Page 33 of MeK
Ican’t help but laugh at his horrified look, “No, it’s just anotherEarthexpression, a sayingIheard over and over growing up.I’dbeen in college for two years with no idea whatIwas really going to major in.Tothis day,Istill have no idea whatIwant to do whenIgrow up.Ialways enjoyed working with my hands and tinkering around withPapawin the garage, but that’s not a career or a way of life.Imore than likely would have ended up a waitress or a receptionist, to be honest.”
“Nofemales work outside the dwelling on my home world.Itis the male’s responsibility to provide what is needed.”
“Maybethat works in a perfect world, but that’s not realistic.Thinkof how many of your girls would love the opportunity to do something if they were allowed.”
MeKdoesn’t say anything else, just simply walks over and lifts the first panel, motioning with his head for me to start placing the pins so that we can get it lined up correctly.Wefall into an easy, but steady routine, with all conversations based simply on what we’re doing at the moment.Twice,Iaccidentally brush into him, andIcatch myself rubbing my hip where it feels likeI’vebeen stung by something.
WhenKyTand a few others show up later,I’mglad to have an excuse to leave.ThemoreI’vebeen around him today, the easier it’s become to see through the wall he’s built to keep everyone at a safe distance.Tobe honest, our conversation from this morning just keeps replaying in my head, andIfeel likeI’velost him beforeIever had a chance.Suddenlyfeeling sad,IknowIneed to get away beforeImake a fool of myself.Thisman … alien, doesn’t want someone like me, and this crushI’vedeveloped for him is going nowhere,Ineed to figure out how to categorize him as just a friend in my mind and quickly.
“MeK,ItoldBriarIwould go see her latest project before we left today.Isit okay ifIgo on ahead while you guys discuss the location of the other houses?”
Hetilts his head while looking at me, and at first,Ithink he isn’t going to answer. “Iwill meet you in the sustenance area later.”
Quickly,Igather up my stuff, reluctant to leave my tools behind with his, but there’s no reason for me to pack them around.Walkingthe now cleared path toward the pavilion, my heart feels heavy in my chest, and the last thingIreally want to do is be around a lot of people.Makinga last-minute decision,Iwalk away from everyone, headed for the beach.Thecool breeze flowing through the tall trees is fresh and untouched by the world suddenly invading this area.
Ismile asIonce again walk through what looks like a fairy gate.Inmy mind,Icontinue to call this place theEnchantedDarkForest.Atsome point in the past, some of the large trees have fallen, only to be taken over by flowering vines and dark moss, making the area seem haunted and much darker than any otherIhave seen so far.Theplace seems more alive, like the forest, the flowers, and even the mist that permeates the air feel curious about the intruders in their world.Afew feet past the gate,Istep into an entirely different and brighter world.Beforeheading onto the deep sandItake off my shoes, enjoying the sensation of the powdery sand between my toes.Stoppingjust short of the water, the first thingInotice is the odd lack of waves.Thewater gently sways back and forth, but the soothing sound is faint.However, the silence is calming in a mind filled with chaos.
Sittingdown,Ipull my knees up in front of me, staring out at the colors reflecting off the water.Onequestion runs through my mind over and over: ‘WhatdoIwant?’Oddly, the only answerIreceive is silence.Thesolitude has helped my mind, but it seems like my heart still isn’t listening. ‘Whodo you think you are,Lacie?Youcan’t change his world or his way of thinking.Whatmakes you think that out of all the women in this massive universe, he would want you?Likean idiot you grabbed onto him, practically throwing yourself at him because he saved your ass a few times.Atno point has he encouraged your little infatuation, and before you make a bigger idiot out of yourself, you need to get hold of this little crush.’
Sighing,Icatch myself rubbing my hip again, only to tell myselfIneed to look at that whenIget back.Ihave no idea how longIsit here, butIknowIneed to get up and head back before they send a search party after me again.Stoppingjust a couple of steps into the forest,Iput my boots back on, and it takes a few moments for my eyes to adjust, only for a gasp to leave my lips.
Suddenly,I’msurrounded by little lights dancing in the air.Theyare so small that they resemble tiny specks of dust, yet they remind me of home and chasing lightning bugs whenIwas little.Smiling,Itake my time walking through them, not wanting to disturb their happiness asIpass.WhenInotice the area brightening,Istop for a moment and turn around, but it’s as if they have vanished into the darkness.Fora split second,IthinkIsee a flash of something off to the side but dismiss it as my eyes playing tricks on me.Passingthe pavilion becauseIreally don’t want to faceMeKright now,Ihead to my dropship, thankful to see a few others are already there.Grabbingmy seat,Iclose my eyes and lean my head back, pretending to be asleep sinceIhave no ‘peopling’ left in me right now.
