Soul Searcher Book 1

Cassie laughs at Jimmy’s lame joke slapping at his hand as she does so. “You’re ridiculous,” she adds with a roll of her eyes. “And stop making me drinks! I’ve got to work tonight,” she glances down at her phone to see what time it is. “Oh shit! I’ve got to be at work in an hour! I’ll see you later, Jimmy.” Cassie hops off her stool waving goodbye at the same time. Making a bee line to her towel and umbrella, she quickly packs everything up and then runs across the sand as fast as one can run through sand back up to her apartment. Tossing her things onto her favorite over-sized charcoal-grey colored recliner, Cassie goes into her bedroom in search of clean clothes and then heads to her bathroom for a quick shower.

Just as Cassie pulls her stoned-washed jean skirt over her hips, her phone rings. Walking over to her nightstand, she looks at the screen and sees Ginny’s name flashing across it. Swiping her index finger across the green phone symbol, Cassie squeals a hello. “I thought you were going to swing by yesterday and say goodbye before you left, snot face.”

“I’m so sorry Cass. By the time I was done packing my stuff, the guys were sitting out front honking their horn for us to leave. But I miss you and just wanted to call and let you know I’m okay and to say thank you one more time. I love you, bunches!”

“Yeah, yeah. I love you too. Hey, I’ve got to finish getting ready for work, but I want you to call me later and tell me how your first night out on the road was.”

“Oh, okay.” Cassie could hear the disappointment in Ginny’s voice, but she should have known to call earlier, she was working Ginny’s shift after all. “I’m calling you at 12:35 on the dot, got it! Don’t forget, okay!”

Cassie smiled at hearing the happiness in Ginny’s voice and said, “I promise. My phone will be in the palm of my hand, and I will eagerly be waiting for your call.”

**

I have wandered the entirety of the beach house more than a dozen times now but every time I sit down, I can’t seem to get comfortable enough to relax so back to my feet I go, and the pacing commences once more. No longer am I able to count how many times I have run one or both of my hands through my hair either. My body feels like it has been doused in gasoline and set a fire of agitation to it and I don’t know why.

“Screw this!” I shout out to the echoing silence within the house. Opening the front door, I step out into the muggy night air choosing to leave my hoodie behind this time. Not that it bothers me if I wear it or not, I just like how comfortable it makes me feel when in it. However, I really am not a fan of how the humans look at me for wearing hoodies in the heat that leaves them all feeling miserable. So, I leave it hanging on the hook inside a coat closet I have utilized and head out sporting just a black ribbed tank top, black cargo pants and my loosely laced, black combat boots.

Shrugging off the few stares I do encounter as I am an anomaly in my own right, I walk aimlessly in no specific direction, but I end up finding myself on the same boardwalk as the night before only this time I learn that where I am standing has a name ‘Broadway at the Beach’. This time I walk through the entrance or at the beginning of the boardwalk where I apparently had entered last night somewhere in the middle of the long path of shops, restaurants, and entertainment spots.

Thunderous booms occur as I come to stand near a massive Ferris wheel with blinking neon lights lit up around the entire thing. Shifting my eyes from the mechanical atrocity to the sky above, I watch in awe as bright colors light up the night. I stare captivated by the fireworks until someone bumps into me from behind. Turning around to see who in the hell could be so inconsiderate as to not pay attention to where they are going, bursts of anger flash across my eyes. That jackass bartender from earlier today had backed up right into me and then didn’t even have the nerve to say he was sorry. No, instead he chuckles and mutters a ‘watch it dude’ to me.

The nerve of some people, I swear. Extending my hand, I tap on his shoulder to make him turn around and look at me. I am seconds away from ripping into him when glancing just beyond his left shoulder, I see three others near, and my eyes go wide as I recognize the person in the middle. The girl from my dream, I mean Cassie, is staring back at me, her mouth having fallen open in stunned silence as she continues to look at me. As I look at her, I can’t help but think twice in one day. What does fate have planned for me?

