Chapter One

Jack drinks the icy soda with large gulps, inhaling through his nose as the sparkling liquid fills his mouth. The sizzle and pop of soda do little to break his reverie, and Jack's thoughts continue to float somewhere above the stratosphere.
He places the glass down on the cool wood of the pool table, and looks up to find two brown eyes staring at him.
He blinks, and the almost-tangible humidity is gone, replaced by the dry and cold air of an airconditioned room. While he can understand that he's in a different environment, it takes Jack a moment to realize that his back is against the wall, with someone pressing urgently against him. He inhales, and the sharp scent of chlorine mixed with aftershave invades his nostrils. His lips, moving on their own accord in sync with another pair of lips, tremble. He smiles into the kiss, understanding where he is.
He inhales again, and the fuzzy warmth that filled him is gone, replaced by the sizzle and pop of the soda on his tongue. He is still in the foyer, playing pool.