His shoulders squared. “I do. But I’m not sure how much is liquid.”
“Oh. I see.” Everything inside me deflated. This was going to end badly, I told myself.
“We both know you can’t spend that much for me anyway.”
He faced me again, face of stone. “Why not?”
“I’m not worth it.”
“True.”
That hurt.
“The elemental body is really only worth about $160,” he added.
Was he joking with me? If it was supposed to be funny, it made me feel sick.
“I looked it up once. I was pretty drunk but I think it also said there was some argument in the scientific community that it’s refined complex biological compounds would be worth $6.8 million. I think that’s how it was stated. I had to memorize it to win a bet.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and moved away. There was a window overlooking a patio with flowers. That wasn’t our normal dormitory view, but it was for Jonah.
“None of this is funny, you know. And it’s not like winning a bet.” I heard footsteps approach.
“I know.”
I stared straight ahead as I spoke. “Why are you doing this?”
“I did some reading and I don’t like this place.”
“So?”
“So? It’s wrong. Why would you question that?” His voice dropped.
“I’m not. But if you think you’re hurting the corporation by giving them more money, I think maybe you’re deluded.”
He hissed. “I’ve been called deluded before. You think I care?”
“Well, if it’s got nothing to do with me, I guess I can go back to solitary.”
“Solitary? They had you there?”
Oops. That was a slip. I hadn’t wanted him to know.
“What did you do?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
“They put you in solitary for nothing?”
“I didn’t say that. I said I did nothing. Except nearly assault Klonis.”
“You’re making no sense. I was there. He was dragging you away from me when I still had rental time. It’s called self-defense.”
I whirled. “None of this makes sense. You didn’t leave a star rating so they figured I was a disappointment.”
His mouth dropped open. “Those fucking shit-faced assholes. Fuck them. Fuck!”
“You’re good at that.” I couldn’t think of anything else to say. “Using words like that. In a full sentence sometimes, too.”
