Page 46 of Between Earth and Eternity
“Nothing is wrong,” Pace says.
“She looks sick.”
You have to love and hate the honesty of children. No sugarcoating or lies.
“It’s called a panic attack. But she’ll be okay.”
I try to give her a reassuring smile, but it must not be as good as I hoped because she still studies me with a worried expression.
“We are all afraid of something, Romy. And it’s okay to be afraid sometimes,” Payson explains.
She nods, but then turns back to me. “What are you scared of, Skyler?”
I nod toward the large opening where the shuttles would exit. I watch as realization spreads across Romy’s face. She places her little hand inside mine, and I grasp it tightly.
“Everyone, listen up.” Runa approaches our group, and weirdly, I’m relieved to see her. “In case of a real emergency”—just a drill afterall—“you all need to be sure you know the protocol for evacuation.” The chain of terror that was tightening around my throat falls away as I take a deep inhale. “I will continue to remind you to review the safety plans until you do so. I can see if you have done it or not,” she says, tapping her datapad.
“Can’t you warn us when there’ll be a drill?” one of the teenagers whines.
“That defeats the purpose of being ready for a real emergency. They never happen when you plan them to.”Obviously, she seems to add by giving the boy an annoyed expression. “You’re free to go back to your regular activities now. Please make note of your assigned station, and please review the safety protocols, or you’ll be hearing from me very soon.”
The groups begin to scatter, a hoard trying to get out of the bay all at once. Now that I can breathe again, I look down at Romy’s hand still in mine. She doesn’t look convinced that I’m okay.
“Thanks for looking out for me, Romy. I’ll be braver next time, like you,” I say with a wink.
She wraps her arm around my waist. I hug her back as tightly as I can so she knows I’m better. My friends watch us, and I mouth a thank you to Payson.
He mouths a you’re welcome in return.
“Guys, this way! It’s a shortcut,” Laz says, waving for us to follow him. I don’t pay much attention to where we’re going, completely relieved that the drill is over. Now, Ori and I can go back to our plans for the evening, but my hopes are only wishful thinking.
We turn the corner and see Slade leaning against the wall, typing away on his StarComm. He looks up as we approach. “Well, look who it is.”
We all ignore him, walking past as fast as we can. He drops his device into his pocket and speed walks to catch up with us.
“I gotta say, you weren’t looking too good out there, Skyler.”
Was he seriously watching me? I hadn’t even noticed him around, but I don’t care to ask about his stalking practices.
“Aren’t you supposed to be leaving me alone?” I ask, keeping my eyes forward.
He chokes out a laugh. “My brother thinks he’s all bad and tough, but he doesn’t tell me what to do.” So it was Vallen after all. “It looked like you were having a major episode down there. Do your friends know you’re a mental case?”
“You’re a prick,” I spit out.
“You are nothing but trash,” he hisses. “If you asked me, I would have left all of you where you belong: back on Earth.” I pick up speed, but it only fuels his cruelty as he says, “How does it feel knowing your family is starving while you’re here, living a life of luxury at my family’s expense.”
I stop dead in my tracks, turning on him.
“Stop!” Payson comes to stand between us. “That’s enough,” he says, glaring at Slade. “That was low.”
“Yeah, just because she’s scared of space doesn’t mean you need to be mean to her,” Romy pipes in. I give her major credit for bravery, but her timing and word choice could have been better. Ori grimaces as soon as the words fly out Romy’s mouth. “It’s okay to be afraid of something. That’s what Payson said,” she adds proudly, that honest, unedited thing kids do shining through once again.
Slade smiles wide. Too wide. Like a fox cornering its prey. “Right. Everyone is afraid of something,” he teases, lifting his chin up at me. “Feel better . . . Skyler.” He says my name slowly before he finally leaves.
“Okay, well that was fun.” I sigh heavily. “I’m going to take a shower and go to bed.”
“What? No way. What you need, my friend, is a drink.” Laz beams, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “And I know the perfect place. Meet us at the tube at ten.”
