Page 6 of Between Earth and Eternity
We grab a couple of trays from the designated racks and wait in line for the expensive birthday treat. When the total of our meal flashes across the screen, Elliot hurriedly guides me away before I can see the full amount, but the first number tells me enough. I can’t imagine the impact food protocols have made on those outside the city limits. The number of badges guarding the border increases every month, and security in general has been a bit more robust with Zenith’s maiden voyage nearing. They are accepting badges much younger now too; a boy who just turned seventeen down the street from us joined the force a few weeks ago.
“Join Mannox Industries and be a force for good, transforming humanity’s future.” One of their core principles. Complete bullshit, if you ask me.
We don’t speak as we enjoy the luxury of this seemingly basic lunch: hamburgers and french fries. The food is too good to talk over, apparently. But the comfortable silence is broken a moment later by a voice I am unfortunately familiar with and despise with a passion.
“San Fran! Elliot!” Kol Stafford shouts, strutting over to our table, his bright red hair sticking out even more in the crowd than his obnoxious voice. Along with his atrocious personality, Kol usually doesn’t waste an opportunity to boast about his friends in high places and has made sure to mention more than once that he isfriendswith one of the Mannox brothers. The highest you can go. He will do anything he can to point out he is at the top.
“How many times do I need to tell you,Kol, only Elliot can call me that.” I don’t bother giving him more attention thanI need to, keeping my eyes on El, who offers me a wink of encouragement.
“So, what witty insults have you prepared for us today, Kol?” El says, dragging out his name, his tone dripping with every bit of sarcasm and disdain he can muster.
“Insults? I thought you two enjoyed our intellectual conversations.”
Intellectualis a far cry from the harassment he dishes out weekly.
I let out a laugh. “I doubt anything intellectual has ever come out of your mouth.”
“Awe, San Fran, you wound me.” He overdramatically places a hand on his chest. As if he has a heart.
“I believeSkyleralready asked you not to call her that, you prick.” El sits up a little straighter, and that gets Kol’s attention. We are both completely over this pettiness today. El is trying his best to get him to go away so we can have this lunch in peace, as he has probably been planning for days. Elliot hates when his ideas are foiled.
Kol places his hands onto the table, leaning in to make eye contact with El. “Let me remind you, just one word from my father, and I’ll have you removed from your positions.”
What’s unfortunate is that he could. While my father may be a founder of E.P.S., Kol’s father oversees all departments, getting more credit than he should, so much so that it has earned him and his entire family passage on Zenith. “A special invitation,” Kol has stated on more than one occasion. There are those who buy their way in, and then those whose name alone opens every door. For them, a single uttered word is enough to secure privilege—a guarantee of life and prosperity.
“Go ahead. Then I’ll make sure you’re too broken to walk onto that ship of your own accord.”
Elliot’s brightness has turned into a different kind of light: a raging fire. He’s always been an easy-going guy, but he’s not one to lie down and take anything either. He’s never hit anyone in his life, but I know he would if the situation were worth it. Kol isn’t, but he doesn’t know that as El stands to his full height. He looks like a giant compared to Kol’s short stature.
Kol attempts to hide the fear in his eyes at the tone in Elliot’s voice, trying to laugh it off like a joke. “No need for that. I’m just kidding around.” He lightly punches El in the shoulder. I glare at him, a dare to keep going. “So . . . Skyler. Are you going to be watching the Lottery?”
“Regrettably, yes.” I keep my gaze on the half-eaten hamburger on my plate, my appetite gone since he graced us with his presence.
“Oh come on, you could win.”
I shake my head, a chuckle escaping my throat. “The chances are not ideal, in case you didn’t know.” Of course he knows.
He purses his lips. “Well, if not this time, maybe the next one . . . or the one after that,” he taunts.
“It’s good to know you hold the rest of the planet in such high regard,” I spit.
His lips spread into a maniacal grin. “Do tell, do you have a better idea for how to go about a mass evacuation? And why shouldn’t the best of us go first?”
Elliot sighs heavily. He knows after a comment like that, it’s time to sit back and enjoy. He folds his arms, leaning back in the chair and getting comfortable, then gives Kol a glance that saysyou asked for it.
I look Kol directly in the eye, tilting my chin so he can take in my face fully under the hat’s brim. I peer into his pale green eyes, almost as light as the whites around his irises. “Personally, I can’t wait for you and every single other asshole to be miles and miles away from us, floating in space. Maybe we’ll finally be ableto breathe at ease without you poisoning what’s left of the good in this world.”
Kol smiles wider, completely ignoring my words, lustful eyes running over my face, and if I weren’t sitting, I’m sure they would wander everywhere. “I think the planet will take care of the poisoning all on its own.” I curl my lip as he goes on. “It really is a shame you won’t be joining us. I’m going to miss you . . . Skyler. I’ll cross my fingers for you though.”
El sits up at that, and I’m not sure if it’s because of what he said or to prepare for what’s coming next.
“But don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll see each other whenever you join us on Eden. Your grandma, on the other hand, she’ll probably be dead before Zenith makes the first journey back. Survival of the fittest and all that.”
I shoot to my feet, and before Kol has a chance to blink, I take my half-eaten hamburger and shove it in his face. A few people around us gasp as the food makes a satisfying splat, some of it landing on his ridiculously pristine shoes that no doubt cost more than all the clothing I own. Elliot stands with the biggest smile on his face.
“Let’s go,” I say, stepping around Kol, walking as fast as I can without running. Elliot catches up to me, his long legs covering the short distance quickly. “Shit. El, I’m so sorry about the food.”
“Are you kidding? I would pay ten times to see that again. You’re not supposed to givemea gift, San Fran. Tomorrow is your birthday, not mine.”
