They both knew Claric wouldn’t do anything, but the look on Bellamy’s face would be priceless. Maybe Vesper didn’t need to be such a dick about the fruit bars after all.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Vesper
Vesper was at the pickup station promptly five minutes before their trolley was due to arrive. She was grateful the Embunuh organization-owned station was just a minute away from her apartment building since their bags were heavier than normal owing to the longer than average trip. She set the bags at her feet beside her while she stood just a few feet off the track.
She’d often lamented the need to pack all of their supplies rather than only hers, but she’d made the mistake once of letting Bel fend for herself—their first overnight assignment. It had resulted in Bellamy stealing half of Vesper’s food and complaining about her clothes the entire time. That was the first and last time Bellamy was in charge of packing her own stuff. Bel always brought a little bit extra of whatever she wanted, but Vesper didn’t care as long as she kept to her own.
“You’re in some shit with Claric, you know that?” Vesper greeted Bellamy as she dragged her ass over a few minutes later. She threw her own tiny pack on the ground, no doubt full of shit she didn’t need.
“I didn’t even do anything this time!”
Vesper scoffed. “They claim you did. Wanted me to break your hand.”
“Tell them to stop flirting with me,” Bellamy rolled her eyes dramatically, and despite herself, Vesper couldn’t stop the surprised laugh. She tried to cover it up with a cough, but she knew Bellamy caught it from the slight uptick in her lips.
“Besides,” Bellamy drawled, sidling up to Vesper much closer than she needed to be, “they know the only dick I’ll ride is a fake one.”
Vesper glared down at Bellamy. “Please, everyone knows the only fake dick you’re riding is mine.”
Bellamy’s shitty little smile grew. Vesper was immediately pissed off. “Have I ever told you how good jealousy looks on you?” Bellamy asked, her hand trailing down Vesper’s arm. She was not fucking jealous.
Vesper snatched Bellamy’s wrist. “So, about that broken hand.”
“You wouldn’t,” Bellamy yanked her hand away, cradling it into her chest.
Now it was Vesper’s turn to smirk. “Of course not. Might actually need you on this assignment. Would settle for a punch though.”
Bellamy sighed. “Go on then.”
“Well, I’m not gonna do it when you’re ready. Gonna wait till you piss me off next.”
“Oh good, so about five minutes.”
“Bel,” Vesper warned. “What did you do?”
Bellamy shrugged, “Nothing. Yet.” She turned away from Vesper just as their trolley pulled up to a stop in front of them. Vesper pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.
“You’re right, I do already want to hit you.”
Fortunately for Bellamy, Vesper was not going to start a fight before their trolley was boarded. She was not about to lug all their shit inside just because Bellamy was being annoying. Vesper grabbed her bag and pulled the small door open. She groaned as she scanned over the small interior.
One bed, one tiny little table with a chair against the far side, and one long, plush bench seat pushed against the bed. They couldn’t even have bothered with a door for the bathroom, there was just a black curtain hung up to separate the toilet and shower from the rest. And of course the bed was fucking tiny.
“Well, what did you expect?” Bellamy asked as she shouldered past Vesper. “Our contract doesn’t have much left, you know they’re gonna make us suffer until we renew. Be thankful there’s a bed at all,” she grumbled and threw her bags onto the table, claiming the far end of the trolley while Vesper set up by the door as they started to roll away from the station. They were officially trapped together now.
“They know we’re gonna renew. They could just stop the bullshit and treat us well until we’re actually allowed to,” Vesper complained. She wedged herself into the corner on the bench, as far as possible from Bellamy.
“I’m going to do it,” Bellamy announced. She leveled Vesper with a challenging look.
Vesper scoffed. “Fat chance. You got the bonus last time, it’s my turn.”
“You don’t need the money. I do.”
“What, your little side hustle of fucking us over isn’t making enough to get you out of debt?” Vesper snapped. “Or, maybe if you weren’t shit at stacking the deck, you wouldn’t need it so bad.” She crossed her arms over her chest and sat back, watching Bellamy carefully. It was a bad idea to pick a fight this early into their trip, but honestly, Bel started it.
Bellamy leaned against the tiny windowsill on her side of the bench, shoulders slumped. She rested her head on her arm, refusing to look at Vesper.
