Asteroids and Athletes Ch. 08

__The Next Day__

I noticed my phone light up about half way through my morning class. So I grabbed it and saw there was a text from Cesar. He asked what I wanted for lunch. I didn't have a preference, so I asked him to pick. He sent a link to Tocos Este less than a mile from campus. I paid attention as best as I could through lecture until we finished right before noon. I grabbed my bag, put it over my shoulder and moved through the crowd leaving the hall. Then I briskly walked to my car, tossing the bag into the passenger seat before driving off towards East Street. I couldn't help but grin and feel light in my stomach as I drove. I checked my hair in the mirror before leaving the car. My watch displayed five minutes after twelve, not too bad. I looked around for Jasmine and Cesar, but didn't see them. Then I got another text.

{Almost there, sorry running a little late.}

{No prob}, I replied.

I took a look at the menu while I waited. They had Al Pastor, Birria, Carnitas, Pollo, Ahi Tuna, Camarones, and Carne Asada. To be honest I didn't know what kind of meat some of them were. But the smell of grilled food was making me hungry. I checked my socials for a few minutes before I heard my name.

I looked up to see Cesar standing there with Jasmine. He was dressed as he usually did in a gray vee neck tee and black skinny jeans with his hair tied up in a ponytail. Jasmine wore a ruffled green and blue plaid print skirt with suspenders, a long sleeve high necked blouse, knee-high socks and white boots. Around her neck was a teardrop-shaped ruby necklace that Cesar had talked about. She looked really good. I smiled as they approached.

"Hi Maddy," Jasmine said. "Have you been here before?" She asked as she pushed her long blond hair behind her ear.

"Never," I said.

"They have great fish tacos," Cesar said.

"I can't wait."

"Let's get in line."

There were a few people in front of us, but soon it was our turn. A woman with purple pixie cut hair and a nostril ring smiled from behind the register of the order counter.

"Hello, what can I get started for you?" she asked.

"You order first. I'm not sure how it works here."

"I'll have four Ahi corn soft tacos," Cesar told the cashier.

"Would you like anything else like chips or a drink?"

"I'll have a Mango Soda." Then he stepped to the side "You ready? Order whatever, lunch is on me," he said.

"Uh thanks," I replied.

"Hello, what can I get for you?", the cashier asked as I stepped up.

"How big are the tacos?" I asked.

"About the same size as typical street tacos," she said, putting her hands in a small circle.

"I'll have the same as him, but with a cup of water to drink."

"Ok, and any chips or guacamole?"

"Does it come with sour cream?"

"No, but you can add it."

"Please add sour cream then."

"Ok, anything else?"

"That's it for me, Jasmine?" I stepped to the side and let Jasmine order.

"Hi, how are you?" Jasmine said.

"Good thank you. Are you all together?"

"Yes."

"What can I get started for you?"

"Could I get four fried shrimp tacos with crunchy tortillas and a cherry soda?"

"Sure. Anything else?"

"No, that's it."

"Want me-" Cesar began.

"No I got it," Jasmine said, pulling out a credit card from the slim purse that slung over her shoulder. "You can get it next time." She paid and received a receipt.

We found a table outside in the sun, although it was still a bit chilly as we sat with our drinks.

"The game got pretty serious last night huh?" Jasmine said.

"Yeah, Fanvo might come back."

"Fanvo?"

"Evan's character. He died and might come back."

"Really?"

"I mean maybe. Zarasti traveled back in time before it happened."

"Oh shit," she said with genuine surprise. "That sounds really cool."

Cesar and I grinned.

"Maybe a hint what you have planned for next week C?"

Cesar kept smiling, but said nothing.

"He's no fun," she said with a laugh.

"I know," I chuckled, looking into Jasmine's deep brown eyes with smokey eye makeup.

"Just joking babe," she gave him a kiss on his cheek. Then she turned to me. "Uh... so Maddy, I don't think you told me what your major is," she said.

"Econ," I replied. "And you?"

"Comp Sci," she said.

"Really?" I said. I must have looked surprised, because her next question was-

"What I don't look the type?" She gave a wan smile.

"Oh no. I mean, yeah I guess not." I struggled to save face. Truth was I didn't know anyone in Computer Science, so I didn't have any comparisons. I just expected them to be nerdy looking guys. She wasn't that at all.

"Yeah it's mostly boys, but each year there are more of us."

"So what exactly do you want to do, like for a job?"

"I would love to make games. Some of my favorites are fighting games, so if I could work on one of those it would be a dream. And you?"