Onceour ship is full, we lift off and my hip instantly starts burning.Whenwe get back onANDI,Ifeel likeIcan breathe again.Hungryfrom not eating all day,Ihead straight for the replicator in my andBriar’sroom.Aftertrying three things that taste nothing like the pictures,Iclean up and head to bed, shocked thatBriar’snot back yet.Ihave no idea how longI’masleep beforeIhear the door slide open.Sittingup in bed,IseeBriarsneaking in. “Younglady, you are out way past your curfew.”
“Sorrymooommmm, had to work late.Youcan thank me in the morning.”
“Thatwill be enough sass from you, get your ass in the bed!”
Chapter Fifteen
MEK
IwatchLaciewalk away,and it is taking everythingIhave not to follow her.Ihave no idea whatIsaid to her early this rising that upset her, but at some point, it was like the glow she showed up with ... faded.Hersmiles were forced, as were her words, and silence is not somethingIam accustomed to when it comes to her.WhenKyTshowed up with several of the other humans, it was like she could not get away quickly enough, and he must have noticed my distraction.
“MeK, is there something amiss?”
“Notsure.”
“Shereeks of sadness and depression.Icould feel it all around her whenIentered the area.Normally, her inner light shines brightly.”
Thenext thingIknow,Iam tracing her small footsteps through the woods, telling myselfIsimply want to make sure she made it back to the pavilion safely.ButthenIsee her steps stop and turn away.Curious,Ifollow behind her, unsure of whatIwill sayifIactually catch up with her, but angry that she is once again placing herself in danger by wandering around alone.
Twice,Istop becauseIlose all trace of her the deeper she goes into the older timber section, only to remember that the beach area she is so fond of is also in this direction.Suddenly, the fact thatIcannot see or hear her makes me pick up my pace.Duckingunder fallen trees,Ifind myself in the beach area, whereLacieis sitting alone close to the water’s edge.
Shelooks so small with her head resting on her knees, deep in thought.Ihave no idea how she has not heard me, but it clearly shows how distracted she is.Istart to go to her, butIhave never been good at giving comfort.Sofor now,Iwill sit back and allow her to have this time to herself, keeping her safe from the shadows.
Helplessly,Iwatch as she wipes a few random tears off her face, andIwonder what has brought on this sudden sadness.Isit somethingIsaid?Oris this her way of dealing with everything that has happened?Afterall,Idid ask her how she wanted her dwelling designed.Thismay have brought up memories she was not ready to recall.
Ihave hardly blinked when she suddenly stands up to dust the sand off her clothes.Steppingfurther into the wooded area,Idarken my runes and shade my eyes before she can turn around and catch me here.Sheends up walking within arm’s length of me without knowingIam standing right here.Inearly give myself away when she stops to look at the mysterious lights dancing all around, butIam glad to see her easy smile once again gracing her beautiful features.Herfascination with all that surrounds her is addictive, and for an instant,IwishIcould gather her in my arms and enjoy this moment with her.Theinstant those thoughts flow through my mind,Iknow that willnever be possible.Ourpaths, though they have crossed for a short time, are not woven together, no matter how fascinatingIfind her.IfIwere free to choose, …Iwonder howIwould proceed?
Iam a few steps behind her when she suddenly turns again, andIalmost do not look away quickly enough, but she does not seem to notice me.DecidingIhave had enough close calls,Istay whereIam this time whenIsee her heading toward the pavilion.Needingto gather our tools beforeIcan meet her later,Ihave just made it back to the main path whenIfindFatherleaning against one of the main timbers, waiting for me.
“Son,Icame looking for you earlier and was shocked to find your tools lying around so haphazardly.Ido not believeIhave ever seen you without that hammer in your hand, let alone laying on the ground.However, asIwas walking around,Inoticed a much smaller version in one of the tool containers.Ihad no idea you personally needed any other ones.”
“Imade those forLacieso that the other ill-suited devices would not injure her.Iwas not far away but had somethingIneeded to check on.”
“Isee …Wellthen, the main reasonIcame out was to let you know that the next rising will be a day of rest for some, so do not expectLacie.Kirahas planned an outing at the beach for the humans to celebrate the naming of this moon, and additionally, the dropships will start arriving a little later than usual as we are implementing weapons training onANDIfor everyone.”
