“How come you’re not mad I punched your girlfriend?”
Zed smiled. “He’d have done the same thing if he was in your shoes.”
“I’ll probably go to Noah’s for a bit.” Dan walked out. “Good night.”