"Lit... well I really want to make it in football professionally, but it's tough... I may have to fall back on banking or business. Yours sounds fun though."

"NFL would be fire, right?"

"Fuck yeah. I want to be the first woman running back."

"Definitely more exciting than coder... or accounting..." Cesar laughed.

"Yeah Cesar, why didn't you pick something more fun?" Jasmine smiled.

"Numbers are fun," he said in defense.

Jasmine laughed.

"Math isn't too bad. Better than English," I said

"True," Jasmine replied.

"Are you planning to be an accountant then, or is there anything else you can do with that?" I asked.

"I plan on getting a CPA degree so I can get a steady job and start paying off all these student loans. I hate being in debt."

"I know. I'm always scared of losing my scholarship, so I feel like I have to study constantly to not fall behind. I love Football and I'm starting to love StarHunters too, but I can't do them in the same season. Not enough time in the day with studying," I laughed.

"So NFL is your dream job then?" Cesar asked.

"Well I feel like getting there would be a huge accomplishment," I said. "And then afterwards, I could make enough money to pay off my parents' house."

"Buy them a bigger house."

"True. I'm guessing there would be a lot of long days training, but the money would be so nice," I smiled. "How about you Cesar, being a GM?"

"GMing is fun, but I'm not sure if I'd like it as a career. It would be too much pressure. If money was no object I'd be a day trader. The stock market really interests me, and there is a bit of a rush with the chance to make so much money."

"But that would have even more pressure."

"True, that's why I said if money was no object."

"Huh, ok... How about you Jasmine?" I asked.

"To play games professionally would be tight."

"You could do that. Lots of people do that on youtube, right?"

"I have a friend with a channel, it's a lot of work posting every day. Editing videos and all the social media postings is the unglamorous part. I'm more interested in things like eSports."

"Like those teams of people playing StarHunters Online or something?"

"Yeah. Although I'd probably be playing War of the Fell Gods."

"What's that?"

"It's a horror themed card game, so lots of monsters, demons, and aliens. Definitely my jam. It's a CCG so, you have to build your own deck from cards before you play against someone else. There's even a whole competitive circuit with tournaments scheduled throughout the year. I've been in a few, but I don't really have the cards to make it professionally. Cesar and I sometimes play casual decks for date night."

"She's a bit obsessed," Cesar said, raising his eyebrows in mock concern.

"Shutup," Jasmine said, hitting him in the arm.

"Yikes," he said. "Assault," he laughed.

"Sorry babe," she said sweetly. Then she kissed his lips several times soundly.

"You have definitely made up," I laughed.

"Yeah," Cesar smiled. "We're enjoying being an official couple," he said, grabbing her small waist and pulling her close.

"But keeping it open," Jasmine said with a wink. Cesar chuckled.

I had mixed emotions. Jasmine was definitely one of the sexiest women in my group of friends and acquaintances. So even when she was fake flirting, it caused me to get warm around my face and neck. But then I considered that she might really be interested in me if they were truly in an open relationship. I decided to figure it out subtly.

"So what did you decide on?" I asked.

"What ya mean?" Jasmine said.

"Uh, like what kind of open relationship is it? Are you both...?"

"We want to be really up front with everything," Cesar said. "Usually it's Friday, that's the day of the week we can go out on a date and see someone else."

"Yeah and if it's anyone we see more than once, we talk about it."

"So you aren't dating other people?"

"Not sure that's what we would call it," Cesar said. "But we are seeing other people."

"You might even know them," Jasmine said.

"Really, who?"

"Uh... Heidi," Cesar said a bit sheepishly.

"Wait, our Heidi?"

"Yeah, Heidi Vu," Cesar said.

"Oh shit really? I never would have guessed."

"Well we used to date. It kinda happened just the day before Jasmine came to reconcile. To be honest, it felt like a moment of weakness for me, but Heidi recently had a bad breakup with her ex, so it just happened to work."

"And you are going to keep going with it?" I asked.

"Probably not. Heidi's a good friend, so I don't want to string her along."

"Damn, Heidi. Crazy man," I laughed. "And you?" I asked Jasmine. "I know you aint with Justin and Evan."

"Yeah. I don't think you know anyone that I've been involved with. Except maybe Diego?" Jasmine said.

"Who?"

"I met him in yoga."

"No, I don't know him."

"Do you have a fetish?"

"What do you mean?"

"For Hispanic guys?"

"Yeah, do you have Latin fever?" Cesar smiled.

