The next day, I parked the car in the parking lot across the street from the Hopp’s Revival. Serenity sat in the passenger seat with her arms crossed and stared straight ahead. He jaw tightened as she tapped her fingers on her arm in a rapid rhythm.
“I can’t believe I let you drag me to this,” she said.
“It’ll be fun.” I elbowed her. “Most of the crew will be there.”
“Your crew,” she muttered.
“Our crew if you didn’t lock yourself in your room with your computer.”
She shrugged. “Computers make more sense than people do.”
I sighed. “How did I ever become the exception?”
A smile hovered over her lips. “Freshman orientation. You called yourself Batman’s prodigal daughter.”
I lifted my chin and grinned at her. “Well I am.”
I slid out of the car and waited for her with my hands in my pockets. A group of students held the double doors of the bar open and blues music drifted past the road full of cars and to my ears. Soft lights shone through the writing on the windows. A crowd of smokers mingled amongst the cloud of fumes on the patio attached to the side with its deck painted green. Serenity slammed her door and stepped beside me.
“Let’s get this over with,” she said.
We sprinted across the crosswalk and to the doors. A slim boy in a dark blue t-shirt held the door open for us.
“Hey, Cassi,” he said.
I waved as I stepped inside. “Hey, Caleb. Which part of this craziness are you with?”
He chuckled. “Jest clerical. I’m not talented enough for any of the other groups.”
“How’s Sheridan treating you?”
“Oh, you know, the wicked bitch of the West.”
I chuckled. “I doubt she’s that bad.”
“You have no idea. She wants everything perfect for Mercer.”
Serenity rolled her eyes. “And on that name, I need a beer.”
She pulled me with her toward the bar and waved over the tender. I plopped down on the stool and scanned the room. Trickle by trickle, the place was filling up. Shouts echoed over the music as friends met up with each other. The tender slid two glasses full of dark ale in front of us. I lifted mine up and tasted it. My phone buzzed in the pocket of my jeans, and I pulled it out. With a wince, I hit the ignore button and stuffed it back.
“Who was that?” Serenity asked.
“Telemarketer.” I lifted my beer and took a sip. “How do you know Mercer?”
She downed half her glass before responding. “What makes you think I do?”
“Because you have this resentment that seems to carry way beyond just seeing him in the news.”
A roaring laugh from the pool table saved Serenity from responding. James smirked at his friends and rested his pool cue across his shoulders. A brunette girl rested one hand on his shoulder and leaned forward enough that her boobs almost popped out of her shirt. James caught my gaze and pulled the girl in for a long kiss. Ugh. I turned away and gulped my beer.
“I can’t believe I dated that ass,” I said.
Serenity tilted her head. “He’s trying for lead developer. I saw him sucking up to Sheridan yesterday.”
I patted her hand. “I’m sorry.”
She shrugged.
“Why don’t you try? You could code circles around him.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m cut out for running a team. Jackass or not, he’s got people skills.”
I sighed. “Great. So any interviews will have to go through him.”
Serenity leaned back and tossed her long hair over her shoulder. “Who said I wouldn’t be up for answering questions, say over a game of DC Injustice?”
“As long as I get Batman,” I said.
Serenity snorted at me, lifting her glass to her lips. She froze and her eyes narrowed as she looked past me. I turned. Mercer Chapman walked our direction with his hands in his pockets and a smile on his face. Sheridan kept pace beside him with quick steps and secretive glances from under her eyelashes. Mercer’s gaze remained on Serenity and me as he approached.
“I heard you made it onto the team,” he said to Serenity. “Congratulations. I look forward to working with you.”
She crossed her arms. “Won’t you be too busy basking in the glory?”
Sheridan gasped. Even I had to blink. I knew she didn’t like him, but she didn’t need to be so harsh.
His sighed. “Come on, Serenity, this is a second chance.”
She glared at him. “What makes you think I’m willing to give it to you?”
“You’re not as immune as you think.” He glanced in my direction and his smile was back in place. “Hello again, Cassiopeia, wasn’t it?”
I swallowed the sudden dryness of my throat. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Chaplin.”