“So, what’s your story?” Lilith plopped herself next to me on the mat and drank some of her water, barely looking like she worked out, while I would bet that my face was as red as a tomato from moving so much.
“Don’t you know everything?” I figured everyone knew everyone in this joint. Her head shake suggested I was wrong.
“Phillip brought you in, and you’ve helped take some of the work off our shoulders, but other than training you, nope. Nada.” She was looking at me expectantly, signaling me it was my turn to spill.
“I have power over metal. I work for Phillip in the robotics department. I have Asperger’s syndrome, and two robots at home who are my closest companions. My life is pretty routine.” So routine, in fact, that it took me two whole days to work up the courage to give it a shot.
“You seem like a chill gal. I like ya. Remind me of my hubby, Leon. Very stoic kind of guy when you meet him, but he has a heart of a teddy bear. You look like you are all prickly on the outside, like you don’t want anyone to talk to you, but I bet you are like any other girl. You want to be a part of something, to be loved, and to feel beautiful.”
I’ve never met her husband before, but everything else she said made my chest hurt a little.
“Is that how you feel?” I was curious, maybe normal girls felt like that all the time. Maybe I was normal in that way, too.
“Oh, I know I’m beautiful and very loved. I’m also part of this crew. There’s no judgment—everyone will literally give up their life for youandbuy you an awesome Christmas present. There is no place I’d rather belong.”
I wanted that. I wanted to feel like I was part of something, and that people actually cared about me. At work most everyone ignored me, and I ignored them. I wasn’t heartless, but I just kept my focus on my job. It was easier that way, and if I was being honest, by staying away from interacting with people, I avoided rejection. Maybe rejection didn’t happen here. I’d seen people of all shapes and races, both powered and normal humans, in here training. Everyone was coexisting and seeming happy.
“Maybe I’ll come around more often.” I looked at her and smiled, hoping that that smile was similar to hers, a smile of pure confidence.
“Fantastic!” She beamed and then her eyes darted to the elevator that was opening up.
A tall man with dirty blond hair and big muscles walked into the room, his gaze going straight to Lilith.
She was up and on him in seconds. Must be her husband.
I was introduced after they stopped mauling each other. Leon seemed nice. He loved his wife a lot, too, and she him. It was nice seeing a relationship like theirs. I never paid much attention to couples, but now I was curious.
Was it possible for me to ever have something like that? All fire, passion, and undeniable love for one another?
Maybe.
I excused myself a few minutes later, feeling like a third wheel when it was obvious—even to me—that they wanted some alone time.
The whole way home I thought about what it would be like to be with someone in a romantic way. Wanting to know more about relationships and how they work, I stopped off at the big book store on my way home and grabbed a bunch of novels on the subject. If I wanted to learn about something, I always hit the books. It helped me understand the world around me.
Pops was pleasantly surprised that I’d grabbed the books and was eager to help me learn how to open myself up more to other people, particularly a man.
His software allowed him to scan the pages of the book and put the information into a database, so he became a living library for me.
“I’m proud of you for trying,” he said as he brought me a cup of tea while I read one of the books on dating in the modern world. It felt appropriate for my first choice. All the information was scientifically based, which made things easier for me to understand than a book based off of emotions.
I was about three-quarters of the way through the book when my phone notification echoed in my room.
Maybe it was Phillip, letting me know I needed to get ready for my next “save the day.”
Except it wasn’t. My breathing picked up, and I felt my lip go between my teeth nervously.
Unknown Number: Hey! It’s Arthur, does this painting make me look fat?
The picture below was one of those stand-up pictures with a hole cut out where the face was supposed to be, so the person could stand behind it and look like part of the painting. It was a masterfully made piece of art that looked like a hippo in a tutu, with his face grinning in it.
I laughed and shook my head. The whole text was silly, but something about it made me smile big.
But what should I say back?
Reaching over, I grabbed another book from the pile on my bed:HE TEXTED, NOW WHAT?
Chapter Eleven
