Chapter Three ★ CNS Issue#16

Soleil, 2025 | San Diego, CA | Pre-Awakening

After the tour and several hugs (and congratulations for surviving the onslaught of social activity), everyone but Nhucha, Tess and Nina went on their way. Nhucha seemed like she could only take Nina in small doses, but decided she didn’t necessarily dislike her. They all motioned to the dining room table very seriously then sat down as the dogs settled in for naps.
“What?” I inquired, confused by the sudden heavy atmosphere.
“We made a decision but I wanted to check with you before it’s final,” Tess said. I sat down at the table with them.
“Ok?”
“Nina would like to rent the other room in my place. Rents are so expensive here and I felt like she would be a nice addition to our little family.” Tess looked very apprehensive as she said this and i was confused.
“Ok.”
“That’s it?” Tess asked.
“She seems fine. Why are you all acting weird?”
“We didn’t want to make too much change around here, ya know? Didn’t want to ruffle your feathers,” she said, looking at me as if i might burst into flames.
“Guys, thanks for considering my opinion but why the seriousness? I’m not that fragile, you don’t have to tiptoe around me.” I looked at Nina. “It’s not like you’re some random sketchy weirdo. Right?”
“Oh, i am,” she said with a devious grin. I rolled my eyes at her then turned back to the others. At any sign of change, Tess and Nhucha acted like i would have a meltdown. This had been an annoying quirk that developed after that night. Nhucha was still observing me cautiously.
“It should be fine. If Tess and Jet trust you, i trust you. Now will you all stop acting weird?” I glanced at them then turned back to Nina. “Do you have a bed? Clothes? An income?”
“I have some savings to get some basics and hold me over for a bit and don’t worry, with all of this-“ she wiggled her hips, “–i’m sure i’ll have a job in no time,” she winked and i laughed. An endless girl’s night would be fun; my friends were mostly dudes. “I’m going to start looking for one today.”
“I have an idea,” Tess said, “i know a guy–we call him DJ–he opened a bar decades ago but he’s having a hard time getting around these days and he doesn’t trust most people to run it. Many of the people he’s hired screwed him over. If i give him your name he’ll be pretty quick to trust you, like Sol. I’m a very good judge of character,” she said with a smirk.
“A bar, huh? I am pretty good at making cocktails,” Nina thought out loud.

“You are?” Tess was a little shocked.
“I had to be good at many many things in my line of… work.” Nina trailed off as Tess curled her lip, starting to snarl, but composed herself.

“Well that’s.. even better. I guess.” Tess said flatly. “I’ll help you get a resume together later, if you want? Just to keep it all formal, dotting i’s, crossing t’s and all that. He’d probably appreciate it.”

“Sure! I’m going to get my bed set up.” Nina agreed enthusiastically, then she stopped and looked at Tess. “Dotting.. crossing.. wha?”

“Figure of speech, hon,” Tess grinned. “It means to pay attention to details. In this case, it’s mostly to keep things looking official in case the mercs try to harass us.”

“Hmm.. i’ll have to start learning more about this sort of thing,” Nina contemplated. “Ok, i’ll be in my room,” she squee’d and practically skipped off.
“Let me know if you need help,” i said as she left.

“Sure, when you’re free!”

“Soleil,” Nhucha was looking at me with obvious concern. “Can i talk to you? Don’t worry, i gotta go soon so it’ll be quick.“ I nodded and we headed outside for privacy. Nhucha turned to me as soon as the door closed.
“I’m fine,” i said flatly.
“Not that. You and Jet..” she eyed me and i felt myself turn red. “Look, i don’t know what’s going on. Something happened when you saw each other, i saw it. I literally saw a spark,” Nhucha said urgently.
“I didn’t see anything, but i felt like we connected somehow.” I fidgeted uncomfortably and shrugged.
“Be careful.” She looked down uneasily.

“Nhucha… it’s Jet. He’s your brother, remember? Don’t you trust him?” I tilted my head to make eye contact with her.

“Of course, i’d trust him with anything and i know exactly how far he’d go to protect the people he-” she looked at me quickly then looked away “-the people he loves.”

“Oh.” The people he loves, i thought. I swallowed then focused. “Well then why..?”

“Your aura terrified me!” She blurted out, staring at me as if i might explode. “You sparked like that Imperial Beach firework explosion! Can’t you tell me more about it? You had to have felt something, something more than a connection that was already there!”

“Oh god,” i choked out a giggle at the memory then straightened up when i noticed that Nhucha was not amused. “I.. felt like some door in my soul opened. It was like–” i tried to think of the right description without giving too much away or sounding like i’d lost my mind. It was like a trillion cords and wires, maybe even threads, came out of my heart and attached to him. But i just couldn’t say that. “–Nina said it was like time stopped. I have no idea what’s going on.”

“Hmmm.”

“Yeah,” i said. Nhucha looked stressed but closed her eyes, breathed deep then got up.

“I gotta go home. Please be careful.” She leaned over and hugged me. “I feel something happening, and for some reason it makes me worry about you. Text me, ok?”

“Ok.” I smiled as she walked out the door, waving. I was alone aside from Jack and Sydney who were sprawled out on the floor snoozing. I got up out of my chair and both of them leapt out of sleep like they usually did; every noise made them excited. We walked down to Tess’ place so she could hang out with them while i was away.

As i closed the door i heard Nina swearing and growling and followed the sound to her room. Even in the disarray of moving, the boxes that had already been brought up were neatly stacked against the side wall along with bookshelves, a small desk and a chair that were waiting to be arranged. There were several cloth shopping bags full of stuff in her closet waiting to be tucked into their new homes and she was struggling with her mattress. I grabbed the closest end of it and helped her get it onto her bed frame properly. She looked up and grinned.

Song | Audien ft. Lady A, “Something Better”

a stranger’s eyes
that somehow look familiar
i know that when it’s you

i’ll remember

READ MORE!!