Chapter 5
Lena
As soon as Genji left, you could see how nervous Angela was. Her face scrunched up a little whenever his name was mentioned and she kept looking over her shoulder to check on him.
I tried to comfort her. “Love, you’ve got nothing to worry about, you know that right?”
She sighed “Yeah, I know I just… I get worried sometimes.”
That’s not that unusual; before Genji and Angela got together he had a bit of a ‘reputation’ with the ladies. I can understand why she’d be afraid that that would happen again. But the Genji we all know now is one that’s loyal to his friends above all else, especially Angela. As cheesy as it sounded, she was the light of his life. A light he desperately wanted to hold on to.
“Angela, Genji would never do anything against you.”
I could see her start to relax as she spoke. “You’re right Lena, I should trust him more. I just get… worried… when he’s around girls sometimes. But I should give him some credit, Genji is a good man.”
“Damn right he is!” Jesse stumbled up behind her drunkenly taking the seat that Genji left. You could smell the beer and vodka in his breath as he leaned into the conversation. “He’s the best guy I know! No offence to y’all.”
I laughed at him and cheered him as he sat down. “Jesse, we’re all ladies here! Why would we be offended?”
“Oh yeah, my bad!” He turned and pointed at the girl he was talking to before, who Genji had just started talking too. “Y’know, she was tryn’a flirt with me. I didn’t even notice. Do I give off that kinda feeling?”
“I guess it’s just difficult to tell sometimes, love. At least Genji saved you.” I said, pointing over to our friend, who was still stuck in a conversation with the new girl. I’ll admit she was a little hot, but definitely not my type.
“Yeah, I might’ve forced him into a conversation with her.” He said, laughing to himself.
“Jesse!” Angela said as she jabbed him in the ribs. “What the hell!?”
“Ouch, I didn’t mean any harm darlin’. I just wanted to have a laugh. Genji aint gonna pull nothin’, I promise. And besides, the guy needs more friends than jus’ the four of us.”
“What’s that supposed to mean!?” I retorted.
“I mean that he’s gonna be a busy guy pretty soon once his old man gets him into the business and I ain’t gonna pretend y’all are the type of people to visit him in the Shimada house. ‘Cept you of course darlin’.” he pointed to Angela.
It took me a moment to realise what he was saying. Eventually Genji is going to get dragged into his family work and won’t be able to come see us. He’ll have to ditch most of his normal life for his family. He’s my best friend, but I doubt his family would let me sit in his house and play video games like normal now that he’s co-head of a criminal empire!
“Ah well.” I said, trying to remain positive. “Right now let’s just worry about having fun while we can!”
“I’ll drink to that!” said Jesse, raising his bottle and taking a large gulp.
“Good idea..” said Angela following his lead before turning around to check on Genji once more.
“Huh, she’s gone…” she said, before adding under her breath “…good.”
“HEY GENJI!” I called out “You look like you saw a ghost! Come sit down.”
He turned around to face us with a face of confusion before quickly cheering up again and coming to join us. He pushed Jesse aside and took the seat next to Angela. I noticed her whisper something into her ear and Genji nodded and held her hand. She seemed much more relaxed with him next to her. The three of them started a conversation about the girl and I turned to Amélie.
She looked beautiful as always.
“What do you think that was about love?”
“I don’t know chéri, but I think our friend might be a little bit jealous of this mystery woman.” she had a devilish grin along her face, the type she usually has after a few drinks.
“Love, you’ve got the face, what are you thinking about?”
“Nothing! Why do you ask?” she asked, teasingly.
“The innocent little girl act doesn’t work on me, love!”
“I don’t know what you’re talk about, I’m just having a little fun.” she leaned forward seductively before kissing me on the cheek and whispering into my ear “It is your birthday after all, I think we can lots of fun.”
I could feel my cheeks start to flush when I realise what she was saying. Genji noticed this from the other side of the table and shot me a cheeky grin. He showed me his teeth and fired a few finger guns in my direction.
“Oh shut up Genji! Like you and Angela haven’t been doing it yourself!” I laughed.
“Lena!” Angela yelled, going VERY red in the face as her boyfriend laughed next to her.
Angela and I have had many a conversation about Genji’s talent in that particular area. Just the normal gossip usually but I always enjoyed hearing the stuff the most innocent girl I know gets up to with her boyfriend. I swear, if people even knew half of what I’ve been told, people would give her looks everywhere she went. Then again, trust goes both ways and that means for all the dirt Angela’s told me there just as much going the other way around, so I probably should piss her off too much.
“Don’t worry love, your secret’s safe with the five of us.” I blew a kiss in her direction. “Besides, it isn’t exactly unexpected; everyone except Jesse has had some action with someone else on the table! No offence Jesse."
“None taken, y’all have been together for a coupla’ months now.” he said “I guess I’m waitin’ for the right man before I lock m’self down. ‘Til then I’ma keep everything casual.”
Suddenly Amélie leaned into the conversation “And by that you mean you’re waiting for Hanzo Shimada.”
A look of horror fell of Jesse’s face “Now how did you-I mean… I don’t know what you’re talkin’bout.”
Everyone turned to see Jesse hiding his face starting at the ground. He had one arm crossed and the other was playing with his beard. You could tell he was uncomfortable; Which means there had to be at least some truth in what Amélie had said.
“Every time Genji mentions him, your ears perk up a little, and the few times he’s been in the room with us you keep getting distracted.”
Jesse didn’t acknowledge her. “Genji, you know this?”
“News to me.” he replied, his grin larger than ever “But there’s no need to be embarrassed; everyone always said he was the best looking Shimada”
“Second best looking” Angela chimed in, poking Genji in the ribs before leaning up to kiss his cheek.
“Either way!” Jesse interrupted. “To my knowledge he ‘asn’t dated a guy”
“I don’t think he’s ever dated anyone at all. Also we don’t talk much, so you might have a shot.”
“Man I know you’re just sayin’ that for me, but thanks.” Jesse said, drunkenly putting a hand on his friend’s shoulder.
“It was worth a try. I always knew you liked the dangerous type.” Genji shrugged. “Well, I’ll see if I can get you two to meet, and you can decide then.”
Ah Genji, wingman-supreme as per usual.
Jesse sat back in his chair and took another drink. Something tells me he won’t remember this conversation tomorrow.
“Well… I’ll think about it, right now, all I want to do is drink the party away.”
“Good call” I said “Wait, I have an idea! Winston, bring us some shots!”
Winston looked up from the other side of the room and rolled his eyes with a smile. He got up and brought us some glasses and a bottle and told me that ‘this is our little secret, I won’t tell your mother’. He put the drinks down and walked away.
Genji two glasses for him and Angela and filled them both “Lena, your uncle is the best!”
“I know, right? Jesse fill your glass, I’ll do Amélie’s.” I passed her the glass. “On 3 ready? 1… 2… 3… GO!”
We all took the shots and immediately everyone’s faces scrunched up; everyone except Genji that is.
“Genji, what the hell? That stuff was like, super strong!” I cried.
“You should try my father’s sake; it’s the most alcoholic thing you’ll ever drink.” He laughed as he filled up another shot for himself. “I know how to hold my drink Lena!”
“Well I ain’t leaving till we’re all pissed off our heads!”
“Then it’s going be a fun night.” Genji muttered as he downed his second of many, many shots.