There's a built-in water vanity in the wall, discreetly tucked in the blind spot from the door that views the hall. A mirror hangs right above it. You can open it up and inside the casement is a small spray-sink where you can wash your hands or wet …
I hold the trophy in both hands, applying pressure and wondering if I can break it. Can't quite bring myself to do it, but then I'm distracted.
With a frown, I reach in to get the envelope. I put it under my nose and sniff at it. Hold it up to the …
Maybe I'll find the charger deeper in the trunk. I keep looking. If I can't find it, I'll ask about it later. Maybe Ashlee would know.
I pause at some drokking Speedball trophy. I don't recognize it, it's a little small but it looks expensive.
Som…
Ioanna wore glasses? No she didn't. I put them on and take them off to compare how I see. I look at myself in the mirror with them. Weird. They go on the charge pad where my Navi rests when it's out of juice.
It sounds ridiculous but I'm pretty exhausted. I grab my navi and lounge on the bed, wondering where Ourania is and if she's okay. I feel like I should be happy about what just happened, but I'm unsatisfied. Nobody I can really talk to about it, eit…
I kiss her back, needfully. Right now she chooses to leave? I sigh. It's probably for the best. "Let me know, and I'll be there."
After a pause, I wet my lips and experiment. "Babe."
That..doesn't seem normal. But maybe it is? Zola didn't want to tell me. Stomm, how many in my pod have this kind of connection? Why is Pax a waste for doing this with Zola but I'm not? Was she Zola's?
But she says she loves me and the questions sl…
"I don't know what it matters." I confess before I think to stop myself. I watch Zola's eyes, thinking, trying to make comparisons. Ones that make sense. "That is what I want. I want to know you. Care about me." I think she does.
"Tell me anyway. I…
I like it when she rubs the back of my head. I like my short, soft-bristle hair, too. I keep it this way because it's easy to do myself.
I brace myself on an elbow, over her, kissing her at this interesting angle. So this is what it meant when I to…
When Zola's settled, I stroke the side of her face idly. I'm not sure what she's talking about. I just try to play good speedball, show up to practice, put in the effort.
"I'm not crazy." I agree with Zola, comfortably. Something about the way she …
I rest my hands on top of her thighs for a moment, then ease up into my own seated position. "He could have killed Jace. Iso was. Worth it."
With one hand I push my pillow up behind my back and lean on the wall. "Just like I told Pax. It's just yo…
A soft moan escapes me as Zola's hand slides along my skin. "Yeah, I'm back." I could force these buttons off but Zola values her clothes. She snickers at me and I nip playfully at her in response.
I take in a slow breath and back off into the mat…
I fall back into the bed, pulling Zola with me. "I don't. I'm off on time served."
I work the little clasps at the top corners of the front of Zola's overalls. Easy. Is the rest of this thing going to be annoying? Buttons on both sides of her hips?…
I take in Zola's latest look. She really tries when it comes to her appearance, it's zeng. One of my hands finds the small of her back, under the intersection of those shoulder straps. "I'll be fine. You played such a good game. I missed you."
I ge…
I hop up out of bed - I was almost but not quite napping, you know? It was nice, but I'm excited to see Zola.
I open the door, pull Zola in, and close it right behind her. I'm dressed in a tank top and some slouchy sweatpants.
"Hey. Sorry I missed…
"Figure out patterns yourself." I start to outpace her, she can speed up or not. "That's why it's a favor."
Then I break into a run, partly so Bea can't argue with me, partly to get back to my room before I'm stopped by some other pod's corporal. O…
I lean in towards her as she decides not to finish her sentence. She's stupid. I keep moving down the hall. "We aren't doing it. But I think Ourania at least. Gives a stomm, if I fall down for no reason. She backed me up when I was in Iso."
Bea doe…
"Olivar, who has a thing. With Jace. Who Ourania hurt." I lay it out, reach back out to the doorknob. I leave ahead of her, but I expect her to follow me.
When she hesitates, I look back. I want to tell her Gwen thinks it was the corps but I think …
That's a lot to take in. Like, a lot. Why is she telling me all this? "Doing it," I repeat with no inflection. "And you..cut yourself until you're woozy."
I mean, I enjoy pushing myself until I'm hurt, but on the court or in the hallways I earn som…
"I don't know. Maybe the ship owed me a favor. And I like making corps look stupid." I shrug like I'm not just as confused.
I'm right behind her as I frown, reach out and hold the door closed. "Wait. What?" Ourania is my roommate but I can hardly i…
I had no idea Gen Yu was inked. Her tattoo reminds me of something I've seen in a book, full of images of mythical creatures and things. A deeper memory rises up, other locker rooms, a different dragon on a different woman. No context.
Tattoos are …
Oh drokk! Wrong locker room. I take Bea's hand and start running. Maybe if we leave fast enough everyone will be too surprised to do anything. Gen Yu is naked so she won't chase us (I hope) and Gams is probably close enough, same.
That feeling, of …
I could pick a fight with three corps or I could haul on Bea. And it's 'what are your major malfunctions', dipstick. I'd love to kick her as she makes her last step, her weight all high and off balance on the bleachers. She'd drop beautifully into …
"Nobody deserves to get sick. Getting sick or not getting sick isn't. A moral thing." I squat down next to her. She wants to stay? But we're getting cleared out. What the drokk is going on?
"Gwen wouldn't have wanted you to wish yourself dead. Let'…
I'm too sleek in my speedball suit, while I move between her and as many people who want to laugh and gawk as I can, my usual loose stuff would be better to break line of sight. I glance at Aiden and hold back on a snort. He could help. Guess he doe…
I get up and push my way to Bea. By the time I realize I could have excused myself to Ashlee I'm halfway there.
I don't really expect Bea to open up to me or anything but nobody here is going to help her get out of this space. Gwen would have done …
You know, I might not need support if I hadn't lost my damned cane. I don't speak to them in the hallway, or when we get to the room. I'm chatted out.
I make a slow circuit of the room, taking an inventory of it. Decor, amenities, everything that m…