Divine Selection

Chapter Two

Adrian

August, 21
New York: 07:15pm

The pleasant scent of aged paper and polished leather wafted through the library, coating the vast space in an relaxing aroma.

My fingertip gently glazed the corner of the cream paper as I neared the end of the page. Just as I began to read the next set of words, obnoxious laugh filled the room and ruined the tranquil setting.

        "Dude, that's so not true!" I heard Richard's low, raspy voice say from somewhere beyond the numerous book-lined selves.

        "I'm telling the truth!" Cody exclaimed with a laugh as they drew closer. I sighed in irritation and turned back to my book. "Well if you don't believe me," Cody said as they entered my proximity of the library. "why don't we ask Adrian?"

        I pursed my lips and angerily skimmed the page. "Ask me what?" I asked, not willing to give Cody the satisfaction of making eye contact.

        "Cody seems to think that he's more desirable than I am." Richard said as he joined me on the love-seat; I curled my legs in to give him more room to get comfortable. "And how do I fit into this equation?" I asked and flipped pages once more.
"We want you to give to choose who – out of the two of us - is more attractive." Cody said and sat on the lip of the arm-rest that I reclined against.

        Profound confusion washed over my face. "And why the hell would I do that?" I asked, trying to focus on the words that were tattooed onto the pages in black ink. " 'Cause you're the only viable judge." Richard said as sunk into the hickory leather. "Benjamin's preparing dinner in the kitchen, go ask him." I said and turned the page again.

        "I offered that," Cody said and leaned closer to me, his hot breath tickling the back of my neck. "But Richard thought that having a sixty-something year old judge young adults attractiveness levels would be 'creepy'." Well, he wasn't wrong.

"And so, you chose me from default?" I asked. These idiots have been making it impossible to find five minutes worth of solitude for the past two weeks. "Don't think of it like that, Adrian." Richard said and placed his massive hands around my ebony combat boots. "Just think of it as a game of Hot-or-Not!"

        I snapped up from my book and looked at him. Richard's Icelandic irises lit up as he flashed me a bright smile. I chewed my lower-lip, trying my damnedest not to return the expression. He casually ran his porcelain fingers through his medium-length onyx hair and tilted his head to the side – damn, why must he be like this?

I sighed and leaned my head back to view Cody, whom was smugly smirking down at me. "All you have to do is choose who you'd rather fuck." He said, contentment twinkling in his piercing green eyes. "Or, who'd you rather date!" Richard exclaimed in panic as he blushed.

        I loudly exhaled as I looked began to study each of their facial features carefully.
"You both are attractive, and each have hand fulls of people who would date-or-fuck either you in a heartbeat." I said after a few minutes. "That's not an answer!" Cody exclaimed in anguish and threw his head back.

        "Well that's my answer." I said coldly and turned back to my book.

        Silence then filled the room; the dreamy pitter-patter of raindrops could be heard dancing on the roof and bay-windows. "What book are you reading, anyways?" Cody asked. "Art of War." I said in a vexed tone. "Oh," Cody said and knitted his eyebrows. "why?"
I took a deep breath and shut my eyes, attempting to prevent myself from punching him in the throat. "So that I can plot the most effective way of murdering you in your sleep." I said and earned a snort from Richard.