***

The show ended early tonight which left Cassie free to do as she pleased. When Khloe came up to her after the bar had closed and asked if she would like to hang out with her and her friends, Cassie decided why not. She hadn’t had any other plans for the night, and she felt that at 9:30 it was way too early to go back to her apartment and call it a night. So, with a smile on her face, Cassie said yes and walked out the door. Unbeknownst to her, she should have asked Khloe who the other people were that would be hanging out with them. Following Khloe over to a bar a few spots down from where they worked, Cassie saw Jimmy standing with a dude and when they spotted Khloe, their eyes lit up with excitement and they waved with smiles on their faces as the girls walked up to them.

“Khloe-e-e-e,” Jimmy said extending the ‘E’ of Khloe’s name as he lifted her up in a hug and spun her around once before sitting her back on her feet.

Giggling, Khloe squealed out a “stop. Put me down!” as she hit Jimmy’s shoulder trying to get him to put her back on her feet. After finding her footing once more she says, “hi Sean, hey Jimmy. Are you guys ready to go have some fun?” Both Jimmy and Sean bounce their eyes between Khloe and Cassie, but Khloe just stares at them waiting for the guys to give an answer.

“Well, since Khloe has no manners whatsoever, I will introduce myself, I am Sean Penton and who might you be?” His gaze didn’t waver as he looked at Cassie.

Caught by surprise, Cassie stuttered for a second, “uh, um, hi. My name is Cassandra Arryn, but everyone calls me Cassie or Cass. It is nice to meet you, Sean.” Turning her eyes to Jimmy she smiles; “I didn’t know you and Khloe knew each other.”

Running a hand through his thick wavy dark brown hair, Jimmy offers a grin. “Oh, yeah, she and I went to the same high school and have stayed in touch. We don’t get to hang out as often as we used to, but we meet up every now and then.” His muscular frame towered over all three of the others by a foot and Cassie had to look up to be able to see his hazel eyes. “How do you guys know each other?” Raising an eyebrow, Jimmy looked quizzically back at her.

“Oh, Khloe and I work at the Star-Sky together.” Suddenly Cassie really felt like they should start walking, she felt a pull towards the Ferris wheel. “Hey, we should get on the Ferris wheel and watch the fireworks.”

“Let’s go!” Khloe stated excitedly. “We need to get in line now if we want to see them go off while we sit in the sky.” Everyone nodded their heads in agreement and then slowly made their way through the throngs of people milling about as they tried to determine where the beginning of the line started.

Watching Jimmy goofing around, Cassie and the others laughed at him as he tried to mimic a popular dance. As he flung his arms out in an attempt to spin around, he bumped into someone but instead of apologizing, he muttered ‘watch it’ because he was too embarrassed to admit he had done wrong. A second later he felt a tap on his shoulder and dreaded turning around to see what the person was about to say. He caught sight of Cassie’s face before he turned and froze. Her eyes were full of surprise, or maybe shock... he couldn’t quite read the expression. “What? What’s wrong Cassie? Are you okay?”

“YOU! You’re real?” After blurting the words out, Cassie stares stunned at the stranger behind Jimmy. “Are you stalking me or something? What are you doing here?”

I scoff, “I could say the same to you.” I arch my eyebrows and allow a smirk to cross my lips. Crossing my arms over my chest, I continue to stare right back at her, I will not be the one to break eye contact first!

Cassie scrunches her eyes at me as she glares, “you’re a dick,” she whispers loudly at me, causing me to smile widely at her. “Guys, let’s go somewhere that doesn’t allow jackasses to hang out.” As she says this comment (which is totally directed towards me), I laugh out loud.

“What’s wrong sweetness? Maybe I’m wrong, but” I look at the two dudes standing near her; “it seems to me that you like jackasses...” If looks could kill, I’d be at death’s door right now. I have never been more amused in my life. Who knew humans could be such fun?