Page 13 of Between Earth and Eternity
“Well, stop,” I whine, hiding under the pillow once more.
“Oh come on,” he says, pulling the pillow away. Like a child, I tug it back, but he forces it out of my hands. “Do you want me to try my other idea? Asshole Elliot?”
A loud laugh escapes me. “Yeah, right.”
He accepts the challenge. “Skyler Andrews, you are being ridiculous. Grow up and act like an adult. You’re twenty-three years old, for god’s sake.” He attempts a serious face but falters before he finishes. He may not have said it with a straight face, but it was the truth.
“I have an idea. How about we try theit isn’t happeningmethod?” I suggest.
He’s unimpressed, lips in a hard line. “That is exactly the opposite of what you should be doing. What’s going to happen when the day finally comes, hmm?”
I’ll have a panic attack. Probably. Maybe if they believe I’m mentally unstable, they will change their minds. Surely a crazy person in forced proximity aboard a galactic ship wouldn’t be a good thing. I don’t have enough time to train my mind to be as strong as my body, to build up the stamina to endure the long road ahead. Now, the path before me is the great expanse of space into the unknown.
But like in so many things, Elliot is right. I need to prepare. For starters, not having a mental breakdown when they come to collect me, or worse, when I step onto Zenith, would be ideal. The countdown has begun, and I have to try for him, for my family . . . for myself. I can’t lean on El as a crutch anymore. And perhaps that scares me more than the fact that I will be off this planet in a matter of days. Days. I hate that I’m this way,that I must be forced to stand on my own and can’t do so of my volition.
“Fine. Maybe you’re right,” I say, stealing back the pillow and placing it in my lap. “What did you have in mind?” I ask reluctantly.
“First things first,” he says, brightly jumping out of my bed. “We’re going to work.”
“Absolutely not.” I cross my arms, disgusted.
“San Fran.” He sighs heavily, rubbing a hand over his face. “Some of us still need to work to put food on the table, unlike you, who will be pampered on Zenith, no doubt.”
My jaw drops. El bites his lip, wincing before I chuck the pillow at him. “I stand corrected, youcanbe an asshole.”
“I’ll be waiting downstairs. Chop, chop.” He blows me a kiss before closing my bedroom door.
“Smart-ass,” I say under my breath.
I absolutely regret putting a hat on over wet hair, but we’re already late as is, so what’s a girl to do after being dragged out of bed against her will?
I’m not prepared for what happens when we arrive at the loading platform.
Instead of another face in the crowd, people recognize me instantly from the Lottery. I’m greeted with a variety of congratulations, smiles, and stares. So many stares.
“Just smile and wave,” El says under his breath, forcing his signatureI can get away with anythingsmile. I attempt it, and it is painfully unnatural, but no one seems to notice.
Do they really buy this?Maybe I’m better at pretending than I thought. Or maybe people aren’t looking for what lies behind the mask. Maybe they can’t even tell I wear one.
“Remind me why going to work today was a good idea?” I reply, jaw tight as we take our seats.
“It’s going to be okay,” he says, giving me a gentle nudge.
“More like soul crushing mixed with humiliating, but sure, it’s going to be ‘okay,’” I say mockingly.
“Relax, San Fran. You’re the lucky one. The rest of us unfortunate souls have to stay and wait while you get shipped to paradise.” He runs a hand through his hair, a hint of irritation in his tone.
“Can you just . . . shut up!” I say it louder than I mean to. A few people glance over, but I don’t care because Elliot’s face twists in a way I haven’t seen in a very long time. I’ve hurt his feelings.
But I’m properly mad now, and he knows it. For once in our entire relationship, he doesn’t utter a word until we are at our desks at E.P.S. I fling my bag loudly on my desk, drumming my keyboard with harsh taps to get my annoyance across.
“Are you going to be like this all day?” El asks timidly.
I keep my eyes on the screen.
“Look, I get it. It’s been a shitty few days, but I had no idea people would gawk at you like that.”
I say nothing, gritting my teeth.