"Maybe," she replied, licking her lips.

"Oh Jas," he laughed.

"Order twelve!"

"That's us," Cesar said.

"Need any help?" I asked.

"Nah I got it."

"Come here babe," Jasmine said, as he was about to leave. She gave him a long kiss.

"Damn...." He smiled. "I'll be gone for just a second," he said.

"I wouldn't complain about a kiss that looked that good," I laughed.

"I know huh," Jasmine said. Cesar kissed her back, again longingly. "Mmmm," she smiled as he pulled back. He walked into the restaurant from the patio where we sat. I didn't like staring, but in this case I couldn't help but watch their passion. I was glad they had reconciled. They really were a cute couple.

"Sorry, I'm not usually a big fan of kissing in public, but I want to have fun with this makeup phase," she giggled.

"I don't mind. Sorry if I stared. It's been a while since I had a kiss like that. And from what Cesar has told me, you really have something good."

"Thanks I think so too."

"So you are seeing other guys... have you ever been with a girl before?" I could feel my face get hot before I finished asking.

"Well, just once before. We didn't really know what we were doing," she said with a smile. "I guess I'm open to it if the right woman comes along." She looked me right in the eyes. "I'm so hungry," Jasmine said with a smile. I held her gaze, my face felt so warm and then-

Cesar brought a platter with salsa and three plates of tacos to our table. He put one in front of Jasmine, one in front of myself and he took the last. Then he set a few containers of green and red salsa in the middle.

I looked at the plate in front of me with the tacos and lime slices. Smooth sour cream, crumbly white cheese, shredded cabbage, white onion, cilantro and ruby red tomatoes, topped the grilled ahi tuna in double corn tortillas for each of the four tacos. I thought that if it tasted as half as good as it looked I would be happy.

"Everything looks like what you were expecting?" Cesar asked.

"Better," I said.

"Looks good to me," Jasmine said. "Ok, excuse me if I don't speak for a bit." She squeezed lime across each of the tacos. "I'm going to enjoy the fuck out of these."

I smiled as she took a big bite out of the first one.

"Same," Cesar said, adding lime and then red salsa.

I followed their lead and squeezed lime into each of the tacos. Cesar took a bite as I grabbed a green and red salsa.

"What type of salsa are these?"

Jasmine swallowed. "Don't ask me. I hate spicy."

"Really? Oh it's so good though."

"Not for me."

Cesar finished chewing and then spoke.

"This one," he said, shaking a red salsa, "is salsa roja. Probably what you've had before. This one," he shook a light green sauce with flecks of yellow and darker green, "is salsa verde. And this one," he held up the light green salsa with a more even coloration, "looks like salsa aguacate."

"Which one is the spiciest?"

"They are all good, but the salsa roja is probably the spiciest, next salsa verde, and salsa aguacate is the most mild."

"Ok thanks," I said. I grabbed one of the plastic containers with the red salsa and dumped a bit on one side of the taco. I took a bite and enjoyed the spicy flavor with the freshly grilled fish.

"How is it?" Jasmine asked.

"Really good," I admitted with a smile.

We spent the next five to ten minutes or so thoroughly enjoying those killer tacos. Jasmine seemed to really take her time chewing and enjoying the food, while Cesar was even slower, almost methodical. I liked taking a sip of water between each taco to sort of prepare my taste buds for the next one. Jasmine had finished and I was about halfway done with the last taco when I asked a question.

"Where did you find out about this place?" I asked her.

"I found it online. It's not too busy and reasonably priced for being so close to campus."

"I'll definitely add this to the rotation of places I go."

"Where do you usually go?" Cesar asked.

"Well, to be honest I prefer to eat at home most of the time so I can control nutrition. I know it sounds lame, but I try to stay fit even in the off season."

"It shows," Jasmine said.

"Thanks."

"Cesar told me you and him worked out together last week."

"Yeah we did arms."

"Have you ever done yoga?"

"I've done it a couple times."

"Did you like it?"

"Not really. I know it's good for stretching, but I always end up sticking to the basics. Cardio and weights."

"The yoga club is pretty good at UCU, have you tried it?"

"Yeah, once during football season, but I wasn't really feeling it and during football season I don't have much time.

"Yeah I get it. I go almost every week. I really enjoy it."

"Or are you just enjoying... Diego?" I said suggestively.

Cesar coughed on his food.

"Think that's funny?" Jasmine said with a smile. "Yes Diego is hot, but that's not the reason. Well not the only reason. And if you are interested, there are other hot guys there. And ladies," she said. Cesar laughed and I couldn't help but smile.

