Soul Searcher Book 1

Before Rim even tapped Cassie on the shoulder, she knew he was behind her. She could feel his essence. And though try as she might, she couldn’t keep the stupid grin from consuming her face. Spinning on the ball of her feet as she felt his hand upon her shoulder, she turned and locked eyes with him. Wanting nothing more than to throw her arms around his neck and pull him towards her so she could kiss him, she instead took a step back to squelch the urge to do so.

Hearing the guys and Khloe whispering to each other, she turned her focus on them to see what they were saying. “You guy’s alright?” Cassie arched an eyebrow, giving an unimpressed look to the three who stood inches away from her.

“Huh? What? Yeah, no. We’re good,” Khloe stumbled over her words. “We uh, were thinking of going to get some snow cones just down the way. You, um, guys want to come with us?”

Cassie turned her head back to Rim to see if he felt comfortable enough to tag along.

I shrugged my shoulders because I honestly don’t care as long as I get to spend some time with her. “Sure. I’ve never had a snow cone before. What is it?”

All four of them look at me in shock like I have just grown a second head. I could tell Jimmy and his buddy were tempted to make fun of me for this claim but one look from Cassie shut them right up. “Oh my gosh! You’ve never had a snow cone?” Khloe exclaimed in astonishment. “Well, that’s about to change. It’s the best thing on a humid evening like tonight.”

Cassie gazed at me stunned but curious too. “So, snow cones are like a popsicle but crushed up in a cone shaped cup and the liquid flavoring is then poured on top of it. You’ve at least had a popsicle before, right?”

I shake my head no and then can’t help but laugh to see the expressions on their faces. Feeling amused I thought to myself that maybe this night wouldn’t end up feeling so weird and awkward after all. But that’s what I get for allowing myself to think like that. We make our way over to the stand where the snow cones are sold. I notice how closely Jimmy walks by Cassie. No big deal we are all sort of bumping into each other because of how crowded the boardwalk is. After we bought our snow cones, we found an empty table that people could sit at. Cassie doesn’t notice but I definitely do that Jimmy is trying to maneuver everyone around so that it ends up him and Sean sitting on either side of her, forcing me to sit across from her where I won’t be able to touch her.

Growling under my breath I offer Jimmy a menacing glare to let him know he isn’t fooling me in the slightest. Under my stare I watch him squirm which causes me to smirk in satisfaction. The smirk quickly falls from my lips as I catch Cassie watching me. I give her a half smile and then try to listen to the story Khloe was sharing with everyone.

Jumping slightly because I feel my phone vibrate in my back pocket, I pull it out and am surprised to see a text from Cassie. I glance up at her and see her give a small shy smile. How’d you end up over there? I thought you’d want to sit by me... Cassie

I grin to know that she is disappointed that I’m not sitting by her. I’m pretty sure I mentioned to you that Jimmy likes you...

Ugh, whatever... I’ve never been attracted to him like that. Besides, I like someone else! 😉Cassie

You do! Who?

Wouldn’t you like to know 😊 Cassie

I’m trying my best to keep the cheesy grin from sneaking onto my face. I’m pretty sure she is flirting with me via text messages but since I’ve never interacted with humans like this before, I can’t be a hundred percent sure. Glancing up, I see a twinkle in her eyes, and she winks at me. My heart trips over itself. Too late I realized that Khloe had asked a question that she wanted everyone to answer. Thankfully Cassie hadn’t heard her either and asks, “What?”

Khloe rolls her eyes. “I asked what we should do next? I sort of want to go watch a movie, but at the same time I’d like to go down to the beach because someone just sent me a text inviting me to join a party there.” Both Jimmy and Sean chimed in at the same time saying ‘beach party’ I look at Cassie to see what she’d like to do.

“I could do the party for a bit,” As she says this, she looks at me to see if I will agree to go too. Giving a crooked smile, I nod my head and then everyone gets up, throws their trash away and we begin to walk once more, heading to the party.

The night is turning out to be perfect! Cassie thought to herself as they made their way down onto the beach. They could hear the music and see the flames of the bonfire before they saw the decent sized crowd. All of them are at once handed drinks as they come up to the fire. Cassie and Khloe giggled as they tried to beat the other to see who could chug their first cup of beer the fastest. Cassie won and then they all decided to get Jell-O shots. Everyone began dancing after they did their shots. While they were dancing, Cassie discreetly inched her way closer to Rim, but before she could reach him, Jimmy grabbed her arm, spinning her around to dance with him.

