“Who is that with her.” Someone said, but Adrian barely registered it. He only had eyes for Beth.
Adrian smiled widely when she got to the table. “Beth, it’s so good to see you!” He went for a hug, but she returned it hesitantly, awkwardly. Adrian leaned back and frowned as she disengaged herself. She turned to the others hastily and greeted them. Then she gestured to her side.
“Everyone this is Harry.” She said. Adrian turned and noticed the man standing beside her for the first time. He turned back to Beth just as she started speaking again.
“Harry is my fiancé.” Beth said.
Adrian felt his world stop. He stood there gazing at Beth stupidly, unable to tear his eyes off, just as she kept avoiding his. Soon he noticed the man, Bethany’s fiancé extending his hand towards him. Adrian looked down at it not knowing what it was this man wanted from him. After an awkward moment he realized that the man wanted to shake hands. Adrian extended his and gripped it.
“I’m Harry.” The man said.
After another long moment Adrian managed to respond. “Adrian.” He said shakily.
“Well, let us all get seated. We have a lot of questions for you Harry, if you plan on marrying Bethany you need to go through us first.” Marcus said, breaking the awkward moment by forcing everyone to move back to their seats.
Marrying Adrian thought, She is getting married. He still couldn’t believe this was happening as he sat down.
“Oh, Adrian. I am sorry.” Iris said in his head, but he ignored her. He tried to catch Beth’s eyes, but she kept avoiding his gaze.
“So Harry what is it you do?” Marcus asked.
“I’m a teacher.” Harry said.
“Oh, and how did the two of you meet?” Noah asked.
“I was giving a lecture about the academy to the kids in high school. We meet at the school he teaches at.” Beth said. Harry reached over and took her hand in his.
“I asked her out afterwards, and she shot me down immediately.” Harry said in an affectionate tone. “But I kept asking, until she finally accepted.”
Adrian got up to his feet. “I’m going to get us some more drinks.” He said, and immediately realized how stupid of an excuse that was, seeing as everyone’s drinks were almost full.
Marcus frowned at Adrian. “Drinks? We don’t ne—” He started, but Tania elbowed him in the ribs. Adrian turned and walked to the bar. He took the chair and ordered a home grown sanctuary beer. He had never tried one actually, he didn’t drink. Perhaps this is a good time to start drinking. A minute later as he was waiting for the beer he felt a presence beside him. He didn’t turn, he already knew who it was.
“When?” Adrian asked.
After a moment of hesitation, she answered. “We met a seven months ago. He asked me to marry him a month ago.”
“Seven months… We talked often during that time. You never mentioned him.”
“I never seemed to find the right moment.” Beth said.
“Seven months Beth. You had plenty of time.”
She remained silent.
“Are you sure? Seven months aren’t that long to get to know someone that well.” Adrian said.
“I love him, and he loves me.” She said.
“I love you.” For a moment Adrian thought he said it only in his head, but then he realized that he said it out loud. He turned and looked at Beth standing there looking at him strangely.
“You love me?” She whispered. Adrian nodded stupidly.
“You had a long time to tell me that. Years, and you never said anything. Did you think that I was going to wait for you?” She said.
“We will live a long time, we have time.” Adrian said, and immediately regretted it.
Bethany’s face formed into an expression Adrian knew very well, it was the same expression she had at the academy, when she looked down on him, insulted him.
“A long time? I grew tired of waiting for you! I waited for years. It is your own damn fault, you were too cowardly to say anything, and I moved on.” She said, turned around and left, walking back to the table. Adrian watched her leave, a piece of his heart ripping away. The person that walked away didn’t seem like his Beth, his best friend. The way she spoke and acted seemed more like the Bethany that threw insults at his face at the academy, who looked down on him. He believed that that Bethany was gone, but maybe she was always there, only he refused to see it. A beer bottle hit the bar behind him and Adrian turned and looked at it, he then looked back at the group talking amongst themselves, laughing, even Harry, a complete stranger. He had his hand around Bethany. Adrian turned back to the bottle.
A few hours later, and countless bottles later Adrian felt a hand touch his shoulder.
“Let’s get you home buddy.” He heard Paul say.
“Where are the others?” Adrian asked.
“They already left, it’s just me and Alex.” Paul said, gesturing to Alexander behind him.
He then reached down and lifted Adrian out of the chair. Adrian went with it, and then stood on his own.
“I don’t need help, I’m not really drunk.” Adrian said.
“If you drank even half of those bottles, you would be drunk buddy.” Alex said coming to his other side.
Adrian pushed them away. “No, really. Iris didn’t let me get drunk.” Adrian said.
His friends looked at each other and then back.
“Iris?” Paul asked.
Adrian nodded. “She had the nanites in my body counteract the alcohol.”
“She can do that?” Alex asked.
“Apparently.” Adrian said, Iris was silent, she had stopped speaking to Adrian an hour ago, when he refused to stop “Wallowing in self-pity” according to her.
“Well, let us walk you home anyway.” Alex said.
Adrian looked at his friends. “You know?” He asked.
“Yeah.” Alex said.
“Tell me that none of the rest know.” Adrian said weakly.
“Sorry buddy.”
“How?”
“It was obvious every time you talked to any of us, you like to talk about Beth. A lot.” Paul said carefully.
“Marcus was the only one that didn’t realize, but then he is a thick headed ass. He figured it out when you went to get the drinks and didn’t come back.” Alex said.
“Fuck.” Adrian said softly.
“I’m sorry Adrian, if we knew about Harry, we would have told you. Ana and Tania only found out yesterday.” Alex said.
Adrian stayed silent, then sighed. “Let’s go.”
The others nodded and walked with him home. He didn’t tell them, but he felt that they knew how much their silence and presence meant to him.
Chapter Fifteen
Olympus city
Tomas was sitting in his office at the palace, reading through the reports they received from Traveler, concerning the alien race Nel. The similarities between the two races was undeniable, but it baffled all of their scientist. According to them there was no way another intelligent race could evolve to look so similar to another. They were already hard pressed to explain the similarities between the Humans and a few other bipedal races they found in the Union database, now the appearance of Nel put all their theories in question. Unless there was in fact a connection between the two races. Tomas ran his hand through his hair in frustration, and leaned back in his chair. He just had no idea in what manner they should proceed. He took the advice of his advisors, and let the situation develop on its own. The destruction of Voyager was still a great factor. They established that these were not the same people as those that attacked Voyager. The ships were different, but that didn’t mean that they were not involved with them somehow. Tomas sighed and closed the report. He went down the list reading other reports and forming appropriate responses. A few hours later he was interrupted by a person entering his office from the direction of his bedroom.