"Yeah I remember there were a few hotties," I said. "Maybe that was the problem. Sometimes it's difficult to focus with that much eye candy."

"I can see that," Jasmine said. She then took another bite of her last taco.

I looked at mine. I put a whole container of the salsa verde on it. I ate slowly, savoring the fresh fish and smooth sour cream. I finished with a big smile on my face.

"These tacos are good huh? Maybe better than sex?" Cesar asked, noticing my grin.

"Not that good," Jasmine said. I laughed.

"When's your next class?" I asked, looking at my watch

"At one, is it-" Cesar started.

"Ten minutes," I said.

"Shit, we didn't even get to ask you," Cesar said.

"Ask what?"

"Do you have any plans for Spring Break?" Jasmine said.

"Uh, just going back to visit my family."

"Well we're going to Rosarito Mexico. They have beautiful beaches where you can surf, swim, snorkel-" Cesar said.

"Sunbathe, drink, dance," Jasmine interrupted. "You're welcome to come, if you want? We had one of our friends drop out at the last minute."

"It's just you guys going? No one else?"

"It was with Cesar's friend Josh and my friend Vera. Josh said he can't go anymore, but Vera's still going."

"Sorry, we should start heading out babe," Cesar said as he stood up.

"Oh thanks, I don't kno... uh." I said.

"Sorry for the short notice. Jasmine and I are going to buy our tickets tonight. They shouldn't be too expensive. I got a deal through my uncle who's a travel agent to rent a house on the beach. Because we'd split the cost four ways it would be pretty cheap. You'd just need to get a plane ticket."

"Let me think about it?" I said.

"Sure. Sorry again, we gotta go. Talk to you later?"

"Yeah, definitely."

"Bye Maddy," Jasmine said. She pulled me in close and hugged me. Her face went into my shoulder and when I turned towards her, I noticed her pretty blonde hair smelt sweet almost like a creamsicle.

"Thanks again for lunch," I said.

"No problem," she said as she stepped back. Cesar hugged me and smiled as he left with Jasmine at his side. I finished my water and then headed out.

I thought about their proposal as I drove. When I got home I laid on the bed. My roommate Avery was at class, so it was quiet enough that I could think about it undisturbed. Cesar said the trip wouldn't be too expensive, but then I didn't have much money to begin with. Still I hadn't been to that many parties lately, and it wasn't like I didn't have money saved up. And the thought of visiting Mexico during Spring Break with all the crazy partying was enticing.

I decided to go, and texted Cesar that night. I needed to figure out what to tell my family though, I knew they were eager to see me during the break.

__Campaign Session 11__

I got to the next game a little late because of car trouble and Justin and Evan had to pick me up. Cesar quickly summarized last week's events as we started the game. The major plot point was that Zarasti (played by Heidi) had time traveled to before Fanvo had been killed with one of the artifacts we collected from the alien ruins! First Cesar had Heidi roll. The result was high at seventy-one. He said that the timepiece looked a bit fragile after Zarasti had traveled, but it still looked functional. Heidi wanted to know what time Fanvo had died and what time Zarasti was at now.

Cesar said that Zarasti had traveled to about one hour before Fanvo's death. Everyone looked hopeful around the table. Heidi first tried to get the communication device to work, but it had a lot of static. Cesar explained that it had appeared as if the time travel had messed with the electronics. Zarasti was in the hotel room, as a maid came in to clean it. Heidi got her character into the lobby, but the security escorted Zarasti out of the building. Then they (Zarasti has they/them pronouns) tried to find another phone, going from store to store before convincing one of them. Cesar asked Heidi to make a luck roll. The result was almost a critical failure! Cesar explained because of the bad roll, what happened was the call went through but when it was answered, she could hear Grita on the other side saying, hello, hello? But Grita couldn't hear her. Something was wrong with the connection. Heidi swore and asked why he was asking her to make so many rolls for simple things. Cesar explained that he was using the time travel rules from the supplement he had just bought. He didn't want to tell anyone the exact rules, because he felt it would ruin their experience, but he did explain that he wasn't making up any rules. Heidi nodded, and seemed frustrated. She asked if that meant she couldn't change what already happened. Cesar said he couldn't tell her that. She asked about time travel and if anyone else had done it in their universe and were there any records. He asked her to roll a knowledge check. She rolled well, so he said that no one has been known to time travel forward or backward and return to their time and explain it, although several had tried.