Siren Song

"Ooh which one did you get?" Hurrying over to him, Chang grabbed the bottle and gave it a deep whiff before looking at the label. Looking up at Justin she gave him a Cheshire cat grin "Château Canon, a Bordeaux, good pick."

"I actually just grabbed the first one I saw, it"s pretty tasty. Who knew you would learn to have good taste in wine." Smiling down at his gla.s.s he swirled the garnet liquid.

"Heh, it was one of the first things I was educated on when I came to live here. Hey Justin will you talk to me please, I don"t want you to leave tomorrow night with a rift between us."

"Huh? Honey we don"t and we"re not going to have a rift between us." Confused he reared his head back and narrowed an eye and her slightly downcast face.

"Oh, I get you. What do you want me to say? I"m just kind of surprised by with how you"ve changed over time,and just how much harder you"ve become in a short time. Don"t think too much about it, and overthink it.

"Huuh. I really wish I wasn"t leaving tomorrow.." Sighing deeply Justin looked up to the ceiling.

"I know, me too. Hopefully you can come visit me again soon or me you. No matter what, I promise not to be such a stranger from now on." Extending a pinky out to Justin he took it and circled it with his own.

"You"d better not! Did you manage to get ahold of your grandpa?" Giving her a serious look he tightened his little finger"s hold around hers.

Shaking her head Chang twisted her lips wryly trying not to worry about it.

"Well don"t worry about it for now. Let"s drink together now. Want me to grab you a gla.s.s too?"

"Are you kidding? Naw watch how a pro does this." Picking up the bottle Chang took a swig right from it. Gasping as soon as she released it Chang wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Ew drunkie, now you got your germs all over the bottle." Seeing her crude actions Justin made an ugly face and mock complained loudly.

"Eh, you know you like "em!" Unabashed Chang gave him a confident side eye before taking another drink while looking up some music on her phone.

"Yeah I"m sure they"re adorable like you."

Aww!" Putting a finger to her cheek she grinned at him, twisting her hips a little.

"Wait sorry I meant adorkable."

"Whatever, cheers b.i.t.c.h!" Clinking the bottle against his gla.s.s, she hopped up on the counter with him and drank heavily. Before long the alcohol started working its way into their system and they began to chat loudly until one of the songs Chang had put on in the background hit them. Then the chatting became a loud chorus and dance party in the kitchen.

"Oh you-you shine like a star

"Oh you know who you are~aww we"re out of wine." Using the bottle as a microphone Chang sang into it, before turning it up to find it was drained. "Next bottle!"

Feeling a rosy warmth enshrouding herself Chang hopped, skipped and jumped over to her wine cabinet and pilfered through trying to find their next course. Waiting expectantly for the selection, Justin gave her a drumroll on the counter with his hands.

"Ooh what shall we have next, ah parfait ! Guigal La Mouline Cote Rotie 2009! The syrah of syrahs! Or so I"ve been told." Mumbling to herself Chang pulled out one and looked to Justin. "We gonna find out if that"s true!"

"All right!" Holding out his gla.s.s with a slightly wavering hand, he let her fill it almost to the brim with the rich dark liquid.

Sniffing it delicately, Justin pretended to be a wine connoisseur while sampling it.

"Hmm rich smell with hints of berry, full-bodied taste with a heady lingering aftertaste. This is great, someone definitely didn"t lie to you."

"Hmm you"re right! Hey how drunk are you?"

"I dunno, not drunk enough that I could probably still take down another bottle with you."

"Perfect. Help me find the grater, vegetable peeler and wok."

"Wait are you having me cook? I thought you wanted to order out." Incredulous Justin shook his rosy face at her.

"Oh no no, we definitely are, which thank you for reminding me, I will make the call shortly. I wanted to make a small appetizer. I learned how to make it myself, since no place in the area I"ve found makes it good."

"What you gonna make?"

"You"ll find out! Will you grab me the daikons from the crisper drawer, I think I grabbed some the other day when we loaded up the kitchen."

"Boom! Here ya go!"

"Thank you!" Working in unison, b.u.mping hips the two grated the radishes into a bowl. As Chang started to fry everything up in a wok, Justin played the dutiful a.s.sistant handing her what was needed as needed until it was time to let it sit and steam.

Taking a big gulp, Chang let the liquid courage work up in her, so she could ask her friend a pressing question.

"Hey how come you seemed really hurt after I called Natalie? I know you said that there"s no rift but I can"t help but worry. Do you think of me differently now?"

"Well I don"t know what to think or say. Maybe I"m a little sad, the girl I used to go know wouldn"t have threatened somebody"s kids future or held it over their head as a bargaining chip. She was the girl who picked up baby birds that hit the sidewalk and tried to save them at home, crying and giving them a little funeral when nature took its course. Among many other things so maybe a bit differently but definitely not less than. You"ve just learned how to harden up, which will help you in the long run. No matter what I still love you girl!" Slurring his words and speech Justin tried to explain before pulling her in for a tight hug.

"I"m still that same girl.." The words say on the tip of her tongue but wouldn"t come out, deep down she knew she wasn"t in a lot of ways and that Justin was right. She had changed.

"I changed, but only as I had to to survive."

"Oh no no don"t take it the wrong way. It"s not a bad thing that you"ve toughened up a bit and become more cunning. It just seems kind of sad like maybe something precious was lost when you gained other things. Like you were made colder by this world." Fearing she was misunderstanding Justin started to babble quickly while holding her tighter.

"Am I cold?" Silently pondering inwardly Chang took a deep gulp from the alcohol, over his shoulder letting the warmth spread to cover the gnawing in her chest.

"Heh well at the least, I know how to pick out a good wine and no longer wear packaged underwear from big box stores."

"That among many other thing makes me so proud you have no idea." Faking like tear was running from his eye Justin wiped at the corner as he held her at shoulder length.

Leaning next to the counter the food started to signal its readiness where it sat over the steaming water by flooding the room with its unique aroma.

"You know thank G.o.d everyone in this house like turnips, "cause whoo that is quite a smell." Releasing her Justin took a step back from her waving his hand in front of his nose as he looked for his drink.

"Hehe it"s so good and good for you too." Grabbing a skewer, Chang tested it to see it was ready and let it rest, before cutting the slab into bars. As soon as she started stacking them on a plate, Justin grabbed one and took a bite wincing and crying the whole time; his mouth held open to try to disperse the steam as he steadfastly chewed.

"Hey dummy, be patient, they just came out! I"ll call the delivery place in just a bit. Sorry waited so long, was having too much fun with you!"

"Hmm I wonder if he would like some, I"ll bring some to him. This was so nice of him to give me so good buddy time." Putting a few bars on a plate, Chang headed back to her bedroom office where she had last seen Jian. Right before she entered the room a foul pervasive smell hit her.

Sniffing the air Chang felt a grimace bloom on her face.

"Is he smoking? And in my house?!"