She dances with him for a minute or so before turning and taking Khloe’s hand, swinging it, jumping together with their hands in the air to the rhythm of the music. “Whew! I think I’m going to get another drink and sit on one of those logs for a little bit.” Cassie shouted to Khloe over the music.

Khloe nodded, “yeah that sounds like a good idea.” Grinning slyly at Cassie, she leaned towards her ear so that only Cassie could hear, “we should do another shot. Just you and me. We can sneak over to the table before the boys even realize we’re gone.”

“Okay, let’s do it!” They took each other’s hand and dashed across the sand over to where the drinks were. Khloe had to rummage through three coolers before finding more Jell-O shots. After they each consumed their Jell-O shot, they both grabbed a cup and went over to where the beer keg was and poured themselves a glass full. “This was a great idea Khloe. I’m having so much fun.”

Khloe smiled widely for the praise. “I have my moments. Oh, by the way, you’re right. Rim seems cool. You do realize that Jimmy likes you though, right?”

Cassie made a face and rolled her eyes. “Rim said the same thing. But he’s just not my type...” she stopped speaking as her eyes landed on Rim’s and she couldn’t help but grin as he started to walk towards her.

“Oh, I know your type,” Khloe whispered loudly to which Cassie shushed her and they both started laughing. Cassie continued to watch as Rim approached them. She couldn’t help it, he was a magnet, and her soul was like metal. She was just drawn to him. No. They were drawn to each other. She sighed in appreciation as he came to stand in front of her, their eyes locked in an intense stare that neither of them seemed to be able to break.

“Hey,” I say as I come to stand in front of Cassie. She whispers a shy ‘hey’ back as we continue to gaze into each other’s eyes. “I was thinking of taking...”

“Cassie, let’s get a shot and then go dance.” Jimmy says as he comes jogging up to us, Sean by his side. He takes Cassie’s hand and pulls her over to the drink table and I can do nothing but watch them down their drinks. Khloe and Sean are a couple of steps behind them and take a shot of whatever hard liquor is sitting on the table. Cassie turns and smiles at me, holding a shot for me to take too. Oh, what the hell, I think to myself as I accept the drink from her. Alcohol doesn’t really have any effect on me except maybe a little buzz. I have never been able to get drunk though, no matter how much I consume. Tipping my head back, I swallow the harsh liquid and grimace as I feel it burn a little as it hits the back of my throat. Just as I place the empty cup on the table, I see Jimmy take Cassie’s hand once more and drag her out to where the D.J. is set up and people are dancing.

A surge of jealousy streaks through me causing me to clench my hands, balling them into fists. I have a feeling this night is going to take a turn for the worse as I continue to watch them. I don’t care that Cassie is dancing, she’s having so much fun but when I see Jimmy place his hands on her hips and try to dance super close to her, I about go mental. She steps away to put more space between them, but he doesn’t take the hint and starts to do it all over again. I can tell she doesn’t like it. She keeps moving away and he keeps following. I’ve had just about enough of him groping her and begin to walk towards them however, a slower paced song comes on and it looks like they have decided to come back over to where I’m standing but then I see Jimmy trying to pull Cassie back to slow dance with him. “Dude, no. I’m drunk and need to sit down for a moment, okay.”

“Aw come on Cass, just one dance and then we will go sit down, I promise.” Jimmy holds his fingers up in the boy scout salute, smiling drunkenly as he does so. Cassie tries to remove her hand from his, but I see him grip it just a little tighter. Anger is boiling up inside of me. I’m about to explode and when I see him pull her roughly towards him, I do! Storming up to them, I place my hand over top of Jimmy’s wrist and tell him to let Cassie go and to leave her alone. And I know he’s drunk and probably wouldn’t have egged me on had he been sober but inevitably he asks, ‘what err you gon ta do about it-ta?’ to which I grin menacingly before with lighting speed, I punch him in the face, knocking him out cold.

“Oh, ma gosh-sh-sh Rim, what did you-wa jus do?” Cassie slurs her words a little as she looks at me in surprise, her eyes wide, before stumbling over her own feet. She trips forward falling towards me. Catching her in my arms, I scoop her up close to my chest, just as she passes out. I look around until I spot Khloe who is kneeling down by Jimmy’s side. “I’m going to take Cassie back to my place so she can sleep this off,” I say as I move Cassie in my arms to get a better hold of her. The last thing I need is to drop her.

“Okay, but if you hurt her, I will hunt you down!”

I shake my head smiling in appreciation of her protectiveness over Cassie, “I promise, I’m not one of those guys. I am a gentleman and will sleep on the couch.” She nods and then turns her attention back to the still unconscious Jimmy.