I’d never really followed politics.
But Caine, the new national obsession, was hard to ignore.
Most of my gal pals found him clinically “hot.” I don’t know how they could tell, honestly, since we only ever saw avatars.
Even Jon liked him, and Jon didn’t like politicians...at least not successful ones. Liberals liked him. So did right-wingers. I found myself riveted whenever Caine spoke, but couldn’t say I liked him exactly.
Still, I had to admit, the guy wasn’t anything like our last president.
Like anyone, he had to wear avatars when appearing in the public feeds. The rumor was, those avatars weren’t far off from his real appearance, though...hardly the norm for celebrities and politicians. He wore just enough to remain legal, in fact. Meaning, enough that seers wouldn’t be able to track him, and national security and the fate of the human world wouldn’t hang in the balance as a result.
He didn’t even change his age, or make himself ridiculously handsome, like most did. The press corp rumor was that he actually looked better in person.
“...I have every hope here, fellas.” Caine smiled and I felt the exact flavor of exuded warmth. “...That this new agreement will establish real stability in a previously turbulent part of the world. Create friends and trusted neighbors out of those who in the past were our enemies.” He paused for just the right beat of time. “You don’t think we’re going to let a few screwballs get in the way of that, now do you...?”
Laughter sparked through the crowd.
“President Caine!” My eyes followed the petite female avatar as she pushed her way to the front. “What will your response be to the terrorists?”
He smiled at her.
“Donna,” he said. “You know I can’t give you details as to the exact nature of our plans.” He winked at the camera. “...But rest assured, harsh language will be involved. Very harsh language indeed.”
Another collective laugh rolled through the crush.
I leaned my back against the espresso machine, frowning.
Folding my arms, I focused on the dark-skinned, African-American avatar standing just behind Caine. High cheekbones rose above full lips below cat-shaped, amber eyes. His was an undeniably handsome face, one I had also heard mirrored the handsomeness of the man behind it. The female friends of mine who didn’t have a thing for Caine definitely had one for Ethan Wellington, Caine’s new Vice President. My reactions to him were more mixed.
The man had something, definitely.
Again, I couldn’t decide if I liked whatever that something was.
“...I truly believe that we are now laying the real foundations for peace and prosperity in the future,” Caine spoke out over the crowd. “Paving the way for a time when human being will no longer fight human being...”
A low hiss emanated from the espresso maker at my back...just before it sprayed wet steam all over my uniform. Jumping forward with a yelp, I saw the metal filter belch water and coffee grounds through a warp in the seal. I was still staring at the machine, trying to decide how to proceed, when my best friend, Cassandra Jainukul approached.
Everyone but her mother called her Cass, but when we were kids, it had been Cassie.
“Hey.” Cass took in the issue with the espresso maker with polite disinterest. “Jon’s here. So’s your buddy.”
Gripping the filter’s plastic handle with a resolve I didn’t feel, I gave it a jerk. More steam and water vomited, drenching my shirt.
Cursing, I leapt back, soaked to the skin.
“You want me to call Jon over?” Cass folded her arms, bunching up the uniform under her breasts.
“What for?” I muttered. “He sucks at fixing things.”
“No, dummy.” Cass pushed shocking, dyed red hair out of her dark eyes. “Not for that.”
When we were kids, I would have done anything to look like Cass. Her dad was Ethiopian and Thai and her mom something like Scottish and Indian. Cass ended up with a blend of all four that made her beautiful and unique-looking with a delicate face, high cheekbones, full lips and giant, liquid eyes. Her figure had always been better than mine, too. Leggy and big-chested with a tiny waist. She blew stray bangs out of her eyes.#p#分页标题#e#
“...What’s his name,” she prompted. “Your friend. Mono-Man. The sexy guy with the black hair sitting in your section.”
I turned too fast, knocking the coffee filter with my arm. Cass watched it fall to the rubber mat with no reaction on her face. She found the vagaries of our shared food-service profession even less interesting than I did.
Cass stared openly at the man in the corner booth, instead. “Isn’t that the shirt we looked at in Aardvarks? You said you liked it, right?”