Page 41 of The Love Simulation

“It looks like you’ve been crying,” he says.

I stare at the helmet he still has on. The reflection staring back at me is a melding of his handsome face and my puffy eyes. Even though I wouldn’t consider myself a pretty crier, our reflections look good together.

“That’s because I have been crying,” I say. More often than not, thinking of Tay causes a breach in my already faulty floodgates, even if they’re happy memories.

“Were you scared out there?”

“No, I was thinking about my big brother, who passed away a while back. Good memories.”

“Maybe you can tell me about him someday.” Roman’s voice is a soft caress in my ear as it comes across the comm.

“I think I’d like that,” I respond, just as softly.

He holds his hand up like he’s going to brush the wetness from my face, then looks at his glove, which is caked in red dirt.

He looks from his hand to me, and I recoil slightly, not wanting to get that all over my face. We both laugh, the air grows warmer, and I can’t help but marvel at our change in circumstances. In this too-small, peculiar habitat where we could be at each other’s throats, there’s affection. We planted those dandelion seeds, but it’s genuine friendship now blossoming between us.

I don’t want to question what I’m feeling too much, but I can’t help but wonder, could things stay like this when the simulation is over? When we’re back at school, passing each other in the hallway, could Roman’s eyes soften when they land on mine? Could our relationship continue to grow and this friendship turn into something more?

I bite my lower lip and shyly look away. These are not the kind of thoughts a vice principal should have for a teacher. They’re the kind of thoughts that invite scandal, though, curiously, that word doesn’t flash through my mind as sharply as it did before.

Once the pressure has stabilized in the tunnel, the inner door to the Hab swings open and Angie comes rushing out, straight to me.

“Oh my God, you made it!” She wraps her arms around me, hugging tight. “I was so worried you were going to get caught up in the dust storm.”

I can’t even move my arms because of how tight Angie’s grip is. I look over Angie’s shoulder to meet the gaze of an amused Roman.

After a few more good squeezes, Angie lets me go and takes a step back. “I’m so glad you made it. I don’t think Jordan and I would have lasted long without me killing him. Then I’d be eliminated on principle, and it’d be a whole thing. I mean, Icouldhave been in Cancún, but now that I’m here, I may as well get that money, right?”

Without another word, Angie turns to go back in, nodding at Roman and patting him lightly on the shoulder.

“What just happened?” I ask.

“Your best friend just said she was worried about you.”

I don’t argue the best friend part. I’m touched Angie was so worried about me.

Roman walks to the doorway but stops before he goes in as well. “For the record, she’s not the first person you’ve won over.”

And I’m left speechless.

Chapter Sixteen

The dust storm brings an unexpected yet welcome calm after the chaos of Roman and me trying to make it back in time. Unfortunately, though it was calm, the dust storm knocked out our power, and the Hab is only running on enough to provide us with life-supporting oxygen. The LED lights are on as well, so we’re not in the dark. But that does mean we can’t check whether we’ve received any messages from Mission Control or anyone else. And right now, I’m missing my family.

I miss my parents, my siblings, my niece, and Sheba, and I wish I could call them up and tell them what is going on. I’m sure they’re tuning in every chance they get, but it’s not the same.

“You doing okay?” Jordan asks. He comes from the kitchen with a cup of water and joins me on the couch.

“I’m fine. Just missing home. Especially my dog. Do you have any pets?”

“A turtle. I don’t like dogs.”

“I used to judge people who don’t like dogs, but I’d like to think I’ve moved on from that,” I say, but can’t help but give Jordan the side-eye. Who doesn’t like dogs?

Realistically, I know millions of people in the world aren’t pet people. But those millions also haven’t met Sheba.

Jordan laughs. “Sorry. They scare me. One almost attacked me when I was a kid. Ever since, I start sweating bullets every time I’m near one.”

---